OOTP 20 Franchise Progress Thread

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 20 Franchise Progress Thread

Draft Complete
Juan Ventura is 1st Overall Selection

The draft is in the books and now organizations will take stock on what they got and get their first close look at their new talents.

Here's where the highlighted players ended up landing:

1B Juan Rodenzo - 12th overall to Brewers - Lower than expected but still in the top half of the first round.

2B Juan Ventura - 1st overall to Braves - Braves going to gamble that they can reach Ventura's high ceiling with his questionable mentality.

IF/OF Jeremy Blair - 23rd overall to Cubs - Fell far lower than expected. The golden prospect lost some luster on draft day, but the Cubs are ecstatic at their potential steal.

SP Jonathan Leffler - 5th overall to Phillies - Top rated pitcher goes off the board second at this position. Foxes might have to contend with both Ventura and Leffler within the division.

SP Kevin Strickland - 6th overall to O's - Right behind Leffler pre-draft, right behind him on draft day.

OF Ryuzaburo Kondo - 30th overall to Foxes - The Foxes take a high-floor, low-ceiling pick while keeping the two-way rumors on their mind. Perhaps a stretch but Foxes figure he wouldn't fall in 2nd round.

RP Juan Mendoza - 13th overall to Mariners - Hardest thrower will shoot his fireballs in the Mariners farm, hoping to be the next prolific MLB stopper.

3B/SP Ben Gunnett - 201st overall by Rangers - Fell far as teams went for other names, but could quietly become one of the better players in this crowded draft.

Other Notable Foxes Selections:

3B Jeremy Rosengrant, 2nd round - Much like Kondo, a lower ceiling pick that projects to be pretty much average everywhere with no glaring low points among his tools.

CF Steve Lawrence, 4th round - Listed as a center fielder, Lawerence played almost everywhere, having noted experience at six positions. At the plate - a sleeper power threat that's fallen under most radars with all eyes on Ventura and Rodenzo.

SP Kellen Loewenstein, 8th round - This 6' 8" lefty used to be a power pitcher, but suffered a serious injury during a car accident as teenager. Not wanting to give up on his baseball dream, he's turned to the knuckleball in hopes of keeping his dream alive. "He's intelligent and hard-working, and somehow keeps a positive demeanor with all he's been through, " the Foxes head scout commented, "it's a gamble but he's worth a shot."

SP Jim Tomes, 10th round - The latest in the line of finesse pitcher draftees for the organization. He pretty much fits the textbook definition though he features the cutter-slider combination. Tomes is also well-regarded as a leader.

1B Jason Duroseau, 15th round - "I know there's a lot of questions about this kid and if that swing is sustainable, but I think he's going to surprise a lot of people, " commented Foxes head scout. Duroseau is rated as having home run potential at the majors, but feel he won't do enough well at the plate for the power to matter.

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 20 Franchise Progress Thread

Foxes Win, Claim Second Title
Rookie Hits Walk-Off HR in Game 6

The Foxes have made the playoffs in recent years but were always snake bitten and fell short. Sometimes an early exit... the last two times, the team felt the sting of defeat in the Fall Classic itself.

This time, it looked like the team would come up short in the NLCS. After storming past division rival Atlanta in the NLDS, the Foxes found themselves in a 3-1 hole against the Rockies.

However, spurred on by a strong start from another rookie, Shigekazu Matano, the team rallied to win three straight to advance to the World Series.


The Tigers were the World Series opponent, and the Foxes jumped out to a 2-0 lead. But, as is often the case with this squad, going on the road was an issue. The Tigers got back into the series by winning 2 of 3 on their home turf, but the Foxes still had a 3-2 lead.

In game six, the Tigers were down 3-1 and facing elimination. With two out in the top of the 9th, Tigers RF Ueno hit a 2-run HR to tie the game at three. The stunned Foxes crowd watched a rarely blown lead by one of the best bullpens in baseball.

"It really felt like, here we go again, another crushing way to lose, " one fan commented.

Baseball indeed had a crushing defeat waiting, but this time for the opponent. The Tigers were feeling confident, tying the game off the vaunted power arms in the Foxes bullpen, and the bottom of the order up for the Foxes. However, rookie CF Jerry Harmon, the #8 hitter who hit all of three home runs this season, smacked a pitch over the wall to give the Foxes their second Championship.

"I couldn't believe I did it. I don't know how many I hit out but it's not many. I just wanted to hit it well, maybe drive the gap, to maybe give the guys at the top a chance to win it for us. Turns out I got enough to get it out, " Harmon commented.

Known more for his defense and hustle, Harmon got the call to start around midseason, playing in 94 games. He did enough to stick on the postseason roster, and then delivered the one home run everyone will remember this season.

Bobby Witt, Jr. to Test Market

World Series win still fresh in everyone's mind, the business of the game was brought back with Bobby Witt, Jr., not surprisingly, voiding the rest of his contract via his opt-out rights.

It seems likely the Foxes will need to find another third baseman as it is unlikely that the team will be able to meet his demands, rumored to be north of $40 million per year.

"We'll just have to make something work. It's the Devers situation all over again, " G.M. Lyle commented.

What that "something" is...that's anyone's guess. The Foxes have little infield talent on the farm, especially anyone remotely capable of filling Witt's shoes. A trade might be possible, but the team would likely have to part with the pitching prospects they want to build up, with Casteles likely on the top of teams' wishlists.

Lerma Talks Begin

The Foxes are in talks with 26-year-old Jorge Lerma, the young man who proved the Foxes right, and his critics wrong, by succeeding with his "three fastballs" style.

Lerma will be exiting team control in the near future, and the Foxes are wanting to see if they can get some more certainty, especially after likely saying goodbye to another star that they raised in Witt.

Rumors are that Lerma will be seeking around $20 million per year.

Rockies Lock Up Converted Closer

The Rockies lost in the playoffs, but they won't be losing Cole. The team signed SP Kellen Cole to a 7-year extension with a total potential value of $230 million.

The interesting thing here is that Cole, now listed as a starting pitcher, worked in relief up to this point, including last season.

Seems the Rockies groomed him for years for this role change, developing a third pitch while he played, and well, as the team's closer. He started seeing meaningful major league time in 2026, and ever since, his ERA's have steadily declined while his strikeout rates shot up.

With this big contract, the Rockies are expected to see what he can do in the rotation.

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 20 Franchise Progress Thread

Bobby Witt, Jr. Becomes Baseball's Highest Paid Player
Yankees Throw Out the Cash to Land Star

The Yankees watched as Michael Flames departed for a $34 million/yr contract a couple seasons ago. This year, they are landing the star hitter, picking up Bobby Witt, Jr. for $42 million per season. Witt, Jr., for now, is the game's only $40 million salary.

Witt, Jr. was a perennial All-Star and Gold Glover once he hit his prime. He made good on the hype surrounding him, evolving into a high-average, line drive hitter with some power, which could shine in Yankee Stadium.

"I enjoyed my time with the Foxes, but it's time to write the next chapter in my career. I thank them for the fun and for breaking me into the league. I would love to meet my former team in the World Series, " Witt, Jr. commented.

The loss hit the Foxes fans hard, but few in the media were surprised.

"This team can't afford a $40 million contract. It would have done more harm than good, but, of course, fans will be fans and have their knee-jerk reactions, " a Montreal sportswriter commented.

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Re: OOTP 20 Franchise Progress Thread

2031 Foxes

The Foxes are a significantly different group on the offensive side of the game. Witt, Jr., of course, was the headline departure from the club, and in addition to him, Luke Leto is gone as well via trade to also free up future cash as he would be heading to free agency soon.

As if that wasn't enough, Recchi's number one weakness again struck as he will start the year on the injured list.

This will leave a lot of pressure on Salas and Montero in the middle of lineup, even more so in the first month of the season. Fortunately, they should be able to handle the load, but it's more a requirement than a luxury at this point.

Around them are a bunch of decent, but light-hitting bats. Some can take a few walks like Lewis and McGuire. Some put the bat on the ball frequently like Takeda and Harmon, but all-in-all, they will be the supporting cast of the lineup, trying to scrap together runs and rallies until the big trio of Salas-Montero-Recchi step to the plate.

Masyn Winn could be key if he can produce. He fits more in the "take a few walks" category, but that could turn into a nice .360-.370 OBP, which would only help. In addition, he's going to have a chance at being a two-way player, playing second base and reliever, with starter pitcher capability if needed. Perhaps even an "Ohtani-style" 6-man rotation could be in the making.

That's, of course, if Winn actually performs. On one hand, he's had precious little chance to show what he can do despite being in the league for years. On the other hand, he's not done a whole lot with the small samples of time he's gotten. Scouts have kept solid grades on him, thinking he could produce if he ever gets a longer-term shot. That time could be now.

Winn possibilities aside, the Foxes rotation looks stable, perhaps the best it's been in their history. Lerma is strong and McIntyre might be slipping a bit, but still a top-end pitcher. Perhaps just not a #1 any more. Kikuchi looked strong as did Matano's debut. Making his debut this year will be Alvare Casteles, yet again named the #1 prospect in MLB. The 20-year-old will break camp with the team as the 5th starter.

The bullpen has lost some significant talents as well. Jerry Ford and Sergio Correa departed as each seeks an opportunity to become closer with their new clubs. Correa gets his chance with the Cardinals while Ford is with the Mariners, though not listed as closer.

The replacements, Juan Mojica and Alan Choate will start the year on the injured list. Humberto Rivera, last year's 5th starter, and Chris Machamer, a free agency signing, will step in to the bullpen while Rodolfo Salazar moves from middle relief to setup. The Foxes will have no named closer again this year, a strategy they've employed the last few seasons.

Overall, it's very likely the Foxes took a significant step back in the NL. They should still be at least competitive and perhaps still the favorites in the NL East. However, any breathing room to absorb stretches of injury or just plain poor play has reduced significantly.

[tdawg3782]

Re: OOTP 20 Franchise Progress Thread

Really enjoy reading your updates KB. Keep them up.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Operation Sports mobile app

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 20 Franchise Progress Thread

2031 Prospect Preview

Spoiler

There's a prospect named "Amber" that I'm tempted to backstory into the game's first female entry into the amateur draft. Is Amber a unisex name?

Like last year's class, there's more than a few prospects that have captivated attention. While this class might not be as deep from the get-go, there's still some quality talents around.

Among those, the electric arm of Dan Riffel has scouts drooling. While he's very much a bullpen arm, his 100 MPH sinker and devastating slider has batters and scouts alike weak in the knees.

"Easy to see Riffel being one of the top closers in the game in a couple years. All he has to do is keep doing what he's doing and gaining experience. About as 'can't miss' as it gets, " one scout commented.

Joe Calimente, a teenager from Illinois, is another arm that's drawn attention. His sidearm delivery baffled foes at Aurora West HS, and scouts think he could work in the majors.

"I wouldn't call him a finesse arm since he slings it at 93-95, but he works in the zone, so less chases, and keeps the ball down and out of the middle. He grades like a quality finesse arm, " a Baseball America writer commented.

Top starter on the board right now is Ronnie Doster. Ronnie is a native New Yorker who features a biting cutter as his primary pitch. What makes him dangerous is the command most scouts think he'll have of the pitch.

"Some guys, you can tell they can't move the ball around the zone. I think Ronnie has just gotten by so well with his velocity and movement on the cutter that he never needed to. Once he hits the minors and guys start hitting him, I think he'll adjust and use the consistency of his pitches to his advantage, " Foxes head scout Kenji Matsumura said.

Turning to the kids with the bats in their hands, it's shortstop Jonathan Murphy ruling the board. Scouts love how solid he is already, "clearly someone gave him a strong foundation" as one scout put it, and the consensus is he's one who will go high in the draft.

All this attention on Murphy has rubbed Shamar Kotey, a center fielder from South Dakota, the wrong way.

"Not saying he's [Jonathan Murphy] is not good, but it's kind of annoying how he's getting the attention like I'm chopped liver. There's a lot of us out here that are good, it's insulting, " Kotey said.

Indeed, Kotey is rated highly by the consensus, but is considered much more of a risk to develop.

As good as Kotey and Murphy probably will be, neither of them, nor anyone else, has rated as highly in the power tool as center fielder Dusty Nichols. Every scout we talked to raved about how much of a slugger he'll be once he builds his strength and coaches tweak his swing using analytics.

"Dusty will be the next big slugger in this game. All the signs are there, weight transfer, bat speed, rotational strength, strong hands - the ball just jumps off his bat. Once he gets a little more lift, he's going to hit bombs, and lots of them, " one scout commented, "He even has power to all fields."

Not all is kosher in the eyes of some scouts. One scout mentioned how Nichols is "just another Rob Deer", while one scout said mentioned that "he's one big question mark" and all will come down to his ability to play "real" baseball, not just "play like it's a hitting cage at a carnival".

Foxes Draft Focus

As far as the Foxes go, infielders will be a primary focus. That will likely steer them away from Kotey or Nichols, unless they are clearly the best talents on the board.

Murphy, however, will likely be high on the Foxes' wishlist, though he is unlikely to fall. Then again, Blair last season nearly dropped to the Foxes so who knows in the chaos of draft day.

3B Sean Ballew might be of interest as he seems well-rounded at the plate and competent in the field. However, character concerns might sour the Foxes on picking him.

Despite being called "dumb as a rock" by some scouts, 2B Jim McCormick will likely draw interest from the team.

Should the Foxes want to take a chance on a more hitting-focused infielder, second baseman Greg Underwood might be someone the team likes. Greg seems stable at the plate and projects well, but his footwork and arm in the field is inconsistent. He could stick at second base, but he may not be particularly graceful doing it.

A risk in the other direction is infielder Vic Baker. He's a versatile defender that can play anywhere on the infield. He also has some outfield experience.

Pitchers, of course, are always of interest. Some lower-on-the-board names of interest are Mike Eversley, Joe Capp, Joe Scott, and Joe Carmody. Each of them fits the mold of pitchers who survive on location and contact management than missing bats.

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 20 Franchise Progress Thread

Lerma, Montaro Sign Five Year Pacts

The Foxes continue trying to lock up their core pieces, and two more were signed early in the season.

Jorge Lerma signed a five-year extension, which bought his arbitration year this year and extends him four years into free agency eligibility. The extension has a total possible value of about $108 million. The final year is a team option, which will more than likely be exercised.

Signing a similar deal was Alfredo Montaro with a similar total value, around $103 million. Like Lerma, Montero's deal includes a final year team option, and like with Lerma, it is likely to be exercised. Both deals would then run through the 2035 season.

With McIntyre and Salas also under contract, the Foxes have this quartet together until 2034, which a decision on McIntyre will be needed, assuming the option vests during the 2033 season. Salas' deal runs to at least 2036, where he can...and perhaps will...opt out. If he doesn't, then 2039 is the earliest he can depart via a player option.

That leaves Royce Lewis and Reese McGuire, which are also among the fan's favorites, especially Lewis. There's some question over Lewis, now 31 years old, who no longer is in center field. Instead of a dynamic center fielder, he's a lighter hitting corner outfielder, with down-trending production, and appears far less irreplaceable than even two seasons ago.

As far as McGuire, being a catcher and still considered one of the "glue guys" in the clubhouse, he has a stronger case. He's a platoon type at the plate these days, which might actually be helping him stay fresh during the season, but is still putting up decent offensive numbers. Still, he's now 36 years old, and it is a concern how much the toll of catching has worn on him.

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 20 Franchise Progress Thread

2031 Amateur Draft Results
Highly-Touted Jonathon Murphy Goes 1st Overall

Highlighted Prospects:

RP Dan Riffel - 6th overall - The A's pick up the draft's hardest thrower in hopes of landing their closer for years to come.

SP Joe Calimente - 26th overall - The Blue Jays grab a potential steal as they take a chance on the unorthodox side arm southpaw.

SP Ronnie Doster - 8th overall - Went after Joe Carmody, which was a bit of a surprise to the Foxes, but the Mariners made sure Doster didn't fall any further, selecting him right after Carmody.

SS Jonathan Murphy - 1st overall - No drama this time, the top prospect on the board was snapped up by the Phillies.

OF Shamar Kotey - 4th overall - Kotey made a lot of noise about being as good as Murphy, and the River Rats are going to give him a chance to live up to his own hype.

OF Dusty Nichols - 5th overall - The Nats grab Nichols' potential power, hoping he can round himself out at the plate to be a perennial threat. The Nats may see another Harper somewhere in Nichols.

Notable Foxes Selections

1st round: P/OF Jim Brown - Nicknamed "Deranged", this prospect has the makings of a two-way talent. He has two pitches with potential, and the bat has plus contact and power projections. He's just 18-years-old, so plenty of time for Brown to develop.

2nd round via Yankees (supplemental): P Luis Maldonado - Luis features his sinker almost exclusively, and it turned him into a worm-killing machine in high school ball. He'll try to carry this over against professional hitters with the Foxes.

2nd round: RF Mike Cox - The Foxes would have preferred if Cox played infield, but, as it is, he is a hitter that many scouts feel will emerge to at least an above-average producer at the plate. Defense can be inconsistent at times. That's the biggest knock on him.

8th round: 2B Dave Gribble - Some scouts consider Dave a dark horse prospect and a potential steal. "The bat might surprise folks if he can catch some breaks. Glove might always be inconsistent, but if the bat shines, he'll stick, " one scout noted.

17th round: P Amber Loving - "When I read about Eri Yoshida and Melissa Mayeux, it inspired me to also try making it into professional baseball. I know it will be hard, but I want to try, " Loving commented. Like Yoshida, Loving features a knuckleball, but scouts wonder if her "less movement" version will work. "I know Dickey had his 'new school' knuckler, but I don't think Loving throws hers hard enough to make it work."

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 20 Franchise Progress Thread

Casteles Throws No-Hitter
Rookie Strikes Out 11 Along the Way

Casteles has been doing well this season, making good on some of the promise of being a top prospect. In his last start, he added a no-hitter to his young resume.

"Can't do it alone out there. I had some great plays behind me and these guys have made it fun and easy to adjust to this level, " Casteles said.

"He showed why everyone talked about him for years. He had his fastball popping and his breaking pitches looked as nasty as I've seen from him, " manager Casey Dill commented.

So far this season, Casteles owns just a 3-4 record, but a very solid 2.70 ERA. In 63 innings of work, he's picked up 75 strike outs and is holding hitters to an insanely low .140 batting average.

Miguel Flames Hits 400th Home Run

Astros slugger Miguel Flames has continued to launch baseballs out of ballparks, picking up #400 in a 4-1 win over the Rangers. The homer was his lone hit in the contest.

The former Yankees international signing had a slower start to his pro career, but blossomed in 2022 when he broke out with 44 home runs after finally arriving at the majors. After five seasons of hitting around 30 home runs, he signed with the Astros as a free agent and promptly led baseball with 59 home runs. He would do the same in the next two seasons, hitting 51 and 50 home runs, respectively.

So far this season, he has 20 home runs and is on track for another 50 home run season.

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 20 Franchise Progress Thread

Defending Champs in Jeopardy?

The Foxes are feeling the pressure of trying to save their playoff lives as the season enters the final month and a half.

At the trading deadline, the Foxes made a couple trades to pick up some offense, acquiring RF Sean Mitchell from the Padres and 1B Symao Cabo from the Yankees. Both hitters grade as above average power threats.

The impact has been...mixed. The offense has more outbursts, but they remain in the bottom tier of offense in the NL and are still dead last in home runs. In other words, the Foxes are still the high-average, light-hitting lineup as advertised.

At least, though, there's more help, in theory, for Montero, who's done his best to keep the lineup afloat. To help accommodate the additions, Montero also moved to third base.

"At least I get to throw the ball hard, " Montero laughed.

The long-term injury to Juan Salas has definitely been a driving factor. Him being out of the lineup for basically the whole season was not expected. The constant "setbacks" from Recchi, who finally returned from a "six week" injury sustained in spring training, have not helped either.

"I really hope Recchi is gone soon, " one team official said under condition of anonymity.

Also keeping the team afloat:

-The Foxes are back to dominating at home, posting a .661 win rate at The Fox's Den. Unfortunately, the team is not decent on the road...posting just a .433 win percentage.

-The starting rotation. The starters have the best ERA in the NL at 3.31. Four of the six starters (Winn was indeed given a chance as a starter) have ERA's under 3.00. Matano, regressing perhaps from his rookie campaign, and Winn are the two that have had some issues.

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 20 Franchise Progress Thread

Foxes Win Division After Strong September

The combination of the Foxes getting healthy and a collapse by the rest of the division turned the final month into an anti-climatic affair.

The Mets fell apart along with Nationals, who went just 16-26, to pretty much hand the Foxes the division. The Nats ended up in 5th place and under .500 while the Mets and Braves barely stayed in positive territory...and neither made the playoffs as NL Wild Cards.

Instead, it was the Giants using an eight-game winning streak to steal a spot on the final day of the season.

The offense started reviving as the team headed to September and then the return of Juan Salas happened. His impact was immediately felt as he hit .405 with 5 HR and a 1.290 OPS fresh off his months-long absence.

In all, the team won 95 games and edged out the Pirates for best record in the NL.

Elsewhere, the San Antonio Generals, formerly known as the Chicago White Sox, stormed into the playoffs with MLB's best record. The team had languished for over a decade, but it seems their rebuilding has found success. They won 103 games on the season.

The Yankees were nearly as good, winning 99 games. Curiously, they used Bobby Witt, Jr. as lead off. He hit 35 HR from the lead off spot in the lineup. Also swinging a dangerous bat is Juan Paiz, whom the Yankees signed nine years ago from the international free agency period in 2022.

As far as the Rockies, well everyone is talking more about Kellen Cole than the fact they are in the postseason again. Depending on who you ask...and what metrics you like...Cole either did well or is on the way to being an expensive mistake.

ERA? Cole had a 4.86 mark
FIP? Cole checks in a 3.65
WAR? A very solid 4.0 WAR season
WPA? Cole cost his team about a win (-1.5 WPA)

All over the place. Either way, he (and his Rockies) will vie for the World Series.

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 20 Franchise Progress Thread

Rockies Win World Series
Team Lost Just One Game En Route to Championship

The red hot Giants burned the Foxes in the NLDS, and then got snuffed out by the Rockies in NLCS in five games.

Meanwhile, in the AL, the Yankees and all their offense brushed aside the Astros in 4 games while the Warriors, who won it all two seasons ago, squeezed past the best team in the league, the Generals, in a tough five-game series.

Former Fox Luke Leto was huge in the series, batting .353 in the losing effort for the Generals.

The Warriors then faced the Yankees, and it was the Warriors who had the offense going. They jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead, outscoring the Yankees 25-8 in the process. The Yankees took game four but were then shut out 1-0 in game five to be eliminated.

Josh Ayala was named ALCS MVP. He had 3 home runs to go with a .364 batting average.

The Rockies blazed past the Giants in four non-competitive games. For all the energy the Giants looked to have, it got completely wiped out. Veteran Nomar Mazara tried to keep the Giants going, batting .455 in the NLCS, but it was not close to enough.

Chase Kellum hit a staggering .645 in the series with a 1.792 OPS. He was named NLCS MVP.

That set up a Warriors-Rockies World Series match up. On paper, it looked to be a solid series. The Rockies were almost in the World Series last season and they made it this year. The Warriors won it in 2029 and looked like champions again this year.

The result was another sweep by the Rockies. The bats were simply too much. The league's #1 offense took to the forefront as the Rockies 10 runs twice in four games and 37 in total (9.25 R/G).

"I thought we could keep them in check a bit with our pitching and give our own hitters a chance to keep up. But, obviously, it didn't work out that way, " Warriors manager David Bell said.

Jordy Shenfeld was named MVP. Shenfeld is arguably the best hitter in the game right now and he launched 64 home runs on the season. He also hit .339 and posted nearly 8 WAR on the season.

In the World Series, Shenfield hit three home runs in four games.

"I did what I know how to do, and that's beat enemy pitchers into submission. My boys backed me up, and the result is obvious, " Shenfeld said after the game.

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 20 Franchise Progress Thread

Harker Injured in Strange Circumstances
Reliever Out for Another 6-7 Months

"Right when it looked like I could get back in to a baseball routine, this happens, " Harker spoke.

Harker was diagnosed with a severe knee injury after getting beaned by a pitching machine.

While a pitching machine injury might not seem odd in a room full of baseball players, why was Harker facing a pitching machine in the first place?

"He's a reliever, " G.M. Lyle commented, "Why is a reliever in the batting cage? And why was the pitching machine aimed at his knees? None of this makes sense."

The players we talked to seemed very mum about the whole thing. Few even wanted to talk about why Harker was in the cage to begin with.

"Relievers don't take BP as there's no real reason for them to unless they are two-way players, which Harker is not, " manager Casey Dill said, "I can tell you I didn't approve this and I'm just short of livid at the idea this happened."

Harker was soon to be cleared after completing his rehab work for the bone chips in his elbow.

No players are saying much, and that might just make Dill even madder.

"Someone better say something. I don't care if they have to pass me a note like a damn sixth grader, I want to know what happened and why, " Dill said.

More Teams, More Fun?
MLB Expands to 36 Teams

Five years ago, the league expanded to include Jacksonville and Charlotte. Now, two more teams join the ranks, the Indianapolis Kings and the Columbus Falcons.

The new franchises will get their first injection of talent in November's expansion draft.

Both teams join the NL, bringing the Senior Circuit up to 18 teams to match the AL. The Kings are in the NL Central while the Falcons join the NL West.

Masyn Winn Extended

The Masyn Winn experiment had its ups and downs throughout the season. However, the Foxes liked what they saw enough to give him a three-year extension worth $25.5 million, should the final year vest.

Winn batted .265/.339/.363 with 6 HR and 31 RBI. He was 22-for-32 in stolen base attempts and played above average defense at second base, saving 5 more runs than average.

On the mound, he was 6-6 with a 4.82 ERA. He pitched 125 innings, collecting 121 strikeouts and allowing 16 home runs and 55 walks.

He posted 1.5 WAR for his offense and defense to go with 1.6 WAR for his work on the mound.

Though extended, he may not be a two-way player next year, at least not consistently.

"I think it bothered him at times, which might explain some of his prolonged slumps at the plate. I think we can 'turn on' his pitching if we need to in case of injury, but just let him focus on second base otherwise, " manager Dill said.

Casteles Makes Strong Ballot Showing
No Awards for Rookie, However

Alvare Casteles has a no-hitter to his name already, but he won't have a Rookie of the Year Award. He also won't pick up a Cy Young Award just yet.

The Foxes phenom finished second in ROY and Cy Young balloting. He lost the rookie contest to Tim Baltera of the Phillies, who hit 52 home runs. He lost the Cy Young voting to Juan King, ace of the Pirates staff.

Casteles did "lead" (along with four other pitchers) the NL in wins with 14. He posted a 2.68 ERA in 161 innings of work, striking out 188 and picking up 3.7 WAR along the way. His 2.68 ERA would have been second in the NL if he had enough innings to qualify.

Royce Lewis Files for Free Agency
Foxes Outfielder Rejects Qualifying Offer

The Foxes front office is probably gearing up for another fan outburst as Royce Lewis enters the free agent market.

Rumors were that Lewis was seeking $22 million per year, something the Foxes didn't feel comfortable with paying, especially with at least two developed prospects ready to fight for left field, not to mention Sean Mitchell, who was acquired last season via trade.

Recchi Selected in Expansion Draft

Whoever wanted Recchi gone got their wish as the often-injured shortstop was the first player selected in the draft.

"Fans love him for some reason. So we'll take the hit for him, too, but this season was the last straw for a lot of us. Hitting under the Mendoza line while missing 100 games is just untenable, " G.M. Lyle said.

The Foxes have some options at the position to match the defensive capability. Jose Valverde, who's been itching for a chance to start, is the favorite for the position at this point.

Last season, Valverde batted .301 as he absorbed the bulk of the missing time. The batting average and playing time (103 games, including 91 starts, 356 PA) was a career high for the 25-year-old.

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 20 Franchise Progress Thread

Red Sox Break the Bank
1B Jovan Gil Signed to $47 million Per Year Pact

There were whispers of baseball's first $50 million man coming this offseason. Reports were that is what Jovan Gil's agent was looking for on the open market.

While he didn't quite get $50 million, he got pretty close. The Red Sox announced Gil's new contract, $190 million over the next four seasons, though perhaps the crazy part is that Gil has opt-out rights after two seasons.

"I guess if Gil thinks he can get his $50 million contract, he'll opt out. I can't imagine it, though, " one GM said.

Gil has been a competent player the past four seasons. Formerly with the Twins, Gil posted between 5 and 7 WAR during that time.

Foxes' Juan Romero Drawing Attention

Word is getting out about Juan Romero, the Foxes' lone prospect in the top 20 as of the latest rankings from Baseball America.

It's understandable as to why: the kid can hit.

"Hard to believe he's only 19 and still learning the game. His swing is so mechanically sound, it's just a matter of refining and working the tactics at the plate for him to make the most out of that swing, " the Foxes head scout said.

Other teams evidently agree as they have been burning up the Foxes' phone lines with trade inquiries.

"It's funny, we didn't get this about Casteles and he was top prospect for years, but Romero is drawing entirely too much attention, " GM Lyle said, "I'd say 'don't bother' but they [the other GMs] would probably just see it as a ploy to gain trade leverage or some such."

Romero has hit at every level so far and did his best work yet at High-A Ewa Villages, batting .327 with an .823 OPS in 447 at-bats. A performance like that makes him a good bet to enter the high minors this coming season, debuting for Class AA Leon Valley.

[KBLover]

Re: OOTP 20 Franchise Progress Thread

Spring Training Report

Opening Day 2032 is closing in and it's time to see if anything significant might happen with the Foxes roster between then and now.

Starting Pitching
Locks: McIntyre, Lerma, Kikuchi, Casteles, Matano

It's so hard to come up with a plausible, non-random-injury scenario were someone cracks this group that we're not even gonna try. Seriously.

Set it and forget it.


Bullpen
Locks: Anderson, Lavache, Ti, Dixon
Favorites: Mojica, Harker (when healthy)

It's a little more open in the bullpen. About half the bullpen is situated, and they probably will get the majority of the relief innings. Ti or Dixon figures to be the long reliever, which for the Foxes, is often a 100+ innings role since manager Dill sometimes pulls starters early.

Mojica could also be the long man, which likely secures him a spot. When Harker returns, chances are he'll be slotted in somewhere.

In the meantime, that leaves two (one when Harker returns) spots completely up for grabs. Ron Dougherty and Humberto Hinojosa will likely vie heavily for the one sure spot with Ignacio Meneses as a sleeper possibility.


Catcher
Locks: McGuire, Sabatier

McGuire and Sabatier split the leadership duties in the clubhouse and, in turn, it's made them close teammates as well. Combine that with a very solid on-field performance split between the two at the position and it is difficult to see Dill changing anything here.

That's too bad for Chris Fauth, who is likely as good as either of the two incumbents. Fauth will probably get some playing time to see his progress, he's not likely to win a spot, barring injury.


Infield
Locks: 1B Camo, 3B Montero
Favorites: 2B Winn, SS Valverde
Up for Grabs: depth slot

The infield is set for starters in all likelihood. There's an outside chance Winn will do enough to lose the starting spot (which could complicate the pitching picture as Winn would likely be placed in the staff), but that seems unlikely.

Camo, the acquisition from last season, will do what he was acquired to do - start at 1B and let Montero show off his cannon arm at the hot corner. Valverde's insane defense grades will likely start him at shortstop, no matter how he hits, especially since no other candidate will likely do any better at the plate anyway.

The bench spot, however, is anyone's game. Juan Cuellar likely gets the first look, but Tim Karr and Jose Godinez will get their chances as well.


Outfield
Locks: Salas, Mitchell
Favorites: Harmon, Tejada

The outfield situation is effectively as locked as the rotation, though it might be possible for Greg Peachy or Hironobu Nakata to surprise and win the bench role from Tejada and his defensive prowess. That said, the chances don't seem high, but it's more than a snowball's chance in hell.

As for Harmon, without his defense, he'd be a maybe at best. But, he has his defense and the bat is...tolerable. Peachy, if he really surprises and catches fire, could win starting center field outright. He's the only call-up with the ideal center field profile defensively. If the bat plays way up, he could turn Harmon's fate on its head.

Designated Hitter
Locks: None
Favorite: DeBouse

The budding power of Ajani DeBouse is the favorite here, especially after his surge in August and September last year where he suddenly went from disappointment to a decent .250 batting average and a 30 HR pace. The inconsistency is still fresh in the mind, but so is that unstoppable stretch he posted.

Still, in addition to the losers of the outfield bench battle, there's Josh Kjaergaard, Luis Carillo, and Sergio Gamez who will fight for the DH spot. This provides a lot of competition, and DeBouse will have to work to turn his favorite status into a lock status.