31 July 2062
Boise, Idaho
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by Stubby Bardenwerper
Just two months from the end of 2062. Some GMs are jostling for a postseason spot. Others are already looking toward the beginning of their next time to compete: the offseason. Unfortunately, GM Ben Teague finds himself in the latter group. But no crying over spilt milk, time to plan!
**As in any offseason, the "plan" is fluid
Catcher
24yo RH Tadanobu Otani
88 G, 15 2B, 1 3B, 21 HR, 60 RBI, .261/.323/.513, +2.1 WAR
C: 765.0 INN, 651 TC, 2 ERR, .997 PCT, +1.1 ZR, 1.021 EFF, 5.32 CERA
No doubt many will argue with this, but Otani has quietly become one of the best backstops in the JL. Just looking at the JL stats leaderboard for catchers and his name is all over the place. And Teague will be the first to tell you that it's a complete surprise. For 3 seasons, Sergei Bobrovsky was the "written in pen" starter. He was rock solid defensively and just enough to not completely embarrass the uniform when at the plate. But by 2060 the then 33yo offensive and fielding numbers were fading. The club had a team option for 2062 and declined. As a backup catcher had never needed to be excellent, Teague planned ahead of time by grabbing Otani from Charm City for 18yo LF Marcos Carbajal and 22yo LF Arturo Pérez. He still didn't plan this Otani. The 24yo from Japan began to take over more duties from Bobrovsky in 2061 as the season progressed and in 2062 he is the "inked-in" starter himself. But more than that, he was named an All-Star in his first full season.
As for his backup, many times a solid defensive catcher will be tossed out to start one game a week to keep the starter fresh. And, in many ways, 32yo Ubaid bin Saleh fits that description, but in an important sense he is not the normal backup. bin Saleh is a leader and a team captain by nature. Players love him, respect him, and the clubhouse leans on him to maintain the culture.
2063 status: Entirely Locked
First Base
28yo Tracy 'Jigga' Allison
91 G, 29 2B, 12 3B, 4 HR, 27 RBI, .347/.396/.531, 47 SB, +3.3 WAR
1B: 619.2 INN, 602 TC, .985 PCT, -4.4 ZR, .947 EFF
Jigga has been a part of the Boise organization since 2053 and has filled a platoon role with lefty 31yo Pedro Hozven who topped +1.0 WAR in all but one of the past 5 seasons. But Hozven's success meant his salary was gradually increasing. First base sluggers can demand a lot of money, but Hozven wasn't that kind of slugger. So management looked at Allison's ability to take over the role full-time. There was reason to be worried as he posted negative WAR for 5 straight seasons. This year, after Boise picked up a $5.67m team option on Hozven, they gave Allison the shot he wanted. He has run with it. Literally. So much so that even though Hozven made the All-Star game, it was as a DH and not a first baseman.
The "but" is not actually a but right now. Lurking in AAA Salt Lake City is 21yo 1B/DH William Coleman, the #10 prospect in baseball. He mostly sputtered between AA & AAA in 2061 but has thrived given a permanent spot in Salt Lake City. His stat line is .328/.413/.470 in 90 games with 15 2B, 1 3B, 11 HR, 59 RBI, 1 SB, +1.7 WAR. The good news, in the sense that he doesn't necessarily cause the chaos of a guy that has to be accommodated, is that he still has some development to do. He likely won't be a factor until 2064.
2063 status: Virtually Locked
Second Base
36yo 2B Ryan Geauxinue
80 G, 7 2B, 3 3B, 8 HR, 45 RBI, .324/.353/.434, 26 2B, +1.0 WAR
2B: 700.1 INN, 370 TC, .992 PCT, -13.3 ZR, .861 EFF
Gueaxinue has been more than solid offensively since arriving from Sacramento in 2061. He's of a similar mold as Allison in that he skips the long ball but piles up the doubles and triples while swiping bases at a high rate. The issue has been his defense. He's a sure-handed infielder, but his range just doesn't get the job done up the middle. The numbers tell the tale and it certainly has to have impacted pitching stats as well. He also is in the last year of a $7m/yr contract.
Fortunately for the Spuds, 25yo Fernando Segura has been developing in the minors since 2060. His defense is solid second baseman-ish but the hesitation has been due to his offense. Especially since the arrival of Geauxinue. But he has posted a .825 OPS this season in AAA with a +2.4 WAR. He doesn't possess the gap power of Geauxinue and has no speed, but will hit for AVG and get on base. With a +5.4 ZR and 1.034 EFF, that more than sets up him to inherit the job in 2063.
2063 status: Solid
Third Base
24yo Bill Kuhn
100 G, 13 2B, 2 3B, 21 HR, 76 RBI, .284/.376/.496, 1 SB, +2.4 WAR
3B: 1099.0 INN, 307 TC, .938 PCT, -5.7 ZR, .947 EFF
Kuhn could be an All-Star at some point and he is at league minimum with 2063 his first arby year. His defense is lacking but, unlike Geauxinue at 2B, it is serviceable for the hot corner with a shortstop that has elite range and a solid utility backup/defensive sub.
2063 status: Locked
Shortstop
27yo Dan Raymond
100 G, 6 2B, 1 HR, 20 RBI, .191/.236/.220, 14 SB, +0.3 WAR
SS: 817.0 INN, 443 TC, .971 PCT, +13.7 ZR, 1.089 EFF
This is the rangy shortstop Kuhn needs to help cover 3B. His bat is a black hole, though he has a bit of speed, but that can be tolerated for the elite defense he provides up the middle. Assuming Segura takes up second base, the Spuds will have a walled fortress in the middle of the infield. 2063 is Raymond's last arby year and Boise is very likely to extend him if at all possible.
2063 status: Entirely Locked
Utility
37yo Damodaragoun Neela
76 G, 7 2B, 4 HR, 18 RBI, .211/.264/.329, 4 SB, -1.0 WAR
Neela can cover every single spot in the infield, and is not terrible in left or right field. But he isn't happy as a backup and, more importantly, he's 37 and 2063 will be his last season in Boise if not baseball altogether. Fortunately, a utility backup with no bat is relatively easy to find in free agency.
2063 status: Locked