We Got Wood - 44.03 - Amaral Takes Top Pitcher. Bolts for FA!

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In a controversial move in both aspects, Hector Amaral has taken the Lumberjacks Top Starting Pitcher Honor, narrowly defeating Top Rookie Award winner Francisco Franco. In the team wide vote, Amaral beat Franco by the slimmest of margins to claim the honor. He then opted out of his contract to become a free agent this off-season.

"I gotta do what I gotta do" said the former Lumberjacks hurler who won 11 games in 2043. "I want a longer deal than what I was given here in Portland. One year for 20? Nah man. I need more security than that. As for the award, it'll look good somewhere I suppose. This stuff means nothing to me."

Amaral led the team in innings pitched and strikeouts in 2043, logging 200.2 innings and striking out 156 guys. Second on both lists was the aforementioned Franco who had already won the Top Rookie honors. Both Amaral and Franco made 32 starts while Franco posted the better ERA, WHIP, and WAR totals. Nonetheless, the team still gave the honor to the veteran Amaral in the end.

"I plan on winning plenty of these down the road" Franco stated. "Let the old man have his day."

Amaral will now look to cash in on the open market. Fresh off a season that saw him record his 2,000th career strikeout, the 35 year old Southpaw now hopes to land one more final pay-day before retiring into the sunset.