Today, general manager Joe Lederer swung his third trade of the off-season -- and second with expansion Portland -- this time to add a battery-mate with newly acquired catcher Hank Brewer. In what is being reported as quick negoiations, the Spuds shipped minor league pitchers Bartolo Morín and Flynn Bernard in return for Brewster veteran starter Celio Marin. Marin, coming off a poor first season in Atlantic City, arrives in Boise with three years and $24 million remaining on his contract, making him easily expendable for the upstart Lumberjacks.
"After losing a few starters during the expansion draft, it left a substantial hole in our pitching staff. Celio's addition addresses that need and immediately makes us better," Assistant General Manager Kyle Banks told reporters at a community fundraiser.
"How much better?," someone shouted from the crowd. Banks, without hesitating, replied with "How does playoff contender sound?" The small group of supporters and attendees loudly clapped and cheered before breaking out into a "Let's Go Boise!" chant.
Celio had a breakout 2038 for the Rockville Pikeman, his first full-season as a converted starter at age 29. It's believed Boise is expecting results more akin to that season, in the more pitcher-friendly Rockville stadium than Atlantic City's. Additionally, the Spuds analytics department feels they will have one of the top defenses in all of the Brewster next year, another reason Marin could bounce-back. Below are Marin's projections pitching for Boise next year compared to his last two seasons, courtesy of the Brewster Register website:
YEAR | TEAM | RUN ENVIROMENT | W-L | ERA+ | WHIP | FIP | K/9 | BB/9 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2038 | Rockville | pitchers' ballpark | 16-7 | 112 | 1.11 | 3.90 | 8.8 | 2.2 |
2039 | Atlantic City | moderate hitters' park | 4-12 | 76 | 1.49 | 5.86 | 8.4 | 4.2 |
2040 (proj.) | Boise | slight pitchers' park | 13-11 | 109 | 1.29 | 4.21 | 8.4 | 3.5 |
Live look-in at all the newly signed and acquired Spuds arriving at team headquarters.