2048.4: Upcoming Options

[Rubaboo]

For those of us unfortunate enough to be sitting at home while the playoffs grind on the miasma of another wasted season can be suffocating. The only way to break through is to keep busy, and most GMs of non-playoff teams will be shifting their eyes to the offseason, plotting how to release their teams from the quicksand of losing baseball. In Mexico City, that means looking over upcoming options and trying to get a semblance of who is going to stay and who is going to go. The last few seasons, the team has utilized player opt outs more than ever and the 2048 offseason will begin with several players deciding both their futures and the state of the roster they choose to stick on or heartlessly abandon.

The first, and biggest name on the list: Angel Zalapa. Zalapa is 33 and coming off a monster season in which he posted a 6.5 WAR. If he opts out, he leaves a season at $15M, and 2 team options, each also at $15M, on the table. Logic would seem to dictate that Zalapa will, again, opt out of his Mexico City contract and hit the FA market this winter, looking for what could be his last chance at a big payday.

Another player who played in Mexico City in 2047 before coming back to the team in 2048 with great success was the ageless wonder, Mark Simpson, who at 39 was again wildly productive for the Aztecs at 1B. Simpson holds half of a mutual option with the club, but has the right of first refusal. Will Simpson decide that the rain in Mexico City can keep his aging joints young for one more season? The team is almost certain to retain him if he elects to stay. If he opts out, he leaves $4.7M on the table. Not nothing for sure but perhaps he could do better on the open market.

Staying aboard the mutual option train, Jose Camacho could opt out or leave his fate to the team. He joined the Aztecs a few days into the season and was mostly fine while seeing time at LF and at DH. The real interesting part of this is that there have been trade whispers surrounding Camacho. Would a player really opt in if it means surrendering his control anyway? He leaves $3M behind if he opts out.

The next car on the mutual option train is occupied by Fernando Moran, who joined midseason and was mostly trash for the Aztecs. If he goes to FA he'd be leaving a paltry $1.1M on the table, but there's no guarantee the team would pick up their part if he opts in. He could opt in, trying to get the team to pay him an additional $220k to go away.

Out of opt out land now, and into the traditional team options. Jerry Pacy has slogged through some mixed results since rejoining the team that originally drafted him but was mostly sub par in 2048. Sources around the team have indicated that Pacy will, in all likelihood, be released from the final year of his contract and be looking for work over the winter. The organization will have to pony up $1,850,000 for the privilege of ending Pacy's time south of the border.

Next up for judgement: Niccolo Machiavelli. Machiavelli was brought in as a defensive sub but spend several weeks on the IL in the middle of the season and never really got a chance to contribute. He has a TO for 2049 with a $400k buyout. Sources in the org seem split on whether he'll stay or go. A contributing factor could be that there is literally nothing in the well at CF and Machiavelli is very affordable at $2M. As on the fence as these decisions can be.

Last but not least (?) (or maybe least?) Abdi Murunga. He's guaranteed $1,250,000 if the team picks him up, and costs $350k to send on his way. Odds point to him staying but being on an excessively short leash after a brutal 2048. His history would seem to suggest that he will be much better in 2049. Seems to be a gamble worth taking for the org.