Orcin's Story

[Orcin]

First Day of Off-Season

I remind you of the standard task list for today:
• Address open personnel positions
• Make decision to exercise or decline team options
• Offer arbitration (or not) to potential Type-A/B free agents
• Submit arbitration offers to eligible players or decide not to tender them
• Make offers to potential free agents (or not), including minor league free agents

I attend to all of these tasks before I advance the game to the next day, but of course I don’t finish every task because I have to wait for answers on some of them.


Task: Fill open personnel positions

I still have the vacant pitching coach position at Owensboro (Rookie League), and the pitching coach at Dayton (AA) retired. So I now have two open pitching coach positions.
I made offers to qualified candidates for both, although the Owensboro offer is only a one-year contract because it is not the best fit for either party. The Evansville offer is a three-year deal for a great coach that I will over-pay for the level. I want to advance my pitching prospects through the system with a progression of great coaches.


Task: Make decision to exercise or decline team options

The first one was really easy. Reliever Bryan McConnell decided to retire so I was not forced to decline his $1.4 million option.

Mario Chavez and Rodrigo Melendez were not easy, but I have young relievers ready to take their spots for less money so the $4 million option on each pitcher was declined. They will both be Type-B free agents.

[Orcin]

Task: Offer arbitration (or not) to potential Type-A/B free agents

I will offer arbitration to ALL of my eligible free agents. I want the compensation picks. This is different from previous years in that these players are all attractive enough to trade. I won’t get stuck if I don’t like or can’t afford the arbitration award.

Just for the record, the four players are:
SP Ricardo Martinez (14-8, 3.12, rated 3 stars, age 33)
MR Mario Chavez (2.72 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, rated 4 stars, age 33)
MR Rodrigo Melendez (3.13 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, rated 4 stars, age 33)
C Julio Martinez (.236/.284/.373 in 82 games, rated 4 stars, age 30)

Howard Archuleta is also a potential free agent. I have offered him a contract for next year at $1.5 million with a team option for 2005 at $1.5 million. He is considering it which means he will likely accept it. If not, I will offer arbitration to him also.


Task: Submit arbitration offers to eligible players or decide not to tender them

There are five players eligible for arbitration.

Reliever Kelly Dean is estimated at $1.4 million. He won’t make the team and he is out of options. I will not tender an offer to Dean.

Reliever Chris Patterson is estimated at $800,000. I submitted the estimate because I expect him to make the team as the second lefty in the bullpen.

Reliever David O’Daniel is estimated at $3 million. He was tendered last year and had a fine season, ending up as the setup man for Sanders. He appeared in 70 games and pitched 81 innings with a 1.55 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. Candelaria rates him at 4.5 stars. I offered him a three-year contract at $9.6 million with a team option for a fourth year at $3.6 million. He is considering the offer, so I probably won’t go to arbitration with him.

Infielder Juan Aponte is a first-time player in the wheel of fortune. His estimate is $700,000 and I tendered him at $750,000 just to be sure. He is rated at 2.5 stars. He will probably be on the active roster this year as a backup infielder.

Outfielder Hugh McGlone is another first-time arbitration candidate. I tried to get a long-term deal done with him, but his demands were unrealistic. His estimate is $3.4 million and I will tender $3.5 million just to be sure I don’t lose. His demand will probably be stupid, but I can’t take a chance on low-balling him because my budget is too tight.

[Orcin]

Task: Make offers to potential free agents (or not), including minor leaguers

I have 27 possible free agents. That’s a lot to wade through. I have made arbitration offers to five, so that leaves 22 players. I want to make sure I have my Rule-5 draft eligible players covered first, so I need to build the projected 40-man roster.

Louisville Colonels: projected 40-man roster for 2004
Starting Pitchers (8): Westaway, Fletcher, Davidson, Alexander, Savard, Corbishley (AAA), Yates (AAA), open spot
Relief Pitchers (11): Sanders, Wilson, O’Daniel, Trejo, Sims, Patterson, Barajas, Reed (AAA), Watson (AAA), open spot (Garza), open spot (Jones)
Catchers (3): Bland, Daniels, open spot
First Base (1): Brown
Infielders (8): Simon, Martinez, Gonzalez, Archuleta, Aponte, Bennett (probably AAA), John (AAA), Key (AAA)
Outfielders (7): Morgan, Payne, Jaramillo, McGlone, Campbell, Nelson (AAA if he clears waivers), open spot

That’s actually only 38 players but I don’t think I will carry 40 unless I find a prospect on waivers that has options remaining.

SP Mike Yates (8-8, 4.03 at AAA) was a potential free agent and Rule-5 eligible so I offered him a minor league contract and I will definitely add him to the 40-man roster before December 1.

Relievers Garza and Jones don’t have to be on the 40-man roster, but I may put them there anyway in February in order to invite them to spring training. They might make the team and, at the very least, they are likely the first options to be called up.

I offered minor league contracts to most of the remaining potential minor league free agents but I have yet to decide on protecting any of them on the 40-man roster. There are some that had good AAA years and might be borderline prospects. In total, I offered minor league contracts to 16 of the 22 players that were eligible to file. The rest were too old to be considered prospects and taking playing time away from younger players.

[Orcin]

2003 CBA Post-Season Awards

Outstanding Player:
Patriot League – LF Jon Schultz, Charlotte Knights (.327/.413/.691, 56 HR, 131 RBI)
Federal League – CF Brock Richardson, Dallas Rattlers (.363/.417/.631, 40 HR, 112 RBI)

Outstanding Pitcher:
Patriot League – Jorge Figueroa, Baltimore Robins (20-5, 1.76 ERA, 272 K’s) **
Federal League – Ronald Austin, Dallas Rattlers (20-7, 1.60 ERA, 199 K’s, only 20 BB)

** Figueroa wins Outstanding Pitcher Award #11 and his 6th in a row!

Rookie of the Year:
Patriot League – CF Orlando Walters, Orlando Sharks (.287/.388/.425, 7 HR, 53 RBI)
Federal League – 3B Ernest Crouch, San Francisco Seals (.259/.313/.616, 38 HR, 90 RBI in only 101 games)

Manager of the Year:
Patriot League – Ricardo Aguila, Philadelphia Firebirds (103-59)
Federal League – Stephen Beard, San Diego Stallions (106-56)

Pierre-Louis Simon was the Federal League Gold Glove winner at shortstop. He made only 14 errors all season with a fielding percentage of .972 and a zone rating of 10.1.

[Orcin]

November 25, 2003 (BNN)

Subject: CBA Arbitration Hearings

Who will win… the players or the owners? That age-old question comes to a head again today as Continental Baseball Association commences salary arbitration hearings. Players who have been unable to secure a new contract with their clubs will soon learn whether their salary claims will be accepted or rejected by the independent arbitrators. There will undoubtedly be a mix of happy and sad faces tomorrow, when the final decisions will be announced.

Salary Arbitration Decisions in Favor of the Louisville Colonels:
• CF Hugh McGlone was awarded $3,500,000. The player demanded $4,250,000.
• Infielder Juan Aponte was awarded $750,000. The player demanded $1,125,000.

Salary Arbitration Decisions Against the Louisville Colonels:
• MR Chris Patterson was awarded $949,500. The team offered $800,000.

None of my free agents accepted arbitration. Whew!


Other news:
Reliever David O’Daniel agreed to a three-year contract at $9.6 million, avoiding arbitration. The contract contains a fourth team option year at $3.6 million.

Utility infielder Howard Archuleta signed a one-year contract for $1.5 million. The contract includes a team option on a second year at $1.5 million with no buyout.

Both minor league pitching coaches accepted my offers and the team personnel positions are now completely filled for next year.

The Indianapolis Indians hired GM Manuel Cuellar, who had been fired by the Los Angeles Vipers. I like the move for Indianapolis. Cuellar had done a decent job of accumulating young talent in L.A. but it just hadn’t all clicked yet.

Former Indians GM Glenn Jackson signed with the Chicago Cougars. One day into the new job, Jackson traded overpaid reliever Charlie Hartnett and a 19-year-old shortstop prospect to Salt Lake City for Rodney Wright. The Cougars will play Wright at shortstop.

The St. Louis Hawks signed former New York Monarchs bench coach Andy Jones as their new manager.

[blazertaz13]

Since I have not played enough long term associations to answer this one, but do you find that the teams or the players tend to win more at the arbitration table? It seems to me that Louisville tends to win more often than not.

Still a great and entertaining read. :-)

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by blazertaz13

Since I have not played enough long term associations to answer this one, but do you find that the teams or the players tend to win more at the arbitration table? It seems to me that Louisville tends to win more often than not.

Still a great and entertaining read. :-)

Thank you, my friend.

I only have my own experience to go on, and this is the only league that I have played in v13. I think I win more often than not because I always submit the estimate or more. If I tried to go lower than the estimate, I am sure my win % would suffer but I don't know by how much.

[Orcin]

November 28, 2003

Subject: Budget Projections – 2004

I said last year that the 2004 budget would be tight – and it is. I am barely within the payroll budget with the commitments that are in place now. There is no room to sign a big free agent pitcher unless I trade a contract. I do have room in the 2005 budget to offer extensions to potential arbitration and free agent qualifiers.

I approached Dennis Morgan’s agent about a long-term deal, but he is not interested. I can’t blame him because he stands to get a record arbitration award next year if he puts up another season like 2003. Perhaps he will be more willing to negotiate in the spring. I will also check with him during the season if he goes into a slump.

Another obvious candidate for an extension is 2B Mariano Gonzalez, who has a $4 million estimate for next year based solely on potential. The fact that the potential is unrealized makes me nervous about offering a long-term deal. Hugh McGlone has a high price tag, but I can’t negotiate him much below his estimate. Russell Bennett is a possibility but his estimate is very affordable and there isn’t much risk of escalation. There are no other priority arbitration candidates or potential free agents.

The budget squeeze for this year is a concern because it limits my ability to obtain a fifth starter. I would like to get some room to maneuver but I won’t degrade the club to do it. The idea is to free up some payroll budget while making the team BETTER.

[Orcin]

Trade Market – Right Fielders

The master plan to improve the team while reducing the payroll involves trading Eddie Payne for a cheaper outfielder. The catch is that the cheaper outfielder must be at least comparable to Payne in offensive ability and play right field exceptionally well, allowing me to move Dennis Morgan back to his natural position in left field. I ran the parameters through my database of CBA players and I only came up with one name that met all of the criteria: Lorenzo Olivares of the Denver Miners. Olivares had been added to my short list last July when I was shopping for outfield defense, so I know him already.

Olivares is a 24-year-old left-handed hitter with all five tools. Last season, his first as a full-time player, he hit .304/.391/558 with 30 home runs and 78 RBIs. He did not run much in Denver, but he managed to steal 13 bases in 17 attempts. He drew 71 walks and struck out 114 times. He compares very favorably to Payne in contact, eye, and speed with more power and better defense. He is five years younger and $6 million cheaper than Payne. Olivares still has two years before he reaches arbitration status.

The price Denver demands is steep as you might imagine. They will trade Olivares for Payne IF I include SP Pedro Castro (CBA #28 prospect – ironically was acquired from the Miners in 2001) or CF Pedro Dominguez (CBA #3 prospect). They also want $2.5 million in cash. I have the cash but I don’t want to part with either prospect. I was unable to find a package of multiple other prospects that Denver would accept in lieu of one of the two untouchable prospects. Dominguez is off the table. Castro? Maybe.

This trade would improve my budget room by $3.5 million, which is enough to pursue a free agent starting pitcher that I have targeted. The real holdback on this deal for me is the decision to give up Castro. I will consider it between now and the winter meetings.

[Stromson]

I'm only up to page 15, and I don't want to clutter your story with a bunch of comments, but this is a truly excellent dynasty. Please keep up the great work!

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by Stromson

I don't want to clutter your story with a bunch of comments

Comments are most welcome, so feel free. Thanks for reading.

[Orcin]

Free Agent Starting Pitchers

The other idea to improve the team is to acquire a starting pitcher that would be better than Ron Sims or Johnny Savard. This pitcher has to be crammed into a tight space in my budget, which eliminates most of the obvious choices. That’s why they pay me the big bucks. I have to find that nugget among the rocks.

There is an intriguing possibility among the highly-rated $10 million and up free agents. Brian Wilson is a 30-year-old right-hander that has spent the past seven years in the Phoenix Coyotes’ rotation. He has a lifetime record of 84-86 with a career 4.75 ERA. He was 8-20 last season with a 5.27 ERA. He has yet to post a season below 4.00 ERA.

You don’t seem too excited. That’s because you haven’t peeked under the hood. Yes, that exterior is kind of rough, but the engine is solid. Wilson has a career 1.30 WHIP. He has 1,259 career strikeouts against 345 walks in 1,377 innings; that calculates to 8.2K’s per 9ip and a 3.6 K/BB ratio. He is an innings-eater, having pitched over 200 innings in five of the past six years. He was 18-12 with a 4.05 ERA in 2001, but for the past two years he has pitched for a terrible team. Let’s not hold that against him.

Candelaria loves Wilson – says he is a winner who competes and goes after hitters. He throws a 97-99 mph fastball plus a sinker, change, and slider. He is prone to hang the slider and gives up some long balls. He is also dumb as a post and lazy. Hey, we don’t have enough budget room for the smart hard-workers that never give up a home run. Those guys are making over $15 million per year. I am looking for a fifth starter here.

Oh, did I say $10 million per year? Yes, the comparable pitchers to Wilson want that much or more. But here comes the good news. Wilson wants a two-year contract for $3.5 million – that’s total, not per year. I am willing to invest that much to see how he would perform on a good team.

But there is one more catch. Believe or not, Wilson is a Type-A free agent. If I sign him, I will have to give up the 29th pick in the 2004 draft. However, I should have four picks coming in the supplemental round, so I can afford to give up the late first-round pick.

I sent an offer to Wilson’s agent this morning, meeting his demands.

[Orcin]

December 1, 2003 (BNN)

Subject: Rule 5 Draft

"I don't know if management will keep thinking like they have or not," said Louisville manager Chad Byrne. "The management group has never suggested we take a pick in the Rule 5 draft, but it wouldn't be out of the question for them to add a player this year."

Colonels GM Otto Orcin might make a case that the Colonels shouldn't make a pick this year and that a farm system is in place already to offer up home-grown opportunities.

"We may have a hard time finding a spot," Byrne continued, "We already have tough decisions to make with internal options. I say we, but I mean they. Maybe they'll decide to draft a bench player.”

“The Rule 5 Draft is a free way to add talent,” Byrne concluded. “Not my decision, but it doesn't hurt to at least take a look at a player, even if he doesn't make it out of Spring Training."

**********

I didn’t see anyone in this year’s list that could make our 25-man active roster. I also didn’t see any unprotected player that I was worried about losing. Result: We did not select anyone in this year’s draft and, for the first time since I have been doing this, we did not lose anyone either.

[Pineywoods OOTPer]

I been trying to keep up with things, but I love the read...makes me feel as I was in Orcin's shoes. Great job.

[Orcin]

Notable Free Agent Signings prior to the Winter Meetings

Maybe it was the late date for the winter meetings but it sure seemed like the free agent activity got off to a very slow start. I don’t think the crop is very exciting, but we usually see a few more blockbuster signings before the meetings begin.

12/06/2003: New York got things going by signing former Indianapolis Indians ace Bob Wilson to a five-year, $73 million deal ($14.6M/year). The 29-year-old right-hander was among the top pitchers available. He was 9-14 with a 3.27 ERA for a very bad Indians team in 2003. (By the way, this is not BRIAN Wilson, the pitcher that I bid on. He is still considering my meager offer.)

12/09/2003: RF Jorge Garcia signed with the Los Angeles Vipers for $81 million over five years ($16.2M/year). The ex-Houston outfielder is often injured and has little power, but he does steal bases and plays good defense. I think the Vipers overpaid.

12/14/2003: SS Pedro Rivera left Federal League champion San Diego to sign with the Washington Admirals for four years, $75 million ($18.75/year). Rivera has a lifetime batting average of .265 with good power and is an excellent defensive player. Rivera is a solid player and San Diego will miss him.

[Orcin]

December 18, 2003

Subject: Winter Meetings Begin

As the hot stove crackles, the Continental Baseball Association readies for its Winter Meetings. GMs across the league will network with their arch-rivals over the next three days in the most high-stakes game of chess they'll likely ever play. It is a time for trade proposals, free agent wooing, rumor-swatting and good old-fashioned deceit to the highest degree. Feel the treachery in the frosty air?

As the Winter Meetings were set to open, New York announced the signing of former Cincinnati RF Craig Jackson to a five-year $92 million deal ($18.4M/year). Jackson hit .297 with 36 HR and 101 RBI for the Bobcats last season. He is an exceptional right fielder that would make any team with the budget to afford him very happy.

The first press conference was barely over when New York announced the signing of ex-Nashville catcher Brian May to a seven-year contract for $130 million ($18.6M/year). May is a 30-year-old switch-hitter and is arguably the best catcher in the league, both at the plate and behind it.

New York is certainly sparing no expense to put Baltimore in the rear-view mirror. They were already a playoff team and have added a top pitcher and two big run producers this off-season.

Meantime, I returned to trade talks with Denver. Their budget keeps getting tighter and now they want even more cash with Payne. It was too much cash for me. I don’t have it, and giving up all of my cash would defeat the purpose of freeing up budget room. I need to find another team willing to trade valuable assets for Payne without cash – assets that I then could flip to Denver for Olivares.

I shopped Payne to see if other teams might be interested. Dallas is willing to swap 20-year-old CF Ramon Rodriguez (CBA #30 prospect) for Payne. I am certain that Denver will be interested in Rodriguez. The trick is to get them to accept a deal without Castro. I really want Olivares plus the budget room because I think the team is much better with a stronger defense and a better fifth starter.

New York made the early news headlines on the opening day of the Winter Meetings, but the Louisville Colonels made the BNN late news as the lead story.

[Orcin]

December 18, 2003 04:30PM (BNN)

Subject: Louisville, Dallas Confirm Deal

Reports have surfaced that Louisville has agreed to send popular 29-year-old center fielder Eddie Payne and 26-year-old minor league reliever Bob Demps to the Dallas Rattlers in exchange for 20-year-old minor league center fielder Ramón Rodríguez and 23-year-old left-handed starting pitcher Bill Jackson. "It's a done deal," said a Dallas executive speaking on the condition of anonymity. "I'm surprised word got around so quickly. We just signed off on this an hour ago." The deal apparently is awaiting physicals before an official announcement is made by either team. During his career Payne has chalked up 795 hits and a .259 average with 112 home runs and 389 RBIs.


December 18, 2003 07:00PM (BNN)

Subject: Louisville Trades for Denver’s Olivares

Officials for Louisville confirmed that they have traded 27-year-old second baseman Russell Bennett, 20-year-old minor league center fielder Ramón Rodríguez (acquired earlier in the day from Dallas), and 29-year-old minor league reliever Jason Gray to the Denver Miners. The Colonels will receive 24-year-old right fielder Lorenzo Olivares in the deal. Olivares has a career batting average of .286 and a .369 on-base percentage. In 204 games, he has hit 38 home runs with 108 RBIs and 115 runs scored.

**********

The Miners gave me a brief list of players that they would accept with Rodriguez and a filler player for Olivares, and Bennett was on that list. I have Archuleta and Aponte as backup infielders, so Bennett was expendable. I hated to see him go, but I had to find an alternative to Castro. I can’t bear to trade a top-50 starting pitcher prospect.

This pair of deals netted a starting right fielder, a good AAA left-handed pitcher, and $6 million in budget room in return for a starting left fielder and a potential starting infielder. The team will be stronger overall after I convert that budget room into a starting pitcher.

[Orcin]

Winter Meetings (continued)

12/19/2003: SP Ricardo Martinez was signed by the Providence Grays. He settled for a four-year contract worth $51 million ($12.75M/year). It’s a lot less than he was asking and a lot more than I was willing to pay. We will receive a 2004 supplemental draft pick plus the Grays’ 2004 second round pick (first pick in round 2) as compensation.

12/20/2003: Louisville acquires backup C Larry Matchim in a trade with Los Angeles in return for AAA CF Jeff Garrett. Matchim has three remaining options and solves the problem of having only two catchers on the 40-man roster. Matchim is a 24-year-old right-handed hitter with a .236 career batting average. He is an exceptional defensive catcher with a strong arm. I am hoping that his bat will develop a little as he gets older. Garrett needed to go anyway to make room for top prospect Pedro Dominguez in center field at Lexington.

12/21/2003: Boston signed former San Diego 3B Nicolas Koppenmeier to a three-year contract at $34 million ($11.3M/year). San Diego has lost the entire right side of their infield, and so far they appear content to go with rookies at third base and shortstop.

Highlights from the rest of the winter

12/29/2003: The Louisville Colonels signed SP Brian Wilson to a two-year contract that will pay him $1.5 million in 2004 and $2 million in 2005. Wilson is slated to be the fourth starter for Louisville. The Phoenix Coyotes will receive the Colonels first-round pick (#29 overall) in the 2004 draft as compensation for Wilson.

01/01/2004: Washington signed SP Alfredo Acosta, formerly with Salt Lake City, to a five-year contract for $78.6 million ($15.72M/year). I was glad that St. Louis failed to sign him because the rumor mill had them in the hunt.

01/05/2004: C Julio Martinez was signed by the Sacramento Outlaws. He received a three-year contract worth $21 million ($7M/year). We will receive a 2004 supplemental draft pick plus the Outlaws’ 2004 second round pick (in the top ten) as compensation. Fan interest declined five points because Martinez was one of our top five in popularity.

01/19/2004: The Indianapolis Indians signed former Charleston Generals’ scout Peter Dundee to a one-year contract to be their field manager. Dundee’s credentials for the position are unknown. This is a very strange move.

[Orcin]

February 5, 2004 (BNN)

Subject: CBA Pre-Season Begins

With the start of the Continental Baseball Association preseason today, the baseball drought has ended and clubs are making their way to training facilities across the country. There is much to do and little time before the regular season commences. Teams have to work through spring training, while general managers have roster moves to consider, young players to assess and decisions to make about lineups and the rotation. The baseball juggernaut is starting to roll forward! The Continental Baseball Association is primed and ready to go!

The New York Monarchs and Washington Generals have done the most to improve their clubs, while two Federal League playoff teams – Salt Lake City and league champ San Diego - appear to have taken the biggest hits. Louisville has lost some ground according to the experts, and the fans seem to agree as interest has declined from the end of last season.

There are a lot of free agents that remain unsigned. Further examination of this list reveals the reasons. There are many relievers asking for large contracts along with a few position players that are somewhat over-priced. It is certainly possible to find a bargain if you look hard enough. Some players have reduced their demands already, probably because they have yet to receive a nibble. There are a few starting pitchers still on the board, and a couple under 30 that would be attractive at the right price.


**********

Focusing on my team, it’s time to make decisions about this year’s operating expenses. The personnel salaries are just over $7M. The draft budget has been set by the owner at $7M. I might spend it this year with more high draft picks than usual. The scouting budget will remain at $6M for the domestic scouting plus $4M in international markets for a total of $10M (league average $5M). The player development budget remains at $12M (league average $8M). That’s a grand total of $36M for expenses.

Last year’s revenues were $132M, including $6M from playoff games. I am trying to hit a payroll target of $95M, which would leave a profit of $1M IF we make the playoffs. It’s a tight fit so I don’t have any margin for errors. You may notice that my expenditure target of $131M ($95M of player salaries + $36M expenses) is below the budget of $138M set by the owner. He is either over-estimating the revenue or telling me that it is ok to lose some money. I intend to win and make money too.

[Orcin]

Pre-Season Free Agent Signings

02/09/2004: Reliever Rodrigo Melendez signed a three-year contract with the Cleveland Rockers worth $22.2 million ($7.4M/year). That’s about 2-3 times what he is worth as a setup man, but Cleveland plans to use him as their closer. If he is successful, it will be a good deal for them. I know it is a good deal for me, because I will get a third pick in the supplemental round of the upcoming draft.

02/12/2004: Cleveland signed SP Ken Mattison, formerly with Orlando, to a four-year $45 million deal ($11.25M/year). That doesn’t look too bad on the surface and he is a decent starter. But… he will be 34 years old in a month and the contract pays him $6.2M at age 34, $9.4M at 35, $12.9M at 36, and a whopping $16.4M at age 37. I am not a big fan of that deal. Good luck with that, Rockers.

02/15/2004: The Atlanta Flames signed former Louisville and Boston shortstop Raul Martinez to a four-year $48 million contract ($12M/year). He makes a lot more than Simon and he is not nearly as good.

02/16/2004: Milwaukee signed 40-year-old SP Alfredo Gonzalez to a one-year deal for $10 million. He has injury concerns and missed about a third of the season last year but he pitched well when healthy.

02/21/2004: Atlanta signed former Louisville reliever Mario Chavez to a two-year deal for $9.4 million ($4.7M/year) and I now have a fourth “sandwich” pick in the 2004 draft.

I also have three second-round picks but I lost my first-round pick by signing Brian Wilson. By my calculation, I will have six picks between #50 and #75.