2057.4: Roman Signs Extension

[Rubaboo]

Aztec fans still hurting from Mexico City's one and done performance in the 2057 playoffs can today find some baseball joy - All-World star Felix Roman has agreed to extend his stay in Mexico City, likely until the end of his career, as the CF has agreed to execute his player option and signed an extension through at least 2060, with club options for the 2061 and 2062 seasons.

The extension is for 4 years at $14M per season, a substantial pay cut from his $20M/year rate on his current deal, and includes a no trade clause. Roman has agreed to execute his 2058 player option as a condition of the new contract. His 2058 rate will still be $20M, as agreed on his previous extension, signed in 2052.

"We're thrilled to be able to keep Felix in Mexico City, hopefully through the end of his illustrious career," Aztec GM Fred Holmes said at a press conference to announce the newly minted deal, "I've said since we brought him here, I want him to be wearing an Aztec cap on his hall of fame plaque. There's no doubt he's an Aztec. He won a title here, he broke the home run record here. He lifted himself from being a great player to an all time legend here. It was our intention when we brought him here that he would finish his career here. This extension gets us closer to that goal and we couldn't be happier."

Roman has enjoyed a very productive 7 seasons in Mexico City. Despite being almost 38, his numbers have remained very strong, especially offensively. A possibility exists that the team is being optimistic that Roman can remain productive into his 40s but his durability thus far has the team feeling hopeful that this won't even be Roman's last deal in Mexico City. It would seem likely that Roman will log some time in a corner and at 1B during upcoming spring trainings in the event that CF gets to be too taxing. Currently, Roman has remained effective in CF and it seems likely, for the immediate future, that he will continue to play there.

An interesting facet of this extension is this: If Roman can continue to be effective and ages gracefully, he has an outside shot at 1000 HRs. He currently sits at 825 and has averaged 49.7 HR per season in Mexico City. It's not terribly hard, even with some age related pace slowing, to imagine him chasing 1000 in 2062, the last year of this extension. An exciting prospect.