Boardwalk Empire - 2048.9 - Gamblers Add Two

[Joshua Biddle]

Gamblers Sign Donadoni, Calderón

The Atlantic City Gamblers made yet another splash in free agency, agreeing to a six-year, $98 million contract with star first baseman Carlomaria 'Short Circuit' Donadoni. The team also signed first baseman José Calderón to a five-year, $27.6 million contract to serve as the team's designated hitter.

Donadoni, 27, joins the Gamblers after six seasons with the Edmonton Jackrabbits organization, where he won the 2045 Landis Memorial Series. The former 13th overall pick in the 1st round in the 2038 BBA Amateur Draft by Edmonton finished his career with the organization hitting .289/.347/.545 with 506 runs scored, 250 doubles, 8 triples, 208 home runs, 662 RBIs, 3 stolen bases in 5 attempts (.600 success rate), and a 24.2 WAR in 3,880 plate appearances. He has also displayed better than average defense at first base during his time in Edmonton. Donadoni finished the 2047 season hitting .295/.343/.569 with 81 runs scored, 49 doubles, 1 triple, 39 home runs, 129 RBIs, and a 4.2 WAR in 682 plate appearances, also recording 5 errors (.996 fielding percentage), a +1.0 zone rating, and a 1.007 defensive efficiency.

In the introductory presser for Donadoni, general manager Joshua Biddle stated, "We targeted Carlomaria early in the process for the total package of what he brings to the table. We needed a good bat for the middle of the lineup. Positive defense from a natural first baseman is something we've lacked as some of our past first baseman had power but no glove. It was a point of emphasis for us to improve the position, and it also allows us to shift Cinema [Jones] back to the outfield, which is his natural position."

Donadoni said at the presser, "I'm really looking forward to working with Juan [Rivera], I've always respected his game."

Calderón, 28, joins the Gamblers after spending the 2047 season with the El Paso Chilis, where he finished the season hitting .253/.321/.490 with 69 runs scored, 28 doubles, 2 triples, 33 home runs, 74 RBIs, 3 stolen bases in 7 attempts (.429 success rate), and a 0.8 WAR in 610 plate appearances. Calderón brings a power bat to the designated hitter position, and is relatively cheap over the next three years ($5.6 million in 2048, $3 million in 2049, $3 million in 2050) as the Gamblers attempt to buy time for another designated hitter to emerge.