Boardwalk Empire - 2045.6 - Arbitration Results

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Boardwalk Empire - 2045.6 - Arbitration Results

Post by Joshua Biddle » Mon Feb 01, 2021 11:29 pm

Arbitration Results

The Atlantic City Gamblers had sixteen players up for arbitration in the 2044-2045 offseason, with the following salaries being finalized:

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Outfielder Juan Rivera - $11,681,250

Rivera, 26, was the lone Gamblers player to receive an arbitration salary of above $10 million, which should surprise nobody given his accomplishments to date. Drafted in the first round (11th overall) of the 2038 BBA Amateur Draft, Rivera debuted as a Gambler during the 2040 season and has earned several accolades, including eight BBA JL Player of the Week Awards, five JL Batter of the Month Awards, one JL Rookie of the Month Award, four All-Star selections, three JL Charles Puckett Golden Bat Awards, one Diamond Glove Award (LF), and two BBA JL Sawyer Silk Slugger Trophies. Rivera saw his numbers dip in 2044, along with several other Gamblers' hitters, but still finished the season hitting .290/.368/.608 with 98 runs scored, 35 doubles, 2 triples, 43 home runs, 107 RBIs, 20 stolen bases in 28 attempts (.714 success rate), and a 6.5 WAR in 601 plate appearances. A bout with forearm tendinitis may have lingered and affected his performance, but either way, Rivera was a key cog in the Gamblers batting order. Rivera and the Gamblers' front office maintain a good relationship, and with free agency looming, priority number one is a long-term extension with their franchise player.

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First Baseman / Designated Hitter António Martínez - $7.475 million

Martínez, 24, was drafted by the Gamblers in the 2nd round (50th overall) of the 2038 BBA Amateur Draft, debuting with the Gamblers on opening day of the 2041 season. Martínez's rookie season was spectacular, finishing the season hitting .353/.413/.647 with 141 runs scored, 48 doubles, 6 triples, 45 home runs, 122 RBIs, 9 stolen bases in 16 attempts (.563 success rate), and a 5.2 WAR in 741 plate appearances. The eye-popping numbers, unfortunately, have not sustained over time, with declines in OPS in each subsequent season (1.060 in 2041; .911 in 2042; .874 in 2043; .762 in 2044). An upcoming change in the Gamblers' dugout in terms of hitting coach could help to reverse this concerning course. Martínez finished the 2044 season hitting .266/.305/.457 with 72 runs scored, 26 doubles, 2 triples, 26 home runs, 67 RBIs, 6 stolen bases in 12 attempts (.500 success rate), and a 1.0 WAR in 609 plate appearances. Martínez has markedly improved his defense compared to his rookie year, but he still would be considered a below average defender. If he is unable to stifle his decline in offensive production, it's possible he could lose at-bats to Cinema Jones, an outfielder who also has proficiency at first base.

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Outfielder / Designated Hitter Stewart Illingworth - $6.6 million

Illingworth, 25, was signed by the Gamblers as an international free agent out of Jamaica with a $1,000,000 bonus in January 2036. Debuting in the 2041 season, Illingworth posted an incredible rookie season, finishing the season hitting .352/.425/.610 with 97 runs scored, 44 doubles, 1 triple, 33 home runs, 130 RBIs, 3 stolen bases in 4 attempts (.750 success rate), and a 5.1 WAR in 644 plate appearances. The performance earned Illingworth a JL Golden Bat Award (LF). Illingworth is a two-time All-Star, earning appearances in 2041 and 2043 (.285/.347/.561, 41 HR, 108 RBI). After a 5.1 WAR season in 2041 and a 4.3 WAR in 2043, the 2044 season was an absolute disaster, with Illingworth finishing the season hitting .228/.291/.388 with 51 runs scored, 17 doubles, 2 triples, 17 home runs, 51 RBIs, 1 stolen base in 3 attempts (.333 success rate), and a -1.0 WAR in 492 plate appearances. Illingworth is another who may benefit from a change in dugout personnel.

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Catcher Randy Bader - $4.62 million

Bader, 24, was acquired in a trade with the Las Vegas Hustlers alongside right-handed pitcher Jaime Sánchez in a deal that sent infielder Reese Wareham to Las Vegas. Bader has generally been an effective catcher in his four BBA seasons, finishing with a negative WAR in only his rookie season and his injury-shortened 2043 season. He has shown competence behind the plate, earning the 2042 BBA JL Yogi Zimmer Diamond Glove Award at Catcher. During his 2044 season, despite the concern of a weak arm from various scouts, he was able to increase his caught stealing percentage to 41.2% (previous best: 30.1% in 2042). Bader has displayed above average power, but below average contact ability over the course of his BBA career thus far -- he finished the season hitting .210/.290/.442 with 49 runs scored, 22 doubles, 2 triples, 21 home runs, 52 RBIs, 4 stolen bases in 6 attempts (.667 success rate), and a 2.0 WAR in 435 plate appearances.

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Catcher José Barajas - $4.4 million

Barajas, 27, joined the Gamblers organization in June 2034 as an international free agent discovered out of Cuba. Barajas has earned a hefty payday via arbitration as the Gamblers' back up catcher, despite a subpar 2044 season. It was a possibility that Barajas would be a non-tender candidate, but the decision was ultimately made to bring him back, probably on the merit of his solid 2043 campaign. Barajas was thrust into the starting gig after Bader went down with injury, finishing the season hitting .246/.331/.458 with 37 runs scored, 25 doubles, 13 home runs, 45 RBIs, and a 2.9 WAR in 341 plate appearances. Barajas also posted very good defensive metrics, making him a viable starting option behind the plate and good depth behind Bader. Barajas did struggle during the 2044 season, finishing the season hitting .175/.233/.381 with 25 runs scored, 9 doubles, 10 home runs, 28 RBIs, and a -0.0 WAR in 206 plate appearances.

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Right-handed pitcher Thiongo Amir - $3.2 million

Amir, 24, joined the Gamblers organization in September 2036 as an international free agent discovered out of Ghana. Amir two consecutive ten win, 3.0+ WAR seasons in 2042 and 2043, Amir struggled during the 2044 season, finishing 7-20 with a 5.91 ERA, a 1.46 WHIP, a 5.35 FIP, a .306 opponents' average, a .891 opponents' OPS, 96 strikeouts, and a 0.1 WAR in 170 2/3 innings pitched (30 starts). It's unclear if Amir will remain in the Gamblers' rotation after his 2044 season, but his 2043 season was encouraging. He finished the 2043 season 10-12 with a 4.28 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, a 3.83 FIP, a .249 opponents' average, a .717 opponents' OPS, 154 strikeouts, and a 3.1 WAR in 204 innings pitched (33 starts).

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Left-handed relief pitcher Emílio López - $2.6 million

López, 27, was drafted by the Gamblers in the first round (10th overall) of the 2036 BBA Amateur Draft. Although López was drafted with the hope of developing into a top of the rotation starter -- an opinion that scouts also had when he topped out as the BBA's #31 prospect in 2037 -- it became apparent by the time he reached the majors that he didn't have a strong enough third pitch to make it as a starter. López has managed to be a success out of the bullpen, finishing with a sub-3.00 ERA in three of his first four seasons, and a sub-4.00 FIP in four of his first five seasons. The negative is that the 2044 season was his worst to date, finishing the season 0-0 with a 4.82 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, a 3.69 FIP, a .188 opponents' average, a .559 OPS, 12 strikeouts, and a 0.2 WAR in 18 2/3 innings pitched (9 appearances). The FIP and overall opponents' hitting metrics provide some encouragement for his 2045 season, although his 2044 season was cut short due to a string of injuries -- a strained back in May that resulted in missing a month, a sore elbow that resulted in missing an additional five weeks, and rotator cuff inflation in August that resulted in López being shut down for the remainder of the season.

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Right-handed relief pitcher José Ordóñez - $2.2 million

Ordóñez, 28, was drafted by the Gamblers in the 8th round (226th overall) of the 2034 BBA Amateur Draft. Ordóñez has been very up-and-down over the course of his six-year career with the Gamblers, though the 2044 season was arguably his most successful. Ordóñez finished the 2044 season 3-2 with 4 saves in 9 attempts (.444 success rate), a 3.76 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP, a 3.75 FIP, a .267 opponents' average, a .781 OPS, 37 strikeouts, and a 0.5 WAR in 38 1/3 innings pitched (41 appearances). Although the number of blown saves isn't pretty, his overall numbers were favorable relative to past seasons, and he finished with a career-best ERA. With his overpowering-at-times stuff, it appears that Ordóñez is the lead candidate to become the Gamblers closer, assuming incumbent closer Carlos Flores moves to the starting rotation, as rumored.

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Right-handed starting pitcher Augusto Morán - $2.2 million

Morán, 24, was acquired by the Gamblers in a deal that sent left-handed reliever José Souza and right-handed starting pitcher Domenic Blondell to the Jacksonville Hurricanes. After a breakout 2043 season where he finished the season 8-11 with a 4.00 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 3.50 FIP, .270 opponents' average, a .712 opponents' OPS, 114 strikeouts, and a 3.8 WAR in 195 2/3 innings pitched (30 starts), Morán suffered a significant injury in June 2044 after 16 starts. The injury resulted in radial nerve decompression surgery, which ended his 2044 season prematurely. He had been having a solid season prior to the injury, finishing the 2044 season 6-2 with a 3.15 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP, a 4.76 FIP, a .228 opponents' average, a .718 opponents' OPS, 50 strikeouts, and a 0.6 WAR in 94 1/3 innings pitched (16 starts). The question will be whether or not Morán can rebound after a significant injury to his pitching arm, and what it means for his long-term future as a Gambler.

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Shortstop / Utility Infielder Sven Burel - $1.21 million

Burel, 26, joined the Gamblers as an international free agent out of Belgium in May 2035. The 2045 season will mark Burel's sixth season on the Gamblers' roster, but his rookie year was by far the brightest, finishing the 2040 season hitting .227/.295/.384 with 66 runs scored, 27 doubles, 10 triples, 11 home runs, 56 RBIs, 3 stolen bases in 10 attempts (.300 success rate), and a 2.4 WAR in 568 plate appearances (159 games). Most importantly, Burel was a defensive gem in his rookie season, finishing with 10 errors (.987 fielding percentage), a +19.8 zone rating, and a 1.088 defensive efficiency in 1,377 1/3 innings at shortstop, leading to one of his two BBA JL Yogi Zimmer Diamond Glove Awards (2040, 2042). While Burel has maintained very good defense at shortstop, even as his overall playing time has diminished, his OPS has declined yearly from 2041 through 2044 (.644, .631, .613, .416). His 2044 season was his worst yet, finishing the season hitting .138/.234/.182 with 28 runs scored, 12 doubles, 1 triple, 14 RBIs, 3 stolen bases in 5 attempts (.600 success rate), and a -0.5 WAR in 364 plate appearances (110 games) -- his first season with a negative WAR. Another poor season may spell the end of his stint with the Gamblers.

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Right-handed starting pitcher / relief pitcher Torazo Tanaka - $1.1 million

Tanaka, 29, was drafted by the Gamblers with the 19th pick in the 3rd round (92nd overall) of the 2033 BBA Amateur Draft. Tanaka hasn't be spectacular over his seven season stint with the Gamblers, but the past two seasons were among his best. Tanaka finished the 2043 season 7-8 with a 4.43 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP, a 4.95 FIP, a .235 opponents' average, a .742 opponents' OPS, 65 strikeouts, and a 0.2 WAR in 101 2/3 innings pitched (19 starts). Tanaka finished the 2044 season 6-9 with a 4.60 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP, a 4.80 FIP, a .270 opponents' average, a .800 opponents' OPS, 70 strikeouts, and a 0.7 WAR in 103 2/3 innings pitched (19 starts). Tanaka is being retained as a possible starter, but may also pitch out of the bullpen depending on how spring training shakes out. At the very least, he provides starting pitching depth with experience.

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Left-handed starting pitcher Yu Vgotmael - $1.1 million

Vgotmael, 29, was acquired in a trade that sent Dan Cannon to the Rockville Pikeman. Vgotmael has largely been ineffective in Atlantic City, finishing with an ERA exceeding 5.00 in four of the past five seasons (2040, 2041, 2042, 2044). Vgotmael pitched primarily out of the bullpen during the 2044 season but did start 13 games, finishing the season 2-8 with a 6.13 ERA, a 1.58 WHIP, a 5.35 FIP, a .290 opponents' average, an .873 opponents' OPS, 59 strikeouts, and a -0.3 WAR in 113 innings pitched. The 2045 season will be the last season under Gamblers' control, and it'll likely take significant improvement to be offered a contract at the conclusion of the season.

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Right-handed relief pitcher Clarence McCall - $950,000

McCall, 27, was drafted by the Gamblers with the 15th pick in the 3rd round (82nd overall) of the 2034 BBA Amateur Draft. McCall's BBA career has been marred with inconsistent performance that has resulted in multiple demotions back to Class-AAA Brooklyn, where he's regularly been a reliable reliever. There has been a radical spread in his ERA at the BBA level in a given season - 4.04 in 2039, 6.85 in 2040, 4.45 in 2041, 6.81 in 2042, 3.71 in 2043, and 6.75 in 2044. With Class-AAA Brooklyn, he finished with an ERA of 3.59 in 2037, 2.85 in 2038, 2.62 in 2040, 3.27 in 2043, and 3.22 in 2044. McCall finished the 2044 season with the Gamblers 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, a 6.45 FIP, a .263 opponents' average, a .995 opponents' OPS, 8 strikeouts, and a -0.1 WAR in 5 1/3 innings pitched (3 appearances). He spent the 2044 season primarily with Class-AAA Brooklyn, where he finished the season 2-0 with a 3.22 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP, a 3.41 FIP, a .252 opponents' average, a .722 opponents' OPS, 45 strikeouts, and a 0.4 WAR in 36 1/3 innings pitched (23 appearances). McCall is arbitration eligible in 2046 and 2047, so final decisions regarding McCall don't have to be made during the 2045 campaign; however, his future in Atlantic City is doubtful if the inconsistency continues.

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Third baseman Ernesto González - $850,000

González, 24, was drafted with the 3rd pick in the 2nd round (74th overall) of the 2038 BBA Amateur Draft. González has had some solid seasons in his first four years with the Gamblers; however, those successes were skewed heavily towards his first few years with the team. González finished the 2041 season with a .788 OPS and 1.6 WAR and the 2042 season with a .850 OPS and 4.4 WAR, which contrasts heavily from a .684 OPS and 1.2 WAR in 2043 and a .699 OPS and -0.1 WAR in 2044. Defensively, he's been "average-ish". González finished the 2044 season hitting .256/.287/.412 with 78 runs scored, 53 doubles (league lead), 11 triples, 9 home runs, 62 RBIs, 18 stolen bases in 33 attempts (.545 success rate), and a -0.1 WAR in 686 plate appearances. As such, González is a player with question marks that the 2045 season may help answer, as González could be a player the Gamblers could be interested in longer-term.

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Left-handed starting pitcher / relief pitcher Félix Sánchez - $750,000

Sánchez, 27, joined the Gamblers in December 2034 as an international free agent signing out of Cuba. Sánchez had a solid rookie campaign as a starter in Atlantic City in 2042, finishing the season 8-4 with a 3.58 ERA, a 1.36 WHIP, a 5.48 FIP, a .256 opponents' average, a .765 opponents' OPS, 67 strikeouts, and a 0.6 WAR in 98 innings pitched (16 starts). However, he subsequently posted two negative-WAR seasons in 2043 and 2044. Sánchez finished the 2044 season 4-8 with a 5.46 ERA, a 1.40 WHIP, a 5.64 WHIP, a .276 opponents' average, a .856 opponents' OPS, 58 strikeouts, and a -0.3 WAR in 112 innings pitched (20 starts). It's likely that Sánchez will pitch out of the bullpen in 2045, and his performance in that role will dictate his future with the organization.

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Right-handed relief pitcher Elijah Campos - $750,000

Campos, 27, was drafted by the Gamblers with the 12th pick in the 2nd round (53rd overall) of the 2036 BBA Amateur Draft. Campos has struggled at the BBA level, with negative-WAR seasons in his first four BBA seasons from 2040 through 2043. However, his 2044 season was a very good one. Campos finished the 2044 season 6-2 with 1 save in 5 attempts (.200 success rate), a 2.88 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, a .203 opponents' average, a .615 opponents' OPS, 59 strikeouts, and a 0.8 WAR in 65 2/3 innings pitched (35 appearances). A career-low HR/9 (1.1) and career-high K/9 (8.1) helped propel the drastically improved overall metrics for a player who had shown flashes of brilliance throughout his minor league career. Will the same player return for 2045?
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