The Stars haven’t made the playoffs since 2053, despite playing in the inferior Pacific division. They look to change that this season with a flurry of free agent signings that should help them compete.
Pitching
Juan Garcia (5STU, 7MOV, 7CON, 6PBABIP, 8HRR) returns as the team’s ace after averaging 3.4 WAR over the past two seasons. The righty doesn’t excel at any one area, but it good at everything he does. Johnathan Bryant no longer throw triple digit heat, but has been getting the job done regardless with a 4.04 ERA last season and 3.14 ERA in 2059. But the tandem surely wasn’t good enough to lead Valencia to the playoffs, so GM Gregg Greathouse went out and spent some money in free agency, landing coveted pitching targets, Luis Gonzalez and Thomas Turner (6STU, 7MOV, 8CON, 7PBABIP, 7HRR)ner. Gonzalez was used mostly in a stopper role previously with Twin Cities and Rockville, but the Stars intend to stretch him into a starter. Will he have the same effect? To be determined, but history says he hasn’t been great when starting games. If it doesn’t work out well, they can always move him to the bullpen where he has proven he can excel in crucial spots. Turner, 36, spent the past 8 seasons in Sacramento, where he was a perennial Nebraska candidate. However, Father Time will take his toll eventually and Turner has already seen his velocity drop a couple MPH over the past year. He may not be the same pitcher when his contract ends in 2065, so the time to strike is Xavier Vargas (5STU, 5MOV, 6CON, 5PBABIP, 6HRR)argas is locked in to be the team’s 5th starter and has averaged 2.7 WAR over the past two seasons.
Lindsay Barber (6STU, 6MOV, 7CON, 6PBABIP, 6HRR) saved 35 games last season, but had a -.0.4 WAR, so the Stars went out looking to bolster their bullpen by signing former Hawaii closer, Luis Perez (4STU, 5MOV, 2CON, 5PBABIP, 6HRR). Siua Hooheno (7STU, 6MOV, 6CON, 6PBABIP, 6HRR) and Peter Dean (4STU, 6MOV, 6CON, 5PBABIP, 7HRR) will help bridge the gap to the anchors, but the Stars will be best off relying on their starting pitching to go deep into games to avoid the bullpen as much as possible. It’s not the worst, but not the best, either.
Infield
Miller Shed (9CON, 9BABIP, 6GAP, 4POW, 7EYE, 8AvK) was ready to play in the BBA immediately after being drafted in 2057 and the Stars put him right into the lineup. He hasn’t disappointed and has become one of the league’s best players with back-to-back 5+ WAR seasons at 2BTyler Conklin (7CON, 5BABIP, 5GAP, 2POW, 2EYE, 8AvK)in returns to be his double play partner at SS, where he has an excellent glove, but don’t expect any offensive production from the Guamanian who hasn’t cracked .600 OPS in his careTim Bartlett (4CON, 4BABIP, 6GAP, 7POW, 7EYE, 5AvK)lett returns to play the hot corner and Stars fans hope he can stay healthy again after a stellar 4.5 WAR season last year. The talent is there, but Bartlett has a history of minor injuries that have taken a toll on his boZenobius Kazantziakis (7CON, 6BABIP, 5GAP, 4POW, 6EYE, 6AvK)akis come over from New Orleans as a free agent, but is he worth $7 million a year? Probably not and I’m sure they could have found someone similar for less money, but he brings a good glove and spend toLuis Gonzales (5CON, 5BABIP, 6GAP, 4POW, 5EYE, 6AvK)zales will be catching for the Stars and is regarded as of the league’s best game callers. The switch-hitter won’t give a ton of offensive production, but is a shoe-in for 3 WAR.
Outfield
Habeeb bin Ameen was one of the best CF in the FL and was rewarded with a 6 year $54 million extension in 2056. He rewarded the Stars with two great seasons and then abruptly fell off the next two seasons, even posting negative WAR last year. Koray Kapkin (5CON, 5BABIP, 6GAP, 5POW, 6EYE, 5AvK) is slated to take his place in CF, but doesn’t have the same range that bin Ameen possessed. Will Kapkin cover enough ground in the outfield?Qadir bin Gamal (6CON, 6BABIP, 7GAP, 6POW, 6EYE, 5AvK)l will play LF and averaged 2.7 WAR over the past two seasons. He is another case of someone who does everything pretty good, but nothing excellent. Highly touted prospect,Altair Tableriou (4CON, 5BABIP, 4GAP, 7POW, 4EYE, 4AvK)u, should dbe the Opening Day starter in RF. The 25-year-old has great power potential and hit 29 HR in AAA before being called up to Valencia. His outstanding development lab to work on his contact should elevate his game to the next level.
Designated Hitter
Vicente Rivera (6CON, 5BABIP, 7GAP, 6POW, 6EYE, 6AvK) hasn’t yet developed into the “Star” Valencia had hoped for, but he is still just 25 will get his shot as the team’s DH this season. He has an outstanding spring with 1.141 OPS and the club needs him to carry that success into the regular season. Rivera has the tolls to be a .900 OPS hitter in the BBA, but hasn’t shown much success to date. I expect a breakout season from the young slugger in 2061.
Will the offseason moves be enough to launch the Stars into the playoffs? Maaaybe. I like the signings and think it will be enough to grab a wildcard spot, but I think some of the signings will be dead money in the next couple of seasons. With no payroll flexibility, it will be tough for them to add any pieces at the deadline for a final push, so they’ll need a strong start of the season to battle teams that might get better at the trade deadline. The new pitching acquisitions help Valencia finish the season with 84 wins and the final wildcard spot.
Editor's note: I forgot to mention the absurdly wonderful RP Conversion of Eduardo Moreno (13,5,7 OVR)
