In the first session of free agency to open the 2034-2035 offseason, the Atlantic City Gamblers did not make any immediate splashes for major league free agents, but did agree to minor league contracts with three players - right-handed starting pitcher / relief pitcher Andre Jacobs (7/5/8 Talents), left-handed relief pitcher Lorenzo Meza (6/2/3 Talents), and right-handed starting pitcher/relief pitcher Tai fat Chang (6/7/2 Talents).
Jacobs, 33, is a familiar face as he played for the Gamblers during the 2033 season. He was initially signed as an international free agent out of Australia by the Valencia Stars organization on 1/1/2018. He was released by the Valencia Stars organization on 2/27/2033, and agreed to a minor league contract with the Gamblers on 4/9/2033. He became a free agent on 12/2/2033 and ultimately signed a three-year, $5.7 million contract with the Des Moines Kernels organization on 2/4/2034, becoming a free agent at season’s end on 11/16/2034. In his first stint with the Gamblers, Jacobs finished the 2033 season 6-9 with a 4.51 ERA, a 1.49 WHIP, a 4.83 FIP, a .290 OAVG, a .312 BABIP, a .478 QS%, a .286 IRS%, 96 strikeouts, and a 0.9 WAR in 143 2/3 innings pitched (28 appearances, 23 starts). During the 2034 season with the Des Moines Kernels, Jacobs finished the season 1-3 with a 6.85 ERA, a 1.77 WHIP, a 6.47 FIP, a .330 OAVG, a .335 BABIP, a .000 QS%, a .222 IRS%, 3 holds, 46 strikeouts, and a -1.1 WAR in 68 1/3 innings pitched (31 appearances, 5 starts). For his BBA career, Jacobs is 67-92 with 10 saves in 19 opportunities (.526 save percentage), a 4.65 ERA, a 1.42 WHIP, a 4.70 FIP, a .279 OAVG, a .304 BABIP, a .406 QS%, 30 holds, 1,168 strikeouts, and a 7.4 WAR in 1,652 2/3 innings pitched (418 appearances, 219 starts). Jacobs is an extreme flyball pitcher with an over the top arm slot, velocity that peaks at 94-96 miles per hour, above average stuff and control, and average movement. He has a four-pitch repertoire consisting of a good cutter, a good changeup, an above average curveball, and a below average slider. It’s unlikely Jacobs will make the major league roster out of spring training, but Jacobs provides leadership skills and an experienced BBA arm with both starting and bullpen experience.
Meza, 19, went undrafted after an unspectacular college career, where he finished the 2033 season with the AmGen Chemists 2-0 with a 9.49 ERA, a 2.51 WHIP, a 6.91 FIP, a .337 OAVG, a .390 BABIP, a .000 IRS% (12 IR), 1 hold, 16 strikeouts, and a -0.2 WAR in 24 2/3 innings pitched (12 appearances). Meza has a flyball tendency, an over the top arm slot, velocity that peaks at 91-93 miles per hour, above average stuff, below average movement and control, above average stamina, and an above average ability to hold runners. Meza features a three-pitch repertoire consisting of an above average fastball, curveball, and slider. Meza is considered a longshot lottery ticket prospect at best, but he possesses a leadership and work ethic that the organization covets. This may earn him some innings in the low minors to prove himself worthy of further opportunity.
Chang, 24, was signed as an international free agent out of China by the Carolina Kraken / Rockville Pikeman organization on 1/9/2027. Chang was then traded by the Kraken/Pikeman to the Indy Grasshoppers with outfielder Robinson Peralta in exchange for first baseman Newman Watson on 7/21/2027. A partially torn UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) on 11/9/2027 required surgery and some scouts believe it hurt his long-term prospects and diminished his abilities in potential. “He’s not the same” said one scout who preferred to speak on a condition of anonymity, “he was paid handsomely as an international free agent, but it’s unlikely he’ll ever make a BBA roster.” Chang became a minor league free agent on 12/2/2033, and was signed to a minor league contract with the Long Beach Surfers organization on 12/27/2033. He spent the 2034 season with the Class-AA affiliate of the Long Beach Surfers - the Newton Falls Flying Tigers - where he finished the season 7-5 with a 5.23 ERA, a 1.53 WHIP, a 5.00 FIP, a .249 OAVG, a .273 BABIP, a .267 QS%, a .143 IRS%, 1 hold, 65 strikeouts, and a 1.3 WAR in 108 1/3 innings pitched (23 appearances, 15 starts). Chang was also selected to participate in the 2034 Florida Prospect League (FPL) season as part of the West Palm Beach Surfers, where he finished the season 1-0 with a 5.63 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, a 5.48 FIP, a .306 OAVG, a .320 BABIP, a .250 QS%, 9 strikeouts, and a 0.1 WAR in 16 innings pitched (4 starts). Elbow inflammation ended his FPL season prematurely. Chang became a minor league free agent on 11/16/2034. For his career at the Class-AA level, Chang is 15-15 with a 4.78 ERA, a 1.54 WHIP, a 4.56 FIP, a .242 OAVG, a .278 BABIP, a .389 QS%, 174 strikeouts, and a 1.7 WAR in 256 innings pitched (62 appearances, 36 starts). Chang has an extreme groundball tendency, an over the top arm slot, velocity that peaks at 93-95 miles per hour, elite stamina, an above average ability to hold runners, above average stuff and movement, and poor control. Chang features a four-pitch repertoire consisting of a good sinker, an above average changeup, an average slider, and a poor curveball. Chang will likely play for either Class-A Long Island or Class-AA Trenton if he is kept on the roster entering the season.
