Jessica Fletcher - contributing reporter
It's been awhile since we've run one of these, but with as dominate as the defending champions, the Atlanta Expos have been, I figured we'd cover their current team; assuming we don't get lost in all the moves. He ended the NY Empire's reign of the AL East that lasted a decade plus a year. If the season started with a 4, the Empire won the division. This year they come in with only the 14th highest payroll, so slightly above average. They've done a great job keeping the payroll down while still finding a way to win, having made the playoffs the last 4 seasons, even when their payroll was an extremely lite $8M back in Season 48. As of this writing, so far this season they are clear favorite to win; owning a 10 game lead on the second best record in the league (Chicago Gunslingers in the NL) and a 14 game lead on the second best team in the AL, the Philadelphia Harpers of the AL North. The Expos hold a league leading 334 run differential, one of 3 teams above 200 and the only above 300. Many thanks to J.C. Wall and William Thompson already having over 200 IP and 20+ Wins with 20 game still left to play and a team best 3.12 ERA. But you can't forget their league leading 252 HRs, which is still better than the teams in such hitter's parks as Santa Fe, Philadelphia, and Colorado. Though only 2nd in runs scored. Defensively they are well below average for errors.
- Finances - One minor key to this team's strategy has to be finding top coaching talent on the cheap, as they routinely keep their coaching spending down to $8-9M. This current roster can be attributed to it's rebuilding starting with Season 46 where they took the payroll down to $46M from three seasons at $75M. Having owned the franchise since Season 5, when he took over for our now Chicago Gunslinger's owner. He's been well below $90M since Season 33, prior he spent 6 seasons above $100M and once getting up to $124M. Atlanta reached in every nook and cranny possible to build this team, everything from the Rule 4, to IFA, and into the trade markets to build this team.
- The Good (starters as of writing)
- Matty Moss (2B) - Season 46's #2 overall pick, but highest pick signed that season as a College freshmen. Signed at slot. Enters Arb3 next season.
- Brandon Stevens (CF vR) - Season 49 trade with the Vancouver Canucks, giving up Charley Rhymes (CF) and Wilmer James (ClA) in the deal. Both of whom are still on the Cancuks roster and leading their division. Stevens enters Free Agency this off-season.
- Kyle Crain (C) - Season 48's #5 overall pick and 2nd catcher off the board. Has one more season before entering Arbitration in Season 54. Along with Moss, you'll see Crain likely on the AL MVP ballot this season and rightly so, he looks to break the franchise record for HRs set during the Cobbfather steroid era - Season 2. He is currently at 53 and only needs 4 more to tie.
- Jonnie Daniels (LF) - Yet another Rule 4 pick, this one in Season 47 as the #3 pick.
- Akinori Yoshii (DH vR) - An underrated trade in Season 47 that saw him give up Nelson Sims (SuA) and Danry Zapata (2B) to the Austin Son's of Odin. Sims has jumped around after being released by a few teams and currently plays for Anahiem. Zapata on the other hand was just called up to the Majors during his age 28 season. Definitely a winning deal for the Expos.
- Chuck Herndon (DH vL) - A Season 46 trade with merritr back when his franchise played in Jackson. Headed to Jackson was Alex Perez and money to cover half his salary that season. Perez has proven to have plenty of power and might be facing off with the Expos during the playoffs as merritr looks to win his division. Tagging along with Herndon was Pedro Fernandez (LRB) who currently plays for Anaheim and Rich Peterson (RP) who is retired this past offseason.
- Nomar Rodgers (1B) - A late find in the Season 46 draft at pick #22 his junior year in college. Rodgers brings the power with Crain, the two will combine for over 100 HRs this season.
- Adam West (SS vR, 3B vL) - Acquired this season in a deal with NL South defending champs, minihouston in exchange for pitching prospect Danys Solis. I can tell you this one was a tough trade to make for both parties, but the NOOFs acquired another young 3B and needed the pitching depth while the Expos had plenty of pitching depth and like the young control at SS/3B. West was coming off a near .300 average season with 20 HR in 400 ABs.
- Christian Seung (SS vL) - A Rule 5 pick by the Expos in Season 48 at pick #4. Seung is a bit of an exception as he's one of VERY few players with 90+ ratings across the board defensively.
- Al Little (3B vR, RF vL) - In a roster dump with the OKC Barons, the Expos picked him up in a Season 50 trade along with $5M, costing the Expos only $3.2M that season. He had another $8.2M each of the last two seasons but is a free agent this coming off-season. Juan Gonzalez, the Barons return, is only at AA this season at the age of 21.
- Davy Oliver (RF) - Another trade, this one with the Portland Messiah's last season, S51. In standard fashion, Portland also covered half of his contract that season. Oliver still has 1 more year left at $6.6M left on his contract.
- The Bad (bench)
- Ed Watanabe (3B) - Acquired this season from the Montreal Fighting Poutine Plates, costing 23 yr old diamond in the rough Larry Niemann (SP) who is currently at AAA.
- Chan Ho Jiang (3B) - Acquired this season from the Tacoma Aroma along with 1/3 of his contact. Heading back to Tacoma were Orlando Tomas (CF), Francis Kent (SP), and Reggie Robbins (RF).
- Jose Ordonez (2B) - The final position player on the list was also acquired via trade. This one during Season 50 from the Scranton Hammers who sold their franchise the following season. Heading back to the now Tacoma team were Chance Beckham (SP1) and Paulie Blackmon (AA SP). Ordonez is along for the ride, though the kid has some decent speed.
- The Ugly (injuries)
- None
- The Mound
- J.C. Wall (SP1) - The Expos traded for Wall in Season 48, who was with the Helena Hot Dogs. After settling in, he's won the last 3 AL Cy Young awards and is currently leading the charge for his 4th straight. Next year he starts the first of a 5/$41.5M extension he signed this season. Sidenote - he should fire his agent after that contract. The Expos gave up Kenny Jacquez (3B), Andy McLaughlin (2B), Joshua Reames (SP), and $2M. The Expos also received Yovani Bonillla (SS) who will come into play in a trade for Ethier below.
- William Thompson (SP2) - Signed a 5/$76.9M at the start of S50, and has another 2/$34M left on the backloaded deal. This season isn't finished, but so far Thompson has been 58-21 with the team, logging 660 innings with a 2.69 ERA....so Ace #2.
- Damaso Ethier (SP3) - The Expos received Ethier in S48 but had to give up Yovani Bonilla (SS) who they had just traded for, Rougned Pulido (SP), and Julian Clay (RP).
- Zephyr Gross (SP4) - Season 45 #4 overall draft pick. Gross, drafted as a College Senior, might just be the longest tenured Expo at the current moment.
- Cesar Tavarez (LRA) - IFA signing in Season 49 for a $100K signing bonus.
- Ossie Crow (SuA) - Crow was included as a 2nd piece in the S47 deal that brought Alex Perez (who was later flipped in the Chuck Herndon deal); to acquire those pieces it cost Atlanta Endy Wilste (3B) and David Grichuk (RP).
- Fautino Salas (SuA) - IFA signing in Season 48 for a $12.7M signing bonus.
- Hiram Helms (SuB) - Helms is technically a S52 free agent signing, however Atlanta traded for him Season 50 and let him walk at the end of the season, choosing to sign him to a 2/$3M with an option. The option was declined but then signed him to a 2/$1.7M this past offseason.
- Miguel Rivera (SuB) - IFA signing in Season 49 for a $9M signing bonus.
- Ron Steenstra (SuB) - Atlanta signed this former NL Fireman of the Year after a down year in New Orleans to a 1/$1.6M to see if he'd be able to turn it around.
- Steve Etherton (ClA) - Season 46 #23 overall draft pick has turned in two straight AL Fireman of the Year awards. He's on the list for a third but currently not the favored choice.
- The Up and Coming
- Quilvio Infante (SP) - This future front end rotation piece was an IFA signing Season 48 to the tune of a $19M signing bonus. Pretty cheap considering more recent prices.
- Miguel Pena (SP) - Signed with the defending champ Expos just this season for $20.5M.
- Vince Saarloos (SS) - Arrived this season in a trade with Vancouver, giving up Rando Powell. Atlanta also received Hector Mota in the deal.
- Jackson Benson (C) - Was the main piece in the S50 deal with Chicago Gunslingers, giving up Albert Robbins, who has received retired after last season; only playing a partial season in Chicago. Also received Brett Crawford but he was later traded to Buffalo.
- Stephen Ramirez (RP) - Another deal with the Commish's team; giving up Clyde Spivey for Ramirez and Francisley Gomez this season.
If you are active on the trade market, you've likely received at least a dozen trade offers from the Expos. Running total - for this purpose we will note how the player was first acquired by the team. List does not list current prospects, with this owner there is a high likely hood they never see the ML; at last not for the Expos before being traded.
- 3 players acquired via Free Agency
- 6 players acquired via Rule 4 Draft
- 1 players acquired via Rule 5 Draft
- 3 players acquired via International Free Agency
- 12 players acquired via Trade.
- 0 players claimed of Waivers
One more thing I've learned. Pitching is just different in Atlanta. Don't get me wrong, some of the pitching is very strong but somehow Atlanta seems to find a way to make even the most average pitcher have a sub 3.00 ERA.