Boardwalk Empire - 2043.5 - Free Agent Additions

[Joshua Biddle]

Gamblers Add Reliever Leonardo González, Starter Freddy Delgado

In what is expected to be their main offseason moves, the Atlantic City Gamblers added a pair of veterans in an attempt to bolster their oft-maligned pitching staff - right-handed relief pitcher Leonardo González and right-handed starting pitcher Freddy Delgado.

González, 35, agreed to terms on a two-year, $10.5 million contract. The contract will pay González $6.5 million for the 2043 season and $4 million for the 2044 season, with a $1 million yearly bonus for pitching more than 50 innings. González has had a BBA career that has spanned twelve seasons, spending seven seasons from 2031 through 2037 with the Carolina Kraken / Rockville Pikeman franchise, where he finished 18-21 with 12 saves in 22 opportunities (.545 save percentage), a 3.56 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, 3.23 FIP, 304 strikeouts, and a 6.4 WAR in 308 2/3 innings pitched (225 appearances); one-plus season with the Mexico City Aztecs where he finished 5-7 with 4 saves in 7 opportunities (.571 save percentage), a 4.78 ERA, a 1.37 WHIP, a 4.33 FIP, 70 strikeouts, and a 0.6 WAR in 79 innings pitched (79 appearances) prior to a trade to the Hawaii Tropics; and three-plus seasons with the Hawaii Tropics where he finished 14-10 with 5 saves in 12 opportunities (.417 save percentage), a 3.30 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, a 4.14 FIP, 160 strikeouts, and a 2.4 WAR in 174 1/3 innings pitched (151 appearances). González is set up to be a fixture in the Gamblers bullpen this season, although it's unclear if he would be in the closer role or another high-leverage, late inning role.

Delgado, 35, agreed to terms on a two-year, $9 million contract. The contract will pay Delgado $3 million for the 2043 season and $6 million for the 2044 season -- the 2044 season is a team option with a reported $2.5 million buyout. A first round pick (16th overall) of the 2026 BBA Draft by the New Orleans Crawdads, Delgado started his BBA career as a reliever and had a sensational rookie season, culminating in winning the 2030 BBA JL Jason Egan Reliever Award and a 2nd place finish in voting for the 2030 BBA JL Joe Gillstrom Newcomer of the Year Award. He finished his career in New Orleans 73-52 with 63 saves in 70 attempts (.900 save percentage), a 3.91 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, a 3.90 FIP, 1,173 strikeouts, and a 22.3 WAR in 1,180 2/3 innings pitched (284 appearances, 153 starts). He spent the 2041 season with the Louisville Sluggers franchise, finishing the season 13-8 with a 5.74 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 6.21 FIP, 144 strikeouts, and a 0.5 WAR in 183 1/3 innings pitched (33 starts); and the 2042 season with the Nashville Bluebirds, finishing the season 8-8 with 5 saves in 8 opportunities (.625 save percentage), a 5.37 ERA, a 1.46 WHIP, a 5.06 FIP, 126 strikeouts, and a 1.2 WAR in 140 2/3 innings pitched (40 appearances, 18 starts).

"We're happy to add these two pitchers to our staff," said general manager Joshua Biddle, "we think they can be contributors and hope they can provide the impact we expect going into the 2043 season."