The Brewster

Shortly after Felix Roman's Johnson League Sawyer Silk win signaled the close of the 2045 Boise season, the Spuds kicked off the 2046 season with salary arbitration cases, three in total, matching last off-season's all-time low during GM Joe Lederer's tenure.

Gustavo Aguilera, the 30-year-old first baseman, was up for arbitration after joining the Boise organization to a mid-season minor league free agent contract in June. Aguilera played sparingly in 2045, appearing in 11 games for Triple-A Salt Lake City, slashing an impressive .312/.353/.844 in just 34 plate appearances. Needing a right-handed bat with power, Aguilera finished the year in Boise, playing in 14 games (10 starts), showing his impressive power with four home runs in just 45 at-bats. Despite making the big leagues for the first time since 2040, Aguilera's big bat was not enough for Boise to retain him for 2046 and he was non-tendered before the arbitration deadline. Rumors are Boise could bring Aguilera back on another minor league deal, however Aguilera has expressed the desire to start next year and a willingness to do so overseas in the United Middle East Baseball Association.

That left pitcher Dominic Lawrence, catcher Zach Reid, and left fielder Ricardo Ruiz as the cases that went before the arbitration panel. Lawrence, who converted to a full-time reliever in 2045, struggled for the year, going 3-3 with 6.56 ERA and 1.59 WHIP. After making $835,000 last season, Boise offered Lawrence a demotion in pay ($775,000) while Lawrence demanded $1.25M. The arbitrators ruled in favor of the team.

Reid, who started the majority of the year behind the plate against right-handed pitchers, impressed the Boise coaching staff with his handling of the team's young pitching staff. Despite slashing just .219/.303/.373, Reid offered some pop (13 HR) and average defense. Boise offered $860,000 while Reid countered with a request for $1.24M. Once again, Boise's offer was named the winning bid for Reid's services.

Ruiz, coming off a career-year hitting .341 with 23 HR and 33 steals, finished 13th in the Johnson League with a WAR of 5.4. Heading into his final year of arbitration, Boise offered $8.6M however Ruiz was awarded a salary of $8.75M. Boise will look to offer Ruiz an extension this off-season to keep the impressive outfield trio of Roman, Ruiz and Dennis French together beyond 2046.

By going 2-1 in arbitration, Lederer improves on his impressive record in hearings (34 in favor of team, 12 in favor of player) as general manger in Boise. With arbitration hearings in the team's rear view, Lederer turns his attention to free agency, as players filed for free agency today. Lederer does not expect to be busy, given the team's 27-man roster that reached the Cartwright Series this past postseason returns mostly intact.

Wow! I don't think I have ever offered someone a pay DECREASE in arbitration. Honestly didn't ever think the game would accept that. I guess I learned something today.

7teen wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 10, 2021 11:48 am

Wow! I don't think I have ever offered someone a pay DECREASE in arbitration. Honestly didn't ever think the game would accept that. I guess I learned something today.

I think it'd done it four or five times successfully in my seven seasons at the helm. If someone puts up negative WAR in a season, I offer a decrease in pay and usually win. As far as I know, the AI sees negative performance so agrees that going backward in salary is justifiable. #youarewelcome

Or course, I'd rather not bring back players with negative WAR, but hey...

Man that's a nice outfield. Stating the obvious.

RichY wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 10, 2021 6:38 pm

Man that's a nice outfield. Stating the obvious.

Two-thirds is due to hit free agency next year.