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Today the assistant editor of the DK takes a look back at the last two months of free agency! Let’s take a closer look at the Top 5 Winners and Top 5 Losers as the Regular Season is just around the corner!
Winner #5 – Phoenix Roadrunners
The team that seems to corner the market on great young pitchers locked up two of the brightest young stars this offseason in Jakob Parnika (#9 on the Top Players List) and Yuri Baldwin (#19). That sets the stage at the top of the rotation until Cole Stone and Cade Hogan arrive. Two under the radar singings in Chang-hyun Kim and Antonio Melendez will help provide some lineup depth to support one of the game’s best young hitters in Xzavier Medellin.
Winner #4 – Montreal Exports
A surprising sweep the last weekend of the season saw the Exports break the longest playoff drought in the BLB. This offseason they look to build off that success, as they made a huge splash on both offence and defence. Lacking a true ace, Montreal through big money at top prize Pat Schick (16 wins, 208 IP) from Baltimore. Not to be outdone, they also added a premier bat and clubhouse leader in Jimmy Jeffs. His consistency should be a welcome relief to Export fans who are used to watching the offence fail to gain any consistent offence.
Winner #3 – Syracuse Snappers
After having the #1 pick the last three years based on an historical run of BLB futility the Snappers appear to be finally turning the corner. Their FA class didn’t feature a superstar, but consisted of a number of savvy pickups that could see Syracuse double their win total from last year. Norm Cupp (22 HR and 0.841 OPS) and Phillip Klopf (26 HR and 0.773) add solid power to a lineup that often failed to score enough runs to bail out its struggling pitching staff. Pat Kubaki and a plethora of solid veteran arms look to bolster a rotation that is anxiously awaiting the arrival of the young talent gathered through the last few drafts.
Winner #2 – Santo Domingo Rum Runners
Well, that rebuild didn’t last long. It’s hard to keep track of the flurry of trades and signings made this offseason. The Rum Runners turned their treasure trove of picks and prosects into SP Erik Rogers (14 W, 203 IP), and Sheldon Martin (9 W, 176 IP) to front the top of their rotation. Not satisfied with just rebuilding the offence, Santo Domingo also added slugging first baseman Jayson Buenaventure and unheralded right fielder Hyun-seung Bark. It looks like it was a short stay outside of the playoffs for Rum Runners fans!
Winner #1 – Philadelphia Freedom
Since returning to the BLB a few seasons ago, no one has been more active that Freedom GM, Mike. Another crazy off-season sees Philadelphia again taking a run at the playoffs. They landed a front of the rotation starter in Kaleb Kay (13 W, 205 IP) from Pawtucket, to go with savvy signings in SP Tom Clark and Dave Jeffers. Not only was the pitching retooled, but big trades also landed 2B willie Muniz (15 HR, 0.875 OPS) and LF Mervin Pograjac (17 HR, 0.873 OPS) to help support an offence that was often under gunned in the very tough IL last season. It’s easy to see how we settled on Philadelphia as this year’s clear winner of the 2040 BLB Free Agent Frenzy!
Loser #5 – Team USA fans
The brainchild of BLB commissioner, Matt, the WBC was a rousing success! The tournament featured a bevy of the game’s best and brightest on display for the entire world to see. The players did not disappoint as the tournament was the highest rated program on ESPN for the entirety of its short tournament. The only people not to give the tournament a thumbs up were the overconfident fans of Team USA that apparently felt the tournament would be a cake walk…. Oops! Here’s a quick shout out to Team West Indies, who defeated the Americans in a well-played 2-1 win!
Loser #4 – Indianapolis Racers
After a series ending loss to Montreal last year to miss out on the playoffs during the last weekend, Racer fans were met with an offseason with little to get excited about. In a move that may signal the start of a rebuild, the Racers said goodbye to staff ace Seth Rocco (14 W, 195 IP) for a bevy of prospects. Also leaving via free agency: RP Garret Clausnitzer, C Tony Solorio, 2b Ian Melnik, and RP Sid Ennis. Big holes to fill to be sure, as it looks like the Racers will be outside the playoffs again this year.
Loser #3 – Batavia Red Jackets
The Red Jackets are starting to feel a roster crunch as their incredible store of young players is now fully developed and expects to be paid accordingly. The biggest loss was top of the order, future Hall of Fame second baseman, Javy Gudino (28 HR, 0.861 OPS). Two key members of the outfield, Milt Shankman (12 HR, 0.795 OPS), and Hyun-seung Bark (18 HR, 0.755 OPS) will also take from the incredible offensive depth that Red Jackets have enjoyed the last few seasons.
Loser #2 – New Orleans Voodoo
A season after fans enjoyed 107 wins, the Voodoo had a tough off-season as budget constraints have led to zero acquisitions and a pile of trades and free agent defections. Offensive sparkplug, Willie Muniz (15 HR, 0.875 OPS), was traded to Philadelphia along with CF Mike Cortez in a move that depletes some of the Voodoo depth, but adds some draft capital. The biggest loss was felt in the pitching staff where Erik Rogers’ 14 wins (traded to SDR), Tom Dingman (FA), and Tom Quick (FA) leave a large hole in one of the game’s premier teams!
Loser #1 – Dallas Drillers
Perhaps classifying the Drillers off-season as a losing one may be a bit harsh as they appear to be entering a transition phase as new GM Brad tries to make the team in his mould after years of wonderful stewardship by one of the game’s premier GM’s, Shark! On the plus side, they did add 3B Khalil Harris and 2B Jake Poole in a big trade with Toronto before the start of Free Agency. Fans don’t care about that though…. They are just disappointed that they will no longer be able to cheer on LF Mervin Pograjac (17 HR, 0.873 OPS), Jayson Buenaventure (15 HR, 0.896 OPS), and future Hall of Famer, Dust Schmidl. Not just gutting the offence, but the pitching staff also took some difficult losses as well. SPs Tom Crosby, Pat Kubacki, and Lyonya Horujev leave a gaping hole in a franchise that once prided itself on a pitching and defence philosophy. With huge offensive and defensive holes, it’s easy to see how we settled on Dallas as this year’s big loser in the BLB’s 2040 Free Agent Frenzy!
Winner #5 – Phoenix Roadrunners
The team that seems to corner the market on great young pitchers locked up two of the brightest young stars this offseason in Jakob Parnika (#9 on the Top Players List) and Yuri Baldwin (#19). That sets the stage at the top of the rotation until Cole Stone and Cade Hogan arrive. Two under the radar singings in Chang-hyun Kim and Antonio Melendez will help provide some lineup depth to support one of the game’s best young hitters in Xzavier Medellin.
Winner #4 – Montreal Exports
A surprising sweep the last weekend of the season saw the Exports break the longest playoff drought in the BLB. This offseason they look to build off that success, as they made a huge splash on both offence and defence. Lacking a true ace, Montreal through big money at top prize Pat Schick (16 wins, 208 IP) from Baltimore. Not to be outdone, they also added a premier bat and clubhouse leader in Jimmy Jeffs. His consistency should be a welcome relief to Export fans who are used to watching the offence fail to gain any consistent offence.
Winner #3 – Syracuse Snappers
After having the #1 pick the last three years based on an historical run of BLB futility the Snappers appear to be finally turning the corner. Their FA class didn’t feature a superstar, but consisted of a number of savvy pickups that could see Syracuse double their win total from last year. Norm Cupp (22 HR and 0.841 OPS) and Phillip Klopf (26 HR and 0.773) add solid power to a lineup that often failed to score enough runs to bail out its struggling pitching staff. Pat Kubaki and a plethora of solid veteran arms look to bolster a rotation that is anxiously awaiting the arrival of the young talent gathered through the last few drafts.
Winner #2 – Santo Domingo Rum Runners
Well, that rebuild didn’t last long. It’s hard to keep track of the flurry of trades and signings made this offseason. The Rum Runners turned their treasure trove of picks and prosects into SP Erik Rogers (14 W, 203 IP), and Sheldon Martin (9 W, 176 IP) to front the top of their rotation. Not satisfied with just rebuilding the offence, Santo Domingo also added slugging first baseman Jayson Buenaventure and unheralded right fielder Hyun-seung Bark. It looks like it was a short stay outside of the playoffs for Rum Runners fans!
Winner #1 – Philadelphia Freedom
Since returning to the BLB a few seasons ago, no one has been more active that Freedom GM, Mike. Another crazy off-season sees Philadelphia again taking a run at the playoffs. They landed a front of the rotation starter in Kaleb Kay (13 W, 205 IP) from Pawtucket, to go with savvy signings in SP Tom Clark and Dave Jeffers. Not only was the pitching retooled, but big trades also landed 2B willie Muniz (15 HR, 0.875 OPS) and LF Mervin Pograjac (17 HR, 0.873 OPS) to help support an offence that was often under gunned in the very tough IL last season. It’s easy to see how we settled on Philadelphia as this year’s clear winner of the 2040 BLB Free Agent Frenzy!
Loser #5 – Team USA fans
The brainchild of BLB commissioner, Matt, the WBC was a rousing success! The tournament featured a bevy of the game’s best and brightest on display for the entire world to see. The players did not disappoint as the tournament was the highest rated program on ESPN for the entirety of its short tournament. The only people not to give the tournament a thumbs up were the overconfident fans of Team USA that apparently felt the tournament would be a cake walk…. Oops! Here’s a quick shout out to Team West Indies, who defeated the Americans in a well-played 2-1 win!
Loser #4 – Indianapolis Racers
After a series ending loss to Montreal last year to miss out on the playoffs during the last weekend, Racer fans were met with an offseason with little to get excited about. In a move that may signal the start of a rebuild, the Racers said goodbye to staff ace Seth Rocco (14 W, 195 IP) for a bevy of prospects. Also leaving via free agency: RP Garret Clausnitzer, C Tony Solorio, 2b Ian Melnik, and RP Sid Ennis. Big holes to fill to be sure, as it looks like the Racers will be outside the playoffs again this year.
Loser #3 – Batavia Red Jackets
The Red Jackets are starting to feel a roster crunch as their incredible store of young players is now fully developed and expects to be paid accordingly. The biggest loss was top of the order, future Hall of Fame second baseman, Javy Gudino (28 HR, 0.861 OPS). Two key members of the outfield, Milt Shankman (12 HR, 0.795 OPS), and Hyun-seung Bark (18 HR, 0.755 OPS) will also take from the incredible offensive depth that Red Jackets have enjoyed the last few seasons.
Loser #2 – New Orleans Voodoo
A season after fans enjoyed 107 wins, the Voodoo had a tough off-season as budget constraints have led to zero acquisitions and a pile of trades and free agent defections. Offensive sparkplug, Willie Muniz (15 HR, 0.875 OPS), was traded to Philadelphia along with CF Mike Cortez in a move that depletes some of the Voodoo depth, but adds some draft capital. The biggest loss was felt in the pitching staff where Erik Rogers’ 14 wins (traded to SDR), Tom Dingman (FA), and Tom Quick (FA) leave a large hole in one of the game’s premier teams!
Loser #1 – Dallas Drillers
Perhaps classifying the Drillers off-season as a losing one may be a bit harsh as they appear to be entering a transition phase as new GM Brad tries to make the team in his mould after years of wonderful stewardship by one of the game’s premier GM’s, Shark! On the plus side, they did add 3B Khalil Harris and 2B Jake Poole in a big trade with Toronto before the start of Free Agency. Fans don’t care about that though…. They are just disappointed that they will no longer be able to cheer on LF Mervin Pograjac (17 HR, 0.873 OPS), Jayson Buenaventure (15 HR, 0.896 OPS), and future Hall of Famer, Dust Schmidl. Not just gutting the offence, but the pitching staff also took some difficult losses as well. SPs Tom Crosby, Pat Kubacki, and Lyonya Horujev leave a gaping hole in a franchise that once prided itself on a pitching and defence philosophy. With huge offensive and defensive holes, it’s easy to see how we settled on Dallas as this year’s big loser in the BLB’s 2040 Free Agent Frenzy!
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