Roster & payroll / 2027 Roster Builder
Roster & payroll / 2027 Roster Builder

What is the best way to spend the money?

Start from the Winter Plan’s 2027 40-man (or the roster as it stands), then add or remove players. Every change re-runs the depth chart: who starts where, who sits, the rotation and the bullpen, with playing time by role. A second second baseman pushes someone to the bench instead of stacking up, and the 40-man count and payroll update with him. Trades cost the prospects his club would want, and those prospects leave the organization. Promote anyone on the 40-man to the 26-man, or let Maximize wins search for a strong set of moves within a payroll and a prospect budget. Same engine as the Winter Plan.
For general manager, ownership Model card Projections & contracts as of Oct 21, 2026
Plan +
Projected 2027 wins 81.7 0.0 vs. the Winter Plan 80% range 70–94 (2027 Outlook’s error)
Playoff odds 44% 0 pts · 2027 Outlook
2027 payroll (CBT basis) $138.6M +$11.8M vs. today
Floor None Current rules have no floor
40-man roster 39 of 40 1 open

Winter Plan 81.7 wins · as it stands 79.0 · prospects traded on this page $16.4M (the plan’s: Jhostynxon Garcia + Jacob Gonzalez for Isaac Paredes)

Today $126.7M

Your 2027 depth chart

One season: 6,102 PA and 1,436 IP. Left to replacement level: 620 PA (DH 217, 1B 183, C 144) and 236 IP. Recomputed on every change. ↑ promotes a 40-man player to the 26-man, ↓ moves one off it, × removes him (trade, non-tender or release).

Lineup 16.0 WAR
C Rafael Flores Jr. 1.6 · 266 PA
1B Ryan O'Hearn 1.2 · 474 PA
2B Nick Gonzales 1.8 · 535 PA
3B Isaac Paredesfor Jacob Gonzalez (SS, FV 35+) + Jhostynxon Garcia (CF, FV 45) 3.3 · 562 PA
SS Konnor Griffin 1.8 · 369 PA
LF Bryan Reynolds 1.4 · 602 PA
CF Oneil Cruz 2.5 · 458 PA
RF Esmerlyn Valdez 1.7 · 344 PA
DH Spencer Horwitz 0.6 · 461 PA
Bench 2.7 WAR
C Endy RodríguezIL 0.9 · 289 PA
OF Jake Mangum 1.1 · 476 PA
IF Jared Triolo 0.7 · 415 PA
OF Ronny Simon 0.1 · 78 PA
Rotation 11.9 WAR
SP Paul Skenes 4.0 · 144 IP
SP Jared Jones 2.3 · 116 IP
SP Braxton Ashcraft 2.6 · 136 IP
SP Bubba Chandler 1.9 · 131 IP
SP Mitch KellerIL 1.2 · 128 IP
Bullpen 4.6 WAR
RP Mason Montgomery 1.1 · 60 IP
RP Carmen Mlodzinski 0.9 · 74 IP
RP Wilber Dotel 0.6 · 53 IP
RP Luke Weaver 0.6 · 60 IP
RP Yohan Ramírez 0.5 · 59 IP
RP Evan Sisk 0.4 · 50 IP
RP Isaac Mattson 0.4 · 50 IP
RP Brandon Eisert 0.2 · 52 IP
Rest of the 40-man (not on the 26-man) 0.4 WAR
P Noah Murdock depth · 0.0
P Lake Bachar depth · 0.1
P Hunter Barco depth · 0.0
H Tyler Callihan depth · 0.0
H Jack Brannigan depth · 0.0
H Nick Yorke depth · 0.0
P Khristian Curtis depth · 0.1
H Billy Cook depth · 0.0
P Antwone Kelly depth · 0.0
P Thomas Harrington depth · 0.0
H Termarr JohnsonIL below AAA
P Derek Diamond depth · 0.0
H Keiner Delgado below AAA
  • A starter at every position.
  • 2 catchers on the 26-man; Endy Rodríguez ended 2026 injured; 144 PA at catcher left to replacement level.
  • 13 hitters and 13 pitchers on the 26-man.
  • Shortstop cover on the bench: Jared Triolo; 309 PA at short go to fill-ins.
  • Starting while coming back from injury: Mitch Keller. Medicals before counting on them.

Traded away: Jacob Gonzalez, Jhostynxon Garcia ($16.4M of prospect value).

Removed: Henry Davis

Add players

Ranked by the wins each adds to the roster on the left, after his package leaves it, not by his WAR alone. The totals also run the plan’s position-swap search (a swap worth 0.2+ wins), which this ranking skips to stay fast, so a move can land a few tenths off its listed wins

136 matches (top 40 shown) · salaries are est. 2027 under current rules

  1. Tarik Skubal LAD (FA) · SP · Free agent · rotation · PNC +0.08 +3.3 wins $40.2M × 8 Free agent: market estimate 8 yr × $40.2M (capped at the edge of last winter’s market: a floor more than a forecast) · 2 cautions
  2. Seiya Suzuki CHC (FA) · OF · Free agent · starts at RF · PNC −0.28 +2.5 wins $31.3M × 4 Free agent: market estimate 4 yr × $31.3M · Likely to receive a qualifying offer (an estimate until offers are made, about Nov 1–5). Signing him would cost Pittsburgh a draft pick worth about $5.8M ($4.0–9.3M) net of its bonus, under the current CBA.
  3. Jazz Chisholm Jr. NYY (FA) · MI · Free agent · starts at 2B · PNC +0.15 +2.3 wins $32.6M × 4 Free agent: market estimate 4 yr × $32.6M · Likely to receive a qualifying offer (an estimate until offers are made, about Nov 1–5). Signing him would cost Pittsburgh a draft pick worth about $5.8M ($4.0–9.3M) net of its bonus, under the current CBA.
  4. Randy Arozarena SEA (FA) · OF · Free agent · starts at DH · PNC −0.20 +2.1 wins $32.3M × 3 Free agent: market estimate 3 yr × $32.3M · 2 cautions
  5. Jeremy Peña HOU · MI · Trade · starts at SS · PNC −0.17 +2.0 wins $18.2M + Callihan (35+), Johnson (45): $16.2M Damage on contact, poor swing decisions: an approach fix is the upside
  6. Trevor Rogers BAL (FA) · SP · Free agent · rotation · PNC +0.10 +2.0 wins $25.9M × 5 Free agent: market estimate 5 yr × $25.9M · Likely to receive a qualifying offer (an estimate until offers are made, about Nov 1–5). Signing him would cost Pittsburgh a draft pick worth about $5.8M ($4.0–9.3M) net of its bonus, under the current CBA.
  7. Riley Greene DET · OF · Trade · starts at LF · PNC +0.28 +1.9 wins $9.3M + Dotel (45), Sanford (45+): $31.2M Plus bat: 75.7 mph bat speed, 107.5 EV90
  8. Brandon Lowe PIT (FA) · MI · Re-sign · starts at 2B · PNC +0.23 +1.8 wins $30.8M × 3 Pending Pirates free agent; market estimate 3 yr × $30.8M · keeping him gives up a $8.6M compensation pick
  9. Jake Bauers MIL (FA) · 1B/DH · Free agent · starts at DH · PNC +0.16 +1.8 wins $17.7M × 2 Free agent: market estimate 2 yr × $17.7M · 2 cautions
  10. Dominic Canzone SEA · 1B/DH · Trade · starts at DH · PNC +0.19 +1.6 wins $3.9M + Barco (45), Sanford (45+): $26.9M Plus bat: 74.3 mph bat speed, 106.4 EV90
  11. Luis Arraez PHI (FA) · MI · Free agent · starts at 2B · PNC +0.21 +1.5 wins $16.3M × 2 Free agent: market estimate 2 yr × $16.3M · Big walk year
  12. Alec Burleson STL · 1B/DH · Trade · starts at 1B · PNC +0.20 +1.5 wins $6.1M + Delgado (40), Johnson (45): $20.0M Damage on contact, poor swing decisions: an approach fix is the upside
  13. Jhoan Duran PHI · RP · Trade · a top-4 bullpen arm by projected rate · PNC −0.02 +1.5 wins $9.7M + Cabrera (45): $9.5M Elite KC (115) thrown only 10%
  14. Cade Smith CLE · RP · Trade · a top-4 bullpen arm by projected rate · PNC −0.02 +1.5 wins $4.2M + Delgado (40), Gourson (45), Johnson (45): $34.5M Elite ST (116) thrown only 10%
  15. MacKenzie Gore TEX · SP · Trade · rotation · PNC +0.07 +1.5 wins $11.7M + Johnson (45): $14.5M ERA 4.58 vs FIP 3.87
  16. Shea Langeliers ATH · C · Trade · starts at C · PNC −0.27 +1.4 wins $7.5M + Delgado (40), Sanford (45+): $24.0M Plus bat: 75.2 mph bat speed, 107.2 EV90
  17. Ian Happ CHC (FA) · OF · Free agent · starts at LF · PNC +0.16 +1.4 wins $19.0M × 3 Free agent: market estimate 3 yr × $19.0M · A qualifying offer is a toss-up
  18. CJ Abrams WSH · MI · Trade · starts at DH · PNC +0.20 +1.4 wins $8.8M + Gourson (45), Johnson (45): $29.0M Damage on contact, poor swing decisions: an approach fix is the upside
  19. Kyle Stowers MIA · OF · Trade · starts at LF · PNC +0.20 +1.4 wins $4.0M + Ruiz (#44 pick), Johnson (45): $24.6M Plus bat: 75.4 mph bat speed, 106.9 EV90
  20. George Kirby SEA · SP · Trade · rotation · PNC −0.05 +1.4 wins $9.6M + Jared Jones (1B prospect, 35+), Sanford (45+): $20.5M Model-graded SL for his slot: 109 Stuff, above 68% of comps
  21. Kris Bubic LAD (FA) · SP · Free agent · rotation · PNC +0.03 +1.4 wins $11.4M × 3 Free agent: market estimate 3 yr × $11.4M · Missed most of 2026, 55 IP in 2026
  22. Hunter Greene CIN · SP · Trade · rotation · PNC −0.01 +1.4 wins $15.3M + Ruiz (#44 pick): $10.1M ERA 6.83 vs FIP 3.57 · Ended 2026 on the 60-day IL (Right elbow soreness), 27 IP in 2026
  23. Adrian Morejon SD (FA) · RP · Free agent · a top-4 bullpen arm by projected rate · PNC −0.01 +1.4 wins $23.2M × 2 Free agent: market estimate 2 yr × $23.2M (capped at the edge of last winter’s market: a floor more than a forecast) · 2 cautions
  24. Mauricio Dubón ATL (FA) · OF · Free agent · bench · PNC −0.08 +1.2 wins $14.4M × 2 Free agent: market estimate 2 yr × $14.4M
  25. Heriberto Hernández MIA · OF · Trade · starts at LF · PNC −0.24 +1.1 wins $780K + Barco (45), Johnson (45), Sanford (45+): $41.4M Hits LHP: 0.399 xwOBA vs LHP (163 PA), 0.350 once his split is regressed
  26. Casey Mize SD (FA) · SP · Free agent · rotation depth (a sixth starter) · PNC −0.02 +1.1 wins $14.2M × 3 Free agent: market estimate 3 yr × $14.2M
  27. Michael Soroka AZ (FA) · SP · Free agent · rotation · PNC −0.03 +1.1 wins $14.5M × 3 Free agent: market estimate 3 yr × $14.5M · Holds a $10.0M mutual option for 2027; one side almost always declines.
  28. Yainer Diaz HOU · C · Trade · bench · PNC −0.08 +1.1 wins $6.1M + Delgado (40), Barco (45): $13.9M Damage on contact, poor swing decisions: an approach fix is the upside
  29. Freddy Peralta TB (FA) · SP · Free agent · rotation depth (a sixth starter) · PNC −0.03 +1.1 wins $13.8M × 3 Free agent: market estimate 3 yr × $13.8M · Strong October (1.08 ERA in 16.2 IP)
  30. Kevin Gausman CHC (FA) · SP · Free agent · rotation depth (a sixth starter) · PNC −0.01 +1.0 wins $16.6M × 2 Free agent: market estimate 2 yr × $16.6M
  31. Sandy Alcantara MIA (FA) · SP · Free agent · rotation depth (a sixth starter) · PNC −0.09 +1.0 wins $16.4M × 3 Free agent: market estimate 3 yr × $16.4M · His $21.0M club option for 2027 is expected to be declined (projected value below it); the decision comes about five days after the World Series.
  32. Yandy Díaz TB · 1B/DH · Trade · starts at DH · PNC −0.08 +1.0 wins $13.0M + Owens (35+): $1.5M · overpaid by $3M Hits LHP: 0.351 xwOBA vs LHP (197 PA), 0.362 once his split is regressed
  33. Jacob deGrom TEX · SP · Trade · rotation · PNC −0.01 +1.0 wins $37.0M · salary only · overpaid by $23M ERA 4.20 vs FIP 3.11
  34. Michael Wacha KC · SP · Trade · rotation depth (a sixth starter) · PNC +0.01 +1.0 wins $14.0M + Cabrera (45): $9.5M Dead-weight SI: shift to CH worth ≈1.4 runs
  35. David Peterson CHC (FA) · SP · Free agent · rotation depth (a sixth starter) · PNC 0.00 +1.0 wins $12.7M × 2 Free agent: market estimate 2 yr × $12.7M
  36. Tyler Mahle ATL (FA) · SP · Free agent · rotation depth (a sixth starter) · PNC −0.03 +1.0 wins $13.5M × 2 Free agent: market estimate 2 yr × $13.5M · Strong October (1.35 ERA in 13.1 IP)
  37. Sonny Gray BOS (FA) · SP · Free agent · rotation · PNC −0.01 +1.0 wins $16.7M × 2 Free agent: market estimate 2 yr × $16.7M · 2 cautions
  38. Dustin May MIL (FA) · SP · Free agent · rotation depth (a sixth starter) · PNC −0.04 +1.0 wins $13.3M × 2 Free agent: market estimate 2 yr × $13.3M · Holds a $20.0M mutual option for 2027; one side almost always declines.
  39. Griffin Conine MIA · OF · Trade · starts at RF · PNC +0.10 +1.0 wins $780K + Barco (45), Johnson (45): $22.9M Plus bat: 74.1 mph bat speed, 107.7 EV90
  40. Jack Flaherty DET (FA) · SP · Free agent · rotation depth (a sixth starter) · PNC −0.01 +1.0 wins $10.8M × 2 Free agent: market estimate 2 yr × $10.8M
Keystone is an independent portfolio project. It is not affiliated with Major League Baseball or any club. Data: MLB Stats API, Baseball Savant, FanGraphs. Used under their terms for individual, non-commercial use.