2061 Shark Bites TN No. 2 - Sydney announces trio of major roster additions

[thatboynicecoast]

Props to interim general manager Stephen Lane. The roster base in Sydney was a solid one to start the new campaign with. Despite significant production loss, the cupboard was stocked with pitching depth and hitting talent.

Perhaps most importantly, we were left with flexibility. This allowed our staff to evaluate and identify where immediate improvements can be made. We came to a few conclusions about current organizational health and have addressed them.

On top of the list was the backbone of the active roster. We identified our presence up the middle as the team's biggest weakness and most pressing concern. Michael Taylor is a fine backup catcher on most GBC two-deeps, but Jo-hsi Bi has no business being on anyone's active roster.

Shortstop Howard Walsh's infield range grades at 4 and Jose Marquez - one of our top hitting talents - has a centerfield grade of 2. Our -3.4 team zone rating through 29 games (9th in the GBC) only solidifies the validity of our findings.

With this in mind, we decided to honor a standing offer made by Lane to a starting pitcher and make two further additions to strengthen the roster and better position the Sharks for playoff contention.

• RHP Travis Wearne, 1/$4.8M
  

Lane's final contribution to the Sharks was a strong one. Wearne is a GBC graduate who turned his stint with Cairo into a five-year BBA contract with the Montreal Blazers. The 30-year-old returns to the GBC as one of only two starters in the league with an 8 grade HRA and velocity that touches 99.

Wearne made 93 appearances across three seasons in Montreal, including 61 starts, and pieced together a 5.00 ERA/5.00 FIP with 1.5 WAR. His last full season in Cairo saw him make 37 relief appearances in 2052 with a 3.68 ERA.

• C Andy Elmer, 1/$1.4M
  

Taylor was the 10th ranked starting GBC catcher out of 10, according to the Baseball News Network. Elmer provides an immediate boost at the position and gives us a strong 1-2 behind the plate.

Elmer is a 14-year BBA veteran with 1,339 career games under his belt and a .642 career OPS. The 35-year-old has an excellent eye for the zone and a good feel for his glove that makes up for the pool noodle attached to his torso.

• OF Kratvanga Thirunavu, 1/$900,000
  

Thirunavu's addition allows us to cover more grass in centerfield and puts Marquez in his natural position at left field. Thirunavu is another BBA veteran who spent the bulk of his time with the San Antonio Outlaws.

The 34-year-old has a career .676 OPS over 456 games. He's now one of six GBC outfielders with at least 7 range and 9 arm.

The additions of Wearne, Elmer and Thirunavu improve our battery strength and outfield defense without sacrificing ability at the plate. The shortstop issue was solved in-house by moving Walsh to third base and placing top-ten prospect Wattas Hondo at shortstop. Hondo has no experience at his new position, but does have the physical toolset to grow into it well.

Sydney is currently 16-13. Though we were predicted to finish last in our division, we plan on competing this season. The roster moves made in April reflect that commitment.

The Sharks made a number of other organizational changes.

• 15 players were signed to minor league deals

• 11 players were released from the organization

• 3 new coaches were hired

[Jwalk100]

Hondo will look like a Zimmer Winner at short after watching Walsh play there.