Abritration hearings are in the books and free agents have filed for the open market. The Portland Lumberjacks will be blessed with about $26 million to try and lure those free agents into Portland. That total could have been a little more had Hedde Veenman not stole about $2-3 million from the organization at the arbitration hearings.
Veenman, coming off his best season of his career, took advantage of that and cashed in. Hedde hit .227/.366/.463 with a career high 26 homeruns and career high 58 runs batted in which also led to a career high 2.8 WAR on the season as a catcher. He also played in a career high 111 games. Prior to the hearings, some financial experts predicted Veenman would garner around $6-6.5 million from the arbitrator. GM Chris Wilson disagreed.
"We love Hedde" commented Wilson to mixed laughs in the room, "but we didn't think he was worth quite that much. These arbitration hearings can get ugly sometimes and this one was like that. We offered him $4.5 million based on the face he put up a combined 0.1 WAR in 2038 and 2039. But I guess the arbitors or whatever you call them weigh the most recent season very heavily."
And heavily they did. Obviously insulted the club would low-ball Veenman, the arbitrators decided that Veenman and his 2.8 WAR were worth $8.125 million in 2041, his final season of team control before heading to free agency. That was over $1.5 to $2 million more than most estimates had throughout the season.
"It sucks, but again, we love Hedde" added Wilson. "We're targeting pitching this off-season, as is 55 other teams in the league I'm sure. All it means to us is that we'll have about $2 million less to spend this off-season than we originally expected."
Portland currently has a payroll under $80 million so the front office is optimistic the team can improve heading into the 2041 season.
We Got Wood - 41.06 - The One Where Veenman Stole From Us
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We Got Wood - 41.06 - The One Where Veenman Stole From Us
Chris Wilson
LB Surfers 95-96
FL Pac Champs: 95
Madison Wolves 99-2039
JL MW: 99-2009, 17, 20, 21
JL WC: 12
JL: 01, 04, 09, 12
FL Heartland: 32
FL WC: 31, 33
BBA Champs: 04, 09
Portland Lumberjacks 2040-
FL Pacific: 50
FL WC: 49, 51
FL Champs: 49, 51
Vic Caleca TN of the Year 2046
LB Surfers 95-96
FL Pac Champs: 95
Madison Wolves 99-2039
JL MW: 99-2009, 17, 20, 21
JL WC: 12
JL: 01, 04, 09, 12
FL Heartland: 32
FL WC: 31, 33
BBA Champs: 04, 09
Portland Lumberjacks 2040-
FL Pacific: 50
FL WC: 49, 51
FL Champs: 49, 51
Vic Caleca TN of the Year 2046
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Re: We Got Wood - 41.06 - The One Where Veenman Stole From Us
Kudos to Hedde for putting a crimp in the Master Plan™!
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