As the Valencia front office looks toward the 2064 season, it is starting to look at who is expected back, who is leaving an who is waiting in the wings. At that point the holes and surpluses can be determined.
In this edition of the Pipeline Report we will be focused on starting pitching since that is one of the three areas that need to most attention (along with centerfield and potentially shortstop).
Leaving the team in 2064: Kinzo Iwamoto (team option), Gerardo Rea (free agency)
Coming back: Shiro Takahashi ($500K), Dana Pualani ($2M), Sam MacPherson ($1.5M arb.),
Waiting in the Wings: Bhadrasila Chetlapalli, Ernesto Escalante, Lawrence Ross, Jose Alaniz, Malumat Tskhadadze, Sergio Valdes
Shiro Takahashi anchored the rotation in 2063 which was more than what should have been asked but he was like the best navigator on the Titanic last season. Someone with some untapped potential according to the scouts, he did finish the season giving up 17 earned runs in 35 innings over his last six starts. He is made more for a #3 starter at this point assuming he can develop a little more this off-season.
Former and now current Valencia starter Dana Pualani went 6-4 on a team that lost 99 games. His ERA was higher than desired at 5.08, but having him as a #4 starter next season would not be worst thing that could happen but definitely a candidate for an upgrade.
Picked up off of the waiver wire, Sam MacPherson made the most of his opportunity this past season. Sam went 7-8 with a 4.95 ERA including going 7-2 in his last 9 decisions while he gave up 32 earned runs in 81 innings. While very few expect that type of production over a whole season, having Sam penciled in at the #5 spot in the rotation seems pretty fitting at this point.
Valencia has some interesting options currently sitting in AAA. Although none of the are ace material at this point, there are a few that could definitely be considered upgrades to Gerardo Rea.
At the top of that list would be Bhadrasila Chetlapalli. BC went 8-8 with a 4.02 ERA/1.09 WHIP in AAA in 2063 and has a 50/50 Overall/Potential rating. He doesn't throw a lot of heat but he makes up for it with control. There is a concern about how much he was nicked up over the last two seasons, but he has the makings of a #3/#4 type starter.
Next is Ernesto Escalante. The former first round pick in the 2059 draft did not set AAA on fire after his promotion going 4-9 with a 4.95 ERA. However, Ernesto can throw 99 mph heat with above average control so he may get his shot in 2064 if his spring training is successful.
Lawrence Ross had an interesting 2063 season. The second round pick of this past draft has a 40/45 rating but has succeeded at each level including 4-2 with a 2.70 stat line in AA along with a 2-0 record and a 2.33 ERA/0.88 WHIP in his abbreviated AAA stint. It may be one year too early to make a call on Lawrence, but he has done well enough to be included in this picture.
Malumat Tskhadadze and Sergio Valdes round out the list with Malumat having the edge at this point. While neither of them may be ready to contribute in 2064 they did go a combined 10-8 in AAA this past season.
After this evaluation, the smart money is that a free agent could enter this mix by the time spring training roles around. While the locals do not expect a big name ace to be added as the front office tries to control the purse strings somewhat, do not be surprised if a legit #2 starter is signed to anchor the rotation.
It may not be Monty winning worthy of an addition, but at least the Stars may upgrade their navigator from that of the Titanic to the Exxon Valdez.
