Well,
I'm 45 games in and am sitting 19-26. Jimmie Burns got injured a week ago in real time, and is out for the season. Octavio Sanchez just got hurt and will miss 72 HBD. But injuries aren't the real problem, I just don't see how I can get this team to be competitive without blowing up the whole team. Since I was new to the game when I started the season, I didn't budget properly at all so this is another season that's going to hold back my rebuilding process.
To be fair since I started playing a SS instead of Oliver at SS, I'm 9-10, but my team is too expensive for what it can produce. I have only 4 ML starters (Poole, Garko, Taipes, and Tarranga (SP), making the minimum right now that can be (Somewhat) useful players.
In terms of key players:
Burns, Alston, Boone, and Martin will all be in arbitration at the end of this year. I'm almost positive I cannot afford to go into arbitration with Boone and Alston, so should I try to trade them?. Martin made $1.2M in arb last year, anyone know what he'll ask for at the end of this year? Is it worth it to try to keep him (he's been awful this year, worse than I thought his ratings would be, but maybe I'm interpreting them wrong)? Burns seems like a great bat, but again not sure if I can keep him. Thoughts on him?
Alfonzo, and Oliver will be FA this year, but given that they are old and will be asking for at least $3-4 each, should I try trading them now? Hahn and Manual have long term deals, they both are pretty solid (at least I think so), so they should have some trade value. Should I just mail it in and trade them now?
The best players in this draft are shortstops. The best SP prospect (my biggest need) seems comparatively way worse. Next year, I am aiming to get a stud IFA SP which is why I'm trying to cut payroll.
I have no one in the minors right now that will be an average player or better that will be ready for next season.
Thanks in advance for any help.