Moody Baldwin Threatens Vibe in San Juan

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MikeB
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Moody Baldwin Threatens Vibe in San Juan

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Moody Baldwin Threatens Vibe in San Juan


The saga of Robin Baldwin, once a distant front office matter as far as players were concerned, came front and center into the locker room last week as the veteran outfielder has been heard to complain about selfish teammates, slackers and even the team’s won-loss record. “I don’t handle losing well,” he told one reporter despite the Coqui being 4-2 since he arrived. Whether it proves a distraction from the team’s magical season will soon be determined.

Baldwin was a long shot to make the squad this season; his hamstring injury in preseason only prolonged the decision to release him until now. The difficulty in letting him go is that it puts the team on the hook not just for the $19 million dollars left over the next two years of his contract – something the team is willing to cut its losses on - but also an $11.5 million vesting option for 2027 should he have 450 plate appearances, something highly unlikely at this point. The team would like to find a way to hold onto him for one more year and save that payout. That Baldwin, who hit just .208 last season, has refused to be sent to the minors, has reportedly infuriated the man who has to write those checks, owner Luis Munoz Rivera. The perception among some inside the organization is that Baldwin wants the team to release him so he can walk away with a lot of dough with little effort.

Nonetheless, the 32-year old Baldwin still has to save his career if he hopes to catch on elsewhere so he reported for a rehab stint at Santo Domingo (AAA) and crushed the ball slugging .750 in 12 games and earning a Player of the Week honor.

Just as the stint came to an end last week, the Coqui lost leftfielder Flint Butler to a hip injury for two weeks. That opened the door to give Baldwin one last two-week tryout. Off the field, it has not gone well as his attitude has only further fed fuel to the idea he wants to be let go.

Nonetheless, Manager Jesus Gilbert wasted no time in giving Baldwin a chance. Against Amsterdam with the Coqui trailing, 8-7, and the tying run on second in the bottom of the ninth, Gilbert sent Baldwin in to pinch hit but he popped up to end the game. However, just as the groaning from fans started he redeemed himself the next game with a double and a home run and player of the game honors. So far he is 3-for-9 with two walks in 11 plate appearances.

The Coqui would like to inject more power in the lineup but would have to waive someone to make room for the sulking Baldwin. The belief is that he would have to really light it up and show that he can be that same guy who once hit 35 doubles and 26 home runs in a season. Counting his rehab stint in the minors, however, he has six home runs the last two weeks, more than he had all last season.

“I don’t think any GM in the league thinks he is still that guy,” one team insider said. “But with the season we are having to have a guy come in on the verge of being cut, fighting with management but just happen to be swinging a hot bat right now is par with the magic the team has had this year.”

But can the team put out any fires that erupt in the clubhouse?
Mike Best
San Juan Coqui
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