Twin Cities may have too many pans in the fire.
It is just free agency period one, yet the Twin Cities River Monsters have had a flurry of activity on all fronts. This is a team that lacks in virtually every area, so the mere task of making incremental improvements is creating a dizzying carousel of transactions.
No move was bigger than the recent signing of veteran Bing-de Zhào. While it may seem odd for a 117 game losing team to shun tanking and splurge on an upper tier free agent, The River Monsters seem to have a different outlook. With recent and likely immediate future drafts being lackluster, there really isn't much value in tanking. While the #1 overall pick is still desirable, Twin Cities has been so bad the last two seasons, they can probably finish .500 and still get the top pick in 2051. So winning baseball games has a much higher value then losing.
The pact signed by Zhao is geared to rebound off of deflated value. The once great Pikeman fell off a cliff the last two seasons following a lingering back issue in 2048. Zhao will be given the chance to prove he is healthy for one year $11 million. If he has a great season, he can then opt out and hit the open market again next season at the age of 30. If not, he will be back next year for another $11 million.
Twin Cities feels that a good portion of the contract will be paid for by increased tickets and merch sales. Fan Interest has been buzzing with recent moves made by the team, growing from 60 to a respectable 73. On the field, Zhao will likely see a lot of action at 2B. Defensive purists are sure to turn their nose at that statement. But let's face it, this team isn't going to win anyway and Zhao will earn more WAR at the keystone, increasing the odds of future compensation. And quite frankly... he isn't THAT bad of an option.
Offensively, Zhao and newly acquired Quinton Lara give the team two formidable names and bats at core positions that should make for more interesting baseball games then fans are used to.
The River Monsters also signed Jeremy Webb to a $1.5 million contract as a fail safe and to hopefully be a backup infielder. There is such a gaping hole up the middle that Webb and returning Jim Herrick are currently the only SS option for the team. Of course there is still plenty of resources left to find a better option as the offseason progresses.
The much maligned Carlos Rodríguez has returned before he could even clear out his locker. After sending him packing to Mexico City last week in a deal that cleared his near $30 mil salary, the River Monster brought him back for a mere $1.5. While still a somewhat competent pitcher, his real value is creating revenue for a team trying to get the machine headed upward.
The River Monsters also sourced the waiver wire to acquire DH Wayne Morris , P Gaspare Riano, and P Edwin Pierce. Morris figures to make the team and platoon at DH with Grant Prince. The fact that he is a captain made him more desirable then current short side DH Alfonso Rúbio, who has options. Riano and Pierce's futures seems uncertain. Both are flexible enough to start or come out of the pen. The River Monsters appear to be collecting as many cards as they can and will sort through them as they go.
This intense period of activity looks to continue all off season as Twin Cities tries to improve in all areas. Expect more trades, more waiver claims, more minor and major league free agents to be signed, and several rule 5 picks to be made. All cumulating this spring with the Rookie draft where it's widely expected the team will select Félix 'Sky' Ramos. What a dizzy off season this is.
