He Who Walks Behind the Rows - Quiet Offseason

[FuzzyRawley]

It’s been a relatively quiet off season for the Kernels. The club was expected to mostly sit out the free agent market this year as financial health was the first priority of the club. The club’s budget sits at a healthy $120 million but they are coming off a season where they were in the red by $5 million which hampered extension talks to say the least. The club was particularly weighed down by bloated contracts for Kiichi Suzuki and Alan Williamson to the tune of $28 million. Williamson’s contract is now off the books but the Kernels are still stuck with $13.8 million for Suzuki. Suzuki’s contract will hamper the Popcornmen until 2047 but the alternative is that they would be stuck with the contract and his sucky ass.

With no major signings and news to make a longer update, here’s a quick rundown of the major moves this offseason

• The Kernels let RP Adrian Garcia and CF Craig White walk in free agency
• Ticket prices are creeping up finally, it will cost a league-low $9 to attend a Kernels game.
• The Kernels signed Trey Williams to manage the squad
• Jorge Aranda was traded to Mexico City for RP Charlet

Aranda was a tough one to let go, but he flopped in the outfield last season and his lack of versatility in the middle infield meant that he would have to play behind Chua-kah Yang at 2B. His bat was simply too good to sit on the bench and the bullpen needed help.

The upcoming season will go a long way in determining who gets extended and who walks, but the Kernels will need to get in better financial shape to make any extensions possible.