Chicago Active in Free Agency

[chicago_gm]

CHICAGO HORNETS READY FOR SPRING TRAINING
Make Sure You Buy a Program

By Caitlen Sullivan
Chicago Sun Times Sports
March 1, 1843

Don’t head out to Spring Training to watch this year’s edition of the Chicago Hornets without a program. You won’t recognize many players. Last year’s team managed to lose 103 games and post the worst record in the SLOP Baseball League. Management pretty much gave up on just about everyone eligible for free agency. Gone are the old high paid players who helped produce that terrible 1842 record (with the salary that they would have been making this year with Chicago in parenthesis):

• CF Eric Hensley ($30.8 million) – unceremoniously released with two additional years to go on his contract beyond 1843, has since signed with Phoenix for $8.9 million for this year and less for four additional years.
• RF Hector Martinez ($19 million) – unceremoniously released, has since signed a six year deal with Syracuse for about $7.0 million per year.
• C Manny Cortez ($16 million) – he retired at age 21 after the league steroid scandal.
• 1B Jason Bishop (FA eligible) – age 40, made $4.2 million last year, has signed for one year with LA for $4.2 million.
• 2B Bruce Skinner (FA eligible) – age 23, the toughest loss to take, he has signed with Syracuse for more than $20 million per year for five years. He turned down more than that when offered a FA contract by the Hornets.

Also gone are FA-eligible Bob Griffin and Morgan Lacey despite each earning only $100,000 last season. Neither has signed with a new team.

Joining the organization as free agents are:

• Starting pitcher Bobby Foster ($100K franchise signee) – 25-year-old right hander has all the tools to be a star. Throws four pitches (fast ball, change up, circle change, and knuckle curve) with equal skill. Will strike outs lots and walk few.
• Starting pitcher Angel Bautista ($1.7 up to $3.5 million over 4 years) – International free agent is an unknown quantity. 31 year old right hander.
• Starting pitcher Emilio Contreas ($4 million for 3 years plus 2 option years at $5 million – first option is a team option, the second is a player option) – 32-year-old is 74-60 lifetime with Milwaukee.
• Closer Colby Wade ($12.5 million escalating up to $18 million in 1847) – at age 23 is a potential world class closer. Throws from left side.
• Relief pitcher Walt Brown ($4.0 million for 3 years) – 33-year-old right hander saved 54 games last year with Phoenix. Will be set-up man for Wade.
• Relief pitcher Mike Dryden ($2.0 million for 3 years) – 29-year-old right hander has been a reliable reliever for Phoenix for five years.
• Relief pitcher Richard Koch (3 years at $1.5 million) – 28 year old right hander has been a reliable reliever for five years with Toronto and Philadelphia.
• Outfielder Bill Bailey ($4 million for 2 years) – average fielder played with Philadelphia and Los Angeles last season. 33-year-old should hit around .275.
• Infielder Veljko Svabic ($15 million for 4 years) – will play 1B or 2B depending on need. 28-year-old hit .356 with Phoenix last year.
• Outfielder Gerald Meeks ($2.0 million for 2 years) – 38-year-old journeyman returns to Chicago after a year at Memphis and a year at Phoenix.
• Outfielder Phil Batstone ($1.8 million up to $2.0 million over 3 years) – 29 years old, good fielder, capable enough at the bat to play regularly.
• Outfielder Allan King ($750K for 2 years) – Age 32, solid fielder, decent speed. Has some power but his BA is unlikely to break .250.
• Infielder Dewitt Peterson ($600K for 2 years) – 24-year-old can play 1B or 2B, questionable if he can hit enough to play regularly.
• Infielder Pancho Rodriguez ($500 K for 1 year) – 25-year-old Venezuelan free agent is a long shot to make the team.

In our final review after Spring Training, we will review the lineup and the pitching rotation for Opening Day.

[Young Drachma]

Excellent writeup!