The Hawaii Tropics took advantage of the Rule 5 Draft to change the look of their team. They DFA’d several contributors to make room for free agent signings and upgrades from within the organization. 1B/3B Carlos Antunez was removed from the 40-man to make room for starter John Avery. Antunez was minor league depth at AAA but was taking a needed spot, so he was sacrificed to the Goddess Pele at Kilauea.
Reliever Antonio Perez was left off the 40-man going into the Rule 5 Draft and was kidnapped from the island to play steamy San Antonio for the Outlaws.
Hawaii GM Jim Walker said, “He lost a point in HRA rating and was deemed expendable. He has ok stuff, but we need that homerun prevention. He was the odd man out.”
The Trops made some tough decisions made easier by age, injury, ratings drop and financial success. Veteran infielder Mitch Wareham was DFA’d to make room for young, second baseman Arata Ine. Wareham had become fragile and lost his bat skills going into his age 32 season. Ine has a poor Eye rating (4) but a 9 rated AvK, 8 CON, 7 BABIP with limited defensive range but is skilled around the cornerstone to turn the double play. Hawaii eventually ate Wareham’s final year of his contact and released him to free agency.
Former 2061 Rule 5 pick Reynaldo Trinidad was DFA’d to make room for starter Justin Crockford. Crockford is a devlab guy and the team is attempting to improve his pitch movement. Trinidad walks too many batters and would eventually clear waivers to be depth at AAA Death Valley.
AAA reliever Ho-jun Yi was waived/DFA’d and was claimed by the Cape Fear Swamp Foxes. Yi was acquired via trade with Atlantic City for 3B Will Patterson in 2057. Yi had wild swings in his scouting reports from mid rotation guy to late inning reliever down to mop up guy.
“He was too up and down. We really didn’t know what we we’re gonna get.”, said Walker.
With this room on the roster, the Trops signed SP Johnny Nicholson to a 1-year deal worth an even $5 mil. Nicholson doesn’t have that great stuff, but he keeps the ball in the park and has some stamina to go 6+ innings.
The biggest move is the latest one with the signing of former Phoenix TaLlOn second baseman Miguel ‘Thrillseeker’ Martinez to a 2-year deal worth $30.8 million ($15.4 AAV). In a corresponding move, Hawaii released Daniel Thornton paying his last year to go away.
“Martinez hits the long ball and won’t embarrass himself at second. If he hits 60 bombs for the duration of the deal, he’ll be worth it. ‘Thrillseeker’ is an upgrade over Julian Rivera. Rivera will be depth in AAA with the promotion of the younger Ine to the big-league club. Thornton just sucked.”, Walker said between sips out of his red solo cup.
