[zonk84]

Was mine --- sadly, he just retired, and chances are --- by sticking with me, he cost himself a shot at the HOF.

Francisco came to the Cubs as little more than a throw-in deal -- when I took the team over, I basically had 2-3 marketable players, but was in rebuilding mode. I was looking to move my about-to-be-really expensive "ace" (who was really only an 'ace' because I had no one better). I went back and forth with the Rangers -- I was angling for their top minor league catcher, something called "Lucio Romero" -- who was then looking like a Ivan Rogriguez, with jaw-droppping defense and a good bat (albeit with a poor eye). I convinced the Rangers to toss this Esdel kid, another catcher, into the deal, too.

Francisco was an average to below average catcher -- he didn't have a great arm or range, but he got the job done. At the plate- he was exactly the type of player i like.... a high OBP slugger... a guy that hits HRs and draws walks.... but there was no doubt he was behind Romero in his new organization (not to mention the old one).

Without complaining, Esdel took up the task of learning 1B in AAA... and also tried his hand at 3B, LF, and RF, to boot.

He just kept on hitting -- reaching the big leagues before Romero and spending half a season as my starting backstop... putting up pretty good numbers, to boot.

We went into spring training the next year - and with Romero out of options, Esdel slid over to 1B - where he posted back-to-back 30 HR 100 RBI 100 BB seasons.

Romero, meanwhile, proved uncoachable. He was a hacker that wouldn't learn to lay off the breaking ball away, and despite his tools -- wasn't much better than mediocre at both throwing out runners or blocking pitches. No one was sorry when he shipped out of town and drifted into obscurity.

At the same time, a young burly slugger was ready to assume the full-time 1B job. Again -- without complaint -- Esdel moved again, this time back behind the plate... knowing full well this was temporary too (I had the #1 and #2 prospects, both catchers, playing in my system... one drafted, the other a foreign FA). Esdel cranked the offense up a notch, slugging 42 HRs - and making his first and only all-star team.... but both young catchers, Luis Avellar and Rafael Guerin were wasting away in AAA... putting up astronomical numbers.

Both Avellar and Guerin made the team out of spring training -- pushing Esdel, who was still relatively young at age 27 and had ratings of 10/18/18 (20 scale) in bat/power/eye -- to a reserve role on both the IF and OF corners and behind the plate. I expected contract negotations to be difficult -- Esdel deserved starters pay, and was good enough to start at either C or 1B on probably 4/5 of the rest of the league.

To my suprise, Esdel agreed to a 5 year deal, waaaayyy below market value (averaging less than 2 mil a year).

He filled in whereever asked, whenever asked -- usually posting 2-300 at-bats in a reserve role, hitting 15-25 HRs a year. He did what he could to help both the two new kids out behind the plate. He caught in the bullpen. I think he would have played the stadium organ, too -- if only I'd asked.

At age 32, he was still a feared slugger who knew how to reach 1B -- but hadn't had more than 300 at-bats in 3 years. He had 230 career HRs -- and a very slim shot at 500 (remember, playing time aside, the guy was a 40-45 HR threat if only he could get the at-bats) and the HOF, but he was a good guy to have in the clubhouse, off the bench, and in my depth chart.

I decided to see if I could milk another 3 years out of him... he wanted a bit more to stay (just over 3 mil a year this time) -- but stayed put. Content to be a role player on a good team and doing whatever was asked of him.

By this time -- even my bench was stacked, so despite still being an offensive force, Esdel was only getting 150-200 at-bats at season.

At age 35, it was once again contract time. Though his ratings were beginning to slip - he wanted to stay, and I wanted to see him retire a Cub. I gave him a 4 year deal this time, overpaying by quite a bit (there were no negotiations... I offered him 3.5 mil a year and he took it straight away).

He continued to do what Francisco Esdel had always done... filling in for a week behind the plate here and there... scrounging a start or 2 at 1B or in LF... manning 3B in a double-switch... delivering a key PH homer.

After year 2 of the deal -- before his age 38 season, his rating fell off a cliff - he tried to tough it out one more season, but he was done... and was nice enough to retire before his contract was up --- saving me almost 4 mil and an active roster spot.

Esdel wrapped his career with 298 career HRs -- just over 1000 career RBIs, and a career OBP of ~.360. Had he played somewhere with a spot for him in the lineup, I have no doubt he woulda been a first ballot HOFer.

As it is, we'll be retiring his number 22... and if he ever wants a job coaching, he need only pick up the phone!