One key to roster construction is how cheap the outfield is with Soto and Robles on minimum and Eaton being cheap. Hypothetical roster construction would be:
Eaton ($9.5MM), Robles, Soto, Stevenson (MLB minimum), Parra ($2MM, coming off a $1.75MM contract). Total OF - <14MM.
Rendon ($35MM), Turner ($7.5MM, which is 2x his 2019 pay as a 2d year arb eligible), A-Cab - $4MM, [Kieboom/Sanchez] minimum, RZ $5MM, Mystery Lefty 1B - Moreland? Brad Miller? $3-5MM. That's $50-52MM or so for the IF. That is close to the lux tax cost of the 2019 infield ($44.5MM for Rendon, RZ, Dozier, $3.75 for Turner, $3.5 Howie, and negligible for A-Cab).
Suzuki is $5MM. Need a #2. Figure no more than $2MM for a random back up, fo atotal of $7MM at C. That saves about $1.8MM from Gomes.
Still can afford Stras at $30MM AAV for 6 years. Add in the 4 pitchers locked in (Max, Corbin, Anibal, and Doo) for $68MM. Figure a set up guy, maybe Huddy for $5MM AAV. add in Rainey and Suero for MLB minimum, and 2 of Ross / Fedde / Voth for longman / 5th starter. That leave 2 pitching slots open between Guerra, Strickland, Elias, and whoever you bring in for maybe another $4MM. That brings in the 12 man staff for about $110MM. Key is 3-4 guys on MLB minimum.
If my numbers are in the ballpark, that's a nice roster for maybe less than $175MM.
Liking your thinking JCA. Are the figures literal or for AAV purposes? Like most players, I would assume that Rendon will almost certainly sign a back-loaded contract (disregarding any potential deferrals...) so wont actually hurt cashflow this year to $35 big ones - more likely a token $25-30MM or something.
