Catherine Trammell - contributing reporter
(covered AL last year, going NL this year.)
Dear Smelly old guy of the Tacoma Aroma,
The entire city of Tacoma, okay maybe not all 221,000 people who live here; but at least the 4,500 fans who somehow fill half the pitcher friendly Cheney Stadium every game, have been by your side since you took over the franchise in Season 51. You charged in, clearing house and budget to give yourself a fresh start and build the franchise the way you wanted while moving nearly 3,000 miles from Scranton. You dealt players such as Will Roth, Mike Lobstein, Trent Law, Rubby Furcal, Bennie Swann, and Ronnie Andrews. The latter two went on to win 2 World Series rings with New Orleans and Roth has been a major player in OKC since his arrival there. The franchise is a combined 533-818 (.395) 8 1/4 seasons you've been at the helm, but we the fans believe in you still. You are on track for your highest winning seasons since the initial S51 and you have many of the right pieces to push forward. The NL North has become weaker in recent years with Chicago entering a rebuild and Montreal not ready to come out of their rebuild just yet. That just leaves the strong Hartford franchise whose owners always seems to find a way to put out quality product on the field. The initial goal should be a Wildcard slot whose only real competition is the loser of the NL West. Wildcard 2 is yours for the taking, but only if you want it! Time for Tacoma to make the franchise's 3rd World Series.
Before we take a look at the current roster, let's do a quick dive into budgets. We can't tell you how happy the fans are to know you are no longer budgeting $20M for coaches and wasting that transfer money. The fans are hoping money to start to shift back to the player payroll to get the team more competitive. It's rare to have such a small budget and still be a playoff contender; we can't rebuild forever! Unless your mining for diamonds, the franchise needs to make a decision on the International market. Either commit to signing that one larger name instead of these piddly ones under $4M. Since S51 you've signed 124 international players, only 20 of them have been for over $1M bonus. That's nearly $9M on 104 players that won't pan out. Not saying you can't find a diamond, after all every dog has his day at least once. The only one that has really landed was Giancarlo Gutierrez, in S52 and he signed for nearly $24M. Cobbfather has quickly become a league where if you want a quality IFA, it's going to cost anywhere from $6-$35M.
Let's look at your current roster and upper level prospects, build your lineup around these guys:
C: 22 yr old
Nicky Constanza - .290 w/ 25 HRs - solid C defense
1B: 26 yr old
Ernest Page - .300 w/ 30 HRs - average 1B defense
CF: 22 yr old
Bert Cooper - .255 w/ 20 HR, 15 SB - plus CF defense
SP: 23 yr old
Domingo Rodriguez - 1.15 WHIP, 2.75-3.30 ERA - solid Ace
SP: 22 yr old
Steve Mailman - 1.20 WHIP, 3.50 ERA - solid #2
Look to trade these prospects:
3B: 24 yr old
Reese Jacobs*, LF: 19 yr old
Ryan Lawrence*, LF: 23 yr old
PT Silverio, SP: 23 yr old
Hughie Grace* & 21 yr old
Marwin Villarreal. The latter two are decent mid to back of the rotation arms, so nobody in Tacoma would blame if you kept them; but to get something you've gotta give something in a trade.
And anybody else on the ML roster that's costing you more than $1.5M and you don't think has a long term home in Tacoma.
* denotes still in minors
The rest of this season should be in prep going full speed in S60.
Next steps:
- Drafts - Make good use of this year's #8 overall pick and next season's top 12. Shift budgets to track either College or High School but not both. That's a lot of cap space being used just for scouts to eat fast food around the continental United States, especially if you are at 18+ for both and finally coming out of a 9 yr rebuild. Even as the team improves, hopefully you can still find serviceable ML pieces late in the draft with a focus on one area instead of splitting the money for both. College kids would be quicker to the majors if that matters at all.
- IFA - As noted above either go all in or shift gears to signing FAs. Being able to sign that future ML talent will help extend your World Series window as it gives you someone to promote year after year; assuming you aren't outbid and waste the money one season; which is always the gamble of the international market.
- Trades - Before Page's power drops and making use of the Rodriguez/Mailman prime years, it's time to strike. The aroma is building up in Tacoma and the fans are unsure if it's a positive aroma!
- Don't move Page, Mailman, or Rodriguez for quantity unless it's just a crazy deal that improves your chance at a ring.
- Watch Anaheim closely this season and if they start to drop in the standings inquire on free agent to be Josh Hunt (Anaheim) if he'll resign, he'd fill a void at 3B while also adding a power bat to the lineup with Page; depending on the price tag.
- There's a fire sell going on in New Orleans, check out Yan Ozuna; he's getting up there in age but if he'll resign on a decent rate he could fill 2B as a plus defender and hopefully a .260 average w/ 15 HR and 5-10 SBs. Not bad if he's $3M a year but he is 33 next year so don't sign too long of a deal with him.
- Charleston is hanging in the NL wildcard race, perhaps they could use a boost of ML talent in exchange for a prospect that would help you in a few years. Tokyo or Salem could be good trade targets as well, they've been near the wildcard recently. In the AL, any time in the AL West outside of Colorado Springs appear to have a shot at the division. Salt Lake City currently sits the furthest back.
- Ask Atlanta about Kyle Crain.
- Winter Meetings/FA - Appears the franchise will finish within the bottom half of the bracket this season, giving you another protected draft pick S60. That is good news! Use that protected pick to potentially grab a Type A FA.
- Unless resigned, some of the top names are 3B Josh Hunt (Anaheim), LF Juancito Martin (Boston); both former champs.
- Being budget aware, you won't want to get into a bidding war with the larger budget teams like Santa Fe or Tokyo; who has Omar Gonzalez money coming off the books and ready to spend. You might look into the Tier 2 FAs and see who you can target for quick signings; even if on short term deals. If Tomas Urias can get things going again, he had been a .280+ hitter with 20-25 HR in Vancouver before going to Jacksonville this season on a one year deal. And signed for under $1M.
- Now realize, most of these FA comments are short term so you'll be looking to fill their spot again in a year or two.
- Rule 5 - Find a cheap quality glove first SS in the Rule 5 draft. Someone like Allan Ott (Anaheim) unless he gets put on the 40M before then. This guy will serve as a late inning replacement and add further value in the confines of your pitcher friendly home stadium. If you cannot find a starter at Short, at last you get a plus defender who makes your pitchers better!
-Through the aroma, they swing like a boa, hitting homers each blast to Tacoma
