2037.06 On A Higher Plane...Aviators sign three

[felipe]

The Wichita Aviators made a minor splash in free agency over the weekend, inking three big leaguers to multiple year contracts.

Thirty year-old Lew Driscoll was signed to a four year, $4.4 million per, to fill the massive hole at third base. Driscoll has long been on the Aviator's radar, whose staff like his on base percentage and indifferent defence. Driscoll comes in at $36 million cheaper over the four year span that Des Moines signed outgoing Aviators' third baseman, Don Draper too; (a $50 million four year deal).

The thirty-year old Draper is a great clubhouse leader, who can play at all the infield positions very well, and has a career .299/.361/.426/.786 slash-tag; the thirty year old Driscoll is a fun guy, that can catch and throw but isn't very mobile in the field, and has a career .286/.349/.411/.760 slash-tag.

The Aviators also signed twenty-nine year old outfielder Ramiro Marino, for no apparent reason. Marino signed a three year deal, (with a player escape clause after year two), with escalating salaries of $4.8, $5.0 and $5.0 million.

Marino gives the Aviators four solid if unspectacular outfielders to start the 2037 season. Marino's career slash-tag is .296/.344/.487/.831; although his play has declined a little the past two seasons in Seattle. Marino's signing would seem to relegate underperforming Bob Hernandez to AAA to start 2037.

The Aviators finished their free agency splurge by inking twenty-eight year old utility player Adam Johnson to a three year deal at $1 million per. Johnson can play great defence everywhere across the diamond, and runs like a deer. Unfortunately, he can't hit a lick. He may or may not stick with the Aviators big league club to start the season, as he will be under intense pressure from incumbent utility men, Ismael Pena and Piero Richelmi. Luckily, the kid has minor leagueo ptions.

The Aviators may still be in play for one or two more free agents this silly season, but unless they can score three pitching aces for $2 million each for their pitching staff, I doubt it will matter much.

[RonCo]

I've always wondered why Lew Driscoll was finding it so hard to get work at 3B. Yes, he's a bit of a cement block with the glove, but we're talking about third base, and Driscol is a professional LHB.