The Atlantic City Gamblers made their first major league free agent signings of the 2034-2035 offseason, agreeing to a two-year, $2 million contract with outfielder Sergio Córdova (6/7/8/5/6 Talents) and a one-year, $2.25 million contract with right-handed starting pitcher Tomas Suárez (6/8/8 Talents).
Córdova, 29, agreed to a two-year, $2 million contract, which will pay him $750 thousand during the 2035 season, and carries a $1.25 million team option for the 2036 season with a $250 thousand buyout. Cordova entered the BBA as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic, agreeing to a minor league contract with the Des Moines Kernels organization on 1/9/2022. He played with the Des Moines Kernels from 2027 through 2032, and was then traded to the Edmonton Jackrabbits along with third baseman Tim Miner (5/5/7/4/6 Talents) and center fielder Gordon Burkett (6/7/7/4/7 Talents) in exchange for infielder Ernesto Chavez (5/6/4/6/8 Talents) on 7/15/2032. Cordova played with Edmonton for the remainder of the 2032 season and the 2033 season, with the Jackrabbits declining his team option for the 2034 season on 11/9/2033, granting Cordova free agency. Cordova then signed with the Calgary Pioneers on 1/16/2034, and finished the 2034 season with Calgary hitting .258/.329/.409 with 10 runs scored, 4 doubles, 2 home runs, 11 RBIs, and a -0.2 WAR in 66 at-bats. Defensively, in 77 1/3 innings in right field, Cordova recorded 0 errors (1.000 fielding percentage), 1 assist, a 1.40 range factor, a -1.0 zone rating, and a .887 defensive efficiency; in 31 innings in center field, Cordova recorded 0 errors (1.000 fielding percentage), a 1.45 range factor, a -2.8 zone rating, and a .554 defensive efficiency; and in 27 innings in left field, Cordova recorded 0 errors (1.000 fielding percentage), a 1.00 range factor, a +0.0 zone rating, and a 1.018 defensive efficiency. For his BBA career, Cordova has hit .239/.297/.443 with 259 runs scored, 106 doubles, 2 triples, 117 home runs, 346 RBIs, 6 stolen bases in 8 attempts (.750 success rate), and a 5.7 WAR in 2,264 at-bats across eight seasons with Des Moines, Edmonton, and Calgary. Cordova displays above average contact ability, solid gap power, good power, average plate discipline, and an above average ability to avoid strikeouts. He is poor on the basepaths, and has an average ability to play the outfield – left field in particular. He also has experience at first base. More importantly, Cordova is a vocal leader and is expected to be the Gamblers’ team captain entering the 2035 season, while also filling a bench role as a backup outfielder and pinch hitter.
Suárez, 37, was drafted with the 13th pick of the 4th round (111th overall) of the 2016 BBA Amateur Draft by the Calgary Marauders / Calgary Pioneers organization. Suarez was traded by the Calgary Marauders / Calgary Pioneers along with left-handed starting pitcher Alfredo Salazar (8/7/9/9/7 Talents), outfielder António Sánchez, and right-handed relief pitcher Héctor Escalante to the Buffalo Bison (San Fernando Bears) organization in exchange for right-handed starting pitcher Edward Simpson on 8/1/2019. Suarez pitched seven seasons for the Buffalo Bison / Havana Sugar Kings (now San Fernando Bears), and was then traded by the Havana Sugar Kings to the Tucson Cactus (now Long Beach Surfers) on 6/1/2026 along with outfielder Raul De Los Santos, right-handed relief pitcher Jeffrey Moody (9/6/5 Talents), right-handed starting pitcher Jimmy Greenwood (9/8/10 Talents), and outfielder Neil Howell (5/5/6/3/5 Talents) in exchange for outfielder Leon Sandcastle (8/6/7/9/5 Talents), outfielder François Frémont, right-handed starting pitcher José Rivera. Suarez pitched for Tucson for the remainder of the 2026 season and part of 2027 with the Tucson Cactus before being traded on 5/11/2027 back to the Havana Sugar Kings along with right-handed relief pitcher Brenden Denley and right-handed starting pitcher / relief pitcher Pablo Salinas (8/7/2 Talents) in exchange for left-handed starting pitcher Edward Kish, left-handed relief pitcher Ricardo Baez (9/6/6 Talents), and outfielder Ron Mosley (6/7/9/6/5 Talents). Suarez pitched the remainder of the 2027 season with Havana before becoming a free agent after the season. Suarez signed with the Yellow Springs Nine on 5/19/2028, and pitched for the 2028 season with the organization, becoming a free agent after the season. Suarez spent the next six seasons with the Madison Wolves organization, finishing the 2034 season 6-6 with a 3.46 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, a 4.04 FIP, a .252 OAVG, a .273 BABIP, a .600 QS%, a .000 IRS% (1 IR), 50 strikeouts, and a 1.4 WAR in 91 innings pitched (16 appearances, 15 starts). For his BBA career, Suarez is 74-94 with a 4.42 ERA, a 1.40 WHIP, a 4.21 FIP, a .277 OAVG, a .310 BABIP, a .313 QS%, 1,016 strikeouts, and a 16.2 WAR in 1,530 2/3 innings pitched (457 appearances, 227 starts). Suarez is an extreme groundball pitcher with a 3/4 arm slot velocity that peaks at 89-91 miles per hour. Suarez has average stamina and an average ability to hold runners, above average stuff, good movement and control. He has a three-pitch repertoire consisting of a good changeup, and an above average sinker and slider. Given Suarez’s successful 2034 season, veteran presence and experience, he’ll most certainly get a chance to compete for a spot in the rotation, and will probably be a mid-rotation starter given the struggles of other Gamblers starters last season.
On the signings, general manager Joshua Biddle said "we're happy to add Tomás and Sergio to the mix. Their veteran experience will be a benefit to the younger guys in the clubhouse, and we think they can contribute on the field as well. We look forward to seeing their contributions."
Manager Daniel Berrocales stated, "They're baseball guys through and through. Fiery guys who want to win. We're all excited to get this thing started."
