Budget: $71,000,000
Payroll: $47,709,000 (money left for free-agents: $469,900)
Fan Interest: 63
Goals:
1) Fill out personnel
We signed Curt Doll to our AAA managerial slot. He was the PC in El Paso (SS-A) for the last 7-seasons. We will see how it works out, however, I think he is a good fit.
We sigend Fernando Cruz to be our hitting coach in Chadds Ford. Not really sure what to expect, the guy we wanted jilted us and he waas the best available. He hasn't coached above A-ball, so yikes.
We signed Francisco Burgos to be our pitching coach. He has a legendary reputation and has done a great job in Norfolk for the past 5 seasons. We are happy to have him aboard and I hope he can work his magic here.
With 2-years left on his deal I fired our Manager Jorge Rivas. One reason was because I talked to a few free-agents that said there was no-way they would play for him. So after 1-year he is gone... Tyler Friis-Knutzen wouldn't resign with with the Cannons... on board we get a manager who has an excellent reputation and a solid track record. He was hte manager of the New Castle Colonials for the past 6-seasons, winning manager of the year on two occasions, as well as 2-playoffs. Signing a 3-year deal is Carlos Martinez. This is going to be weird, because he likes full-control over the lineups, so my life might be "easier" or "harder" we will see. Not sure why I put them in quotes.
When reporters asked about the dismissal, Rivas responded, "It is what it is. They didn't like what I was doing and that's all that matters. Like I've told my players my entire managerial career, when bad things happen all you can focus on is turning the page. It's time I follow my own advice."
2) Arbitration Cases
I decided not to offer arbitration to Anthony Payne and Jack Cavazos, so they will be come free agents. Which left me with 5-players going through arbitration... I tried to extend Tyler Friis-Knutzen, but he said he'd only sign if we got rid of our manager Jorge Rivas. That isn't going to happen just yet... Could our manager be the cause of our chemistry issues?
Lazzaro Taditto ($1,225,000) - player
Tyler Friis-Knutzen ($1,600,000) - team
Vincent Harrison ($1,100,000) - team
Manny Hernandez ($750,000) - team
Allen Williams ($900,000) - team
We made out pretty well with our arbitration cases... always a good feeling.
3) Figure out Rotation
Right now the staff looks like: Carlos Sanchez, Angel Rivera, Lazzaro Tadiotto, Dan Pierson and Carl Oulton. Which means John Denton, Matt Noble and Pepe Martines will be either in AAA or the bullpen. I tried to deal Tadiotto and Pierson, but no one is interested. Maybe during the winter meetings I will have better luck... with the new manager my hands are tied with who pitches where, so he has his idea of what the rotation should look like and right now this is it:
I personally like Matt Noble in the rotation and if Oulton struggles this spring he may head down to AAA opening up that slot for Noble. We will see we have a long road ahead of us.
4) Big Bat (1B, C, DH)
I have no idea what to do here, as I don't have 15-20 Million to spend on anyone. It is just crazy how much money these guys want... Well I found one. Creeping up on the final days of the off-season we came to terms on a very team friendly deal for Yann Gosselin. Gossenlin is 34-years-old and has a "fragile" history, but last season he hit .244-33-87, which might be a nice addition to our offense.
5) Win 70+ games
TBD
6) Build team Chemistry!
I made some trades and got rid of some of the guys who didn't have a big work ethic, I am hoping that will make a difference. Off went Cavazos and Astsatrian. We will see how these changes do with the team. I could still use someone to lead this team, just can't find anyone... Well I dumped a few of the "bad" attitude guys, but still have a couple left. I am going to try to move Miller, but he has been a tough one to get any interest with.
Rule 5 Draft:
We lost one player during the draft Alonso Solano who is a 2* pitcher. He has pitched the past 2-seasons in AAA and done ok. I really don't see him making the team.
And we brought on 2 new players for 2032. I am not sure if they will stay around all season, but we will see. First is OF Ceaser Leyva, who fists this team well. He plays solid D and has great speed. Last season he hit .269-14-61 in AA.... and MR Kerry Neal, who may just be my new closer. He has crazy stuff (20/20) and gets grounders. Last season he was in AAA with the Express and went 3-10 4.30 with 15 saves. We will see how he adjusts to big-league ball.
Its not a gaurantee that either will be on the big-league roster, but it is always fun to dream.
Free Agency:
I tried to sign a pitcher, one you might remember from Georgetown, Mike Pye. He was excited about the prospects about coming here, however his former team offered him big bucks and put us out of the game. Not really sure I was looking at a pitcher... Maybe because the bats aren't going to work out, all of them want really big bucks (18-20M) and that is about 10-12 out of my range.
We signed a bat in Yann Gosselin. and I am not sure how I feel about it. He is 34 and had a great year last season, well for him. He isn't going to hit for average and I really don't want him to. I just want to see some HR's and RBI's. Last year in Newark he hit 33 and drove in 87. I'd like to see that this year. He makes $6M this season, $8,530,00 next, $11,530,000 in year 3 and year 4 and 5 are both vesting options for $14,530,000 (vesting at 250 AB's). I don't see him making it in Chadds Ford that long, and if he does I doubt I am here.
Other Stuff:
This is a big year for me as my contract expires at the end of 2032, which means I need to show the owner Ralph Corbin that I am capable of turning this team around. I think his goals are a little unrealistic with the budget he has given me, but its what I got myself into.
So far the off-season isn't going how I'd like. I just don't know why I can't get teams to make trades with me or sign free-agents. Its getting tough around here. I have to make something happen this season, but my hands are tied. I have like 5 people I'd love to deal, but no one is willing to talk... I guess I will keep on trying and maybe something will happen for me.
I will have to monitor the roster more and try to move players up and down accordingly to their performance. One thing, however, is most the players on the roster are out of options, so we will will have what we "have".
As of February 1 here is what our projected lineup looks like:
2B Manny Hernandez (S)
SS Jason Simmons (L)
LF Dave Lewis
C Tyler Friis-Knutzen
DH Yann Gosselin (S)
CF Pablo Rivera
RF Cesar Leyva (Rule-5)
DH Keith Adams
3B Dragon Karadzic
and the pitching staff:
SP Carlos Sanchez
SP Angel Rivera
SP Lazzaro Tadiotto
SP Dan Pierson
SP Carl Oulton
MR He-seop So
MR Dan Kessler
MR Al Rayner
SU Boyd Martin (L)
SU Sung-il Kwon (L)
CL Dan Wilkinson
Should be interesting. I have too many pitchers and not enough roster space. I can't seem to find a taker on Al Raynor or Boyd Martin both players I don't want around. Raynor I have tried to waive but nothing. Maybe as we get closer to the season, the only downfall with losing Raynor is he acts as a veteran leader...
Final Thoughts
As we head into the season I look at this team and I am not sure if should smile or cringe... you know that feeling of yeah this team 'could' be good. I think if all the pieces fall into place we might be able to play .500 ball, but that is a stretch... however that being said, that is what I need to do.
I have to have faith, but I really don't know if I have it in this group. We are getting better, I am sure of it... hopefully some of the "prospects" start to develop, if we are going to win we have to have some guys grow up fast.
I can't wait to see how the games go.
(as I said I tried something different this season and I am not sure how I liked it compared to the way I did things in the past. If I have a job next season I will have to go back to the way it was before.)