2056.4: Decisions Decisions
Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2023 2:42 pm
The season just ended for the Mexico City Aztecs, and that means that the offseason has just started. The time to plan for 2057 has begun. The first order of business for the Aztecs is sifting through the list of players who have contracts ending this offseason and decide who to try to bring back in for 2057 and beyond.
C Roelof Klooster
Fact: Klooster has enjoyed a very productive 5 seasons south of the border and is consistently among the better catchers in the league. Also fact: Klooster has developed a very bad habit of picking up injuries that keep him out for 4-6 weeks at least once a season. Klooster has been excellent, usually hitting second when he's healthy. His productivity, while very desirable from behind the dish, can be a double edged sword as the offense suffers greatly when he's not available. Aztec GM Fred Holmes holds availability right alongside consistency and versatility at the top of his list of ballplayer virtues which makes this a tough call. Klooster is currently asking for almost $12M per year which, based on his production, isn't out of the realm of possibility. He'll also be 38 at the start of next season and will very likely miss several weeks during the season. Can a team that's been living at the cap for the last handful of years afford to pay Klooster $12M for what will probably be around 100 appearances? The front office has a few weeks to decide...
Likely Outcome: The Aztecs let Klooster test the market, but push to bring him back on either a lower dollar deal or one that the team can take year by year to limit their risk.
3B Kenny Blackwell
Blackwell is not a super impressive player to look at. His ratings are... fine. He's a platoon 3B. HIs numbers have also been... fine. Mostly fine, anyway, averaging about 2 WAR through his arb years. The rubber meets the road this offseason though, as the Aztecs will have to decide whether to pay Blackwell on an actual contract to continue to man the hot corner. He's been about an average bat through his career, maybe a shade above, but one can and probably should expect better from a third baseman on a contending team. Will the Aztecs be contending? And will they have the ability to pivot?
Likely Outcome: Blackwell is on the market. Unless he's willing to take a low dollar deal, Mexico City will feel they can do better with the money they'd allocate to Blackwell. Look for him to be a Free Agent.
3B Alfredo Rosas
Might this be the 'Do better at 3B' plan? Rosas has mostly been manning 1B for the Aztecs lately but has not been wildly productive there. The main thing he can deliver for Mexico City is salary certainty. Sources indicate that he's willing to take a pay cut to stay with the Aztecs, whether the team believes he can roll back the clock to a few years ago when he was a well above average hitter will likely decide whether he stays or goes.
Likely Outcome: Probably depends on how far the team can talk him down. Probably makes sense to keep him on a low salary deal but his production over the last two seasons has been average which is not what you want at 1B.
SP Cesar Macias
Macias has been a very serviceable sixth SP/long reliever for the Aztecs for the last 2+ seasons. He's not expensive and the team will likely look to bring him back if he continues not to be. Everyone needs pitching depth.
Likely Outcome: Macias stays south of the border. Again, everyone needs pitching depth and Macias' ability to be effective both as a starter and out of the pen gives him value.
RPs Angel Herrera and Felipe Vega
Herrera and Vega were both signed to minor league deals with majors options. Both saw time at the major league level, both were mostly anonymous and will not be retained.
Likely Outcome: Both Herrera and Vega will be back on the market when it opens, barring something unforseen.
C Roelof Klooster
Fact: Klooster has enjoyed a very productive 5 seasons south of the border and is consistently among the better catchers in the league. Also fact: Klooster has developed a very bad habit of picking up injuries that keep him out for 4-6 weeks at least once a season. Klooster has been excellent, usually hitting second when he's healthy. His productivity, while very desirable from behind the dish, can be a double edged sword as the offense suffers greatly when he's not available. Aztec GM Fred Holmes holds availability right alongside consistency and versatility at the top of his list of ballplayer virtues which makes this a tough call. Klooster is currently asking for almost $12M per year which, based on his production, isn't out of the realm of possibility. He'll also be 38 at the start of next season and will very likely miss several weeks during the season. Can a team that's been living at the cap for the last handful of years afford to pay Klooster $12M for what will probably be around 100 appearances? The front office has a few weeks to decide...
Likely Outcome: The Aztecs let Klooster test the market, but push to bring him back on either a lower dollar deal or one that the team can take year by year to limit their risk.
3B Kenny Blackwell
Blackwell is not a super impressive player to look at. His ratings are... fine. He's a platoon 3B. HIs numbers have also been... fine. Mostly fine, anyway, averaging about 2 WAR through his arb years. The rubber meets the road this offseason though, as the Aztecs will have to decide whether to pay Blackwell on an actual contract to continue to man the hot corner. He's been about an average bat through his career, maybe a shade above, but one can and probably should expect better from a third baseman on a contending team. Will the Aztecs be contending? And will they have the ability to pivot?
Likely Outcome: Blackwell is on the market. Unless he's willing to take a low dollar deal, Mexico City will feel they can do better with the money they'd allocate to Blackwell. Look for him to be a Free Agent.
3B Alfredo Rosas
Might this be the 'Do better at 3B' plan? Rosas has mostly been manning 1B for the Aztecs lately but has not been wildly productive there. The main thing he can deliver for Mexico City is salary certainty. Sources indicate that he's willing to take a pay cut to stay with the Aztecs, whether the team believes he can roll back the clock to a few years ago when he was a well above average hitter will likely decide whether he stays or goes.
Likely Outcome: Probably depends on how far the team can talk him down. Probably makes sense to keep him on a low salary deal but his production over the last two seasons has been average which is not what you want at 1B.
SP Cesar Macias
Macias has been a very serviceable sixth SP/long reliever for the Aztecs for the last 2+ seasons. He's not expensive and the team will likely look to bring him back if he continues not to be. Everyone needs pitching depth.
Likely Outcome: Macias stays south of the border. Again, everyone needs pitching depth and Macias' ability to be effective both as a starter and out of the pen gives him value.
RPs Angel Herrera and Felipe Vega
Herrera and Vega were both signed to minor league deals with majors options. Both saw time at the major league level, both were mostly anonymous and will not be retained.
Likely Outcome: Both Herrera and Vega will be back on the market when it opens, barring something unforseen.