League News
Disappointed by the lack of recent success and a below-average fan support, Quadir llitch, owner of the Detroit Tigers, has decided to pack their bags and move the franchise to Memphis. The team will be called the Memphis Wolverines, and a new color scheme and uniform has been revealed already.
Baseball fans in Memphis celebrated all day after the announcement, looking forward to big league baseball in 47000-seat Wolverines Park.
Job Offer
The other big news was Stewart, finally, accepting a World Cup of Baseball job offer and he will manage the USA team over Spring Training.
International Amateurs
We just completed our monthly private practice with many young international amateur free agents who we hope can aid our club in the coming years. It was great to meet the players in-person and get to know them better, and I was able to improve my scouting assessment on all invitees.
In fact some of the players impressed me, since they showcased a higher potential than I had previously expected from them:
Edgar Ramirez, 16 year-old RF out of Dominican Republic
Lean and athletic, Edgar Ramirez hails from Sabana Larga, Dominican Republic. He has a plus-plus eye that should place him among the leaders in walks. He displays gargantuan power lure. He is a slow runner. With his talents the light of Ramirez's star could be blinding.
However, a few invitees left me disappointed as they did not appear to match my previous assessment, although they may still end up being future stars:
Frank Olvera, 16 year-old RHP out of Dominican Republic
Lean and athletic, Frank Olvera hails from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He projects to have many quality pitches, topped by a swing-and-miss curveball. His stuff is ordinary, but he makes up for it with pinpoint command. At his peak Olvera has the potential to anchor a rotation.
Olegário Cengo, 16 year-old CF out of Venezuela
Lean and athletic, Olegário Cengo hails from El Hatillo, Venezuela. He has the potential for plus contact. He projects to have above average strike zone recognition. Cengo looks like a potential regular in a key role at the big league level.
Hall of Fame
It’s a proud day for Colin Stewart as the first player of his Royals era is inducted into the Hall of Fame. In his 4th time on the ballot, 2B Edgar Mir earned 75.9% of ballots to earn enshrinement. Mir’s career was one of longevity rather than the spectacular. Although he was a two-time MVP, leading the league in WAR in those two seasons, those were the only time he led the league in a major category but instead was a nine-time All Star, won the Platinum Stick seven times and the Great Glove once at 2B, and did this all after winning the Rookie of the Year award in his debut season, while putting up 67.2 WAR.
Joining Mir in Cooperstown is CL Jesus Medina. Somewhat of a journeyman, there was discussion about whose cap Medina would wear but ultimately it was a Cleveland Guardians (who drafted him in 2031’s 1st round) cap, making him the first Guardian of the save, and taking down to eight the list of clubs without a Hall of Famer during the save. Medina led the league in saves on three occasions, and his Black, Grey, and Monitor totals were in excess of any closer previously enshrined, a worthy entrant to the Hall.
Financial Update
As we get closer to the start of the season, I have reviewed the team's financial state as of this moment.
As a reminder, you have $296,000,000 available for the total team expenses for the season.
Transactions
Three major pieces of news in January’s transactions. The first was the Giants bolstering their bullpen with the signing of free agent Jon McConnell to a 3-year contract worth $24m, although the final year is a team option. McConnell is average or above average across his ratings, with a 80-grade fastball paired with a changeup that should make him a strong contender for a setup role replacing Rickey Martino.
Next the Giants traded another relief pitcher, Juan Dorame, for international amateur cash. Dorame, a Scouting Discovery, has starter stamina but is fragile, a flyball pitcher, and only has two average or better pitches which meant Stewart viewed his a reliever and, for $2.5m in bonus pool money, expendable. A organisational piece SS was added which let the Giants pick up 25-year old Jorge Arroyo who will start in AA but could be a September call up with a good season.
That move allowed the Giants to sign two premier International Amateurs in SS Luis Maldonado and SP Frank Olvera. They have some pool money remaining so February signings are likely.
Monday, January 1st , 2057
Signed international amateur 1B Andres Vargas out of Netherlands Antilles to a minor league contract.
Saturday, January 6th , 2057
Signed free agent RP Jon McConnell to a 3-year contract worth a total of $24,000,000.
Sunday, January 14th , 2057
Signed international amateur SP Julio Espinoza out of Curaçao to a minor league contract.
Saturday, January 20th , 2057
Signed international amateur SS Luis Maldonado out of Dominican Republic to a minor league contract with a $3,250,000 signing bonus.
Traded 24-year old RHP Juan Dorame and 25-year old minor league SS Chris Ackley to the Los Angeles Angels, getting 25-year old RHP Jorge Arroyo and $2,500,000 in international amateur bonus pool room in return.
Saturday, January 27th , 2057
Signed international amateur SP Frank Olvera out of Dominican Republic to a minor league contract with a $3,250,000 signing bonus.
Promoted international complex member SP Frank Olvera to Rookie League San Francisco (DSL).
Sunday, January 28th , 2057
Signed international amateur LF Juan Puentes out of Dominican Republic to a minor league contract.