2057.01: Bears Face Decisions

[BaseClogger]

11/14/2056


ARBITRATION
I still like RP Paul Norton's ratings and peripherals but a 5.79 ERA in a reliever's age 31 season makes it difficult to give them $2M+ in arbitration.

30 year-old RP Chris Lacey is similar to Paul Norton and a typical Bears bullpen piece in that he's a former waiver claim with well rounded ratings. I'll give him $1.75M to be bullpen depth in 2057. A better GM would probably let him go and look for more upside but his 3.49 ERA in 2056 was worth 0.9 WAR.

DH Don Moore hit .279/.344/.514 last season and might still be improving. I'm happy to pay him $2.5M next year.

Here's to hoping 2057 is the year SP Fernando Ferretti puts it all together gets his ERA under 5 after accumulating 4.3 worth of WAR (based on FIP) over the last two years. Thanks to that high ERA he'll only cost the Bears about $1M.


TEAM OPTIONS
I picked up SP Adrian Custello in September to gin up some additional fan interest and that part of the plan worked. However, there wasn't enough lightning in that bottle to warrant bringing him back for 2057 so his option will be declined.

P Scott Davis lumped into a piece of coal during 2056 and does not warrant a $6M salary in 2057. Easy option decline.

Sitting on my injured list and added to a midseason trade just to level out the financials, 2B Edgardo Encarnacion will also have his option declined. The 38 year-old's ratings are still fine but he hasn't healed from his season-ending injury yet. I may consider him in free agency on a slightly smaller deal.


PLAYER OPTIONS
2B Marcello Custello opted out of the two remaining years on his contract. We got eight years of service time from Marcello and the entirety of his 20s. I'd prefer he had stayed under contract since the two remaining years were team friendly but not surprised to see him go. A pretty safe 2 WAR player who's never exceeded 2.6 WAR, I value him around $6M-$8M per year. I expect him to get 4/$40M on the FA market or perhaps more. He's been brought up in trade talks by a few different GMs over the years.

SP Dan Small on the other hand is sticking around for one more season after opting in. He's been serviceable if not mediocre when healthy but durability has been an issue. He's certainly overpaid and been a disappointment by never clearing 2 WAR with San Fernando despite a handsome contract, but I have no problem giving him the third or fourth spot in my rotation next season.

[trmmilwwi]

Love this writeup as a "peek under the hood"!

[Dington]

I'm glad Moore started playing up to his ratings for you.