Boardwalk Empire - 2039.4 - Gamblers Sign Free Agents

[Joshua Biddle]

Gamblers Sign Bruan, Alicea, Marin

The Atlantic City Gamblers made a splash to attempt to shore up a weakness at shortstop and weaknesses in the rotation, adding shortstop Lloyd Braun, left-handed starting pitcher Júlio 'Loudmouth' Alicea, and right-handed starting pitcher Celio Marin.

Braun, 32, spent the last three-plus seasons with the Seattle Storm, finishing the 2038 season hitting .273/.341/.412 with 102 runs scored, 30 doubles, 5 triples, 17 home runs, 71 RBIs, 22 stolen bases in 27 attempts (.815 success rate), and a 3.5 WAR in 737 plate appearances (157 games). Defensively, he played second base and posted excellent metrics (7 errors, .991 fielding percentage, +13.0 zone rating, 1.091 defensive efficiency in 1,364 1/3 innings), winning the 2038 BBA FL Yogi Zimmer Diamond Glove Award at Second Base, which he won for the second consecutive year. It’s expected he will shift to shortstop, and although it will be tough for him to replicate his diamond glove form at short, his defensive ability should make him an adequate player at the position. In his three-plus seasons with Seattle, Braun totaled a slash line of .277/.347/.414 with 317 runs scored, 105 doubles, 24 triples, 43 home runs, 249 RBIs, 90 stolen bases in 104 attempts (.865 success rate), and a 12.9 WAR in 2,311 plate appearances (514 games).

Alicea, 28, is another ex-player for the Seattle Storm, spending the past seven seasons with the organization, finishing the 2038 season 13-13 with a 4.97 ERA, a 1.48 WHIP, a .286 opponent’s average, a .469 quality start percentage, a 4.52 FIP, 155 strikeouts, and a 3.2 WAR in 206 1/3 innings pitched (32 starts). In his seven seasons with the Storm, Alicea recorded an 82-71 record with a 4.32 ERA, a 1.41 WHIP, a .283 opponent’s average, a .545 quality start percentage, a 4.15 FIP, 1,008 stirkeouts, and a 25.6 WAR in 1,393 1/3 innings pitched (211 starts).

Marin, 30, joins the Gamblers following seven seasons with the Carolina Kraken / Rockville Pikeman, finishing the 2038 season 16-7 with a 4.14 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, a .231 opponent’s average, a .469 quality start percentage, a 3.90 FIP, 200 strikeouts, and a 4.5 WAR in 204 1/3 innings pitched (32 starts). In his seven seasons with Carolina / Rockville, Marin compiled a 42-25 record with a 4.14 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP, a .240 opponent’s average, a .491 quality start percentage, a 4.04 FIP, 647 strikeouts, and a 8.8 WAR in 594 innings pitched (252 appearances, 53 starts).