2063 Shark Bites TN No. 5 - Cornerstones Collect

[thatboynicecoast]

Embattled, hardened and bruised, Wattas Hondo and Jose Marquez have more than earned their paydays.

Hondo's last couple days have been the culmination of year's worth of struggle and perseverance. The 26-year-old signed his first multi-year extension on Sunday and earned the second Player of the Week honor of his career, first in three years, on Monday.

The deal covers his two arbitration years plus one, totaling $11,270,000 across three seasons.

"For everything Watt has been through and the attitude he has sustained throughout, he more than deserves this," manager Jim Sanchez said during a press meeting.

Hondo has suffered 12 injuries over the last 18 months, several of them knocking the Zairean out for multiple weeks. But the franchise's cornerstone shortstop has found a way to squeeze in 4.9 WAR over 149 games during that span.

Marquez, 29, is now on contract extension No. 3, though this is the first spanning the maximum three years. It will net the corner outfielder $19,500,000 at completion.

His path was unlike many others as a former 14th round draft pick. Marquez fought his way into a bench role by the age of 21 and contributed in spots for a number of years. Then he transformed his swing ahead of the 2059 season and blossomed into the everyday starter the Spain native is today.

Marquez is pacing toward his first 20 home run season and, along with Hondo, has been instrumental in the rebuild of the Sydney Sharks who are pushing for the franchise's second-ever playoff appearance.

The Sharks also announced extensions for outfielders Grigori Perunov and Miguel Montero, securing their lineup for the immediate future through the commitment of $46.6M.

The Blacktown Fins are 74-62.