Offseason Choose Your Own Adventure - See You Later, Scott!

Here’s the stream.

This stuff is fictional. Sorry, not a lot of room for jokes tonight.

I’m going to just put this out there, but last time, the vote was decided by like 10 votes. So yeah. There’s a debate over whether it would be better to have a run-off, and give you guys the top two options. But there’s also the whole speeding things along thing. So for the time being, we’re just going to keep going with whatever wins, even if logic dictates more people will be disappointed in the result. If you don’t like it, speak up in the comments.

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Boras - “Well, Mr. Henry? What do you say? Do we have a deal? I’d love to get J.D. into Boston.”

Henry - “So would we, Scott, but we have other options to attend to, J.D. isn’t the only big bat in town.”

Right on cue, Alexander Henry’s cellphone began to ring. Henry motioned to his phone, asking for silent permission. Boras, J.D. Martinez, and Alex Cora all nod their heads, and let Alexander Henry walk out of the Martinez abode.

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Outside J.D. Martinez’s House - November 2nd, 10:05 PM EST

??? - “Hello, is this Alexander Henry?”

Henry - “You are speaking to him, yes, how may I help you?”

??? - “I don’t think we’ve been formally acquainted yet, my name is Derek Jeter, and I’m the Chief Executive Officer, and a part-owner, of the Miami Marlins.”

Henry - “Ah, it’s good to finally meet you, Derek, even though I had hoped we’d meet face to face first, at the GM Winter Meetings.”

Jeter - “We’ll still do that, probably, I figure the Marlins have a lot of business to do, and while it’s more for GMs than it is for me, I presently seem to be in the position where I’m making the decisions.”

Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Fast Company

Henry - “Right, well, Derek, what’s on your mind tonight that couldn’t have waited for tomorrow?”

Jeter - “See, I’d heard through the Twitters, that you were at the home of J.D. Martinez, and figured, we’d offer you an alternative to what Scott Boras is going to offer. What’s he at, 7/200, or something equally ludicrous?”

Somehow, Alexander Henry knew Susan was involved.

Henry - “I really shouldn’t answer but, 6/165.”

Jeter - “I see. That’s a little lower than expected. No matter, we’ll offer you something we think you’ll be amenable to, if you are interested.”

Henry - “I’m always looking to improve the Red Sox.”

Jeter - “Excellent. We’re trying to cut payroll for 2018, and as a result, we wish to move Giancarlo Stanton. You need a big bat, we need to ditch the salary, and you have good enough prospects that we can justify the move to our fanbase.”

Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images

Henry - “I think that’s reasonable. I was going to ask about him at the Winter Meetings, unless J.D. gave us a good deal on his contract.”

Jeter - “I will make it clear, we need to get something back. The fanbase will destroy us if I just give him away.”

Henry - “Nobody claimed him. No one wanted to risk taking on his entire salary. Same with us.”

Jeter - “Right, but now you are underneath the luxury tax penalty, and you can blow by it for a couple of years, with no consequence. And with so many young players in your organization, you should be able to get back under it before penalties arise. Stanton would give you your best chance to win now, without the messy business of negotiating a contract.”

Henry - “One of my biggest fears is his opt-out. Ideally, he’d probably opt out after the 2020 season, and we’d be able to be flexible again. I fully expect he’d opt-in, however, just because he would still have 8 years and 233 million on the table. Hard to turn down guaranteed money like that.”

Jeter - “Right, which is why we’re not going to be asking for as much as a player of his talent level is truly worth. It is my belief that he’s going to be named the NL MVP, and it’s very rare to be able to get a player like that on the cheap, in terms of prospect cost.”

Henry - “Alright, enough beating around the bush, what do you want in exchange for Stanton?”

Jeter - “We need a major league player back, first and foremost, to give our fans a reason to show up to the games, but it needs to be a player who costs very little, and can be under contract for at least a couple years. Our first thought is Eduardo Rodriguez makes a lot of sense, because your team’s strength is pitching, and you can deal with the loss of Rodriguez without worrying too much about the rotation.”

Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images

Henry - “That’s a reasonable ask, but you are aware of his injury, right?”

Jeter - “Absolutely, and it will not be a problem.”

Henry - “Alright, you said ‘first and foremost’, so what else are you thinking?”

Jeter - “Additionally, I want to help us rebuild, so I’d want 2 of the following names offered up: Jason Groome, Michael Chavis, Bryan Mata, and Alex Scherff. If it is the latter two names, Mata and Scherff, we will be pitching in exactly 0 dollars of the contract. If you want us to take any of the contract, you have to offer at least one of Groome or Chavis.”

Henry - “That’s a tough pill to swallow, I’ll have to discuss this with Alex Cora, and see where we’re at with this. Are you sure you don’t want Jackie Bradley Jr?”

Jeter - “Maybe in another universe I might want him, but in this one, it just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. He’s about to have his pay rise significantly, and he has less control than Rodriguez. He’s a very valuable talent, but he doesn’t really fit what I want to do with our organization right now. You shouldn’t really be jumping up and down to give him away anyway. Lot of pundits think it would be a good idea, but I think it’s kind of dumb, to be frank.”

Henry - “Why are you telling me this?”

Jeter - “Because, I’ve read all the Stanton to Boston rumors that have been up since I came into power, and think it’s kind of funny how all the pundits think you have to move Jackie, just because you already have three outfielders. Clearly, they’ve forgotten you can just play one of the four outfielders at Designated Hitter.”

Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Henry - “Yeah, slipped my mind for a minute too.”

Jeter - “Worst case, you probably end up playing Hanley Ramirez at first base. But hey, maybe don’t let that option vest, and it’s only a problem for 2018, you catch me?”

Henry - “Thanks, Derek, we’ll keep this in mind. I have to go back in, as I’ve spent enough time outside, but I’ll call you tomorrow, once I’ve had more time to think.”

Jeter - “Alright, good night, Mr. Henry.”

Henry - “Goodnight, Derek.”

Henry hung up the phone, and made to walk inside. As he was about to open the door, he found Alex Cora standing nearby.

Henry - “Is there something up, Alex?”

Cora - “Sort of, sir. I heard your conversation with Mr. Jeter.”

Henry - “How?”

Cora - “Sir, it was on speakerphone.”

Henry - “I will never understand technology.”

Cora - “Anyways, he makes a lot of sense. I could work with either situation, and believe I can utilize either J.D. Martinez or Giancarlo Stanton properly. And if we end up keeping Eduardo Rodriguez, I believe I can make the most of him, as well, so this is really just up to what you think is the better decision.”

Henry - “Hm... truth be told, I still like J.D. Martinez a lot, but Agent Boras in there makes things messy. His offer isn’t ridiculous, but it’s not really good either, to the point where I might consider the Stanton deal seriously.”

Cora - ”Yeah, I hear you. Just do what you think is best.”

Henry - “Hey, Alex, mind if I ask you a question?”

Cora - “Not at all, tell me what’s on your mind.”

Henry - “Do you ever feel like you have 700 people in your head trying to get you to make specific decisions?”

Cora - “Not really, although I certainly feel like I’m about to. What’s the plan, sir?”

Poll ends on November 15th, at 10:00 PM EST.