Hold My Log - 54.04 - Bold Front Office Moves

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Hold My Log - 54.04 - Bold Front Office Moves

Post by 7teen » Mon Feb 13, 2023 4:05 pm

After 4 consecutive trips to the post-season, 2053 saw the Lumberjacks win 85 games but fail to make it back to the playoffs. A big reason was the team finished 11 games under .500 from July on and it has many in the organization and fans of the team wondering if the window for the Lumberjacks has now closed. Six consecutive winning seasons however has the front office thinking the team can still compete. And that mindset has led the team to make some bold off-season moves.

"We aren't thinking about a rebuild" commented Chris Wilson as GM's prepare to meet for their annual winter meetings. "This franchise and this city waited patiently through 8 agonizing seasons as we tried to build up a competitive franchise in Portland. Now that we are competitive, we aren't going to tear it all down and start back from scratch again. We're going to continue to build around what we have and keep this team producing winning seasons and hopefully win day take home that Brewster title. It's why we are making the moves we are now."

And those moves are bold. Some even have fans questioning if they'll work but have also drawn the applause of fans who see what the team is trying to accomplish.

Just after the season finished, three pivotal pieces to the team last year opted out of their deals. Carlomaria Donadoni, Ronnie Hubbard, and Ron Shiplack all decided to test the free agent waters and leave the Portland Lumberjacks. The trio was set to make around $30 million combined last year and their departure freed up a huge chunk of cap space. However, the departures of Shiplack and Donadoni especially also cost the team a loss of over 5.0 WAR. "We truly hoped Ron and Carlomaria would stick around for another year" added Wilson. "Their production was worth the higher price tags both still had on them. Hubbard was another story. His ability in CF had declined some last year and the $7 million he was owed in 2054 is a price we were hoping to cut. Which leads us to the other guys we chose to cut."

And that's the bold moves. Two other players opted to STAY in Portland and play to their contracts. And both are high profile players. After Rex Foster and Dennis French decided to stay in Portland, the team promptly released them. Foster had 4 years still left on his deal while French had this year and a team option for 2055. Releasing both cost the team nearly $40 million in cash but cleared up substantial cap space to build an offense around.

"Both Rex and Frenchy are not the players they were when we signed them" added Wilson. "Foster's injuries have finally taken their toll on his ability and Dennis was just a shell of the great player he was a decade ago. A team that hopes to compete for Brewster titles can have close to $20 million in dead weight salaries on its cap. We need that cap to bring in guys that not only want to be here but can help us win. And it also helps having an owner who is on board with that as well."

Their winning ways over the last half decade has bolstered the Lumberjacks earnings to the point that the franchise's budget far exceeds that of the salary cap. Ample profits the last few seasons has overflowed the coffers in the fictional bonus funds department that the ownership and front office thinks will off-set any potential catastrophe in the financial department. The team also said they have a magical PP machine that can also print off extreme amounts of cash the next few years if need be.

"We could have tried to pawn them off in a trade" concluded Wilson. "But no one was taking Rex. Sure, it's no fun to just fork over about $40 million to a guy who isn't playing anymore, but hey! You gotta do what you gotta do to try and win a title."
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Re: Hold My Log - 54.04 - Bold Front Office Moves

Post by BaseClogger » Mon Feb 13, 2023 8:13 pm

Great summary of your moves and thought process.
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Re: Hold My Log - 54.04 - Bold Front Office Moves

Post by Trebro » Tue Feb 14, 2023 1:04 am

Now that's some bold moves!

Curious if anyone knows why Rex spent exactly 2 days as a member of the Nine, getting paid basically 6 million a day, LOL.
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Re: Hold My Log - 54.04 - Bold Front Office Moves

Post by GoldenOne » Tue Feb 14, 2023 7:10 am

Trebro wrote:
Tue Feb 14, 2023 1:04 am
Now that's some bold moves!

Curious if anyone knows why Rex spent exactly 2 days as a member of the Nine, getting paid basically 6 million a day, LOL.
Recte was trying to cover for Ron for a bit in YS and signed a whole bunch of FAs that put him way over the cap. Foster was cut to get back under the cap.
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