Are we a few happy little clouds away from contending again?
When we took over the River Monster after the 2049 season, there was no pressure at all. The team was the laughing stock of the BBA at the time and anything we did would have been an improvement. It took just two seasons to turn a 117 game loser into a 96 game winner. Then over the next 9 seasons, the team made the playoffs 8 times. This puts an added pressure on us to show this wasn't a fluke. People actually think we know what we are doing now.
This team news is mostly going to be about the offense. I already talked about the bullpen here and the starting staff is going to be largely the same. Brooks, Takuda and Ramirez are under contract next season. Jerry Stone has an opt out, but the team seems hell bent on resigning him even if it means overpaying. While steady #5 starter Will Ritter is said to be contemplating an team flexible offer that would keep him in a River Monster uniform into his 40's. Swingman Tokugawa Yamashita also has a team option that will probably be picked up as well. Say what you want about these 6 pitchers, they have been consistently one of the best starting staffs in the Brewster the past several years. Even with another year in the age column, we feel this is a playoff caliber staff.
Catcher
Carlos Marcillas has been a pleasant surprise in a sea of disappointment this season. The 25 year old rule 5 pick has a .241/.342/.460 line and 2 WAR in just 187 at bats. He has done particularly well against LHP with a .312/.421/.708 line. As well as being regarded as one of the better pitch framers in the league. He certainly earned a spot on the 2062 team.
Jose Hernandez is considered the catcher of the future and is ready for the show. the 22 year old hit .259/.389/.507 for single A Billings. While he may not start the season with the team, he certainly will be called up at some point. Jose is the definition of a 3 true outcome player. He probably won't hit .200 at the BBA level. But he will walk 80 times and hit 30 bombs while providing plus pitch framing and arm. Is he an all star? probably not. But he he should be an above average backstop who can really help a team if used properly.
Cesar Roman, Eduardo Medine, and Marius Urziceanu are all capable backups waiting in the wings. The team could continue to stock pile these players or possibly move one or two in a small deal for another need.
First Base/DH
Matt Malone and Raul 'Scooter' Gallehos look to be a fixture in the River Monsters lineup for the next 6+ seasons. Malone was called up for a cup of coffee where he hit a modest but effective 264/.347/.431. while Gallehos has hit .331/.413/.528 in singla A since being traded from Montreal. Malone will 100% start the season in Twin Cities. Gallehos may get some time in AA depending on how roster breaks.
The interesting dilemma here is that they are both stellar fielders at 1B. Having Malone DH is a waste of his talents. Meanwhile Gallehos can kind of, sort of play 3B. He is 6/5/5/5. Though playing him at 3B wastes some of his talents. Recent research around the league suggest 3B defense doesn't matter. So playing Gallehos at 3B could get another big bat in the lineup, at the expense of corner infield defense. What is the right answer? I really don't know.
Second Base
Niaz Minhas came over the the Feliz Ramos trade to "even the money". But on our end we didn't really view Minhas as too much of a negative. Sure, he is overpaid and injury prone. But we really like what he brings to the table as a 1.5-2 WAR defensive 2B. We may slide him into more of a "Ignacio Venagas" role in 2062. Getting 350-400 at bats while backing up multiple positions.
Octavio Sanchez is a prospect who is just about ready . He is another 3 true outcome player. 7 Power and 7 Eye from the 2B position is pretty elite. Which it will need to be to overcome us poor contact and fielding. You can argue his defense won't stick at 2B, but I feel that complemented with Minhas as a late inning sub he can be passable.
Jorge Reyes is another name that came over in the Ramos deal. He is a tricky 6/5/6/4/6 hitter. That could be close to 7/5/7/5/7, close to 5/4/5/3/5, or likely somewhere in the middle. He has hit .300 wherever he has played so we are confident his contact is close to 7 and he can be a .280 hitter at the BBA level. Likely as a backup 2B/3B. He is also a switch hitter who hit .336/.388/.570 from the strong side in Single A. I would not rule out Reyes and Sanchez platooning at 2B before all is said and done.
Edgar Gomez is an interesting player. He has plus contact, defense, and speed. One look at his profile and you'd think maybe he is our 2B of the future. Then you look at his injury history and you realize even with 2-3 passes through the d-lab for durability, he still will never play 150 games. So while he is a useful piece to have in your system, he is not dependable enough to put in the depth chart.
Cesar Montes and Gael Cumberland are two names to watch. Neither figures into 2062 plans but could be a part of the teams future.
Short Stop
We gave the ball to uber versatile Randall Gray for the 2062 season and we are at least somewhat confident of results. He ended up as a scratch defender and plus hitter at the hardest position to fill. Look, we'd love to find a SS and move Gray back to 2B. I'm not sure if that is going to happen though. I don't see any premiere SS becoming free agents next season and the cost to acquire one via trade is probably not worth the squeeze.
Backing up we'll have Minhas with Kelsey Perry, Pat Currie, Juan Martinez and Edgar Gomez in the fold.
Third Base
Third base is in flux a bit. Stop gag Jose Perez started his tenure terribly before getting hot in August(.314 /.423/.547). So I'm not really sure who he is yet. Meanwhile our future prospects Abdul-Rafi bin Sayf and Rafael Mendez are still a ways away. The afore mentioned Reyes and Gomez could take advantage of the opportunity. And like I said earlier, a bold Gallehos decision could change the complexion of our current plan.
As of today, one might expect Twin Cities to look outside the organization to bring in a 3B.
Corner Outfield
This is going to be a bit of a free for all. Juan Serna is the only name that is a given. The other corner could very well be a big bat free agent acquisition. But we do have a plethora of in house options available if we are content to finish .500.
Hector Garcia is a guy I really wanted to work. 8 Range and 8 Eye is my kind of player. It's not looking like he is a playoff caliber COF though.
Darren Wearne bumped to 70 potential. I really should trade him while his stock is high. Because no way he is a 70 player. But I do like the guy. He plays elite corner outfield defense and passable CF. Is quick with plus power and eye. I think in an ideal world he is a 4th outfielder. Platooning VS LHP, subbing in defensively, and acting as a 3rd string CF. But we will have to see how roster plays out.
Mark Busse is a high OBP guy with solid defense. I think he can be a leadoff hitter in the BBA. But with this current roster, I feel I need a THUMPER in RF. So I'm not sure where Busse fits in unless I punt CF defense. More on that in a bit.
There are a bunch of other interesting players. Casmiro Cruz, Bernardo Calderon, Kosami Ota, Estaban Ramos, and Jeff Way to name a few. None of those guys are championship players though. Look for Twin Cities to target a corner via trade or Free agency this winter.
Center Field
We are currently holding on two fail safe CF'ers. Victor Frazier(5 years $6.5 mil total) and Joel Woodroffe(6 years $3 mil total) are both easily tradeable/releasable backup CF options. Best case scenario, a starting CF falls in our lap and we get rid of one. Worst case scenario, we have a pair of affordable, solid glove first options till we find something better. Depth is super important to us at C, SS, CF. They are the most expensive to replace if you need it. So having guys like Frazier and Woodroofe aboard turn "needing" to make a trade to "wanting" to make a trade.
Another interesting thought is that we have a bevy of great fielding corner OF. Serna, Wearne, Garcia, Grey, and Ota could be considered CF by some teams in the league. What if we threw 3 of them out there. Do the great corners help the sub par CF? We've been experimenting this season with Wearne in CF. But to be honest. I don't know how to quantify it.
2032 As Is Lineup
CF Wearne
RF Garcia
1B Malone
DH Gallehos
LF Serna
SS Grey
3B Perez/Reyes
2B Sanchez
C Hernandez
2032 Hopeful Lineup
CF Wearne or(Free Agent/Trade)
1B Malone
RF Free Agent/Trade
DH Gallehos
3B Free Agent/Trade
LF Serna
SS Grey
2B Sanchez
C Hernandez
