Boardwalk Empire - 2047.9 - Key Departures

[Joshua Biddle]

Gamblers Lose Four Key Players in Free Agency

Due to constricting financials and steep contract demands, the Atlantic City Gamblers were forced to allow key players to hit the free agent market. The result was the departure of left fielder Stewart Illingworth, first baseman/designated hitter Antonio Martinez, second baseman Keith Dean, and catcher Randy Bader.

Illingworth, 27, was signed by the Gamblers as an international free agent in January 2036. After working his way through the Gamblers minor league system in four years, Illingworth debuted with the Gamblers during the 2041 season and delivered a 5.1 WAR performance while slashing .352/.425/.610, hitting 33 home runs, recording 130 RBIs, earning a Johnson League All-Star appearance, and earning the BBA Johnson League Charles Puckett Golden Bat Award at Left Field. In his next five seasons with the Gamblers, he would only earn one additional All-Star appearance (2043), the only other season he finished with a WAR above 0.8 (4.3). Inconsistency marred his overall career with the Gamblers, though he finished his career with the Gamblers with respectable statistics - .279/.353/.493 with 454 runs scored, 154 doubles, 23 triples, 155 home runs, 514 RBIs, 6 stolen bases in 18 attempts (.333 success rate), and a 10.9 WAR in 3,505 plate appearances (862 games).

Martinez, 26, was drafted by the Gamblers with the 11th pick of the 2nd round (50th overall) in the 2038 BBA Amateur Draft. Martinez, like Illingworth, excelled in his rookie season, slashing .353/.413/.647 with 45 home runs, 122 RBIs, and a 5.2 WAR in 741 plate appearances. Martinez followed up with a 3.4 WAR season in 2042 and a 3.9 WAR in 2043, but failed to record a WAR above 1.0 from 2044 through 2046. Defensively, he became nearly unplayable at first base, which also impacted the Gamblers decision to potentially retain him. Overall, Martinez finished his Gamblers career hitting .291/.342/.533 with 603 runs scored, 211 doubles, 27 triples, 215 home runs, 617 RBIs, 33 stolen bases in 62 attempts (.532 success rate), and a 14.8 WAR in 4,116 plate appearances (949 games).

Dean, 33, was drafted by the Gamblers with the 15th pick in the 1st round (15th overall) in the 2034 BBA Amateur Draft, signing a three-year, $3 million major league contract straight out of the draft. After spending the 2034 season and most of the 2035 season in the minors, Dean debuted in the majors in 2035. He would be a staple at second base for the Gamblers for the better part of eleven seasons, finishing his career with the Gamblers hitting .275/.327/.451 with 774 runs scored, 342 doubles, 47 triples, 202 home runs, 804 RBIs, 53 stolen bases in 91 attempts (.582 success rate), and a 19.5 WAR in 6,478 plate appearances (1,552 games).

Bader, 26, was acquired in a trade with the Montreal Blazers in August 2039. Bader was inconsistent over his career with the Gamblers, but the bigger blemish was his inability to stay on the field. Bader only played in 100+ games in two of six season with the organization. In three of six seasons, he recorded a 1.2+ WAR. Bader finished his career with the Gamblers hitting .211/.293/.405 with 216 runs scored, 108 doubles, 12 triples, 72 home runs, 237 RBIs, 30 stolen bases in 41 attempts (.732 success rate), and a 4.8 WAR in 2,025 plate appearances (506 games).