Hold My Log - 52.05 - Portland Signs Hubbard

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With close to $60 million in cap space to spend this off-season and a lineup with more vacancies that a road side motel in a secluded area, the Lumberjacks today signed their first piece to the puzzle by inking centerfielder Ronnie Hubbard to a 2 year guaranteed contract with an option for a couple more seasons. The deal guarantees the star centerfielder $16 million over the next 2 years with $9 million of that being paid this season. Hubbard can opt-out of the deal after year 2, forfeiting a $7 million year 3 and the option the Lumberjacks control for year 4 that would either pay him $12 million or result in a $2.5 million buyout.

Lumberjacks GM Chris Wilson spoke on the move today.

"We are excited to add Hubbard to the squad. He's been a player we've coveted for quite some time, dating back to his days with Nashville. He's one of the best defensive centerfielders in the BBA and he has enough offense to help us as well. With our pitching staff still all in tact, we want to maximize our offense the best we can while throwing the best defensive unit possible we possibly can behind our pitching staff."

The need for a centerfielder in 2052 spawns over the team's loss of Po-sin Shi this off-season. Shi spent the better part of 2 seasons with the Lumberjacks while posting 5.0 WAR over that span. Shi did come with a cheaper price tag the last two seasons than what the club will pay Hubbard in 2052.

There are some concerns over Hubbard.

"No there isn't" added Wilson over some league wide concerns about Hubbard not playing much last season. "We feel he's still a top of the line player despite him not playing a year ago. He felt he had a market value last season that no one agreed with. Plus his demands came at a time where many teams didn't have the flexibility to add him on. He made the decision that it was best for him to wait and see than play for below his true value. I guess you could say he still got paid this year by us and we're glad to have him. Not to mention all the free bank he cashed in last year."

Hubbard played in just 5 games last season with Yellow Springs before the Nine were forced to cut ties with Hubbard over salary cap issues. He was being paid $11 million by the Nine before his release. Late last season, his old team in Nashville met his $6 million demand and signed him up, only to release him days later. Then during the Landis Series, Des Moines signed him to a controversial 3 year deal, a deal that was eventually nullified by league offices and led to the unfortunate resignation of Kernels GM Aaron Weiner.

Hubbard had a very controversial end of the 2051 season.