12/17
Bombers attack the free agent market, land Rios:
29 year old slugger Orlando Rios will move from sunny Fresno to the cozy confines of Boston after agreeing to a 6 year 83M dollar free agent contract with the Boston Bombers. His salary will escalate from 10.3 next season to 16M in 2022 and he holds a 17.4M player option for 2023. Rios has hit 158 homers the past 5 years with a career best .310-41-141 his rookie season of 2013. He hit .259-30-197 last year.
IBL CAREER LEADERS: ERA
Joe Boswell (PIT) 1.66
Ernesto Cruz (CHI) 1.69
Bill Barlow (SAC) 2.01
Anbar Suhayb (ALK) 2.14
Julio Gonzalez (SAC) 2.35
12/19
Bulldogs sign Stuckey:
Pittsburgh agreed to terms with 31 year old IF Truman Stuckey on a 3 year 27.9M contract today. Stuckey is a .248 lifetime hitter with 116 home runs and will play SS vs RHP and likely 1B for departed Ross Tunstall vs LHP.
12/19
Battlecats sign Diaz:
Michigan has agreed to terms with 34 year old SP Marcos Diaz to be their opening day starter. Diaz signed a 2 year 19M dollar deal. He’s 65-59 4.60 lifetime. He was a career best 17-11 4.62 in 2015 for Columbus.
12/20
Battlecats get another SP:
Michigan follows up yesterdays signing by inking 29 year old Jason Allen to a 4 year 42.2M dollar free agent deal. Allen is 68-41 4.34 lifetime in 190 games, 155 starts and is coming off a 15-10 3.63 season for El Paso. His best year was 2014 when he went 17-4 3.68 and was an FL All Star. He was 16-6 4.52 the following year. Allen will now occupy the Battlecats #1 slot.
The Battlecats are also rumored to be in on 28 year old Closer Paul Woodard, along with Dayton and San Antonio.
12/22
Dayton signs CL Sloan:
34 year old Closer Jon Sloan signed a 3 year 7.44M dollar deal with Dayton today. The 3rd year vests with 40 GF. Sloan closed full time for the first time, last season and saved 39 of 42 games for Western Division Champion El Paso.
12/31
Battlecats ink CL Woodard:
Michigan signed 28 year old Paul Woodard to a 1 year 2.32M dollar deal to close for the Battlecats next season. Woodard saved 83 games the past 3 years (33 in ’15 38 in ’16 and 12 last year).