Warehouse Wire 2036.03: Ch'oe alone award winner

[bcslouck]

As most of the readers know, 2035 went sideways quick. Players had off years and were traded away to make way for the future of the franchise. Another piece of evidence was the awards given out at the end of the year.

For 3 straight years, the Jimmies had 1 of the 2 major award winner in the Johnson. Starting with Egbert Behner winning the Nebraska in 2032, Carlton Winson won the Saywer Silk in 2033 after coming over from Phoenix, only to repeat as the winner in 2034. Other awards were won among the major ones in those years as well. Not this year.

SS Jay-hoon Ch'oe was the along award winner for the 2035 season, winning the Yogi Zimmer Diamond Glove Award as the Johnson League's best defensive SS.

Acquired from Jacksonville for another defensive wizard in Max Hatcher (who may of won if he played a full season) and pitcher António Sánchez. The team liked both prospects traded, but both had flaws. Hatcher wasn't seen as a player who could hit at the ML level while Sánchez had control issues and didn't seem to be getting better. This was at a time the team was in need of a SS who wasn't a black hole in the lineup but still had defensive chops. Enter Ch'oe.

Ch'oe has been worth more WAR wise over the time CCJ acquired him, but Hatcher isn't far behind in much less AB's than Ch'oe. Hatcher has managed to prove he can at least his LHP and start against them while being a very valuable utility IF the rest of the time. Ch'oe still projects to be a better hitter than Hatcher and what he's shown. At this point, it may still be too early to tell who won the trade. It may hinge on if Ch'oe starts hitting around league average overall like he has potential to and if Sánchez ever gets some control.

Anyway, Ch'oe proved to be what Charm City needed at a time they were trying to win championships. Now, with the team going in the other direction, they've been approached about trading the young SS in the past. While the team plans to hang on to him, they may consider moving him if he gets off to a hot start with his bat. While the Diamond Glove can only improve his value to go along with his 4 more years of team control, starting off the 2036 season looking like the solid hitter he could be can only make him more valuable to help the team continue forward with their rebuild.

[RonCo]

At 25 he's probably got a couple good defensive seasons left. Interesting choice for CCJ to trade or keep.

[bcslouck]

At 25 he's probably got a couple good defensive seasons left. Interesting choice for CCJ to trade or keep.

I'd think so. Should transition to 3B well too. Won't be the best hitter there, but if you have the thumpers in other spots, you could do worse.