WAR GAINED:
1. Lewes Braves: 18.4
2. King George Royals: 4.9
3. Salisbury Ports: 4.2
4. Salisbury Ports: 4.2
5. Washington Senators: 2.8
WAR LOSS:
1. Newark Millers: -10.7
2. Wilmington Iron Pigs: -6.1
3. Norfolk Cavalies: -4.3
4. New Castle Colonials: -4.3
5. Virginia Beach Surf Dawgs: -4.0
Hall of Fame:
Hall of Fame voting is on its way and it will be interesting to see if we will have our first member. Last year no one was really close, but this season there are a couple of new comers on the ballot that have a legit shot.
My Ballot:
CL Wilson Acosta - 59-57 3.06, 286 SV, 8-time All-Star, 1st year on Ballot
LF Glenn Jenkins - .329-138-618, 48.5 WAR, 8-time All-Star, 1-time MVP. 2nd year (24.3)
CF Stan Miller - .277-341-1016, 63.3 WAR, 6-time All-Star, 1 Gold Glove, 1 MVP. 1st year
RF Bill Moore - .277-354-982, 31.0 WAR, 6-time All-Star, 2nd year (21.7)
SP Don Sweetapple - 138-79 3.50, 38.4 WAR, 5-time All-Star, 2nd Year (25.8)
CL Dalton Whitaker - 53-59 3.75, 343 SV, 1027 K's, 8.2 WAR. 7-time All-Star, 1st year
Firings, Extensions, Trades and other tid-bits:
Milton Brewers: The Brewers owner Jamie Bido died. The cause of the death wasn't released, but it is known that his son Jamie Bido Jr. will be taking over the helms.
Milton Brewers: Know a good thing when they see it, and they proved this by signing SP Julio Rocha to a 6 year extension worth $22,700,000 per year. Rocha is 29 and is 120-51 lifetime in the DBL.
Norfolk Cavaliers: Signed closer Miguel Angel Gonzalez to a 3-year extension worth $30,000,000. Gonzalez saved a career high 46 last season.
Norfolk Cavaliers: Extended MR Eric Helton for 2 years. The deal will pay Helton $8,480,000.
Ellicott City Express: Traded away prospects SS Jaak Groenendijk (A, #184) and SS Mario Arredondo for 3B Al Lindsay (.224/.299/.340, 10 HR).
Georgetown Sixteens: Acquired RP Adrian Padgett (3-2 4.16, 2 SV) and $980,000 from the Washington Senators for prospects LF Jack Johnson and 3B Roberto Olivo.
Newark Millers: Acquired C Aaron Brathwait (.288/.329/.40, 5 HR) from the Lewes Braves for 1B Mathew Robison (.271/.316/.538, 39 HR) and C Marvin Riley (SA).
Baltimore Barons: Received C Fernando Mendoza (.269/.320/.348, HR) in exchange for 2B Brian Weaver (.200/.302/.289, HR) and prospect SP Henry Ward (S, #68).
Milton Brewers: Sent prospects LF Grant Weaver (AA, #155) and SP Jose Serrano (A) to the Washington Senators for 2B Markus Palmer (.301/.330/.409, HR).
Free Agents Signings:
Baltimore Barons: Signed 2B Luis Mota to a 1-year deal worth $2,200,000
Lewes Braves: Resigned Errol Williams to a 2-year deal worth $28,00,000. Williams hit .253-21-83 last season for the Braves. Williams returns to Lewes after 1-season in Newark.
Annapolis Admirals: Agreed to terms with CF Felipe Marquez on a 1-year deal worth $420,000.
King George Royals: Signed SP Steve Carter to a 1-year deal worth $620,000.
Lewes Braves: Signed their second IF of the week Bryant Frank to a 3 year deal worth $25,000,000.
Ocean City Tourists: Agreed to terms with ace Brad Jones. Jones went 16-11 3.83 last season for the Millers. The deal is worth a rumor 2 years and $21,200,000.
Lewes Braves: The Braves are stacking up on infielders and this may be the biggest one yet. They announced a deal with 5-time MVP Claude Bond on a 2 year deal worth $41,200,000.
Baltimore Barons: Agreed to 1-year deals with both 3B Cisco Benetiz and 3B Colin Thompson. Both deals are worth $1,340,000.
Dover Generals: Signed SP Raul Tejada to a 1-year deal worth $810,000.
Richmond Cardinals: Signed SP Greg Schmidt to a 3 year deal worth $5,300,000 per year. Schmidt hopes to bounce back from his 6-13 season last year with the Braves.
Newark Millers: Signed All-Star 1B Alonso Martinez to a 2 year deal worth 10,200,000. Martinez hit .296-24-79 for the Iron Pigs last season.
New Castle Colonials: Agreed to terms with Sergio Galvez on a 3-year deal worth $14,480,000. Galvez hit .252-8-41 in limited time with the Cavaliers last season. He is one of the only (I think 3) 30-30 men in DBL History.
Ocean City Tourists: Signed MR Alec Haney to a 3 year deal worth $10,920,000. Haney pitched in a career high 48 games last season as a 31-year old.
Team Summary
Budget: $65,000,000 t22nd
Payroll: $25,240,000 24th
Money for Free-Agents: NONE (confused by this)
Fan Interest: 100
Owners Mode: Happy
Rule-5 Draft:
With the third pick in the Rule-5 Draft we selected Dan Kessler from the Norfolk Cavaliers organization. I feel like this selection is quite the steal and I am really surprsied he didn't get drafted #1 or #2 (no pick). Kessler throws low 90's and has great ratings. He could end up being the closer this season. Kessler: Stuff 12/15, Movement: 14/14, Control: 12/13, Groundball Tendency.
Offers:
December 2nd
Sergio Gavlez decided that he wanted more money and the Milton Braves weren't shy with their offer. With our lack of budget we were out of the Galvez race. In the need of a veteran somewhere, we made Woody Brown an offer. Three 3 years and just of 3M a year.
Signings:
December 14th
Signed minor league pitcher Juan Jose Gonzalez. Gonzalez had the best ratings for any minor league pitcher and was signed for depth.
GM Notes:
I still have that offer hanging out there to Woody Brown, but I am not sure I like it anymore. I am close to pulling the plug and moving on. Do I need an old Vet with Power who is going to get hurt? I could spend that little bit of money on someone else or just hold on to it. I don't know still thinking.
With just under 2 months till our first spring training game things are getting crazy in Chadds Ford. The fans are ready, the team of young guys is ready... going to be a fun and interesting season to say the least. I tried to build this team on a) pitching and pitchers that get groudn balls. b) players with speed and a high avoid K's rating. and c) players who play 15+ defense. I don't think we will win it all, or come close for that matter in 2030. My goal is to win 70 games and I really think I have a team that could do that.
Ralph Corbin is a tough owner when it comes to letting go of funds. I will have to get used to his penny pinching ways and build from within with young guys. There is just no way I will be able to compete for the "A" level free-agents with a $30M payroll. Time to get creative.
As far as roster space I am pretty much full, at least that is what the money is telling me. So the next month I will be looking over my team and evaluating them and trying to put together a lineup and pitching staff that can accomplish my goal for 2030.
Coming Up:
01/08/2030- Hall of Fame Results
01/26/2030 - Preseason Begins
02/25/2030 - Spring Training Begins
04/01/2030 - Opening Day!!