Boardwalk Empire - 2049.17 - Outfield Transactions

[Joshua Biddle]

A review of Gamblers Outfield Moves in August / September

During the month of August, the Atlantic City Gamblers conducted three transactions that the Gamblers hoped would bolster production from their outfield. The Gamblers signed left fielder Luis Costello to a one-year, $500,000 contract in mid-August; signed right fielder Millard Younger to a one-year, $500,000 contract; and released left fielder Pedro Trejo, who had been the team's primary left fielder versus right-handed pitching since star left fielder Cinema Jones went down with injury.

The Costello and Younger signing were made directly to replace incumbent outfielders Pedro Trejo and Raúl De La Cruz, both who have struggled mightily since taking a brunt of the at-bats following Cinema Jones going down for the season. Trejo, 28, took over primary left field duties until August, when it was decided that he would start in left field versus right-handed pitchers; with De La Cruz starting in right field versus left-handed pitchers while José Romero slid over to left field. Trejo struggled mightily in July, hitting .128/.171/.128 with 3 runs scored, 5 doubles, 0 home runs, and 0 RBIs in 41 plate appearances; and followed it up with a disappointing August as well, hitting .208/.208.250 with 1 run scored, 1 double, and 1 RBI in 24 plate appearances. After slashing .143/.188/.357 in May and .077/.077.308 in June in limited plate appearances, De La Cruz had a good July in what again was limited action (.267/.267/.533, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 16 PA). However, during the month of August in 78 plate appearances, De La Cruz finished the month hitting .229/.295/.457 with 8 runs scored, 4 doubles, 4 home runs, and 12 RBIs. Not a putrid performance given the power output, but underwhelming enough to warrant looking for help outside of the organization.

Costello, 36, joined the Gamblers after most recently playing with the Long Beach Surfers during the 2048 season, where he finished the season hitting .225/.284/.474 with 37 runs scored, 9 doubles, 2 triples, 20 home runs, 44 RBIs, 5 stolen bases in 5 attempts (1.000 success rate), and a 1.1 WAR in 321 plate appearances. The former #2 overall pick of the Edmonton Jackrabbits in the 2031 BBA Amateur Draft has had a very good career, though age has noticeably caused a decline in his production. Costello spent the first five-plus years of his career with the Jackrabbits, finishing his time in Edmonton hitting .275/.320/.494 with 404 runs scored, 140 doubles, 21 triples, 132 home runs, 433 RBIs, 134 stolen bases in 197 attempts (.680 success rate), and a 12.0 WAR in 2,867 plate appearances. The Gamblers don't need him to return to his old school Edmonton form, they just need a player who can hit lefties successfully -- he slashed .267/.340/.603 with 14 home runs versus left-handers last year with Long Beach.

Younger, 32, returns to the Gamblers organization that drafted him with the 18th overall pick in the 2037 BBA Amateur Draft and where he spent the first six years of his career. Younger finished his Gamblers tenure hitting .286/.339/.508 with 569 runs scored, 208 doubles, 85 triples, 149 home runs, 528 RBIs, 128 stolen bases in 207 attempts (.617 success rate), and a 19.9 WAR in 4,083 plate appearances (913 games). After playing a solid center field his first few years, he had shifted to right field prior to his departure as a free agent. Since departing Atlantic City, he has spent time with the Long Beach Surfers, Portland Lumberjacks, and Vancouver Mounties organizations. He finished his 2048 season between Portland and Vancouver hitting .245/.296/.406 with 60 runs scored, 28 doubles, 11 triples, 10 home runs, 50 RBIs, 19 stolen bases in 30 attempts (.633 success rate), and a 1.6 WAR in 549 plate appearances. Younger is expected to start in right field versus right-handed pitching.