OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

gehrig38 · 12-11-2025, 04:36 PM

Catchers
Jonathan Miller LHH 32 years old. Signed a 2 year 700K dollar deal in February.
We had just one catcher on the roster after the draft and he was a RHH, and younger, and we needed clubhouse and field presence. Miller brings that. He's winning no offensive awards, our scouts have him on their 1-20 scale as a 12 defender. Below average arm but he's good behind the dish. Will likely platoon with Stachowski as he is one of just two LHH on the entire 27 man roster.
Brian Stachowski RHH 23 years old making minimum Expansion draft Phoenix (7th pick 14th overall)
A tic better defender than Miller, but with a better toolset, including a good arm. He's won the Gold Glove two years running in AAA. In 875 AAA plate appearances, he's slashed .230/.311/.325 with 14 HR and 74 RBI's. Originally a 4th round pick in 2005 out of Mountlake Terrace HS in Washington.

Infield
Kevin Rodgers RHH (1B/DH) 29 years old making minimum, will be arbitration eligible. Expansion draft Las Vegas (32nd pick 64th overall)
Elite bat. Chris Romano has him at a 15 with still some room to get better. Mainly line drive 1B hitter. Lifetime in 186 games he's slashed .285/.335/.430 with 22 2B 10 HR 53 RBI's. He's a born leader. Vegas drafted him in the 16th round of 2004 (452nd overall) out of UL Monroe. Absolutely a player we hope can build value and be worth something at the deadline.

Gus Garcia RHH (Infield/Corner OF) 22 years old making minimum Expansion draft Staten Island (20th pick 39th overall)
Can legitimately play every IF spot and serve in the corners of the OF if need be. Won a GG at 1B in the minors. ++ speed and a bat likely to lead off or hit 2nd. Romano says he's still got room to improve. + power with elite bat to ball skills. He's going to open the season at 2B and leadoff vs RHP. Skipper has said he'll move him down to the middle of the order vs left-handed starters.

Jorge Cespedes RHH (2B/3B) 28 years old making minimum Expansion draft Fresno (35th pick 70th overall)
11th overall pick in 2004 by New England. Did not sign, returned to the draft and was selected 11th overall again in 2005, this time by Fresno. Got a ring in 2009 with them. In 2008 he was the 19th rated prospect. Has not been able to get over the hump in the big leagues. Over 260 PA he's slashed .201/.240/.291 with almost no power (13 2B 3 HR). We drafted him knowing there were off the field issues, but in hopes of early season success and a potential return. Last year in AAA he hit .262/.355/.404 with 13 HR in 132 games and 579 PA. Will be the opening day 3B and hit 7th.

Frank Abbott RHH (Infield) 29 years old making minimum Signed as a free agent this winter.
Drafted back in 2000, 68th pick, by the original Chicago team, the Hitmen. Another versatile infielder who can play all 4 spots all above average. One of the clubs leaders. He's played in almost 700 games. Over 2000 AB's and he's slashed .256/.307/.355 with 93 2B, 35 HR and 35 SB. Will combine with Chavez to be the backup infielders. Really need to find someone that hits left-handed in one of these two spots.

Juan Chavez RHH (2B/SS/3B/RF) 21 years old making minimum. Signed as a minor league FA.
Another multi-position infielder with potentially above average offensive skills. His best position outside of 1B is SS. High baseball IQ. Solid backup IF. Abbott is the better overall hitter but Juan has a little bit more pop. They are both decent vs RHP, neither suffers any sort of decline so they're sorta like carbon copies. The difference is Abbott is 8 years older.

Russell Matson RHH (Infield) 28 years old. In 1st year of 4 year 17.28 million dollar contract. Expansion draft Oklahoma City (13th pick 28th overall)
Only real contract we took on in the draft. Has 2 all-star appearances, a gold glove (2006 SS) and a silver slugger (2008 SS). Taken 16th overall in the 2000 draft out of Kelowna HS in British Columbia by the New York Punishers. Was the #6 prospect in 2006. Will reach 1000 games this year. In 990 career games he's a .271/.349/.439 hitter with 226 2B's 22 3B's and 120 HR's. He's driven in 558. Figures to sit somewhere in the middle of the lineup. We're under zero financial stress to there's no urge to unload his contract which is eminently affordable anyway. But the contract, I think, makes him more attractive to a team in need. He'll be the opening day shortstop and hit in the 2 hole vs RHP and likely leadoff vs lefties.

Outfield
Eddie Cook RHH (OF) 26 years old making minimum Expansion draft Chicago Hitmen (10th pick 19th overall).
Houston's 1st rounder in 2006 (26th overall). With Houston, then Indianapolis in 2009-10 he hit a combined .256/.342/.413 in 800+ at bats with 54 2B's 20 HR's and 104 RBI's. A corner OF'er who can play CF in a pinch. Had a great 2008 in AAA hittin g.281-25-91 over 132 games. The eye has stayed sharp but the HR power isn't there yet. Plays in 10th gear, every single day. No idea how he got his nickname “Grasshoper Jim”.... He'll platoon in left vs LHP with Jesse Roberts.

Jesse Roberts LHH (OF) 26 years old 920K arbitration eligible. Expansion draft Cleveland Gladiators (16th pick 31st overall)
One of two left-handed hitters on the IBL roster. Will play LF vs righties and apparently hit cleanup to start the year. Been up and down since 2006 with 1532 PA's. Hitting .251/.315/.441 with 89 2B's 49 HR's and 172 RBI while stealing 47 of 54. Hit 14 last year in half a season.

Xavier Wynn RHH (LF/RF) 25 years old making minimum Expansion draft New York (2nd pick 3rd overall)
LA Storm drafted him out of Ohio State with the 532nd pick and he's found a way to the big leagues. Ranked #100 in 2009. He's had health issues including a concussion last year. Will hit 3rd opening day and likely anchor the lineup there. Decent pop, with a chance to win a batting title down the road according to our guys. Hit .280/.360/.433 in 76 AAA games last year with 6 HR and 29 RBI's. Proabaly our weakest defender across the board.

Justin Krieg RHH (OF) 25 years old making minimum Expansion draft Charlotte (9th pick 18th overall). Another outstanding bat. Ranked as high as 50 on the prospect list in 2008. Taken by Charlotte in the 2nd round (43rd overall) out of the U. of Iowa. Won a GG in AAA last year at left field. Had a great half-season in AAA Vero Beach hitting .321/.366/.410 over 84 games with 22 2B's before being callled up. Hit .296/.337/.398 in 48 starts. Will man CF and hit 6th vs RHP and 5th vs LHP to start the year.

Michael Johnson RHH (OF) 26 years old making minimum Expansion draft Cleveland (23rd pick 46th overall)
The 4th player taken in the 2006 draft from the U of Maine. Was the 11th ranked prospect in 2007. He's an elite defender across the OF and a team leader. He has not been able to get the bat going in AAA hitting .241/.313/.388 over 437 AA games. He's hit 86 2B's and 44 HR's along with 13 3B's. 79-124 career SB's. Hoping the change of scenery works. He'll be a late inning defensive replacement across the OF.

Mike White RHH (RF) making minimum Expansion draft Staten Island (30th pick 59th overall)
RF with a cannon. No real speed but the question is how real his 2010 in AAA was. He hit .275/.349/.500 with 23 2B's 24 HR's and drove in 58. He's the everyday RF'er and he'll hit 8th vs both sides.

12-11-2025, 04:36 PM	#33
gehrig38 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Medfield, Mass Posts: 5,667	The rest of the roster Catchers Jonathan Miller LHH 32 years old. Signed a 2 year 700K dollar deal in February. We had just one catcher on the roster after the draft and he was a RHH, and younger, and we needed clubhouse and field presence. Miller brings that. He's winning no offensive awards, our scouts have him on their 1-20 scale as a 12 defender. Below average arm but he's good behind the dish. Will likely platoon with Stachowski as he is one of just two LHH on the entire 27 man roster. Brian Stachowski RHH 23 years old making minimum Expansion draft Phoenix (7th pick 14th overall) A tic better defender than Miller, but with a better toolset, including a good arm. He's won the Gold Glove two years running in AAA. In 875 AAA plate appearances, he's slashed .230/.311/.325 with 14 HR and 74 RBI's. Originally a 4th round pick in 2005 out of Mountlake Terrace HS in Washington. Infield Kevin Rodgers RHH (1B/DH) 29 years old making minimum, will be arbitration eligible. Expansion draft Las Vegas (32nd pick 64th overall) Elite bat. Chris Romano has him at a 15 with still some room to get better. Mainly line drive 1B hitter. Lifetime in 186 games he's slashed .285/.335/.430 with 22 2B 10 HR 53 RBI's. He's a born leader. Vegas drafted him in the 16th round of 2004 (452nd overall) out of UL Monroe. Absolutely a player we hope can build value and be worth something at the deadline. Gus Garcia RHH (Infield/Corner OF) 22 years old making minimum Expansion draft Staten Island (20th pick 39th overall) Can legitimately play every IF spot and serve in the corners of the OF if need be. Won a GG at 1B in the minors. ++ speed and a bat likely to lead off or hit 2nd. Romano says he's still got room to improve. + power with elite bat to ball skills. He's going to open the season at 2B and leadoff vs RHP. Skipper has said he'll move him down to the middle of the order vs left-handed starters. Jorge Cespedes RHH (2B/3B) 28 years old making minimum Expansion draft Fresno (35th pick 70th overall) 11th overall pick in 2004 by New England. Did not sign, returned to the draft and was selected 11th overall again in 2005, this time by Fresno. Got a ring in 2009 with them. In 2008 he was the 19th rated prospect. Has not been able to get over the hump in the big leagues. Over 260 PA he's slashed .201/.240/.291 with almost no power (13 2B 3 HR). We drafted him knowing there were off the field issues, but in hopes of early season success and a potential return. Last year in AAA he hit .262/.355/.404 with 13 HR in 132 games and 579 PA. Will be the opening day 3B and hit 7th. Frank Abbott RHH (Infield) 29 years old making minimum Signed as a free agent this winter. Drafted back in 2000, 68th pick, by the original Chicago team, the Hitmen. Another versatile infielder who can play all 4 spots all above average. One of the clubs leaders. He's played in almost 700 games. Over 2000 AB's and he's slashed .256/.307/.355 with 93 2B, 35 HR and 35 SB. Will combine with Chavez to be the backup infielders. Really need to find someone that hits left-handed in one of these two spots. Juan Chavez RHH (2B/SS/3B/RF) 21 years old making minimum. Signed as a minor league FA. Another multi-position infielder with potentially above average offensive skills. His best position outside of 1B is SS. High baseball IQ. Solid backup IF. Abbott is the better overall hitter but Juan has a little bit more pop. They are both decent vs RHP, neither suffers any sort of decline so they're sorta like carbon copies. The difference is Abbott is 8 years older. Russell Matson RHH (Infield) 28 years old. In 1st year of 4 year 17.28 million dollar contract. Expansion draft Oklahoma City (13th pick 28th overall) Only real contract we took on in the draft. Has 2 all-star appearances, a gold glove (2006 SS) and a silver slugger (2008 SS). Taken 16th overall in the 2000 draft out of Kelowna HS in British Columbia by the New York Punishers. Was the #6 prospect in 2006. Will reach 1000 games this year. In 990 career games he's a .271/.349/.439 hitter with 226 2B's 22 3B's and 120 HR's. He's driven in 558. Figures to sit somewhere in the middle of the lineup. We're under zero financial stress to there's no urge to unload his contract which is eminently affordable anyway. But the contract, I think, makes him more attractive to a team in need. He'll be the opening day shortstop and hit in the 2 hole vs RHP and likely leadoff vs lefties. Outfield Eddie Cook RHH (OF) 26 years old making minimum Expansion draft Chicago Hitmen (10th pick 19th overall). Houston's 1st rounder in 2006 (26th overall). With Houston, then Indianapolis in 2009-10 he hit a combined .256/.342/.413 in 800+ at bats with 54 2B's 20 HR's and 104 RBI's. A corner OF'er who can play CF in a pinch. Had a great 2008 in AAA hittin g.281-25-91 over 132 games. The eye has stayed sharp but the HR power isn't there yet. Plays in 10th gear, every single day. No idea how he got his nickname “Grasshoper Jim”.... He'll platoon in left vs LHP with Jesse Roberts. Jesse Roberts LHH (OF) 26 years old 920K arbitration eligible. Expansion draft Cleveland Gladiators (16th pick 31st overall) One of two left-handed hitters on the IBL roster. Will play LF vs righties and apparently hit cleanup to start the year. Been up and down since 2006 with 1532 PA's. Hitting .251/.315/.441 with 89 2B's 49 HR's and 172 RBI while stealing 47 of 54. Hit 14 last year in half a season. Xavier Wynn RHH (LF/RF) 25 years old making minimum Expansion draft New York (2nd pick 3rd overall) LA Storm drafted him out of Ohio State with the 532nd pick and he's found a way to the big leagues. Ranked #100 in 2009. He's had health issues including a concussion last year. Will hit 3rd opening day and likely anchor the lineup there. Decent pop, with a chance to win a batting title down the road according to our guys. Hit .280/.360/.433 in 76 AAA games last year with 6 HR and 29 RBI's. Proabaly our weakest defender across the board. Justin Krieg RHH (OF) 25 years old making minimum Expansion draft Charlotte (9th pick 18th overall). Another outstanding bat. Ranked as high as 50 on the prospect list in 2008. Taken by Charlotte in the 2nd round (43rd overall) out of the U. of Iowa. Won a GG in AAA last year at left field. Had a great half-season in AAA Vero Beach hitting .321/.366/.410 over 84 games with 22 2B's before being callled up. Hit .296/.337/.398 in 48 starts. Will man CF and hit 6th vs RHP and 5th vs LHP to start the year. Michael Johnson RHH (OF) 26 years old making minimum Expansion draft Cleveland (23rd pick 46th overall) The 4th player taken in the 2006 draft from the U of Maine. Was the 11th ranked prospect in 2007. He's an elite defender across the OF and a team leader. He has not been able to get the bat going in AAA hitting .241/.313/.388 over 437 AA games. He's hit 86 2B's and 44 HR's along with 13 3B's. 79-124 career SB's. Hoping the change of scenery works. He'll be a late inning defensive replacement across the OF. Mike White RHH (RF) making minimum Expansion draft Staten Island (30th pick 59th overall) RF with a cannon. No real speed but the question is how real his 2010 in AAA was. He hit .275/.349/.500 with 23 2B's 24 HR's and drove in 58. He's the everyday RF'er and he'll hit 8th vs both sides. __________________ The Chicago Iron Pigs 2012-2024 The IBL's first 13 years The Alaska Avalanche 2024-2030 Moving on to my birthplace The San Antonio Silver Stars 2030-2034 From one big state, Alaska, to another, Texas!