Free Agent Signings Reveal JL Plans

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Free Agent Signings Reveal JL Plans

Post by RonCo » Sun Jun 16, 2019 11:29 am

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Those close to the game say draft day is the most important moment of the year. Assuming that’s true, it may be fair to say that the early days of open-market free agency is not far behind. This is because, while the draft is where teams lay their plans, Free Agency is where they fill in the pieces, or make the last big push to get that star power they need in order to make the big push.

You can learn a lot about where teams sit from both of these periods.

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For example, New Orleans made a shot across the bow of JL South East teams with the early signing of catcher Hank Brewer. The Crawdads have been stockpiling kids for some time. The addition of Brewer suggests to pundits and fans alike that it’s time to put your focus back on a franchise that has been traditionally about as good as they get. The follow-on signing of veteran Jason Morris to stabilize the bullpen (two seasons, $8.3M) just added fuel to the fire.

Both of these contracts are well structured to give the Crawdad’s ways out in the short term, which you’d expect from a club riding the cusp of that next wave.

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Likewise, this week news comes that the Charm City Jimmies added three major pieces in superstar Mario Guerrer (6 years for $108M), outfielder Jean-Luc Lacaze (2 years $10M), and starter Manuel Soliz (2 years, $6M). Fans of the crabs have been witness to some pretty ugly baseball for some time now, but adding these guys should tell everyone that this is their team (he says, having recently seen “Rocket Man”). Guerrer at 26, is, of course, the big fish (if I can mix my seafood metaphor), ad looks to be the next core around which Charm City will circle. Bottom line: there’s a new crustacean in the Atlantic.

And it doesn’t stop there in the JLA, because. Atlantic City added high-profile lefty Julio Alicea to the Gambler roster for the next six seasons at $53M, then topped him off with 32-year-old Lloyd Braun, who they fished out of the pool for five seasons at $40M. Some might question the downside of paying Braun in those last few seasons, but the contract has some defense in the form of vesting options that the team could manage their way around.

Bottom line: like New Orleans, Charm City is ready to light the fire on what could be big runs, and it seems that Atlantic City is showing their hand as a club builds and busts in short bursts.

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Of course, it’s not going to be easy for the Crawdads—and their chief JL SE opponent Jacksonville made it known that they are not intending to be toppled anytime soon, announcing the signing of Zhi-xin Chien, a guy who is arguably the best pitcher available not named Egbert. Chien joins the Hurricanes for the next six seasons at the also arguably bargain-basement price of $42M.

Jacksonville’s work is that of a solid team just going about their business.

So, yeah, the fire works have started, and given the stat of the league it’s probably not too surprising that most of the fervor is in the JL Atlantic and JL Southeast. Those two divisions were not good last season, but those divisions were also full of teams on the mend. 2039, it seems, is going to be a new page in the book.

And that’s all happening before some of the biggest names come off the board. Names like the aforementioned Egbert Behner, before Jared Gillstrom, Luis Barrera, Reece Wareham. Hindsight is 20/20, but most books say there’s probably $350-$400M going to be tied up in those four guys alone. Then there’s the two Alfredos…and a whole slew of veteran names who we’ve all gotten used to reading about.

It all adds up to make you wonder what stories will be playing out over the next two months, and how fans will read the results.
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Re: Free Agent Signings Reveal JL Plans

Post by StormZ_23 » Sun Jun 16, 2019 11:57 am

I am mad Charm City stole Lacaze from me. Great signings all around here.
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Re: Free Agent Signings Reveal JL Plans

Post by RonCo » Sun Jun 16, 2019 12:06 pm

If there's a GM more unafraid of using Free Agency to build winners than Joshua's Atlantic City, I don't know that I've ever seen him. :)
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Re: Free Agent Signings Reveal JL Plans

Post by jleddy » Sun Jun 16, 2019 1:37 pm

Nice write-up! Looking forward to the Frick edition... ;)
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Re: Free Agent Signings Reveal JL Plans

Post by RonCo » Sun Jun 16, 2019 1:45 pm

The Frick has been a bit quiet so far. I kinda like the Tropics' 1-season deal for Rupert Grant. Your (Boise) front loading of Alvarado's contract was probably a nice bit, given you have a boatload of cap budget right now. Lots of smartish, but lower-profile moves in the Frick.
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Re: Free Agent Signings Reveal JL Plans

Post by usnspecialist » Sun Jun 16, 2019 1:59 pm

jleddy wrote:
Sun Jun 16, 2019 1:37 pm
Nice write-up! Looking forward to the Frick edition... ;)
I think for the last 4-5 seasons ted and I have done a FA review podcast where we go over all of the signings (sometimes with others jumping in as well). Hopefully we can do it again this year with the crazy time zone difference thanks to me living in the middle east, but if we do dont worry, opinions WILL be shared...
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Re: Free Agent Signings Reveal JL Plans

Post by RonCo » Sun Jun 16, 2019 2:42 pm

usnspecialist wrote:
Sun Jun 16, 2019 1:59 pm
opinions WILL be shared...
Opinions? Shared? In this league!

:popcorn:
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Re: Free Agent Signings Reveal JL Plans

Post by aaronweiner » Sun Jun 16, 2019 2:43 pm

Don't love having to face Guerrer 12 times a year.

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Re: Free Agent Signings Reveal JL Plans

Post by RonCo » Sun Jun 16, 2019 2:50 pm

He might have been the picture-perfect Free Agent to be available for Charm City ... right guy, right time.
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Re: Free Agent Signings Reveal JL Plans

Post by Ted » Sun Jun 16, 2019 4:39 pm

usnspecialist wrote:
Sun Jun 16, 2019 1:59 pm
jleddy wrote:
Sun Jun 16, 2019 1:37 pm
Nice write-up! Looking forward to the Frick edition... ;)
I think for the last 4-5 seasons ted and I have done a FA review podcast where we go over all of the signings (sometimes with others jumping in as well). Hopefully we can do it again this year with the crazy time zone difference thanks to me living in the middle east, but if we do dont worry, opinions WILL be shared...
Always, anyone is welcome. We've found any more than three makes it impossible to get through these, but there will be separate JL and FL FA reviews, and maybe an offseason trade review as well. If you want in, let me know. Working in Randy makes the times awkward though and he'll be in on at least one FA review.. Basically really late at night on Thurs or Fri (his weekend days are Fri/Sat and he's ahead of us) or in the morning.
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