2057.3: Aztecs decline Bin Saleem Option

[Rubaboo]

No rest for the wicked.

The 2057 season just ended but BBA GMs are already (still?) hard at work, making deals and tweaking rosters with an eye on the upcoming season. At this point in the early offseason, that means option decisions. On that front, reports are surfacing out of Mexico City that the Aztecs will be declining a club option on SS Yazeed Bin Saleem, making the infielder a free agent for the first time in his career, just two years after signing a contract extension with the club that paid him $9.65M annually.

While the Aztecs aren't exactly buried in viable infield options, there's no doubt that Bin Saleem's 2057 performance made his almost $10M salary untenable. His offensive performance tanked, and while the team did enjoy a bit of positional flexibility from him, it didn't make the numbers work, especially on what has been a cap-strapped club for a number of seasons.

"Wasn't getting it done with the bat, wasn't getting it done with the glove in the IF, not at a $10M rate anyway, was ok in LF but corner OF are a dime a dozen in the BBA," said a JL scout from another org. Scouts noticed that Bin Saleem's bat speed was slower this year, which hurt his ability to barrel up and definitely contributed to his career low .201/.263/.303 slash line. Couple that with an increased chase rate, likely a result of frustration, and you end up in a place where your team can't keep you.

Where do the Aztecs go from here? Internally the have Ettan Cherukuri, a former scrap heap minor league FA signing who didn't exactly cover himself in glory either but is definitely a less pricey option, but he's also on a deal that expires this offseason and there's been no word on an impending extension. After Cherukluri there's... nobody. Not a soul. The team will likely need to shop the FA and trade markets this offseason to see if they can get their SS spot solidified for another run in 2058.