Boardwalk Empire - 2043.2 - Parrish, Morales to Return

[Joshua Biddle]

Starting Pitchers Parrish, Morales Elect Not to Opt Out of Contracts

Atlantic City Gamblers right-handed starting pitchers Chet Parrish and Kevin Morales answered the first offseason questions for the Gamblers' organization, with both pitchers opting not to opt out of their contracts and to remain with the team moving forward.

Parrish, 28, will play the 2043 season with a $12 million salary, and has a player option for the 2044 season with a $9.5 million salary. Parrish's 2042 season was an improvement from his 2041 campaign, but has still continued to underwhelm after signing a four-year, $46.5 million contract during the 2040 offseason. Parrish finished the 2042 season 11-14 with a 5.26 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP, a 5.71 FIP, a .258 opponent's batting average, 108 strikeouts, and a 0.7 WAR in 179 2/3 innings pitched (32 starts). Parrish finished his 2041 season 6-9 with a 6.30 ERA, a 1.48 WHIP, a 5.01 FIP, a .297 opponent's average, 92 strikeouts, and a 2.0 WAR in 140 innings pitched (28 appearances, 26 starts). Sports talk radio in Atlantic City speaks very negatively of Parrish and a wave of boos when he pitches is not at all uncommon.

Morales, 30, will play the 2043 season with an $18 million salary, with player options for both the 2044 and 2045 seasons with a $12 million salary per season. Morales impressed in his first season in Atlantic City with solid production, finishing the season 15-12 with a 4.13 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, a 4.42 FIP, a .250 opponent's average, 165 strikeouts, and a 3.6 WAR in 198 1/3 innings pitched (33 starts). Unlike the Parrish signing, the early return has been positive with Morales and talk radio generally speaks highly of him, especially when compared to the overall quality of pitching Gamblers' fans have witnessed in recent years.

The return of both players likely solidify two spots in the starting rotation entering the 2043 season, though there is potential that Parrish could be ousted from the rotation if other players step up in spring training.