Yo what's up, it's your free agency guru here to kick off the Gazette Season 4 coverage. We'll rate the type A free agents on the World B. Free Supahfly 5 Star Rating scale, and then cover the best of the Type B Free Agents. Let's see how it went down in the free agent market this offseason.
TYPE A FREE AGENTS
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Contract: 4 years, 48 million
Pick Lost: 1st Round
Memphis signed the 30-year shortstop with a good bat to a phat contract this offseason. After solid seasons at the plate in Season 1 and 2, Zoltan regressed a bit at the plate in Season 3 with a decline in numbers across the board. We think Zoltan is capable of bouncing back, and hitting .300 with 20 HR again, and if he does that, while playing decent shortstop, he'll be an asset for the Mayhem. Exactly how many more years Zoltan can play SS is in question. He saw a decline in ratings from season 2 to 3, but held steady in season 4. We think a move to 3B might have to be considered after season 5. And we're not sure as a 3rd baseman, he'll be worth his 12.5 million and 13.5 million salary in years 3 and 4 of the contract.
Final Rating: 3 stars - Zoltan is solid, and worth giving up a 1st rounder for, but the contract is steep, especially if his ratings decline begins sooner rather than later.
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Contract: 5 years, 60 million
Pick Lost: 1st round
Detroit made quite a catch in signing Blake Howell this offseason. The 30-year old can flat out mash, averaging 44 HR and 113 RBI in 3 seasons, with a solid batting average. In the field, he's below average defensively as a catcher, and would probably be better suited as a DH, which is a disadvantage for Detroit, since they are in the NL. Gazette insiders hear that he could play 1B this year for Detroit, but if push came to shove, he'd probably pass by as a catcher. Ratings wise, Howell saw some decline this past offseason, although not offensively, which is his biggest asset. Still, the fact that a ratings decline occurred is a concern, especially since he was signed to a 5-year deal.
Final Rating: 4 stars - Howell will continue to mash and be a huge bat in Detroit's lineup. Ratings decline concerns and the fact that he should probably be DHing and is in the NL keep this signing from reaching the top of the Supahfly 5 star Free Agency rating scale.
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Contract: 4 years, 20 million
Pick Lost: 2nd round
Charleston added this 29-year old righty reliever and inked him to a 4 year deal. Yosida has a stellar 4-seam fastball, and a very good slider in his arsenal. He sports good control and is effective against righties. He is only average at keeping his pitches down, and can be hit by lefties. He's probably more of a setup guy, not a closer, and for that reason we're not doing backflips about this signing. He probably could have been had after the offseason free agency period for less money, less years and without forfeiting the draft pick. Although he should be able to hold his weight in the Charleston bullpen, for those reasons, we have to give this signing a thumbs down.
Final Rating: 1 star
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Contract: 4 years, 37.1 million
Pick Lost: 2nd Round
Dover added Wooten, a 29 year old power hitting shortstop to their lineup this offseason. Wooten made nice strides last season, finally putting together a great year at the plate, after underperforming his ratings in seasons 1 and 2. We don't think it was a fluke, and think Wooten can hit .275 with 25 HR a year for the duration of the contract, with upside for even better numbers. Those a great numbers for a shortstop. Defensively, Wooten isn't the greatest fielding shortstop, and hasn't had great success fielding there in the past. A move to a different position would be ideal, although he wouldn't be a horrible shortstop, if that's the route Dover chooses to go with him. Overall, we'd say he's worth giving up the 2nd rounder for.
Final rating: 4 stars - this was a nice signing for Dover.
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Contract: 5 years, 80 million
Pick Lost: 3rd Round
Detroit was the big spender in free agency adding a 2nd Type A free agent in 35-year old starting pitcher Louie Grey. Grey has great ratings across the board in control, LH/RH splits, velocity and GB/FB. He has 3 very good pitchers, and 4th pitch that is just okay, but does lack that one dominant pitch to get hitters out with. Grey has 3 outstanding seasons under his belt in Cobbfather, and should have another 2-3 good seasons of being an effective starter in the league. The only problem is, he was signed to a 5 year deal at 16 million per season, and won't likely be worth that towards the end of the contract. Hopefully, korruptkings had good intentions in making this signing, but we could see it crippling the franchise financially in years 4 & 5.
Final rating: 2 stars - good signing for the first 2 years of the deal, Grey can still be a very good starter, but at 35 the contract was too long and too much money.
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Contract: 3 years, 14 million
Pick Lost: 3rd Round
Charleston inked a second Type-A free agent in this 32 year old shortstop, formerly with the Boston Massacre. Given that you can't go wrong signing a former Boston player, this signing was phenomenal, and gets 5 stars. Enough said. OK, sorry for the bias, back to the review. James is a great fielding shortstop who sports an elite arm with superior accuracy in the field. His range is declining at his age, but thanks to his glove, arm and accuracy, should still be an asset in the field at shortstop for all 3 years of the deal. At the plate, he has an average bat for a shortstop, and still has the speed to steal 20-25 bases. This was a good value signing for Charleston, the contract is right, and they only had to give up a 3rd rounder.
Final rating: 4 stars
Best of the Type B's
Raul Sanchez, RP, Chicago - Sanchez is a great reliever who should be able to bounce back from a poor season 3
Rick McConnell, LF, Los Angeles - Can't argue with the signing of a guy who hit 45 HR last year as a type B FA
Jonathan Wunsch, SP/RP, Charleston - Good value pickup, should be able to put up numbers closer to his great season 2, than his poor season 3.
Jay Payne, SP/RP, Fargo - Another good value signing, he could start, or be a very effective long reliever.
That's the scoop on Season 4's preseason Free Agency period, Peace out homies!!!