YS 25.02 - Aguilera Non-Tendered?

[RonCo]

Word today that the Yellow Springs Nine has decided to non-tender shortstop Tino Aguilera (5/6/4/3/10). The 26-year-old shortstop was expected to glean something short of $1M if he went to the arbitrator, but the club was worried that decision might go higher. "Tino is a fine shortstop," said GM RonCo. "He's turned in nice years for us, but he had a tough go of it last season, and with the financial pressures on the team right now we can't take a chance that he might cost us considerably more than that $1M."

Aguilera turned in a -.5 WAR last season, hitting .252/.306/.365. His glove also took a bit of a step back as he split time as shortstop and third base. Given that the club has some fillers in their minor league system that can play for league minimum, and that replacement level talent should be available through the off-season, one expects this move won't destroy the team. "We won't rule out the idea of Tino coming back to the club in free agency," RonCo said. "But it will have to be on different terms."

The team faces similar choices pertaining to the contracts of catcher Manny Mendoza, and three pitchers. Mendoza is expected to be tendered an offer, but no word has leaked yet of the decisions in the other cases. Together they probably represent somewhere near $3M in possible spend.

Clearly, though, the Aguilera decision signals to the Nine fan base that the front office is as serious about competing for Rule 6 Draftee Alfred Salazar as they have suggested they would be. This seems to be an important part of this regime's purpose, which, given that the fan base had serious reservations about the previous staff's commitment to winning, probably makes some sense.

"I know The last group did a lot of things that pissed the fans off," RonCo said. "And we're trying to fix that. But even I realize that some of those things helped to leave us in this position to begin with. So I'm not going to be casting any stones here. My staff's job is to make the Yellow Springs Nine the best team we can make it going forward."

RonCo Asks Little For More

In associated news, RonCo has apparently convinced owner John Little to use a $13M fund he had been accumulating in support of future stadium expansion as a hedge against this season's budget.

"We have needs," RonCo said when he was asked to expound further, "And Mr. Little is working with us to provide for those needs."