Hold My Log - 50.10 - Filling the Holes Part 1 (Corner Infield)

[7teen]

Get your minds out of the gutter!

This series of team news will focus on the losses Portland had since last year and whether or not the team has successfully filled those spots this off-season. Or at least look at how differently the team will look this season in those spots.

Corner Infield
Alex Ramirez and Manuel Marino both departed via free agency this off-season. The former being a staple in the Lumberjacks lineup for years since being acquired in a trade from Vancouver. The latter signed a 1 year deal last year and performed very good with the Lumberjacks. They take with them a combined 5.3 WAR, most of which was Ramirez, but still a solid combination. Both still sit in free agency waiting for someone to sign them. Ramirez's delay will cost the team a supplemental pick as the team was owed one due to his loss and WAR contribution last season.

The team will look to fill the void of these two guys with the combination signings of Angel Zalapa, Quant Kuoros, and Virginia Rain. Zalapa is by far the highest profiled guy in this grouping after spending most of his recent years in Mexico City and Phoenix. He could shift to 3B or play 2B and shift Viramontas over to 3B. Zalapa is 2 years removed from a 6.1 WAR with Mexico City. He's produced just 2.5 and 1.6 WAR the last two seasons. He's still a positive player the team hopes can regain some form in a lineup dominated by McBride and Smith. Kuoros and Rain will likely shuffle around, starting several games at 1B and spelling Zalapa at times at 3B. Kuoros hasn't produced a significant WAR season since 2046 with Sacramento. Rain put up a remarkable 4.5 WAR as recent as 2048 with Chicago but it appears to be more of an anomaly than anything as he's never produced anything close to a 1 WAR since.

The trio of players coming in will cost the Lumberjacks a total of $14.5 million in salary this season. Both Rain and Kuoros on 1-year deals while Zalapa will make $11 million this season and then have the opportunity to opt-out of what the team feels is a team friendly contract after that. Ramirez and Marino cost the team just $9 million combined last season.

Also back to help out in these positions is Bob Irwin. Irwin is not rated highly by the game but put up a 1.3 WAR last year in platoon duties at 1B as well. He made $1 million last year and got a pay increase to $1.6 million this season.

Breakdown
"We are putting a lot of stake in hoping Kuoros and Rain can be productive in limited rolls" commented team AGM Kate Fiscus. "We were successful last season with this method in that Irwin and Marino had really good seasons on 1-year deals. Will we catch lightning in a bottle again? We'll see. And can Zalapa rebound a little and put up something similar to Ramirez. If so, then we are in good shape in this position for 2051."

WAR Lost
5.3

WAR Gained
1.8

The results of these moves saw a NET WAR lost of 3.5 from the corner infield.

[CTBrewCrew]

LOL - Homer pick. . Rain couldn't hit his weight while in Madison. Im surprised hes not flipping burgers at the worlds largest CF Dennys by now.