Trail Droppings 2033-4 Calgary Off Season Decisions

[indiansfan]

Calgary Off Season Decisions

The Pioneers have been good, but not good enough, for several years now. They haven’t made too many major moves, but rather have tinkered the last few off seasons to try to move the team past 90 wins. With missing the playoffs this year the team needs to take a long look at what to do this off season.

Player Decisions

Rupert Grant - One of the biggest factors in what the team does this off season is whether or not slugger Rupert Grant opt out of his contract. Grant is slated to make $10.8 million which may be enough to keep him, but may not. He led the Frick in homers with 43, while driving in 125 runs. He also set a Calgary record with 208 strikeouts and it takes a lot to strike out more than Terry Cochran did. If he opts out the team will be left with a big power vacuum that will be tough to fill. The team could try to sign him as a free agent or spend the money elsewhere and go with a platoon of players that are no in club’s minor league system. The team has several candidates, but would need two players to fill Grant’s role and probably with fewer home runs

Dan Leonard - The fan favorite has a team option for $13.7 million. That is a big salary for a guy that doesn’t pitch and doesn’t hit home runs, especially at first base. The team was hoping to negotiate a cheaper extension, but Leonard has been asking for an increase instead. The team could pick up his option and then try to negotiate a better extension or the team could let him walk and try to sign him in free agency. This will be a big decision as Leonard looks like he could be the first Pioneer to reach 3000 hits. He should break 2500 next season and he is only 31.

Cristobal Hernandez - One of the best starting pitchers in the league and in club history is entering his last arbitration year. The team has been trying to sign him to a three year deal at a reasonable rate. If they can do so then he will probably stay in Calgary. If they can only get a one year arbitration deal signed and his extension price is too high, the team might deal him while he is in his prime. It would only make sense if the team could get a couple of “can’t miss” prospects. This will be one of the team’s most debated decisions this year.

Felipe Baez - He did practically nothing after coming over from Omaha. He is a free agent after this year and right now is refusing to even negotiate. The team traded for him as a rental, but was willing to talk about an extension. However, he would be looking at $10-$12 million per year and his career stats just don’t warrant it. Baez will probably walk, but that could change depending on Hernandez

Milburn Pennybags - The team has a $4.5 million option on him. Pennybags has played his whole career in Calgary and has had his ups and downs. His salary sounds like a good deal for a left handed starting pitcher, but he has been on the disabled list several times over the past two seasons. The team may very well let him walk and use that money for someone else in free agency. The team has a couple of pitchers in AAA that are ready to take their shot at the back end of the rotation.

Omar Aparicio - How did he end up on waivers? While Aparicio isn’t the player he once was, he did a great job filling in for injuries in Calgary. He bat .304 with a .847 OPS. With the number of injuries that the team has had at 2B and SS his $1 million option will certainly be picked up. He will compete for a starting job next season and at worst will be a great utility player. The team has coveted Aparicio for many seasons so it is ironic that they were able to pick him up on waivers.

Esteban Ortiz - The team has a $1.3 million option on Ortiz who is now primarily a lefty specialist. He spent half the season on the DL with an elbow injury and he will be 37 next season. He is also has pitched the second most games of anyone in Calgary history with 738. If he comes back he could break the record of 798 held by Paul Stroud. The team will likely pick up his option and then make a decision in the Spring as to whether he will make the roster or not.

Manuel Mariscal - Calgary may be looking for a new pitching coach next year. Mariscal has not signed an extension yet and has not indicated precisely why he hasn’t. The team is unclear if he is angling for a managing role or if he just wants out of Calgary. He turned down an offer to manage the AA or even the AAA club. As a player he won more games than anyone in Calgary history. He has coached in the Calgary system since 2023, moving up to the big league club in 2028. He has indicated in the past that he would like a chance to manage, but the team will not replace Terry Cochran with him so it would have to be a minor league position or with another team. If he leaves, Ralph Desjardins would move up from AAA St, Paul where he has been the last twelve seasons.


Rumors?

If the team decides to blow it up and trade Hernandez it would make sense for them to do a more dramatic rebuild and move some other players as well. They could also move some of their minor league talent that is blocked to make improvements to the big league club. The team has never done a full tear down, but if they did what would it look like. Let’s look at who could be on that block along with Hernandez.

Atsumori Maeda - Still a solid starting pitcher, Maeda led the team with a 16-13 record this year. However at 35 he would be dealt in a rebuild and with a $6 million contract he should be very attractive to a playoff team.

Paul Farrell - Every team needs a swing man like Farrell. He was primarily a starter for Calgary, but a team could put him in the bullpen as well. A 29 year old with a $3.5 million contract that can start would make the phones ring in Calgary. A team could even try to convert him to a closer.

Fernando Pena - A former starter, Pena has flourished in the Calgary bullpen. The 35 year old will make a paltry $1.3 million next year. He could go in a rebuild or stay and start or work from the pen for a rebuilding Calgary.

Rupert Grant - If Grant opts to stay the team could put him on the block. He is reasonably priced for the power numbers he puts up. At 30 years old the team may choose to keep him if they do a quick rebuild. If they gut the team he would be put on the block.

Dan Leonard - While it would seem impossible for the team to move one of the fan favorites, Leonard is making almost $14 million and his production has dropped. The team first has to decide if it is picking up his option and at his salary he may not be as valuable to someone else.

Mario Soriano - Since he signed a decent extension for $13 million, there would be a market for the 33 year old. There is a shortage of good center fielders in the league and one that hits over .300 and steals 70 bases a year should draw some interest.

Mario Balderas - In the prime of his career with a good contract could the team deal last season’s Sawyer Silk Winner. He would bring a big return, but attendance would crash. Trading Balderas and one or more of the hitters above would signal a major retooling of the Pioneers, something they have never done before. Likely? Probably not, but you never know.


Which direction will the team take? The safe and slow approach or a radical one?

[ae37jr]

I vote to tear it down. You're kind of stuck in the middle right now with not a lot of BBA ready prospects to take over nor the salary space to add much from outside. You'll probably hover around .500 next year. Maybe a little better, maybe a little worse. But the thing is, a lot of your very good players (Soriano, Maeda, Balderas, Franco, Leonard, Grant...) are getting to the end of their peaks. If you wait it out a year or two then those guys may be untradeable and you'll be in a tougher spot rebuilding.

I'm the dummy that waived Aparicio. Glad to see him turn it around. His range dropped and he had a negative ZR for us. I thought he was done.

[indiansfan]

Just when I was seriously thinking about blowing it up, Hernandez goes and signs a team friendly 3 year deal.

[usnspecialist]

Just when I was seriously thinking about blowing it up, Hernandez goes and signs a team friendly 3 year deal.

that actually makes him a more valuable trade chip if you still want to blow it up...