2032.2 River Monsters Beat - It's Quiet... Too Quiet

[Spiccoli]

The Twin Cities' Front Office has kept a low profile this off season, not ready to make a big move in the free agent market. Several key prospects were resigned, while all of the Rule 5 Minor Leaguers who were targeted managed to get moved to active rosters prior to the draft.

Gm Scott Piccoli has made an effort to shore up the disaster that was the bullpen last season. Fans were excited to see Felix Alvarado signed to a 2 year deal at $7.3mil per year. It will be interesting see how Alavarado is integrated with current closer Juan Suarez and Clubhouse Troublemaker (but talented) Alphonse Salvarani. Games in which the River Monsters are leading after the 7th Inning should have a great chance of being locked up.

The team is also taking flyer on the erratic "Tornado" Eizlando who has some of the best stuff in the league with some nasty pitches, but who is completely wild at times. Juan Jose has had some success in the past as a starter and the River Monsters are going to give him every chance to be a back end starter next season as he would be completely unreliable in any pressure situation as a reliever with his lack of command. However, at 1 year / $1.0Mil, it's not much of a gamble if his year goes sideways.

Finally, solid middle reliever José De La Cruz was signed to 2 years, $900k per year. De La Cruz is nothing flashy, just a solid pitcher to bring in to eat some innings.

With the young number 1 & 2 starters, Jesse Stewart and Reese Raynorcoming back, the team is expecting a more successful season from the Pitching staff.

At this point, the team hasn't signed any Free Agent position players, as they have been unwilling to commit the long term, high dollar deals hitters seem to be demanding this off season. "It's just not the time to make a huge splash in the free agent market and we need to continue to trust in our minor league system that has some exciting prospects on the horizon", comment Piccoli when asked why there's been a lack of activity on the free agent market. "The River Monsters have key young players in the starting lineup who are begining or are on the cusp of breaking out. We need to give them a chance to see what they can do and let their development guide our plan on moving forward in the future."

[RonCo]

The River Monsters should be a fun, if extended rebuild. It feels like you're going about it well.

[Spiccoli]

Thanks. Still learning the whole system too. I'm going to make some mistakes, just hoping to prevent the kinds that set a team back 5 years or more.

[RonCo]

Mistakes are where the fun is.

[ae37jr]

I like the De La Cruz signing. I almost made an offer on him myself. He'll probably have a better season then some of the pitchers getting $150 mil contracts.