2024 St. Louis River Walkers -- Why can't this thing be fixed?

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The St. Louis River Walkers and left-handed starting pitcher Steven Brault have reached an agreement that will keep the 32-year-old with the team for at least two more years.
Signed as a free agent before the 2024 season, Brault had a solid campaign going 8-9 with a 3.13 ERA in 33 games.

He worked a total of 195.1 innings, striking out 144 while boasting a 1.21 WHIP.
The deal covers three seasons, the first two guaranteed at $8.5 million, the third comes with a team option.

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St. Louis left-handed pitching prospect Ernesto Rios has been named the top pitcher in the American Conference of the Pacific Coast League.
In 29 games with the Memphis Redbirds, Rios went 10-9 with a 3.50 ERA. He worked a total of 167 innings, during which he struck out 172 and had a 1.27 WHIP.
In three September starts with the River Walkers, Rios didn't record a decision but did post a 2.40 ERA in three starts.
He worked 15 innings, striking out 12. His WHIP was 1.40.

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Detroit's Darren Miller RBI double off Frankie Montas in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted the Wheelmen to a 2-1 win over Cincinnati in Game 5 of the American League championship series and into a berth in the World Series.
Miller was named MVP of the series, batting .316 in the five games with one homer and six RBIs.

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Petey Halpin's top of the 11th inning home run off Des Moines' Jon Olsen lifted Chicago to a 4-3 win and a berth against Detroit in the Mississippi Baseball League World Series.
Halpin was named NLCS MVP after batting .318 in the five games with one homer and three RBIs.

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2024 World Series Game 1: Detroit 9, Chicago 8

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2024 World Series: Chicago 4, Detroit 2, series even 1-1

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2024 World Series Game 3: Detroit 13, Chicago 5, Wheelmen lead 2-1

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2024 World Series: Chicago 6, Detroit 5, Series even 2-2

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MBL news 2024 World Series Game 5: Detroit 6, Chicago 5, Wheelmen lead series 3-2

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2024 World Series Game 6: Detroit 6, Chicago 3, Wheelmen win series 4-2

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A 6-3 win in Game 6 gave the Detroit Wheelmen the championship of the Mississippi Baseball League in six games over the Chicago G-Men.
The MVP of the series was Detroit catcher Kyle Schwarber who hit .391 with four homers and six RBIs.
The championship is the first for the Wheelmen, who made the playoffs for the first time since the formation of the MBL in 2018.

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Walkers notes: End of season notes from ownership
Regarding his demands:
* Bo Bichette was an All-Star at second base in 2023, he was below mediocre this season.
* Stolen bases are an issue with OOTP. I tell my players to run, and more often than not they retreat back to first. Meanwhile, the opposition often treats the game like a track meet.
* Aaron Nola was probably my fourth best starter this season in a strong rotation and wants $25 million per season for seven years. I can invest your money better elsewhere.
It's my team, just sit back and watch.

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Due to something I messed up when designing the Midwest Baseball League, there are a handful of players who are not in the major who should be.
My guess is the issue is because the league is 24 teams, rather than the 30 in the "real" MLB.
The number of minor league teams is the same, leaving these players in limbo.
I picked the players who I felt best fit in the majors and have put them into the free-agent pool for the 2025 season.
Starting pitchers
RHP -- Walker Buehler, 30, 3 stars current/3 stars potential, 2024 season -- 10-8 with a 3.72 ERA for AAA Oklahoma City.
RHP-- Derek Gordon, 33, 2.5/2.5, 2024 season, 0-0, 3.38 ERA in one game for AAA Tacoma, still recovering from a ruptured disc in his back.

RHP -- Cal Quantrill, 29, 2.5/2.5, 2024 season -- 9-12 with a 3.92 ERA for AAA El Paso.

Relief pitchers
RHP -- Jose LeClerc, 30, 4/4, 1-1, 2.24 ERA and 27 saves for AAA Round Rock.
RHP -- Lou Trivino, 30, 2.5/2.5, 1-2, 2.50 ERA and 33 saves for AAA Nashville.
RHP -- Adam Liberatore, 37, 2.5/2.5, 2-1, 1.22 ERA and 27 saves for AAA Oklahoma City
RHP -- Rodolfo Martinez, 30, 3.0/3.0, 5-5, 2.50 ERA and 24 saves for AA Richmond.

Position players

SS -- Fernando Tatis Jr., 25, 4.0/4.0, .302, 18 HRs, 70 RBIs for AA San Antonio.

C -- Austin Allen, 30, 2.5/2.5, .328, 13 HRs, 64 RBIs for AAA Round Rock.
OF -- Willie Calhoun, 29, 2.5/2.5, .300, 30 HRs, 97 RBIs for AAA Round Rock.
OF -- Alex Verdugo, 28, 2.5/2.5, .304, 11 HRs, 82 RBIs for AA Tulsa
OF -- Calvin Mitchell, 25, 2.5/2.5, .262, 19 HRs, 72 RBIs for AA Arkansas
1B -- Josh Naylor, 27, 2.5/2.5, .283, 35 HRs, 99 RBIs for AA San Antonio.
OF -- Edward Olivares, 28, 2.0/2.0, .289, 18 HRs, 65 RBIs for AA San Antonio.

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The St. Louis River Walkers have reached an agreement for Andy Tracy to return in 2025 as the team's hitting coach.
Tracy took the position near midseason and helped turn things around as the River Walkers made a late charge toward the playoffs only to fall two games shy.
The contract is for two seasons worth $216,000 per campaign.

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MBL news: Oct. 28 -- Gold Glove winners

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MBL news: Oct. 29 -- Top relievers named -- Walkers' Brentz wins NL honor

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MBL news: Oct. 30 -- Silver Sluggers handed out

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MBL news: Halloween -- Logan Simmons (AL) and Drew Mendoza (NL) are Rookies of the Year

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MBL news: Nov. 1 -- Detroit's Iwata (AL) and Green Bay's Gadd (NL) top manager voting

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MBL news: Cy Young winners are Ann Arbor's Bickford (AL) and Des Moines' Park (NL)