A Controversial Extension (Hoppy Endings, post sim 9) [PP:2054.18]

[neugey]

It was a significant week of business in Edmonton for GM Mike Bauer and his team. The Jackrabbits and their newly extended DH Gonzalo Martinez both came away happy following negotiations that will now keep the would-be free agent DH in Edmonton until at least 2058 (2059 is a player option).

Martinez was the 36th overall pick by Long Beach way back in 2038. From there it didn't take long to convince management he was the real deal. At 19 years old, he made his debut in the BBA in 2040. In 2046 he was rented before the trade deadline by Charm City. In those playoffs he won a Geoghegan round MVP award. The next season, he inked a deal with Sacramento and continue to prosper there. But in 2050, the Surfers longed for their old DH and the feeling was mutual. But at the end of that 3-year contract, Martinez left again and caught the eye on Edmonton GM Mike Bauer, who secured Gonzales' services for two seasons, and now up to five more.

For his career, Gonzalo has up to this point recorded 2,277 hits and 379 homers powered by a .286/.354/.501 line. He's also earned two All-Star selections and one Puckett award at DH.

Fans in Edmonton are excited, but BBA media personality Lem Piker Sr. was far from impressed and was very harsh in his assessment of the agreement. "Edmonton really screwed the pooch," criticized Piker Sr. "DH is probably the deepest position in the BBA. Why would you sign a 33-year old who can contribute nothing on defense to a 5 year extension? Gonzalo has had a hot bat this year, and he's a shoo-in for the All-Star game, but you don't pay for career years, especially at the DH position. Also I don't expect Edmonton to be a contender in the Johnson. This team is too old to get it done."

Bauer replied to Piker Sr's remarks with a passionate delivery of his own. "Jackrabbits don't screw pooches. You'd never see that. Lem needs to stick to doing 10-year old draft rewind articles, since he has the intelligence level of a 10-year old. He's dead wrong about Gonzalo, who has outright put the team on his back this year. He had a 21-game hitting streak recently, and he is a perfect fit for our team. He's an everyday DH who can rake versus both lefties and righties. Sure, maybe we could find another player to fill that role, but it'd cost us on the open market and we don't know how much. Why go through that hassle when we've got the answer right in front of us?"

Bauer continued, "Gonzalo is also very popular with the fans. He is one of the smartest players I've ever observed. He is a horror movie villain to left-handed pitchers, with a 1.422 OPS versus southpaws this year. He's been very durable and his career totals show a record of consistent production. There are many other hitters in the BBA in their mid-to-late thirties that continue to prosper. Gonzalo will be one of them. I'd rather trust the DH position to a player I know I can depend on, not some raw kid that isn't ready for the responsibility and falls apart. Gonzalo and his agent started the negotiations, so we came to a common ground pretty easily and didn't overpay. Piker's criticisms are baseless. The only thing he's ever managed is his hair."

[jiminyhopkins]

Great hitter, and a possible candidate for the new "1B conversion" PPT award.

[trmmilwwi]

Nice writeup!