The transition from the hot stove to spring training isn't always smooth, but usually the dividing lines are a little more clear than what we've got in February 2024, as pitchers and catchers report in Florida and Arizona.
To an unusual extent, the boundaries from one phase of the baseball calendar to the next are blurred because so many of the winter's top free agents remain unsigned. Typically, when we issue this pre-spring training Stock Watch, it's a chance to assess the work each team did on its roster over the winter. Today, we're doing that based on how things stand at the moment, but also with the understanding that, for some teams, these pictures are going to change after they've added an impact player ... or two ... or four.
It's not neat and tidy but with Matt Chapman, Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery all still mired in free agent limbo, that's the situation we've got. At the same time, just as this initial spring Stock Watch is a chance for fans of every team to dream, it's also an opportunity for those fans to let their imaginations run just a little wild.
With that in mind, not only have we crafted estimates for the effect of each team's offseason work, we've included some very loose forecasts based on this thought experiment: What if your team went "all-in" by opening up its wallet and signing all of the top remaining free agents? It's a pretty thought and one not based in reality but, then again, it's their money, not ours, right?
Here's how all 30 MLB teams rank as spring training begins.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
Projection: 104.8 wins | 99.3% playoffs | 27.9% title
Hot stove: Gained 12.2 wins | 1st
All-in: 109.9 wins (99.3% playoffs)
The Dodgers won the offseason. You don't really have to pull out a spreadsheet to know this. All you have to do is look at the list of free agent signings and see that one of baseball's most powerful teams added the premier player on the domestic market (Shohei Ohtani) and on the international market (Yoshinobu Yamamoto), and also added impact starter Tyler Glasnow. All of this gives the Dodgers a starting point that puts them about on par with the Braves, but without any one of these moves, it would be Atlanta in the top spot as spring training opens.
2. Atlanta Braves
Projection: 104.7 wins | 99.2% playoffs | 27.1% title
Hot stove: Gained 3.9 wins | 3rd
All-in: 110.5 wins (99.3% playoffs)
The Braves did a lot of shuffling early in the winter to create depth, particularly in the bullpen. Indeed, Atlanta enters the season with a relief staff that projects as one of the five best in the majors. But as for bigger-role acquisitions, we're basically talking about Jarred Kelenic in left field and Chris Sale in the rotation. While those additions aren't as sexy as what the Dodgers did, there is a lot of upside in both of these moves. Kelenic hasn't fully blossomed into a consistent hitter who produces in line with his one-time status as a top prospect. Sale, of course, has been hounded by injuries for several years. If the Braves can coax both of these players into the kind of higher-level performance that they either have the potential to reach (Kelenic) or have reached before (Sale), then this roster really starts looking like a powerhouse.
3. Houston Astros
Projection: 97.4 wins | 92.2% playoffs | 12.0% title
Hot stove: Gained 0.4 wins | 16th
All-in: 101.2 wins (92.2% playoffs)
The Astros and Yankees are neck-and-neck in terms of baseline win forecasts, with Houston a lone game ahead of New York. The Astros' gap widened considerably during the simulations, suggesting they have some advantages in scheduling that comes with having the woeful Athletics and the torn-down Angels in their division. Thus, Houston remains in a familiar perch as a prime favorite to win the AL pennant. Houston's offseason work was modest but in investing heavily in Josh Hader, the winter's top available reliever, the Astros made a definite splash. The ripples from that splash may not be particularly noticeable until October but this forecast suggests getting into the postseason derby is, as usual, a strong possibility for Houston.
4. New York Yankees
Projection: 92.6 wins | 79.9% playoffs | 8.2% title
Hot stove: Gained 5.0 wins | 2nd
All-in: 100.8 wins (92.2% playoffs)
The Yankees remade their outfield mix by adding MVP candidate Juan Soto along with Alex Verdugo and Trent Grisham. They also added a rotation stalwart in Marcus Stroman. Thus, after a disappointing 2023 season, New York enters spring training with ESPN BET's AL-leading over/under figure of 93.5. Now we direct your attention to that all-in estimate. While the notion of signing four premier free agents after the start of spring training is pure fantasy for most teams, the feeling with the Yankees is a little different. We're not saying they should do it. We're just saying that if they really wanted to and didn't want to heed any stinking luxury tax threshold, they probably could do it.
5. Minnesota Twins
Projection: 88.9 wins | 73.5% playoffs | 3.8% title
Hot stove: Gained 2.2 wins | 8th
All-in: 94.6 wins (79.9% playoffs)
There is a clear divide between the top four teams in the pecking order and this next tier, but nevertheless it's a surprise to see the Twins leading this pack. Part of it is that the Twins benefit in the simulations due to its AL Central-heavy schedule. Even more, despite a winter in which the Twins were more than a little passive, standing ostensibly pat in terms of major moves while losing Sonny Gray and trading away Jorge Polanco, they still come out at a similar level to where they were when last season ended. There's a mix of factors: positive regression (Carlos Correa), better health (Byron Buxton, Alex Kirilloff, Chris Paddack). Then there is simply this: The Twins have a deep group of still-young MLB players whose performance trajectories are still pointed upward. It would have been nice to see Minnesota bolster this mix with a little spending but if you're expecting the Twins to collapse because of the inaction, that's probably not going to happen.
6. Baltimore Orioles
Projection: 87.7 wins | 60.5% playoffs | 3.2% title
Hot stove: Gained 2.5 wins | 6th
All-in: 96.7 wins (79.9% playoffs)
The Orioles won 101 games last season and even though their run differential was more appropriate for 94-win team, fans have to be scratching their heads over preseason forecasts that suggest Baltimore is somehow worse. The thing is, that's not what the forecasts are saying. The way to understand this is not to look at an 88-win projection and compare it to 101 wins, but to what the Orioles were forecasted to do entering last season. At this time last year, most projections for the O's landed in the range of 70-75 wins. That's just the nature of projecting emerging teams. Baltimore not only looks very strong on paper right now, but its preponderance of impact young talent arguably gives the Orioles the highest ceiling for the coming season of any AL club. That said, Baltimore, perhaps more than any other preseason top-10 team, would really stand to benefit by inking Snell, Montgomery or both.
7. Philadelphia Phillies
Projection: 87.7 wins | 68.6% playoffs | 2.2% title
Hot stove: Lost 2.3 wins | 22nd
All-in: 92.6 wins (79.9% playoffs)
The Phillies have had a very quiet offseason ... so far. But, in keeping with today's theme, it's not over yet. While Philadelphia isn't going to concede the NL East in the middle of February, there is such a large gap in the projections between the Phillies and Braves that any splashy acquisition would really be about establishing more of an edge over what figures to once again be a large group of wild-card contenders. With that in mind, looking over the Phillies' grid of strengths and weaknesses, you can see a nice fit for either Chapman, Bellinger or (because we're having fun here) both. Chapman would be a bigger roll of the dice because the Phils already have Alec Bohm on hand and nowhere to put him if they brought in Chapman. Bellinger, on the other hand, slides right in as Philly's everyday center fielder. Also, as with any team, while the Phillies have a strong on-paper pitching staff, they would be more than able to find room for Snell or Montgomery in their rotation.
8. Toronto Blue Jays
Projection: 87.0 wins | 55.7% playoffs | 2.5% title
Hot stove: Gained 0.1 wins | 18th
All-in: 98.0 wins (92.2% playoffs)
This doesn't seem like it should be that hard. The Blue Jays built themselves up to contend right now in this window. They have leaned heavily into defense as a pillar of that contention. They saw firsthand what Chapman can do over the past two seasons. He's available right now. The Jays' current depth chart figures to have some combination of Cavan Biggio, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Santiago Espinal and Justin Turner (mostly at DH at this point) at the hot corner. What are they waiting for? Toronto could use one of the premier starting pitchers as well -- not just to deepen its rotation, but to keep them away from the other teams in its division.
9. Tampa Bay Rays
Projection: 86.5 wins | 52.9% playoffs | 2.3% title
Hot stove: Lost 4.4 wins | 26th
All-in: 94.8 wins (79.9% playoffs)
The Rays should sign Bellinger. He's a perfect fit, except financially. But the Rays have been willing to offer large contracts from time to time -- they are just very fastidious about doing so. Bellinger would maintain or even add to their defense in center while having the flexibility to move around when needed, which would work with Tampa Bay's full-roster approach. He has as much power as anyone on the roster and would add walks to a lineup that, as constructed, is light on them.
10. Seattle Mariners
Projection: 86.3 wins | 52.2% playoffs | 2.1% title
Hot stove: Gained 2.4 wins | 7th
All-in: 95.8 wins (79.9% playoffs)
The Mariners are baseball's weirdest version of musical chairs. Because they always have the same number of chairs. The music starts, Jerry Dipoto starts running around, then the music stops and the same number of chairs are filled with the same number of bodies. The bodies in the chairs might be different but the song always sounds the same. We write this every year: The Mariners are the only franchise in baseball that's never won a pennant. They are pretty good. Instead of rearranging the furniture, Seattle ownership should authorize a major payroll upgrade, enough to land Seattle-area native Snell, at the very least. Do it now because this song is ear-worming its way into people's heads.
11. Texas Rangers
Projection: 86.0 wins | 49.7% playoffs | 2.0% title
Hot stove: Lost 3.6 wins | 25th
All-in: 92.9 wins (79.9% playoffs)
The Rangers haven't exactly been idle. They haven't made headline-grabbing moves, perhaps hamstrung by payroll concerns stemming from the RSN saga. As a result, their biggest hope for outrunning rosterwide regression comes from good injury-recovery news and their youngest players like Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford living up to well-deserved hype. But the Rangers have at least kept the transaction wire burning in hopes of building out the depth on the 40-man roster. Texas signed approximately 93 veteran pitchers to minor league deals over the winter (a slight exaggeration) and some of them could end up giving Bruce Bochy a season full of bullpen options. Nevertheless, the Rangers still should have signed Josh Hader, economic uncertainty be damned.
12. St. Louis Cardinals
Projection: 85.3 wins | 59.1% playoffs | 1.5% title
Hot stove: Gained 1.7 wins | 11th
All-in: 92.3 wins (73.5% playoffs)
Two things the Cardinals love to do: bring back players who used to excel for them, and take away the Cubs' nice things. They could do both, right now, and if they did, they could really establish themselves as preseason favorites in the NL Central. On the ex-Cardinal front, Montgomery is dangling out there and the St. Louis rotation could sure use him. You can say the same thing about Snell, but he doesn't fit our ex-Cardinal narrative. The Cardinals did bring back a former standout in Matt Carpenter, but perhaps they would have been better suited to make a splash and target Bellinger for the position group. He'd start in center, provide a two-way upgrade to the lineup, and, best of all, they'd prevent him from re-signing with the Cubs.
13. Arizona Diamondbacks
Projection: 85.0 wins | 55.5% playoffs | 1.3% title
Hot stove: Gained 3.0 wins | 5th
All-in: 92.5 wins (73.5% playoffs)
It's been a solid offseason for Arizona in the wake of last year's shocking run to the World Series. The Diamondbacks remain an excellent mix of in-their-prime regulars and younger performers who remain on the upswing (Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas, Gabriel Moreno, several pitchers). Even better, nearly all of those players now have high-level postseason experience. Arizona could still stand to add some power to the lineup, even after inking Joc Pederson to hold down the heavy side of a mix-and-match DH platoon. Going all-in with the elite free agents doesn't make much sense for this club, but if the price was right on ex-Snake J.D. Martinez, that would really make the position player group look like a complete set.
14. Chicago Cubs
Projection: 82.2 wins | 43.1% playoffs | 0.9% title
Hot stove: Gained 0.2 wins | 17th
All-in: 87.6 wins (55.7% playoffs)
In Chicago, it's hard to find anyone who doesn't think Bellinger will re-up with the Cubs. If he does, that moves Chicago close to even-up with the Cardinals in the way-too-early NL Central pecking order, though both clubs have to warily watch the very young Reds transform into a possible powerhouse. Still, if Bellinger's return was really a no-brainer, it probably would have already happened. After a glacial start to the postseason, the Cubs added some core players like Michael Busch, Shota Imanaga and Hector Neris. Busch is likely to be Chicago's most-used first baseman but, like a number of Cubs, he's got the kind of positional versatility new manager Craig Counsell is well-equipped to take advantage of. Still, if Bellinger doesn't return, the success of the offseason play will still hinge on Counsell being the guy who can put Chicago over the top in the postseason chase.
15. Cleveland Guardians
Projection: 80.6 wins | 30.4% playoffs | 0.5% title
Hot stove: Gained 1.9 wins | 9th
All-in: 86.7 wins (52.9% playoffs)
This has been another extraordinarily dull offseason for Cleveland. Even so, the Guardians figure to improve at least a little, simply because they've been one of baseball's youngest teams over the past couple of years. That keeps them in the middle and, in the AL Central, being in the middle means you're in contention. It also means there are considerable marginal gains to be made from leaning heavily into the stalemated free agent market. Cleveland doesn't do things like this, but a successful, surreal all-in splurge of the top remaining free agents would make the Guardians the favorites in their division. And, just as we always bring up the Mariners' pennant drought, let's never lose sight of the fact that the Guardians have held the top spot in the title-drought rankings ever since they lost Game 7 to the Cubs in the 2016 World Series. Do it, G-men!
16. New York Mets
Projection: 80.5 wins | 33.1% playoffs | 0.5% title
Hot stove: Lost 2.4 wins | 23rd
All-in: 89.1 wins (73.5% playoffs)
If anything, the first edition of the David Stearns-led Mets has the breathing space that comes from wildly lowered expectations from a year ago. The offseason has largely been one of adding depth options, a Stearns specialty. The rotation would look better on paper with the elite free agents, but the Mets don't seem likely to spend on a group already footing much of the bill for high-dollar hurlers no longer with the team. Besides, the Mets likely look at the rotation they have as one with some positive regression mojo behind it. As things stand, the Mets figure to be in the middle of the pack of wild-card hopefuls in the NL. If that comes to pass, they can bolster along the way in advance of a much sexier offseason heading into 2025.
17. Cincinnati Reds
Projection: 79.9 wins | 31.7% playoffs | 0.3% title
Hot stove: Gained 3.0 wins | 4th
All-in: 84.1 wins (43.1% playoffs)
Reds fans should neither sweat the middling forecasts nor wish for their team to go heavy on a pricey free agent. They saw last year the team that is coming together, and the variability that comes from having a young roster of that sort is the happy kind -- one that could soar past the projections. There are some obvious ways this could manifest: better team defense, a pitching staff that slices walks and meatballs. The one source of possible consternation during an exciting time in Cincinnati is the one splashy-ish move for a hitter the Reds made this winter -- signing Jeimer Candelario to hit in the middle of the order. If there was one impact move to be made, it would not have been difficult to find something that displaced a little more water.
18. San Francisco Giants
Projection: 79.3 wins | 27.2% playoffs | 0.3% title
Hot stove: Gained 1.4 wins | 12th
All-in: 85.1 wins (55.5% playoffs)
Yep, the Giants should sign them all. The whole, elite free agent quartet. We know they won't. We know they probably won't sign any of them. Right now, the Giants project to feature an Opening Day payroll near the middle in the majors, slotting between the Angels and Red Sox. This just does not seems appropriate. According to the figures compiled by Forbes before last season, San Francisco ranked fifth in revenue, between the Cubs and Mets. It ranked second in operating income before featuring a 2023 payroll that ranked 10th. Something needs to change.
19. Boston Red Sox
Projection: 79.3 wins | 21.3% playoffs | 0.6% title
Hot stove: Gained 1.3 wins | 13th
All-in: 87.3 wins (55.7% playoffs)
When the Red Sox began spring training this week, first-time GM Craig Breslow struck a bit of a defeatist tone when talking about the offseason. Which is, we remind you, not really over. Here's a thought: Go out and sign the players you need, especially the pitchers. This isn't a knock on Breslow, who is almost certainly operating under the parameters he was given by team ownership. However: You're the Boston Red Sox. You need impact starting pitchers. Two of them are just sitting out there. After three last-place finishes in four years, you'd think there would be a little more urgency from one of baseball's economic juggernauts.
20. San Diego Padres
Projection: 78.8 wins | 25.1% playoffs | 0.2% title
Hot stove: Lost 8.5 wins | 30th
All-in: 85.8 wins (59.1% playoffs)
There's an Icarus analogy to be made about the 2023 Padres, but it's hard to do that without thinking of the Iron Maiden song and imagining A.J. Preller as the protagonist. Things are probably a little more settled than all that. The Padres do need pitching but if this year's prime directive is to stay under the first luxury tax threshold, it might be hard to bring back Snell or snag Montgomery. If the tax line is not being treated like an electrified fence, then the Padres are another team in the middle in which some additional spending could have outsized ramifications in terms of playoff probability.
21. Milwaukee Brewers
Projection: 78.5 wins | 24.9% playoffs | 0.3% title
Hot stove: Lost 0.2 wins | 19th
All-in: 87.7 wins (55.7% playoffs)
The last Stock Watch already knew about the loss of Brandon Woodruff, but it didn't know about the eventual trade of Corbin Burnes. Thus the foundation on which the Brewers have been built during their current sustained run of success has crumbled, with only Freddy Peralta still around to carry the torch. You can argue the Brewers needn't be so diligent with their payroll allotment. Nevertheless, the timing might be right to do so. First was the combo of Woodruff's injury and Burnes' status as a pending free agent. Just as important though is the fact that Milwaukee is loaded with young talent, some of which has already gotten a good look at big league competition. Now, in 2024, the Jackson Chourio era is set to begin. As with other teams, you'd love to see this solidified with an impact signing (or four) but there is still a lot to be excited about in Milwaukee.
22. Miami Marlins
Projection: 78.3 wins | 23.4% playoffs | 0.2% title
Hot stove: Gained 1.8 wins | 10th
All-in: 85.6 wins (59.1% playoffs)
The Marlins have not made the playoffs very often during their history. Last season they did, though their two-game loss to the Phillies in the wild-card round, during which Miami scored two runs, was a pretty minor reward. Still, the Fish are on the upswing, right? Well, it's hard to still feel that way. First, they parted ways with lead exec Kim Ng. Then they bolstered the roster this winter with exactly zero veteran free agent acquisitions, except for those who inked minor league pacts. Yeah, we could stay with our theme and declare that the Marlins should splurge. But we know they won't, so why even introduce the notion into the minds of their long-suffering fan base?
23. Detroit Tigers
Projection: 77.3 wins | 18.3% playoffs | 0.1% title
Hot stove: Gained 1.1 wins | 14th
All-in: 82.1 wins (30.4% playoffs)
For teams in the AL Central, all of them nominally small-market teams or, in the case of the White Sox, a team that acts like a small-market team, the current playoff structure is a double-edged sword. For the Twins, a good team that won the division last year, you can let payroll drop and still know you're at least going to be in the mix for the division crown. The Guardians are a middling team and know they can stay there and hope for a few career seasons to propel them to the top. In Kansas City, you can spend on second- and third-tier free agents knowing there is a nonzero chance you stay within sniffing distance of .500, which might keep you in the chase well into the season because of the division -- and the bloated playoff format. The Tigers are the one team that is kind of in between all of these realities. Sure, the Tigers could spent their way to a few more guaranteed wins, but they know the upside for the franchise is tied to a few key young players coalescing as a group into a dynamic bunch. If that happens, then you can spend with some precision. And, who knows, maybe as you wait to see what happens, you might just end up contending anyway.
24. Los Angeles Angels
Projection: 73.7 wins | 6.8% playoffs | 0.0% title
Hot stove: Gained 1.1 wins | 15th
All-in: 81.1 wins (30.4% playoffs)
The Angels have backed off on payroll in the wake of Shohei Ohtani's departure, but they haven't hit the full reset button. If there is one franchise that could probably justify doing so right now, it's this one. That wouldn't be a great development for what we hope will be a few more years of Mike Trout playing at an All-Star level, when he's on the field. But as things stand, the Angels aren't going to make much of a dent in the playoff chase no matter what Trout does. Anyway, the Angels have slipped into the tier of teams where an all-in splurge doesn't seem worth it.
25. Pittsburgh Pirates
Projection: 72.8 wins | 9.5% playoffs | 0.0% title
Hot stove: Lost 1.2 wins | 21st
All-in: 80.5 wins (33.1% playoffs)
How about we get Bob Nutting to go a little wild? Would anything overturn the baseball narrative in Pittsburgh more than that? As things stand, the Pirates' current rebuild keeps progressing. It's progressing in baby steps, but at least those steps appear to be headed in the right direction. The recent signing of veteran backstop Yasmani Grandal papers over the unfortunate loss of young catcher Endy Rodriguez. Soon, Pirates fans can get amped up by the arrival of pitching super-prospect Paul Skenes. Why not increase the brilliance level of this very slowly brightening picture with a couple of high-dollar starting pitchers? You know who we mean. Follow in the direction of the 2023 Rangers. You don't need to already be in contention to start spending like a contender.
26. Kansas City Royals
Projection: 71.3 wins | 6.0% playoffs | 0.1% title
Hot stove: Lost 0.8 wins | 20th
All-in: 77.9 wins (18.3% playoffs)
The Royals are trying. You can say they've mostly made the payroll upgrades they've made -- and the more significant investment of Bobby Witt Jr.'s long-term extension -- because they want a new stadium and there is an important referendum on the docket for April. But that would be cynical. First off, the combination of having Witt for the foreseeable future along with a super-charged downtown stadium development makes this a really exciting time for the Royals and their fans. The Royals need to do a lot better in areas crucial for success in their market -- scouting, development, analytical best practices -- but as they work these things out and build for the future, at least they are not ignoring the present. They deserve credit for that.
27. Chicago White Sox
Projection: 62.0 wins | 0.5% playoffs | 0.0% title
Hot stove: Lost 5.4 wins | 27th
All-in: 69.3 wins (0.5% playoffs)
Like the Royals, the White Sox are floating an exciting new ballpark development that has tremendous economic potential for the franchise. (It also has considerable upside for a certain ESPN baseball writer who lives about a half-mile from the proposed site. And who has been telling people for years that the White Sox should build a stadium on that bizarrely undeveloped parcel of land just south of the Chicago Loop.) The recent rebuild crashed and burned last year in a most spectacular way, resulting in a rare organizational overhaul for the franchise. New GM Chris Getz is learning as he goes and so far, we can only really say that he at least isn't trying to succeed with what already failed. The White Sox aren't in a quick-fix situation, but Getz does seem to be creating some initial roster-building identity, one that emphasizes depth and team defense. You've got to start somewhere.
28. Oakland Athletics
Projection: 60.0 wins | 0.1% playoffs | 0.0% title
Hot stove: Lost 6.0 wins | 28th
All-in: 69.9 wins (0.5% playoffs)
The only mystery here is how the consensus projections slot the A's in ahead of the Nationals. Colorado? Sure, but Washington seems to be further along than that. As for the A's, why doesn't anyone suggest they rebuild Shibe Park exactly as it was and move back to Philadelphia? That'd be awesome. They could line the sidewalks with statues of Connie Mack, Jimmie Foxx, Lefty Grove and each member of the $100,000 infield. They could have an annual Rube Waddell Day where everyone goes to the park and acts in a bizarre but endearing fashion, kind of like a City of Brotherly Love version of Mardi Gras. As for the 2024 Oakland Athletics, unless you are personally invested in them, you might not find yourself tuning into their games very often.
29. Washington Nationals
Projection: 59.0 wins | 0.2% playoffs | 0.0% title
Hot stove: Lost 7.5 wins | 29th
All-in: 66.1 wins (0.5% playoffs)
While the Nationals aren't a prime contender, or even a sleeper contender, it doesn't feel like they are 103-loss bad. In CJ Abrams, Josiah Gray, MacKenzie Gore and Keibert Ruiz, there is a slowly growing core of young talent. For 2024, the best thing to accelerate this process would be for the more high-impact members of the Nats' prospect list to break through. For now, it's all about the young guys, those already in D.C. and those on the way like James Wood and Dylan Crews. Maybe next year we can discuss stupid spending for Washington. Though, if you believe in the Nationals' future and were impressed by the Rangers' run to the title, you might be convinced that it's worth it to splurge for Snell and Montgomery. If you're a Washington fan still dealing with the fallout of the last Stephen Strasburg contract and the struggles of Patrick Corbin, maybe not.
30. Colorado Rockies
Projection: 57.0 wins | 0.1% playoffs | 0.0% title
Hot stove: Lost 2.9 wins | 24th
All-in: 65.4 wins (0.5% playoffs)
The 2024 outlook for the Rockies already looked exceedingly grim. Then, just as spring training dawned, we learned that their closer, Daniel Bard, would be out for a few weeks because of a knee injury. And so begins another season at high altitude. Maybe the best thing for sports fans in Denver would be if the Rockies could somehow absorb the contract of Russell Wilson, who played two seasons in the Colorado system. He might have some remaining upside in this sport, and it would give the Broncos some much-needed roster flexibility during the NFL offseason. Win-win. This would be allowed, right?