Hold My Log - 54.05 - Big Signings! Lumberjacks add Bustamante and Guzman
Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2023 7:40 pm
So what do you do when you clear out tons of cap space by releasing big contracts? "You go out and sign more big name contracts" added Lumberjacks General Manager Chris Wilson. Just weeks after releasing the higher priced deals of Rex Foster and Dennis French, the Lumberjacks have gone out and replaced them with salary cap eating deals to Pedro Bustamante and Pedro Guzman. Both sign contracts that'll pay them 7 figures a season while hopefully bolstering an offense that ranked in the middle of the pack last season and lost a lot over the winter.
"We needed some offense after everything we lost this winter" chimed in Wilson. "We entered the off-season with just 2 of the 9 returning bats from a year ago. We had to add something and figured we might as well start by adding big. We'll fill in the other spots as the off-season progresses."
Bustamante and Guzman will chew up $25 million of the salary cap in 2054 and $27 million of the cap in 2055 while adding 80 homeruns to the lineup and 7.6 total WAR. While they'll tie up a little more in cap space than any two guys the team lost from a year ago, they add way more in offensive production.
"Our goal at this point is to make sure the middle of our lineup is as potent as possible while the rest can play above average defense" continued Wilson. "There will be some weak spots we know. But 89 wins got into the post-season. We had 85 last year. We are in the range of still being a competitive team in the Frick. We've stated it several times already that we aren't blowing this thing up until it looks like its run its course. It hasn't gotten to that point and it won't for years to come."
Both players have signed similar deals that we've seen the franchise make in recent years. Deals that many deem friendly to both the organization and the player. Bustamante signed a 6 year deal with several options. He's guaranteed $27 million the next two years. He can then opt-in or out of the remaining 4 years. If he opts in, years 3 and 4 will guarantee him $22 million. He then has a player option of just $5 million for year 5 with a team option for year 6 of $15 million. That last year comes with a $3 million buyout that many would expect a 39 year old Bustamante to receive if he doesn't take his own options.
Guzman's deal is very similar. He's promised $25 million for the next 2 years. He too has an opt-out clause. If he opts in, He'll make $24 million for the next 2 years before the more team friendly part kicks in. Year 5 is just an $8 million player option with year 6 being a $16 million team option that the team would likely decline, giving Guzman a free $4 million in a buyout in year 6.
"Our first hope is to milk 2 great years out of both guys" concluded Wilson! "If we get two great years, they'll have to decide what to do for the rest. They've seen how we work now. Do they seek a bigger deal to conclude their final days or do they take 2 more years of good money before we take control of the buyouts in the end? We think it's great for both sides."
Of course there is always that sinking possibility both hit the lump machine and turn into the next Rex Foster where the team is just stuck paying bums overpriced salaries. And if that happens, then you may see the end of the Lumberjacks run!
"We needed some offense after everything we lost this winter" chimed in Wilson. "We entered the off-season with just 2 of the 9 returning bats from a year ago. We had to add something and figured we might as well start by adding big. We'll fill in the other spots as the off-season progresses."
Bustamante and Guzman will chew up $25 million of the salary cap in 2054 and $27 million of the cap in 2055 while adding 80 homeruns to the lineup and 7.6 total WAR. While they'll tie up a little more in cap space than any two guys the team lost from a year ago, they add way more in offensive production.
"Our goal at this point is to make sure the middle of our lineup is as potent as possible while the rest can play above average defense" continued Wilson. "There will be some weak spots we know. But 89 wins got into the post-season. We had 85 last year. We are in the range of still being a competitive team in the Frick. We've stated it several times already that we aren't blowing this thing up until it looks like its run its course. It hasn't gotten to that point and it won't for years to come."
Both players have signed similar deals that we've seen the franchise make in recent years. Deals that many deem friendly to both the organization and the player. Bustamante signed a 6 year deal with several options. He's guaranteed $27 million the next two years. He can then opt-in or out of the remaining 4 years. If he opts in, years 3 and 4 will guarantee him $22 million. He then has a player option of just $5 million for year 5 with a team option for year 6 of $15 million. That last year comes with a $3 million buyout that many would expect a 39 year old Bustamante to receive if he doesn't take his own options.
Guzman's deal is very similar. He's promised $25 million for the next 2 years. He too has an opt-out clause. If he opts in, He'll make $24 million for the next 2 years before the more team friendly part kicks in. Year 5 is just an $8 million player option with year 6 being a $16 million team option that the team would likely decline, giving Guzman a free $4 million in a buyout in year 6.
"Our first hope is to milk 2 great years out of both guys" concluded Wilson! "If we get two great years, they'll have to decide what to do for the rest. They've seen how we work now. Do they seek a bigger deal to conclude their final days or do they take 2 more years of good money before we take control of the buyouts in the end? We think it's great for both sides."
Of course there is always that sinking possibility both hit the lump machine and turn into the next Rex Foster where the team is just stuck paying bums overpriced salaries. And if that happens, then you may see the end of the Lumberjacks run!