Mex's first 2018 projection thread

[Mex17]

It's a little early, but the Ramos trade sort of kicked my brain into gear.

Let me try to sort the 2018 team (as of right now) into a few categories. . .

Stone cold lead pipe blocks (barring injury or lack of recovery from existing injury):
Cespedes in LF
Conforto in one of the other two outfield positions
Syndergaard and deGrom at the top of the rotation
Familia as the closer
Ramos in the eighth inning
Blevins in a prominent bullpen role
Dominic Smith at 1b
Rosario at SS

Certain to be on the team (barring trade) but not certain of role/performance level:
Harvey/Wheeler/Matz/Lugo/Gsellman
T.J. Rivera
Flores
Sewald
Edgin

Uncertain to return or be retained:
Bruce
Walker
Reyes
d'Arnaud
Lagares
Rene Rivera
Montero
Robles
Nimmo
Reynolds
Goeddel
Smoker
Pill
Plawecki
Wright

Absolutely gone:
Reed
Cabrera
Granderson
Salas
Milone

Question Marks/Needs:
Catcher
1/3 of outfield
Second Base
Third Base
Makeup of rotation following Syndergaard/deGrom
Rounding out of bullpen

Waiting in the wings:
Drew Smith
Flexen

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'm not so sure that Cabrera is "absolutely gone", nor that Dominic Smith is a sure thing at first base for 2018. But, we'll see...

[Mex17]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I'm not so sure that Cabrera is "absolutely gone", nor that Dominic Smith is a sure thing at first base for 2018. But, we'll see...

Regarding Smith and Rosario, the performance level is certainly not a sure thing but their roles most definitely are. They are going to roll them out at first base and shortstop respectively every day, I'm sure of that.

Regarding Cabrera, if the reports are to be believed there is enough interest in him that he is sure to be moved in the next few days.

[Guest cooby]

Are you really Keef?