Boardwalk Empire - 2047.10 - Additions

[Joshua Biddle]

Gamblers Sign Free Agent Catchers Moreno, Ruiz; Drafts Shortstop Chuang in Rule 5 Draft

Although the Gamblers lost four key players, the Gamblers did make multiple additions, adding catcher Octavio "Dog House" Moreno, catcher Antonio Ruiz, and defensive shortstop Asher Chuang via the Rule 5 Draft.

Moreno, 26, agreed to a four-year, $87.5 million contract after weeks of intense negotiations, and will replace former starting catcher Randy Bader. Moreno was signed by the San Antonio Outlaws organization as an international free agent out of Mexico in January 2037 and would top out at #35 on the top 100 BBA prospects list prior to his BBA rookie season with the Outlaws in 2040. Moreno spent seven seasons with the Outlaws from 2040 through 2046, finishing his career with the Outlaws hitting .269/.322/.488 with 482 runs scored, 218 doubles, 13 triples, 170 home runs, 554 RBIs, 9 stolen bases in 19 attempts (.474 success rate), and a 20.9 WAR in 3,765 plate appearances (927 games). Moreno is a four-time JL All-Star (2042, 2044, 2045, 2046); a three-time JL Charles Puckett Golden Bat Award Winner at Catcher (2042, 2045, 2046); and a one-time JL Yogi Zimmer Diamond Glove Award Winner at Catcher (2046).

Ruiz, 27, agreed to a one-year, $2.25 million to be the Gamblers' backup catcher. Ruiz was signed as a minor league free agent by the Las Vegas Hustlers in April 2036. Ruiz reached the majors in 2040 with the Hustlers, spending five-plus seasons with the team and finishing his career with them hitting .254/.288/.371 with 84 runs scored, 51 doubles, 5 triples, 18 home runs, 136 RBIs, 1 stolen base in 1 attempt (1.000 success rate), and a 1.0 WAR in 1,043 plate appearances (280 games). After a trade to the Long Beach Surfers, Ruiz spent two-plus seasons with the team, finishing his career with them hitting .251/.283/.425 with 104 runs scored, 60 doubles, 35 home runs, 123 RBIs, and a 3.2 WAR in 999 plate appearances (263 games). He also had a short stint with the Seattle Storm in 2046, slashing .200/.200/.440 with a home run and 3 RBIs in 25 plate appearances. Ruiz is a one-time Landis Memorial Series Champion with the Hustlers in 2040.

Chuang, 26, joins the Gamblers after being selected with the 12th pick in the 1st round (12th overall) of the 2046 BBA Rule 5 Draft from the Jacksonville Hurricanes organization. Chuang was drafted by the Edmonton Jackrabbits organization with the 22nd pick in the 6th round (202nd overall) of the 2039 BBA Amateur Draft, but failed to sign with the organization. After three years in college, Chuang was drafted with the 39th pick in the 3rd round (135th overall) of the 2042 BBA Amateur Draft, where he signed. He has shown elite glove skills at shortstop, but has thoroughly struggled at the plate, slashing .175/.331/.316 in 142 plate appearances at the Class-Short Season A level; .209/.370/.301 in 384 plate appearances at the Class-A level; .220/.329/.403 in 499 plate appearances at the Class-AA level; and .183/.263/.301 in 487 plate appearances at the Class-AAA level.