Boardwalk Empire - 2040.7 - Free Agency

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Boardwalk Empire - 2040.7 - Free Agency

Post by Joshua Biddle » Sun Dec 08, 2019 3:54 am

Gamblers Complete Offseason Free Agency with Five Additions

With free agency complete, the Atlantic City Gamblers addressed some needs in free agency, but didn’t break the bank as they have been notorious for in past seasons. The Gamblers added five players, including two larger-tier free agents – catcher Shag Hopkins and left-handed reliever José Souza; two depth signings – catcher Joaquín Camacho and infielder Derrek Kennedy; and a depth signing that should bring stability to the locker room and fans to the ballpark in the return of former Gamblers’ second baseman Valeri 'The Ankle' Kharlamov.

Hopkins, 33, agreed to a three-year, $38 million dollar deal with the Gamblers. The deal, in essence, is a one-year, $14 million pact as years two and three are team options at a $12 million salary with $2.4 million buyouts. Hopkins, the 6th overall pick in the 2024 BBA Amateur Draft, spent eleven seasons with the Louisville Sluggers, hitting a career .253/.320/.486 with 637 runs scored, 192 doubles, 8 triples, 292 home runs, 808 RBIs, and a 29.7 WAR in 5,168 plate appearances (1,250 games). Last season was a career year for Hopkins, finishing the season hitting .280/.356/.573 with 87 runs scored, 20 doubles, 2 triples, 42 home runs, 115 RBIs, and a 5.1 WAR in 578 plate appearances (127 games), also recording a 135 OPS+. Hopkins is considered an average defensive catcher.

Souza, 32, agreed to a four-year, $27 million dollar deal with the Gamblers, of which two years and $15 million is guaranteed. The contract will pay $9 million in 2040, $6 million in 2041, and has a pair of $6 million team options in 2042 and 2043, with a $1.5 million buyout in 2042 and a $2 million buyout 2043. Souza spent his first seven years in the BBA with the Yellow Springs Nine, going 41-25 with 33 saves in 65 opportunities (.508 success rate), a 3.26 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, a 3.29 FIP, 539 strikeouts, and a 10.4 WAR in 521 1/3 innings pitched (396 appearances, 1 start). After departing Yellow Springs as a free agent, Souza signed a three-year deal to join the Seattle Storm, where he went 15-16 with 74 saves in 89 opportunities (.831 success rate), a 3.89 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP, a 4.42 FIP, 185 strikeouts, and a 1.9 WAR in 169 innings pitched (154 appearances). Souza finished the 2039 season 5-8 with 40 saves in 48 opportunities (.833 success rate), a 3.41 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, a 3.72 FIP, 66 strikeouts, and a 1.7 WAR in 71 1/3 innings pitched (64 appearances).

Camacho, 32, returns to Atlantic City on a one-year, $2.3 millions contract after three seasons with the Montreal Blazers and two years with the New Orleans Crawdads. Camacho’s career numbers in his first stint in Atlantic City were very solid - .317/.354/.462 with 326 runs scored, 212 doubles, 8 triples, 49 home runs, 310 RBIs, and a 17.7 WAR in 2,789 plate appearances (658 games). During the 2039 season with New Orleans, Camacho finished the season hitting .275/.304/.408 with 8 runs scored, 11 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 14 RBIs, and a 0.4 WAR in 149 plate appearances (39 games). Camacho remains a decent contact hitter and a competent offensive force as a backup, but his already below average ability as a defense catcher has further eroded over the years.

Kennedy, 28, returns to Atlantic City on a one-year, $1 million contract after a year with the Vancouver Mounties. During his first stint in Atlantic City over five seasons, Kennedy hit .260/.301/.437 with 350 runs scored, 149 doubles, 15 triples, 112 home runs, 366 RBIs, 14 stolen bases in 23 attempts (.609 success rate), and a 2.6 WAR in 3,159 plate appearances (840 games). Last season with Vancouver, Kennedy hit .227/.288/.364 with 38 runs scored, 16 doubles, 1 triple, 8 home runs, 32 RBIs, 1 stolen base in 2 attempts (.500 success rate), and a -0.9 WAR in 341 plate appearances (97 games). Kennedy is likely to provide depth at second and third base, but won’t likely receive reps at shortstop as he had a poor season at the position for Atlantic City as the starter in 2037 and 2038.

Kharlamov, 39, returns to Atlantic City on a one-year, $3.25 million contract in what has already proven to be a popular signing amongst fans. Kharlamov’s first stint in Atlantic City was stellar, hitting .292/.366/.449 with 229 runs scored, 77 doubles, 6 triples, 45 home runs, 158 RBIs, 29 stolen bases in 45 attempts (.644 success rate), and an 11.1 WAR in 1,638 plate appearances (370 games). Last season in Vancouver, Kharlamov hit .221/.308/.358 with 34 runs scored, 17 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs, 30 RBIs, 4 stolen bases in 5 attempts (.800 success rate), and a -0.5 WAR in 324 plate appearances (89 games). Kharlamov is expected to get at-bats as a designated hitter and pinch hitter as his ability to play the field is very limited.
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