Hold My Log - 52.07 - Dennis French Signs with Portland

[7teen]

The Portland Lumberjacks continue to make moves and putting their ample cap space to good use. And they continue to replace the departing superstar players with a new set of superstar faces. The team announced today the signing of future hall of famer Dennis French to a 2 year guaranteed deal that could also keep the star corner outfielder in Portland another 2 after that. The deal is reported to pay French $9.5 and $8.5 million in guaranteed money for the first two seasons. French can then opt-out of a $5 million 3rd year of the deal that would also cause him to forfeit an $11 million team option 4th year of the deal.

"It's a super deal for us and in terms of trying to build a competitive team again for a post-season run without hindering our finances long term" commented team GM Chris Wilson. "Frenchy is 34 years old and on the back side of his career so committing to a long term deal just wasn't in the cards. And Frenchy understood that. We have a deal in place to maximize his best years and maybe see a few more years out of him if he wants to stick around. What we obviously like as well as his playing ability. He sures up our other corner outfield position and gives us 3 real solid outfielders who can hit and defend their positions. We love the direction and shape this team and roster is taking for the 2052 season."

The additions of French and Hubbard likely spell the end of Jeffrey Smith's time with the Lumberjacks. Smith is still a free agent searching for a team this offseason. Smith put up 11.8 WAR in his 3.5 seasons with the team after being acquired via a trade with Vancouver during the 2048 season. After the team missed out on the post-season that year but posted their first winning record, Smith helped lead the team to 3 consecutive trips to the post-season, including a division title and 2 trips to the Brewster Series.

But the team still has roughly $33.5 million in cap space left to spend. Examining the roster for the Lumberjacks, one could see the team still needs some help at a variety of positions.

"We are still looking for some corner infield guys and a DH to possibly platoon with Gallagher" commented Kate Fiscus. "We also need some bench filler guys and maybe a couple of arms. We may sit back and kind of let some of the names weed themselves out over the next few weeks and see what deals we may be able to make with some of the remaining guys. We are hesitant to over commit at the moment and have to settle for some poor leftovers later."

[Dington]

Wow. Hubbard and French? How badly do you want to be Nashville?

[Jwalk100]

Still a great defensive player. You need the 2049 Nashville version of French not the 2051.

[7teen]

I’ll settle for the 2050 version. Haha

[Dington]

I’m happy he opted out. Was atrocious at the plate last season, but great defense.

[CTBrewCrew]

Trying to squeeze the last bit of juice outta that orange there

[lordtoffee]

Worth it for the FI boost.