2038.06 Stowing the Overhead Bin First base

[felipe]

First base

Venerable BBA legend, Brian Clough, called it quits at season's end, perhaps not surprising as he turned forty-four years old and suffered through three nagging injuries in 2037. The legend still hit for a .420 OBP and .800 OPS, but was finding playing even first base difficult.

Luckily, the Sluggers should be able to fill the position internally. Twenty-four year old Juan Perez spent most of 2037 in AAA to allow Clough and Ed Curry the first base and designated hitter at-bats, but came up and filled in capably during injuries to the afore mentioned players. Perez has a career .840 OPS over parts of four BBA seasons, and should do a capable job at first base against right-handers. He's signed to an economical $1.5 million for each of the next four seasons.

Playing first base for the reverse split is thirty-two year old Italian, Jimmy Strambi. Strambi did a capable job last season for the Aviators, and will likely do the same in 2038. He's also signed to an economic deal, (less than a $1 million), for each of the next two seasons.

While unexciting, the duo provides some power and a .800+ OPS for minimal cost, freeing up funds to shore up the Aviators in other places.

Scott Hoover has been ready for the Bigs for several seasons, but the twenty-three year old has a subpar eye, and is now out of minor league options. When limited to facing lefties, Hoover has posted a career .950 OPS in AAA. He would likely do a credible job in the majors as a platoon mate, but barring a preseason injury to Strambi, its likely he will have to do it elsewhere.

Twenty-two year old Carlos Guerrero has been moonlighting as a third baseman and left fielder vs lefties for the Aviators for a season, and he would likely be the more convenient injury replacement for Strambi. Guerrero hasn't produced at the level that Strambi provides yet, but he hasn't been given much opportunity too.

If Perez goes down to an injury, the Aviators currently have four major league, left batting outfielders for three positions, Rincon, Martinez, Gabriel, and Dickinson. Gabriel or Dickinson would likely deputise at first base, sacrificing a bit of power but maintaining a .800+ OPS against righties.

Coming up the pipeline, the Aviators have twenty year old, 2037 fourth round amateur draft pick, Paul Cash. Cash projects as more of a Strambi than a Perez, but nineteen year old right-fielder Jose Flores could fit the bill in the future. However, free agency is usually littered with slugging first baseman and poor defending corner outfielders, so finding a ready long term replacement, (or upgrade) for Perez at first base is not currently a concern for Aviator management.

Other possibilities at first base for the Aviators include moving current second baseman Sparky Anderson to first base, due to his lack of success at fielding second base last season; but his lack of power, and more importantly, his ridiculous salary demands for a contract extension, may put paid to that idea.