35.10. Three More New Faces

[agrudez]

At this point, it would probably be easier to name the Phantoms that are still here since their new GM took over mid-season than name those that have newly been brought in - and this latest round of FA signings is no exception as three more players have been acquired by the Phantoms: Everhart (2 years, 6.2M), Sandoval (1 year, 2.4M) and Sanchez (1 year, 2.4M). Though the team still boasts nearly 20M more in cap space after these signings, reports are starting to trickle out that Huntsville considers their offseason largely "done" - barring any currently unforeseen trade opportunities. As far as final acts go, after plenty of higher profile acquisitions via both trade and FA, these last crop is pretty underwhelming, but still project to be solid contributors at the ML level.

In Everhart, the team has what they hope to be a versatile RH platoon option - with the ability to play 1B, 3B and DH. The last time Everhart was given a decent workload was '31-'33 in Las Vegas where he posted .854, .789 and .814 OPS' in 212, 518 and 206 ABs respectively. Presumably (based on the usage rate), in '31 and '33 he was used in a similar way as how Huntsville plans to - strictly as a RH platoon - and he performed tremendously. Even his 1 year as an actual starter was very encouraging from an offensive perspective even as his defense drug his overall usefulness down (-15.5 ZR at 3B that year.... ouch). At present, reports indicate that the team plans to platoon him with Klein at DH, but even though he isn't currently slated to don a glove this year, sources have told me that his positional flexibility allowing him to double as a bench piece was something the team valued - and the reason they pursued him in FA over other pure DH RH platoon options.

In Sandoval, the team picks up an "old friend" from management's last stint at the helm. Unfortunately, the 37 year old Sandoval isn't the reliable mid-rotation arm that he was back then, but even so he has managed 2.37 and 3.41 FIPs the past 2 seasons from the 'pen and the team is thrilled to have him both for nostalgia and expected performance. His deep pitch arsenal from his starter days is still entact if he had to spot start in an emergency - even if his stamina isn't quite what it used to be - or he could use it in a long relief role where he is expected to face a lineup more than once through in a game as well. Joining Sandoval is Sanchez, a fellow bullpen addition and the team's immediate best LH option out of the 'pen (which includes the recently acquired Baez). The 35 year old vet inexplicably spent last season in AAA (where he only threw 2 innings), but the season prior he a 3.9 FIP in 59 IP.