January 26, 2051
by Banjo Jackson
Nashville, TN
Coming off a championship season and having the highest rated farm system in the BBA, the Nashville Bluebirds didn’t have many holes to fill in the offseason. One of the most important tasks at hand was re-signing star LF Dennis French, who has been a staple in the middle of the Bluebirds lineup since being acquired in 2048. French, a New Hampshire native, was signed to a 3 year extension paying him $13.6M per season with a player option each year. Aside from retaining French, the Bluebirds would remain relatively intact except a glaring hole in CF.
LF Dennis French
Veteran C Alberto Rodríguez had a bounce back year and is still blocking Hak-joon Yi and superstar in the making, John Dawson, is blocked in the rotation, so there may not be any major additions out of the depths of the minor leagues to fill out roster spots for the Bluebirds, like Wafid Bishr and Candy Saswata did in 2050. It was expected that role players such as Reed Graham, Barry Kelly, and Khayyat Isa would compete to replace the departed Ronnie Hubbard. However, Bluebirds GM, Chad Nason, had bigger better ideas and picked up the phone with Sluggers new GM, Luke Farthing. The two conversed for a bit and Farthing agreed to send superstar CF Théo Bourges to Nashville in exchange for Graham and a few prospects. Bourges, who actually hails from Gennevilliers, France, is arguably the greatest Frenchman to step on a diamond, has accrued 65.8 WAR in his illustrious 10-year career. The main kicker in the deal, which sent highly-touted pitching prospects, Tim Gibbs and Makin bin Isma’il, is Louisville retaining 50% of Bourges’ contract over the next three seasons, giving the Bluebirds millions in payroll flexibility.
CF Theo Bourges
With just over a month to go until Spring Training begins the Bluebirds still have about $15M of cap space to work with, but it would be a surprise to see anymore fireworks.
