Sticking Points 2038.6: Enrique Gomez to be a Free Agent
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2019 7:17 am
There was very little chance that former #1 overall pick and future Hall of Fame starting pitcher Enrique Gomez, who turns 38 years old in three weeks, was going to be back with the Pikemen in 2038. Gomez, who had two vesting options, managed to trigger neither one, finishing just 4 innings short of a guaranteed $15 million and will become one of the top free agents on the market.
The move was met with mixed emotions from the Rockville faithful, as keeping him would have likely meant the loss of Arthur Dempster, but Gomez's arrival in 2034 changed the trajectory of the franchise.
"We had a great young team in 2033 on the rise and winning ballgames," said Rockville manager Chet Rouse. "Then we signed Enrique and everything changed, because he gave us legitimacy as a contender."
Rockville would go on to make four straight Cartwright Cups, three Landis Memorial Series and win two titles with Gomez on the team, but in their most recent run Gomez had fallen out of the playoff rotation as the Pikemen rode Dempster, Dan Cannon, and Dave Martin. Gomez did get one start in the Doubleday with the team up 3-1 against Brooklyn, but it was his last appearance in the playoffs.
"It's bittersweet to be leaving this franchise," said Gomez, who is a near lock to go into the Hall of Fame as an Omaha Barnstormer. "I love my teammates and I have amazing memories, and they gave me a chance to win a title - two titles! But I understand that they didn't have the resources to keep me on the team and I'll still be a major league pitcher somewhere."
Gomez will still be a highly sought-after pitcher on the open market; while his velocity has faded somewhat his skills as a pitcher are as refined as ever. Last year, Gomez went 12-4 with a 3.62 ERA in 156.2 innings, which still makes him one of the more valuable starting pitchers in the BBA.
The move was met with mixed emotions from the Rockville faithful, as keeping him would have likely meant the loss of Arthur Dempster, but Gomez's arrival in 2034 changed the trajectory of the franchise.
"We had a great young team in 2033 on the rise and winning ballgames," said Rockville manager Chet Rouse. "Then we signed Enrique and everything changed, because he gave us legitimacy as a contender."
Rockville would go on to make four straight Cartwright Cups, three Landis Memorial Series and win two titles with Gomez on the team, but in their most recent run Gomez had fallen out of the playoff rotation as the Pikemen rode Dempster, Dan Cannon, and Dave Martin. Gomez did get one start in the Doubleday with the team up 3-1 against Brooklyn, but it was his last appearance in the playoffs.
"It's bittersweet to be leaving this franchise," said Gomez, who is a near lock to go into the Hall of Fame as an Omaha Barnstormer. "I love my teammates and I have amazing memories, and they gave me a chance to win a title - two titles! But I understand that they didn't have the resources to keep me on the team and I'll still be a major league pitcher somewhere."
Gomez will still be a highly sought-after pitcher on the open market; while his velocity has faded somewhat his skills as a pitcher are as refined as ever. Last year, Gomez went 12-4 with a 3.62 ERA in 156.2 innings, which still makes him one of the more valuable starting pitchers in the BBA.