SP Manny Bautista for $1.00? One Dollar? Is this for real? What's the catch?
Well, the catch, obviously, is that he's old and makes a lot of money. But thats also how the Talons approached the expansion draft, and they ended up finishing with the best record of any expansion team while pulling in $93 million in revenue. Another plus is, he's only guaranteed one more season. Any similar pitcher the Talons would pursue on the upcoming FA market would surely want multiple years to sign.
No, Manny probably won't replicate his 18-10, 3.59 performance of a year ago. But he does have a chance to reach 200 wins next season, and he is an extremely popular player who will help maintain interest in the fledgling franchise. As a veteran left handed pitcher, Bautista would serve as a mentor to the Talons' own young lefty, 15 game winner Martin Ssempa. The hope is, despite Bautista's loss of velocity, he can be effective as a changeup pitcher for at least one more season.
All of these details, advantages, and disadvantages would normally be cast against who the team gave up for this veteran pitcher. But that's the thing. The Talons gave up nobody. In fact, with the ascension of Andres Martinez as the catcher of the future, the club was already planning on declining current catcher Chad Lawrence's $15.9 million team option. That more than covers Bautista's salary for 2030.
So for one dollar? Sure why not!
