2056.01: New Year, New Bears
Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2023 9:55 pm
3/18/2056
I'm done making moves so it's time for a summary of all the major offseason additions to the 2056 San Fernando Bears roster.
FREE AGENTS
SS Pepe Espinosa
Everybody is looking for a shortstop. I decided to not overcomplicate things this time so I navigated to the position and sorted by the OVR column. Sure, his injury proneness is "wrecked" but he's played a lot in recent years. He's 35 years old and his play has been mediocre, but this is a 1/$7M deal and it's not like there are a lot of stud shortstops available in free agency. Might as well roll the dice with the guy with the best ratings. His fan interest boost means even if he ends up on the IL he's served a purpose.
1B Francisco MartÃnez
Francisco Martinez had two excellent seasons in his early 20s before a series of dissapointing campaigns. Something clicked starting in 2054, and over the last two years in Seattle he accrued 9.2 WAR. I signed Martinez to a 3/$32M contract that includes a team option in the final year. I like that he doesn't have any platoon splits since I'm short on roster spots to begin with. I don't expect his bat to cool off anytime soon in Chico's Bail Bonds Stadium.
P Scott Davis
A theme with all of my free agent acquisitions is that they're popular players and Scott Davis was my attempt to infuse some popularity into my pitching staff. I'm still undecided whether he'll start--where he has to compete with several young arms coming up from my farm system--or pitch in relief. The 31 year-old Davis has contributed in either role. This was a 2/$12M contract, although the second year is a team option.
C Joe Zwicker
I had Rainer Scheffer in my clubhouse last year so I understand as well as anybody the importance of intangibles--especially behind the plate--but I was pleased to sign Zwicker to a 2/$12M deal. The lefty backstop was worth an impressive 5.4 WAR over 661 PAs for Long Beach the previous two seasons. I don't see a weakness in his game and he's still in his 20s.
CF Jamie Angwin
Two offseasons after going all-in on my defense to get it up to Brewster standards I've come to the conclusion that maybe the levee finally broke and bat-first guys can work? As I perused the free agent list I noted bat-first but capable defenders like Angwin seemed to be holding their own in the WAR department in a way they could not previously. I dunno, maybe I'm just getting back to my roots but Angwin gives me one of the better CF bats in the league on a 1/$12M contract. In 2055 he hit .273/.340/.479 and was worth 3.7 WAR for Seattle.
RULE 5 PICK
LF Hyeon-uk Hong
Not your usual prospect who went unprotected, soon-to-be 30 years old Hyeon-uk Hong comes over to San Fernando from Calgary after signing a minor league contract during the 2055 season. He's a career .290/.331/.419 hitter in the BBA and offers the Bears a speed element completely missing from their 2055 roster. He's likely to make the roster but is competing with a crowded mix of corner outfielders, most of whom are younger than Hong.
I'm done making moves so it's time for a summary of all the major offseason additions to the 2056 San Fernando Bears roster.
FREE AGENTS
SS Pepe Espinosa
Everybody is looking for a shortstop. I decided to not overcomplicate things this time so I navigated to the position and sorted by the OVR column. Sure, his injury proneness is "wrecked" but he's played a lot in recent years. He's 35 years old and his play has been mediocre, but this is a 1/$7M deal and it's not like there are a lot of stud shortstops available in free agency. Might as well roll the dice with the guy with the best ratings. His fan interest boost means even if he ends up on the IL he's served a purpose.
1B Francisco MartÃnez
Francisco Martinez had two excellent seasons in his early 20s before a series of dissapointing campaigns. Something clicked starting in 2054, and over the last two years in Seattle he accrued 9.2 WAR. I signed Martinez to a 3/$32M contract that includes a team option in the final year. I like that he doesn't have any platoon splits since I'm short on roster spots to begin with. I don't expect his bat to cool off anytime soon in Chico's Bail Bonds Stadium.
P Scott Davis
A theme with all of my free agent acquisitions is that they're popular players and Scott Davis was my attempt to infuse some popularity into my pitching staff. I'm still undecided whether he'll start--where he has to compete with several young arms coming up from my farm system--or pitch in relief. The 31 year-old Davis has contributed in either role. This was a 2/$12M contract, although the second year is a team option.
C Joe Zwicker
I had Rainer Scheffer in my clubhouse last year so I understand as well as anybody the importance of intangibles--especially behind the plate--but I was pleased to sign Zwicker to a 2/$12M deal. The lefty backstop was worth an impressive 5.4 WAR over 661 PAs for Long Beach the previous two seasons. I don't see a weakness in his game and he's still in his 20s.
CF Jamie Angwin
Two offseasons after going all-in on my defense to get it up to Brewster standards I've come to the conclusion that maybe the levee finally broke and bat-first guys can work? As I perused the free agent list I noted bat-first but capable defenders like Angwin seemed to be holding their own in the WAR department in a way they could not previously. I dunno, maybe I'm just getting back to my roots but Angwin gives me one of the better CF bats in the league on a 1/$12M contract. In 2055 he hit .273/.340/.479 and was worth 3.7 WAR for Seattle.
RULE 5 PICK
LF Hyeon-uk Hong
Not your usual prospect who went unprotected, soon-to-be 30 years old Hyeon-uk Hong comes over to San Fernando from Calgary after signing a minor league contract during the 2055 season. He's a career .290/.331/.419 hitter in the BBA and offers the Bears a speed element completely missing from their 2055 roster. He's likely to make the roster but is competing with a crowded mix of corner outfielders, most of whom are younger than Hong.