Tropical Tidbits 34.08 - Simmons Free Agent History

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Tropical Tidbits 34.08 - Simmons Free Agent History

Post by udlb58 » Fri Mar 02, 2018 10:54 am

Not Long ago, we looked at the franchise's recent trade history, so I thought with free agency a near bust so far, I'd look back at my FA moves over the years. Let's just say it is less than stellar. (note: these are only major league signings or minor league signings who went on to play in the majors)

2026
It shouldn't be any surprise that this year was the biggest free agent spending year for me because; 1) I was new and 2) as we've covered before, this team was utter crap and had literally 2 BBA caliber players on the roster (Aquino and Martinez were the only players I inherited who had a WAR over 1 in 2026). All-in-all, the signings strengthened the team, but I paid way to much for most of these guys and I probably should have been more focused on value buys that could be flipped (they still would have improved the roster).
  • Alfredo Granados: 6-years, $95,000,000 -- Brainwaive was the hot Rule 6 target. Brett offered him way too much money and I stupidly matched. He immediately became our #1 starter, but that was more an indictment on our talent than praise of his.
    Bertolameu Bolota: 4-years, $36,000,000 -- We still had some cap room, so I stupidly continued the spending spree by picking up this lefy innings eater. He performed about as well as could have been expected before being shipped out for the rapidly declining Angel Ramirez.
  • Paco Feliz: 3-years, $8,400,000 -- A 28 year old who had made a living with his glove and was no longer a top defender. This move shows how naive I was and was a bad contract before the ink was dry.
  • Andy Martin: 3-years, $7,800,000 -- There were a few that snickered when this deal was struck, but Martin was an above average reliever and emergency starter and he basically lived up to the $2,000,000 price tag.
  • Elmer Mould: 2-years, $4,000,000 -- This move brought more laughter down on us. Mould had been terrible the few seasons before New Orleans let him go, but the ratings were still there so we took a chance. Worked out fairly well.
  • Juan Lucero: 1-year, $1,750,000 -- Lucero was better than the dregs already on the roster, and was okay for the price, but he isn't exactly the ideal 3/4. Had I not signed him to an extension and moved him at the 2026 deadline, he'd have been a great signing.
  • Daniel Ocean: 1-year, $1,250,000 -- He was cheap and solid for a bullpen that was awful. Even today, at 46, he could probably be an above replacement LOOGY.
  • Stephen Ireland: 1-year, $1,000,000 -- Ireland sucked, but he brought us Johnny Oh at the deadline, so plus?
  • Leon Moran: MiLC -- Put up a 117 OPS+ in 167 AB, not too shabby for the league minimum.
Total: $155,200,000
[hr]
2027
Shell-shocked after our 2026 binge, I went a lot cheaper in 2027, trying to dig the team out of the financial hole they were in when I took over (and that I compounded by only paying attention to the cap instead of our bottom line)
  • Jose Amaro: 3-years, $6,460,000 -- Decent signing and okay back-end starter, turned into a good reliever by Ted
  • Marceau Dubois: 1-year, $500,000 -- Dubois was a Rule 6 bust before he ever even signed
  • Alejandro Rincon: MiLC -- Decent minor league signing, he had a 1.7 WAR after being called up in the 2nd half
Total: $6,960,000
[hr]
2028
Tried to get a bunch of cheap vets in hope of flipping them, only Altena panned out in that manner. Hendrix and Cadenas wound up being decent depth pieces for a few years.

Total: $12,090,000
[hr]
2029
With money to burn and Noboru, Braun, Hahn, and Chavez all finally slated for the ML roster, we splashed the cash once again and were mildly more successful than 2026. Four of these players were on the 2031 Landis team and Hartinger was a part of a trade that brought a 5th.
  • Benjamin Franklin Pierce: 3-years, $41,000,000 -- Never lived up to the contract, but was a playoff folk hero and Landis MVP.
  • Dieter Hartinger: 3-years, $18,000,000 -- Part of the Tonche trade
  • Mark Totten: 1-year, $2,500,000 -- Was traded for the key piece of the Crow trade.
  • Jorge Caballero: 1-year, $1,000,000 -- He was picked up to be a defensive replacement with power for Rutledge.
  • Len Caldwell: 1-year, $800,000 -- Turned into a great #5 starter and key piece of the 2031 season.
  • Ron Jimenez: MiLC ($410,000 bonus) -- Thought the power/eye would be enough to overcome the lack of contact, was wrong.
  • Miguel Carrasco: MiLC -- Got a chance when Rutledge went down and did well.
  • Bob Chavarria: MiLC -- 3 years as a solid bench player
  • Juan Urdiano: MiLC -- Mid-season pickup who was called up very quickly, did well enough to earn $6m in extensions (and was well worth the money)
Total: $63,710,000
[hr]
2030
2029 spending spree + the additions of Ramos and Glendenning, meant we had little cap room in 2030.
Total: $1,000,000
[hr]
2031
Again, there was little cap room to work with.
  • Ron Wilson: 1-year, $1,500,000 -- Was a solid reliever for 2 seasons and in 2 playoff runs, didn't allow a single run.
  • Gary Knowles: MiLC -- Picked him up mid-season to be a Sept. call-up and righty platoon.
Total: $1,500,000
[hr]
2032
Once again, with little cap room, we made our money count.
  • Mario Mendez: 3-years, $24,000,000 -- One of the keys to the 2033 championship, picked up for a very team friendly contract.
  • Doug Kendall: MiLC -- Played well in limited playing time.
  • Roman Araujo: MiLC -- Was a nice story as a Sept. call-up
Total: $24,000,000
[hr]
2033
No real key players picked up, just went with value as I thought Lue and Woods were worth more than their demands.
  • Patrick Lue: 1-year, $5,000,000 -- Hit very well as a platoon and defensive replacement for Rutledge before being traded.
  • John Woods: 1-year, $1,750,000 -- was waived due to injuries (we could have 3 players for his contract)
  • Brandon Bailey: 1-year, $500,000 -- Did well enough in a Sept. call-up that he could be competing to be in a platoon with Scholes.
  • Jeffrey Land: MiLC -- Mid-season injury pickup
  • Boys Altena: MiLC -- Mid-season injury pickup
  • Jorge Caballero: MiLC -- Mid-season injury pickup
  • Sebastien Durand: MiLC -- Mid-season injury pickup
  • Eddy de Greef: MiLC -- Mid-season injury pickup
  • Fernando Rivera: MiLC -- Mid-season injury pickup
Total: $7,250,000
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Re: Tropical Tidbits 34.08 - Simmons Free Agent History

Post by RonCo » Sat Mar 10, 2018 10:53 am

Nice rundown.
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