Omaha active at deadline as what looked like a seller, despite only 5 game deficit in wildcard.(39.27)

GM: Justin Niles

Moderator: niles08

User avatar
niles08
BBA GM
Posts: 2507
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2017 9:15 pm
Has thanked: 168 times
Been thanked: 424 times

Omaha active at deadline as what looked like a seller, despite only 5 game deficit in wildcard.(39.27)

Post by niles08 » Fri Aug 16, 2019 9:28 am

Omaha was pretty active at the deadline, completing 2 major deals that send away several BBA Level players, despite only being 5 games back in the wildcard at the time, and currently only 4.5 games back after a 4-2 week of baseball.

Despite a quick shot down of the rumors from GM Justin Niles, It sounds as if this week could have been much bigger however as there were rumors that Omaha nearly unloaded Martin Marin, Rafael Gonzalez, and James Monger all in a deal to a surprise team.

“Those players did not come up in trade discussions that we participated in.” Said GM Niles. “I wouldn’t consider us “Sellers” either, but more of a middle ground. We took what came to us and made the moves that we felt were right for the future of the team without tearing apart the current foundation.”

Those moves included sending longtime pitcher and clubhouse favorite Edris Mtume to Las Vegas, getting a long haul of prospects and bullpen help in return. Mtume was dealt for a package that included 19 year old catcher Alberto Rodriguez, 21 year old reliever Marvin Atkinson, 23 year old reliever Mutsuhito Imai, 26 year old reliever Tony Medine, and probably the biggest fish in the pot, the 73rd ranked top prospect in the BBA 19 year old starting pitcher Rafael Flores.

Also heading to Omaha was 34 year old first baseman Gervasio Ridder, and heading to Vegas was 22 year old IF/OF Bernardo Boullosa. Ridder has been a lifetime member with Vegas however has seen his production and at bats decline over the past few seasons although his OPS still ranks as average this season and above average every single season in his career. He is owed $16,000,000 next season before some vesting options kick in. This is likely an Omaha rental for next season, or potentially even a player who will be cut depending on Omaha’s cap and revenue situation.

Mtume had spent his entire career with the Hawks organization after being traded for as part of a package deal involving star shortstop Angel Garcia. Las Vegas will assume Edris Mtume’s $10.1 million salary for next season and potentially the $12 million owed in 2041 through a player option.

All in all, this looks like a sweetheart deal for Omaha as they essentially traded a potential $22 million owed to Mtume for $16,000,000 owed to Ridder and picked up a slew of prospects at the same time.

Next, Omaha rolled the dice again dealing reliever Pavel Bure Jr who was having a monster year, along with 23 year old starter Luis Gonzalez getting two top prospects for the duo. Bure Jr. had been phenomenal this season with a 1.4 WAR over 44 appearances but was slated to either be owed $5,000,000 next season or be owed $1,400,000 via a team buyout. He was likely to see the door regardless. Gonzalez is a young hard throwing righty who has had some chances this season in Omaha having started 8 games. Walks are certainly an issue as he is walking nearly 4.5 per nine innings however he has excelled at AAA and AA the past few seasons and with a full 6 years of team control left, he could be a diamond in the rough for Huntsville.

A risk Omaha was willing to take given their return. They acquired 19 year old pitcher Timo Dooley who was named the #29 prospect in the BBA this past season but has struggled a bit to get his stuff to develop. At only 19 years old though if it develops look out. Also heading to Omaha was OF prospect Andre Ly. Ly should be able to over all 3 outfield spots when all is said and done and should be a wonderful backup to Ordonez in center field.

So did Omaha sell?

It doesn’t look like it after all. They traded away 4 players, and a total of 2.5 WAR, acquiring 0.2 WAR, a decent bullpen option in Medine, while slashing their potential payroll by $13,000,000 along with picking up 2 prospects ranked in the top 75 prospect rankings.

However as mentioned, it sounds like the total WAR leaving Omaha could have easily quadrupled had Monger and Marin been dealt.
Image

Return to “Omaha Cyclones”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests