We sign, Jacoby Ellsbury, Shin-Soo Choo and Michael Morse (all FAs after upcoming season) to replace the pathetic, non-existent outfield we have now.
We sign either Matt Garza or Josh Johnson to anchor our young rotation and Joel Hanrahan to close or setup Parnell, depending on his development.
Giving you this championship team:
1. Ellsbury CF
2. Choo RF
3. Wright 3B
4. Davis 1B
5. Morse LF
6. D'Arnaud C
7. Murphy 2B
8. Tejada SS
Baxter, Duda and Valdespin on the bench.
1. Garza/Johnson RHP
2. Harvey RHP
3. Wheeler LHP
4. Gee RHP
5. Niese LHP
Parnell, Hanrahan, Carson, Edgin, E. Ramirez in the bullpen.
Unrealistic, you say?
Adding Ellsbury ($17M/per), Choo ($13M), Morse ($13M), Johnson/Garza ($18M) and Hanrahan ($9M) adds $70M.
We have $45M committed in 2014.
That would amount to a $120M payroll (arbitration increases included).
That would STILL BE UNDER the following teams: NYY, PHI, DET, LAD, LAA. 13 of the 30 MLB teams will have a payroll over $100M.
So the ONLY remaining question is this: Are the Wilpons willing to return to competitive spending? Are they going to act as large-market (largest, in fact) owners?