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Y'all, soxfest really put a pin in the manny balloon for me. I still believe he's coming, but it's gone on too long to find it interesting any more. I am doing a big board exercise that predicts where the team is at in 2020 at each position, and lists potential FAs/acquisitions there. There will be a manny and a no manny version. Starting with No Manny. No Manny The way to read this is the player next to the position is starter, the players to right are IN ORDER the depth that I believe them to be, and this includes both realistic use within that year, and then the longer it goes out longer term planning. X means needs upgrade, O means likely set. X C - Zevala // Collins X 1b - Alonso // Palka // Collins // Sheets // Rose // Burger O 2b - Moncada // Madrigal // Mendick O SS - Anderson // Madrigal // Rondon // Mendick // Rivera X 3b - Sanchez // Madrigal // Rondon // Burger O LF - Jimenez // Basabe // Gonzalez // Rutherford O CF - Robert // Basabe // Gonzalez // Engel O RF - Adolfo // Basabe // Gonzalez // Rutherford X DH - Alonso // Palka // Collins // Adolfo X SP SP1 - Kopech SP2 - Rodon SP3 - Cease SP4 - Lopez SP5 - Giolito // Dunning // Stephens // Lambert N/A RP (how could I know how well these guys will do) RP 1 - Colome RP 2 - Herrerra RP 3 - Fry RP 4 - Burdi RP 5 - Hamilton RP 6 - Bummer RP 7 - Johnson // Frare // burr // schryver // veiera // etc etc UPGRADE Possibilities C - Grandal // Cervelli (FA) 1b // DH - Castellanos, Goldschmidt, Khris Davis, Abreu 3b - Rendon, Arenado, Donaldson 3b (by way of SS upgrade) - Bogaerts, Didi SP - Sale, Bumgarner, Chacin, Wheeler, Wacha, Porcello, Pineda Ideally, you get one vet, strong anchor for this staff. But if not, see how pineda does this year. I initially thought Salazar was a FA this year but not until 2021...ugh. Takeaways Manny just makes too much sense. It gives legit depth with 4 good athletic infielders, and allow tim to be a potential OFer if that depth doesn't pan out immediately. The way out without Manny isn't horrible though, just pretty bad. Clearly corner bats can be upgrades big time in 2020 from where they are expected. Obviously, if we don't get manny this year I have zero belief they would get Arenado. But Castellanos as a 1b/dh may be a perfect fit. Catcher is the position that could singlehandedly reverse itself with good year, and possibly 1b if Palka becomes good. SP I think should add one regardless of how good everyone looks. Just me, but ideally the winner of Dunning/Lopez is your fifth starter and our fifth starter is great, or if they both turn out you trade Rodon in season for guys. Outfield NEEDS to hit, especially if Moncada is just a starter and not an all star. Thank you all for not reading. Bottom line, if we sign Machado I'm feeling really good for 2020-2023.