Sort of a perfect storm year for the Birds, where ownership decided not to spend any money and cut payroll, a bunch of players being in their last year of their ill-advised deals, young players who haven't proven anything but ownership wants to see if any of them are future pieces (and won't spend to upgrade anyway), to aging players who might be on downside of careers.
It has all added up to being one turn sandwich of a team.
Eh...I am not ready to throw the season out the window in April especially considering 2/3 of the starting outfield is on the IL along with 2/5 of the starting rotation. We will see where they are in June.
This is some of the ugliest baseball we've seen in a while. But I feel like we've been here before, and the team has ended up making it interesting down the stretch.
According to Cot's ~$50 million will be freed up for next year after Arenado's deal starts costing, taking out Colorado money, Miller, Fowler, Carlos, Marp, Waino, Molina.
That doesn't go as far as you'd think with the market possibly rebounding next year and a lot of teams being more willing to spend next year (presumably).
Of course, any payroll increases approved by ownership would add to this total.
That money will need to add an OF'er, a starting pitcher, a utility infielder, a catcher, maybe a second starting pitcher, plus account for arbitration raises for current players.