This year I was named the General Manager for the Tampa Bay Rays in the SB Country Off-Season Simulation arranged by Max Rieper of Royals Review. PreparationI've been in a fortunate placement to be provided a roster that is primarily total and has made the playoffs 4 straight years. I was given a recommended payroll of $88MM which is a slight boost on the 2022 Opening Day pay-roll that was available in simply reluctant of $85MM. The 40-man is fairly thick and my objective is to settle several of the 40-man roster and prospective rule 5 eligible players. The Rays have a huge adjudication class but there are a few locations they can trim some money in order to bring in a number of experts on the offending side of the ball. The Rays have 19 gamers eligible for mediation and there will certainly be some cuts particularly in the bullpen where the Rays have a wealth of reducers without choices that the Rays will certainly want to include optionable arms in their place that are preferably not currently on the 40 man Carlos Narvaez Jersey. TransactionsRays decrease the team alternative on Kevin KiermaierI complied with the lead of the big league club by choosing the $2. 5 MM acquistion on the $13MM team choice for Kevin Kiermaier. The Rays have far better means to spend the $10. 5 MM net than on a defense very first facility fielder. Kiermaier was the lengthiest tenured Ray and has been an essential piece of the team's success over the last 9 years. Rays trade Ji-Man Choi and Greg Jones to the Pirates for Kyle Nicolas and Jack HartmanThis profession started as the basis for the real life profession that saw the Rays send out Ji-Man Choi to the Pittsburgh Pirates or Jack Hartman. I had the ability to move Greg Jones, who is policy 5 eligible, for a fascinating pitcher with upside Kyle Nicolas, that isn't rule 5 eligible until following winter. I didn't love where this puts the group if they aren't able to acquire an expert first baseman but I such as the idea of being compelled to make something occur. There are sufficient quality alternatives like Jose Abreu, Anthony Rizzo, Brandon Belt, and Josh Bell that provide you some choices to chase that ought to suit the Rays budget. Rays indication Michael Brantley to a 2 year, $28 million dealMy major focus was adding an expert left handed bat to the center of the Rays lineup. Michael Brantley and Anthony Rizzo were my two primary targets, however I did go into talks in getting Max Muncy from the Dodgers Jay Bruce Jersey. Getting a disciplined batter to add to the top of the lineup for a sensible expense was suitable. Brantely has actually set up wRC+ of 131, 121, and 127 the last three years. He is coming off a shoulder injury but is anticipated to be ready for Spring Training. He will mainly fill up in at assigned player but will play limbo occasionally. Athletics trade Sean Murphy to the Rays for Curtis Mead, Josh Lowe, and Cole WilcoxI went for the biggest prize on the profession market and was able to get the deal done. Sean Murphy is coming off a 5. 1 fWAR season and over the previous 3 years has actually been one of the three best catchers. He's struck well and been one of the most effective defensive catchers in the video game. He is expected to obtain $3. 5 MM in his initial year of mediation and need to be anticipated to obtain about $20MM over his 3 years of arbitration. This is a large addition and did set you back a reasonable amount. The Rays were able to clear one 40 man area in this move after Curtis Mead gets contributed to protect from the Policy 5 draft. Rays sign Anthony Rizzo to a 2 year, $32 million dealAnthony Rizzo declined the certifying offer tendered by the New york city Yankees. The Rays will certainly provide up their 4th choice in order to generate a veteran initially baseman after dropping short on searches of Paul Goldschmidt and Freddie Freeman in recent years. Rizzo sets nicely with Brantley as experienced bats to the top of the Rays schedule. In real life Rizzo would sign for an additional $8 million than this to go back to the Yankees. Rays non-tender Ryan Yarbrough, Francisco Mejia, Andrew Kittredge, Harold Ramirez, Jalen Beeks, Ryan Thompson, JT Chargois, Roman Quinn, and Nick AndersonIn the genuine globe many of these players would certainly have been traded for lotto tickets or relief leads that have choices and aren't on the 40 male. Time and the focus of only the 2023 roster by a lot of in the simulation made it tough to discuss these degrees of trade.