31 July 2062
Boise, Idaho
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by Stubby Bardenwerper
We continue our glance to the offseason hoping for a silver lining when it's just black clouds until the end of the regular season. We're guessing what GM Ben Teague might be looking at and could be completely wrong. We ran thru the likely scenarios in the infield but, of course, outfield is a bit more tricky as you've got your defensive specialists, your sluggers, your OBP/speed guys, and some with all of that in one package.
**As in any offseason, the "plan" is fluid
Left Field
26yo OF Tsutomu Yamauchi
107 G, 30 2B, 4 3B, 14 HR, 63 RBI, .281/.311/.469, 3 SB, +2.0 WAR
LF: 801.1 INN, 186 TC, .984 PCT, +5.3 ZR, 1.053 EFF
Yamauchi was acquired in the Lou Bayou/Mario Reyes trade with Sacramento midway thru 2061 and he's been a fixture. In April he had a 21 game hitting streak stopped. There's really no downside to him as he can play either left or right field depending on matchups and frequently does set up shop at the latter. His backup at LF is typically 26yo Cosmo Pan, who has been a part of the Boise organization his entire career, or Yamauchi can stay in LF with Pan sliding over to RF. The two players are excellent to have at the corner OF positions.
2063: Firm Lock w/ more than one player
Center Field
26yo CF Bob Hills
105 G, 14 2B, 5 3B, 5 HR, 42 RBI, .225/.316/.328, 25 SB, -0.2 WAR
CF: 922.1 INN, 352 TC, 1.000 PCT, +0.4 ZR, .997 EFF
Hill is not the best solution Teague has ever had in center field, but most GMs always want an upgrade here so that's not surprising. Even though his slash has been terrible this year, when he does make contact he makes it count - with 42 RBI - and his 25 SB are testament to his speed. It would be nice to have a more rangy player but his lack of errors in 922 innings is nothing to scoff at. Teague would not turn down an upgrade but the situation here is not near the top of priorities.
The backup at CF is who it has been for 6 seasons, 31yo Bill O'Toole. With solid fundamentals, O'Toole is a defensive wiz at any outfield position but he is pretty much the only option in CF so he serves as the backup first and foremost at CF.
2063: Likely Locked
Right Field
26yo OF Cosmo Pan
84 G, 19 2B, 2 3B, 7 HR, 29 RBI, .287/.354/.478, 2 SB, +1.7 WAR
RF: 263.0 INN, 63 TC, 1.000 PCT, +4.1 ZR, 1.091 EFF
As mentioned above, Tsutomu Yamauchi is fully capable of manning RF and a rotation typically develops between him and Pan over the course of the season. Pan has had 3 full seasons in Boise and compiled a .270/.340/.478 slash with 49 doubles, 4 triples, 34 HR, and 123 RBI. He has a total +3.9 WAR over the 3 years.
Another option, when he can get his bat in gear, is 36yo lefty Martin Hemming. But he is both aging, unreliable, and in the last year of his contract.
2063: Firm Lock w/ more than one player
Outfield Utility
26yo OF José Montoya
57 G, 5 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 16 RBI, .229/.297/.343, 2 SB, -0.2 WAR
RF: 81.2 INN, 17 TC, 1.000 PCT, +0.3 ZR, .978 EFF
Montoya should present a better bat in the lineup, but he never has. What he lacks there he makes up for in versatility. Not only can Montoya backup both corner OF positions but first base as well. That makes him a bit more attractive to keep in the lineup.
2063: Somewhat Unlocked
Designated Hitter
31yo lefty Pedro 'Pocket Rocket' Hozven
96 G, 26 2B, 1 3B, 17 HR, 59 RBI, .278/.340/.512, +1.3 WAR
Once Allison mastered facing righties and lefties, Hozven was freed to man the DH role to get his bat in the lineup alongside him. Hozven captured an all-star nod at DH in 2062 and Teague wants his bat in the lineup if remotely possible. But, like would-be rookie 1B William Coleman, 21yo DH Perry Taylor lurks in the shadows. And, in reality, Taylor is far more developed than Coleman and boasting a .370/.470/.656 slash in AAA with 8 doubles, 1 3B, 15 HR, 42 RBI, and a +2.2 WAR. He belongs in the bigs. But he plays no defense at any position so could only appear as the DH. And DH is not a position where you want to carry a backup.
But there's a dynamic to Taylor's development. Hozven has a team option in 2063, the last year of his deal, and that's $5.7m Teague could save for other dire needs, but we'll get to pitching later. At just 21, Taylor can continue his development in Salt Lack City, but does that mean holding on to Hozven's salary? In any case, he is being given the last two months of the season to prove if he can produce offense at least close to that of Hozven. This is a very fluid situation that Teague will have to play by ear as it develops. Ideally, from out perspective, a trade that moves Hozven would resolve the issue.
2063: Entirely Locked, but with one of two players