As the 2060 season ended, papers and post it notes littered the front office in Valencia. For the second season in a row, the Stars entered August with a 70+ % chance of reaching the playoffs only to falter in August and September. Staring at the post it notes, the season stats broken down by month and the handful of Collins analysis charts, everything was pointing in same general direction. The infield defense was there, the offensive bats were the middle of the road but enough to get into the playoffs but the pitching was a smidge short of playoff caliber.
After an attempt to bolster the pitching for the last playoff run prior to trade deadline, which did not offer much, another play-off bid slipped through their fingers. The goal for 2061 was to add two quality arms to the rotation and another one to the pen while signing extensions to the bats. All of those extensions occurred with one exception, Jose Vargas.
Jose was asking for a $12M per year deal of the 6 year variety. Looking at the notes and charts around the office, there was $42M of cap space with the three pitchers and possibly a first baseman replacement. “Do we sign Vargas and try to fill the 4 spots with $30M cap apace or do we bring up Altair Tableriou and have the $42M available?”, Greathouse ponders to himself.
Fast forward to the free agency signings, Valencia passes on the $12M per year on Vargas just to see him go to $20M in 2061. At that point, Plan B is in full force and it is decided to go with Tableriou in right field. The Stars give up some fielding, speed and contact rating, but gain a ton in salary cap and power.
Eight games into the season, how are Vargas and Tableriou comparing?
- 2061 Salary Vargas $20.25M/Tableriou $500K
- Ratings: Vargas 60/60 – Tableriou 40/70
- Avg: Vargas .235/ Tableriou .350
- On-Base Percentage: Vargas .316/ Tableriou .350
- Home Runs: Vargas 0/ Tableriou 3 (on pace for 61)
- RBI: Vargas 2/ Tableriou 5
- Stolen Bases: Vargas 5 (101 SB pace)/ Tableriou 0
- WAR: Vargas 0.3/ Tableriou 0.3
- Projected WAR: Vargas 5.5/ Tableriou 7.0
As in the case of Zeno, eight games does not a season make but it is a good start. A 101 stolen base pace is not likely - although possible - and the 61 home run pace by Tableriou is definitely unlikely (more like 25 to 30 is possible) but it does make for some good banter at the local bars in Valencia and Charlotte.
Even if Vargas stays at his current WAR pace - probable since his past performance leans toward a floor of 4.0 WAR barring injury and Tableriou can keep enough of a pace to end up with a 1.5 to 2.0 WAR, the difference in being able to sign the additional to pitchers to the squad should be worth it. But with rookies, that is a big if.
