January & February 2025 Transactions
Once the new year hits, things tend to slow down a little bit - most of the top players have signed already. We are now squarely into the second half of the offseason, with Opening Day falling on March 1st as it always does. Let's run down the rest of the offseason:
January 1: Santa Ketitu, the 2nd place Pitcher of the Year finisher in 2022 and fresh off two titles with National, has signed with Akashemo United for two years, $6.4 million. Ketitu is just 27, a strong leader, and relatively cheap, so that's a good get for Akashemo.
January 6: This is starting to get ridiculous - Semyof signs former National closer Sefape Utuewe for 1 year, $1.98 million. They have signed so many top relievers that their 2024 closer, Teyumpu Riali, is now set to perform mop-up duty in long relief.
January 18: OF Tseiriki Tushifo, formerly of Akashemo United, signs with the Aroketsil Spirits for 4 years, $43 million. Tushifo led the EL with 71 home runs in the 2023 season, and opted out of his Akashemo contract that would have paid him $13 million over the next two years. Good call there.
February 10: 3B Meteshu Tsefufayalo, formerly of Keleri, has signed with Mighty Oaks for one year, $3.48 million. The 28-year-old has won two consecutive Gold Gloves and is expected to bat leadoff for the 7-time champs.
That's about it as far as most notable Elite League additions. There are a few name-brand players who are headed outside the EL - Cheshek SS Ketso Kofmi and Kupore SP Rattio Ayawetsi both signed with Sitache, for example. The most notable, in my opinion, are a pair of former Amnanache stars who will now be rivals on the west coast. 2B Peche Iyikio signed with Hokrof, and SP Laotso Tirionu signed with Hokrof's other 2L team, Fachi BC.
Now it's time to start the 2025 season! Previews first - I'm looking forward to seeing a deeper dive into how these teams have changed too, since I don't notice everything live.