Tater Talk: 2039.07 – Anatomy of an Expansion Team

[jleddy]

Fans of the Brewster Baseball Association have noticed news outlets in recent weeks breaking down how front offices have assembled their current rosters. Below shows the analysis of how each Boise player on the projected opening-season 27-man roster was acquired.

2034

Player	Age	Salary	Date Acq	Source	Round	Pick
SP Jorge Báez	28	$500,000	11/18/34	Expansion Draft
SP Maxence Mace	31	$4,500,000	11/18/34	Expansion Draft
SP Marcos Sánchez	24	$500,000	11/18/34	Expansion Draft
RP Tomás Chávez	24	$500,000	11/18/34	Expansion Draft
RP Bill Pidduck	25	$850,000	11/18/34	Expansion Draft
RP António Sánchez	24	$500,000	11/18/34	Expansion Draft
C Claudio Pérez	24	$500,000	11/18/34	Expansion Draft
2B Ramón Vela	24	$500,000	11/18/34	Expansion Draft
3B Pedro Nava	27	$925,000	11/18/34	Expansion Draft
LF Pedro Díaz	23	$500,000	11/18/34	Expansion Draft
CF Jesús Enríquez	27	$500,000	11/18/34	Expansion Draft
RF Ken Gerhart III	30	$1,100,000	11/18/34	Expansion Draft

Naturally, as a relatively new expansion team, a large amount of the projected roster is comprised from the 2034 Expansion Draft between the Spuds and the Wichita Aviators. Now four years later, after several amateur drafts and free agency classes, it's expected that fewer and fewer of the "Original Spuds" will be with the organization moving forward.


2035

Player	Age	Salary	Date Acq	Source	Round	Pick
1B Yunosuke Terada	25	$3,720,000	1/1/35	Trade
DH Carlos Muñóz	23	$500,000	6/9/35	Trade
SP Pancho Germán	22	$500,000	6/15/35	Amateur Draft	1	2

A small but impressive group of acquisitions, including the Germán, the first drafted Spud. It should be noted that Terada, 2038 Frick League Puckett and Zimmer Award winner at 1B, was acquired via trade a week after the 2034 Rule 5 Draft. Boise originally selected outfielder Augie Plascencia from Edmonton with the 2nd overall pick, then flipped him for Terada and two other players. For any team desperate for talent upgrades, be it an expansion team or a rebuilding organization, the Rule 5 Draft and waiver wire can be outstanding sources for hidden gems or undervalued players.


2036

Player	Age	Salary	Date Acq	Source	Round	Pick
CF Dennis French	21	$500,000	6/2/36	Amateur Draft	1	1
RP Dave Walsh	22	$500,000	6/2/36	Amateur Draft	4	1

In terms of the current projected roster, it seems like 2036 was rather unsuccessful, if not quiet, considering only two players acquired that year call Boise home. That said, what a group it is. Dennis French, the face of the franchise, is the type of generational talent that can turn around the fortunes of the worst franchise in BBA history (based on winning percentage.)


2037

Player	Age	Salary	Date Acq	Source	Round	Pick
SP Maxim Makin	28	$2,100,000	4/8/37	Waivers
SS Joaquín Torres	26	$500,000	4/8/37	Waivers
RP Samuel Cant	29	$725,000	4/14/37	Waivers
CL Tom Warren	20	$500,000	6/8/37	Amateur Draft	5	5
LF Pedro Holguín	24	$1,640,000	6/23/37	Trade
RP Laurent Durand	23	$500,000	12/16/37	Rule 5 Draft

Credit to former general manager Al Sganga (2036-2037) for not being afraid to be active on the waiver wire, finding 6.3 WAR in two seasons between Makin and Cant.


2038

Player	Age	Salary	Date Acq	Source	Round	Pick
3B António Baca	24	$800,000	5/13/38	Trade
RP Félix Alvarado	34	$7,500,000	12/16/38	Free Agency
C Mike Schofield	22	$500,000	12/16/38	Rule 5 Draft
SS Norm Smith	27	$2,000,000	12/21/38	Free Agency

New general manager Joe Lederer, the fifth man to hold such a title in just four seasons, joined in November 2038 and has already made roster altering moves. Lederer's modus operandi has never been with trades and he's already promised fiscal responsibility in terms of free agent deals, so expect a majority of talent to come by way of the Amateur and Rule 5 Drafts, international free agency, and the waiver wire.