C-Notes 2044.01 - Free Agency

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C-Notes 2044.01 - Free Agency

Post by GoldenOne » Sun Sep 06, 2020 4:53 pm

Well, it was looking like it was going to be a busy Free Agency period for the Cougars and compared to last year, it was. The Cougars made 6 Free Agent signings this off season, adding $90.25M in payroll, with only $24.5M of that being due in 2044. That leaves the Cougars still with over $30M in cap space for the season. None of the signings were particularly sexy names but they all seem to fill a specific purpose and while a couple of the contracts may be slight overpays, there isnt anything there that looks like it will harm Charlotte in future seasons either. Let's take a look at who was brought in -

- P Donald Harris. The 35yo Harris spent the last couple of seasons in Valencia, following 8 seasons with Jacksonville. Harris has normally spent his career in the rotation but is expected to play a heavy roll in the bullpen this season, following a couple of starts while filling in for the injured, 2nd year upstart, Ashton Brooks. Harris has great stuff and movement to go along with three above average pitches, but Charlotte is hoping to hide his wildness a little in the bullpen. (Seemingly a trademark in the Cougar bullpen.) He's on a $1.5M contract for this season with a team option for $2.5M for next season.

- RP Bob Coleman. Coleman, signed for $2.5M this season only, looks to be another nice bullpen addition for the Cougars. Another guy familiar with the Atlantic after spending a lot of time with Rockville, Coleman mixes3 decent pitches with average to slightly above average stuff, movement and control.

- 3B Ira Sánchez. With the promotion of César Torres as the Cougars everyday first baseman, Rashardo Menne is expected to take over duties at 3B. Menne pretty much stinks at hitting LHPs (not what you want to hear about a guy making $18M this season) and his defense at 3B is, well, let's just say less than stellar. So, in comes Sanchez. Sanchez is pretty good at hitting LHPs, can hold his own against RHPs if Menne isnt available, and is a stud defensive player at 3B. Was his $14.3M over 3 years a little much for that type of role player? Sure, a little. But the $6M in year 3 is a vesting option for 500 PAs. Avoidable enough in the role he is playing and coincides nicely with the end of Menne's contract as well.

- RF Mark White. White was brought in to split some time with the still-young Bobby Horne. Horne worked hard and saw a nice little bump in his scouting report but the Charlotte brass like defense and likes to run. While White isnt necessarily head-and-shoulders above Horne, he is better in those departments. Horne will still be relied upon for his power outside of Family Dollar Field though. And at $6M per year for 2 years with a Player Option for a third at the same price, it is certainly a nice short-term contract that shows many favorable potential outcomes for the Cougars.

- LF Fernando Reyes. Reyes was certainly the biggest dip-in-the-pool for the Cougars this offseason. While its a 6-year deal with an AAV of $8M a season, the first 3 seasons are at $7M, $7M, and $6.5M before Reyes gets a chance to exercise a Player Option. That Player Option year would be at a still-reasonable $7.5M before turning into two years of Team Options at $9M and $11M which will surely be declined unless Reyes suddenly starts looking like a potential hall of famer. Reyes is sure to only see the field when there is a RHP on the bump and will split his time with the young Puerto Rican, Marcos 'Torch' Gonzáles. Reyes can also hold his own on defense in LF but Charlotte also has a few other options for when defensive replacements are needed in the expansive Charlotte outfield.

- C Aaron Stone. Yes, the same Aaron Stone that chose to exercise his player option, turning down $15M for this season, ultimately signed back with Charlotte for a 1-year $3.5M, please-dont-make-me-go-to-the-UMEBA contract. Stone put up a 2.3 WAR season last year and the fans were happy to see him coming back. The Charlotte Front Office is certainly happy that the fans are happy but are also happy (can I get a few more happys into this sentence?) that they are saving $11.5M to make those fans happy. Stone will hopefully be there to contribute some more offense this season but when it comes to defenseive abilities, he'll take a seat for 23yo Alfonso Jareño, who can still do enough with his bat to be respectable when in the lineup.

And there you have it, a couple of new guys to help out the bullpen, some guys to split some time in the outfield, another platoon guy for the infield, and a returning catcher on a much friendlier contract. While GM Golden has never been one for platoons in the past, its starting to look like there may be a new Draft to The Plan® in Charlotte.
Brett "The Brain" Golden
GM: Nashville Goats 2034-2039 (The Plan® was working when I left!)
GM: Charlotte Cougars 2040-2052
GM: Rocky Mountain Oysters 2053-2057
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