Red Light District 2025.1- Neptunes hit FA market hard

[recte44]

The Amsterdam Neptunes were not going to sit on their hands this offseason, as proven by the multiple transactions thus far.

First, they drafted Tim MacPhater (7/7/5 Ratings) in the EBA's first Rule 5 draft from Madrid. MacPhater profiles to be an outstanding starting pitcher in the EBA, and he's penciled into the Neptunes Opening Day rotation.

Here's a recap of the FA signings:

Wednesday, January 1st, 2025
Signed free agent CL Juan Costello (5/6/7 Ratings) to a 3-year contract worth a total of $1,400,000.
Costello returns to serve as the Neptunes closer after he posted 34 saves each of the last two seasons for Amsterdam.

Signed free agent RP Lenny Pineau (4/8/4 Ratings) to a 1-year contract worth a total of $340,000.
One of the best pitchers in EBA history, Pineau will now serve in a relief role for the Neptunes.

Monday, December 16th, 2024
Signed free agent SP Ted Zeppelin (7/5/5 Ratings) to a 2-year contract worth a total of $940,000.
After flaming out in the MBBA, Zeppelin has carved out a niche as a reliever in the EBA, and that's what he'll do with Amsterdam.

Friday, December 13th, 2024
Signed free agent C Jorge Guerra (5/3/5/3/3 Ratings) to a 1-year contract worth a total of $240,000.
A veteran who played parts of eight seasons in the MBBA, Guerra has been in the EBA since 2020 and adds some depth to a fuzzy catching situation.

Signed free agent C Liam Dunn (4/9/6/5/5 Ratings) to a 1-year contract worth a total of $210,000.
Well, Dunn is NOT a catcher. This we know for sure. He'll be our DH against RHP and we fully expect him to explode in the EBA.

Monday, December 9th, 2024
Signed free agent RP Mohamed Forest (6/6/8 Ratings) to a 1-year contract worth a total of $305,000.
A one time Rule 6 draftee of Las Vegas, he pitched five subpar seasons in the MBBA. He then sat out the 2018 season before spending the 2019 season in the Amsterdam rotation. Then, after declaring free agency, he signed with Calgary and pitched four seasons at their AAA affiliate before being released. He then signed a minor league deal with Madrid, was quickly promoted to the Matadors bullpen, and won a European Cup in 2023. He resigned with Madrid in 2024, was cast off to AAA, and made the all-star team there. Now, he's back in Amsterdam and we're hoping he can fill a bullpen role for us this season.

Signed free agent LF John Jordan (6/5/4/5/6 Ratings) to a 1-year contract worth a total of $280,000.
When he first came over to the EBA in 2017 with Munchen, he became one of the best players in the EBA from 2017-18. He then returned to the MBBA with Carolina, where he served in a reserve role from 2019-2021. He returned to the EBA in London in 2022, and played every day, but wasn't the star he first was. He served as a reserve outfielder for Madrid the last two years, and that's the plan for him in Amsterdam this season.

Signed free agent SP Robert Jones (7/5/8 Ratings) to a 2-year contract worth a total of $434,000.
Jones was a 16th round pick by the Las Vegas Hustlers in 2012, but appeared in just 6 games for their Rookie League club before being released the next spring. Belfast signed him to a minor league deal, and he pitched in AAA Newcastle for the next four years, with a couple big league appearances sprinkled in 2015 and 2016. He became a starter for Belfast in 2017, and would remain in that role through 2021. London signed him as a free agent for 2022, and he was a relief pitcher for them that year before returning to a starting role the next season. He signed with Rome for the 2024 season where he started all year. He's a one time EBA All-Star with 71 career wins, and he's slated to start for the Neptunes this year.

Signed free agent C Hippolyte Lecomte (5/7/7/6/5 Ratings) to a 1-year contract worth a total of $500,000.
Having lost Vizzoli to free agency, the Neptunes needed to find a starting catcher. They decided on Lecomte, who actually started his career with the Neptunes before being traded to Belfast in 2019. From 2019-2024 he was mainly the Northstars backup catcher. At age 31, this will be his first true shot at everyday playing time.

[trmmilwwi]

His name is actually Hippolyte Lecomte? There is a Hoot joke in there somewhere.