Gnats Announce Re-signings at End of Season Press Conference

[Sandgnats]

CRYSTAL LAKE HERALD

SPORTS – GNATS NOW
Gnats Announce Re-signings at End of Season Press Conference
Updated: November 3, 2029 – 11:45 AM

By Howard Heskin, Gnats Beat Writer and ESPN PEBA Correspondent – Twitter @HowardHeskin1

Crystal Lake announced today at its end of season press conference that it avoided arbitration by signing 8 players to one-year extensions this week. Rumors are that catcher Tony Parker is in negotiations presently for a one-year year extension to also avoid arbitration.

RP Kyle Weaver signed a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $1,250,000. The former 1st round pick pitched 75 innings this past season with an ERA of 3.48 (2.84 FIP) with 12 saves filling in as mostly long and middle relief.

LF Jorge Jiménez signed a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $8,361,000 in what is likely his final year of team control becoming free-agent eligible next season. Also, a former 1st round pick, Jiménez batted .262/.323/.382 with 62 stolen bases, 14 HRs, 23 doubles and 5 triples. With the acquisition of Gabe Moran, Jiménez took the role of DH verse RHP and remained in left field verse LHP.

RP/SP Jon Browning signed a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $1,550,000. Jon appeared in 51 games this season and spot started 6 games with a record of 11-0 over 109 innings pitched. His ERA was 1.98 (3.56 FIP) with a WHIP of 1.06. His season was highlighted with a 5-hit shutout against the Duluth Warriors with 6 strikeouts and 0 walks allowed on June 6, 2029.

RP Joshua Hall signed a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $3,795,000. Josh appeared in mostly long relief and middle relief opportunities in 50 games this season. In 90 innings pitched, Jon posted a 3.20 ERA (4.13 FIP) with a WHIP of 1.49.
C Allen Wells signed a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $775,000. As the backup catcher and filling in during defensive opportunities, Allen batted .261/.291/.366 in 142 at bats while striking out only 4 times.

LF Gabe Moran scored his first big payday with a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $6,176,000. Moran, who was brought in from the June 25, 2019 trade with Canton, won the SL player of the week award on the following week, July 9th. Gabe batted .321/.347/.540 for the season with 31 HRs and 90 RBIs. He also brought additional speed to left field and collected 41 stolen bases.

3B Ed Brown signed a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $6,176,000. Although achieving a pedestrian season batting .235/.286/.345 with 8 HRs, the former 1st round pick, rebounded defensively and also did well in the divisional series batting .273/.304/.500 with 2 triples. He also was awarded PEBA SL Player of the Week Award on May 21, 2029.
“We are very happy to avoid arbitration with Ed, Gabe, Allen, Josh, Jon, Jorge and Kyle stated GM Ermola at today’s end of the season press conference. Although we are disappointed with how our season ended this year, we are happy to have our core group of guys back next season, so they can focus on baseball, not their next paycheck.”

When asked about Tony Parker’s negotiations, GM Ermola stated, “I feel like we will work it out with Tony. We would love to have him signed to a long-term deal, but if his agent wants to do one-year deal again this season, we told them that we are ok with that too – for the right price.”

When asked if closer, Javier 'Random' Jiménez would be coming back next season, GM Ermola laughed, “Really? Are you serious Heskin? Would you resign a guy who blew 2 of 4 saves in the Division Series? We brought him in to get those saves. While he did well in the regular season, we don’t see his value if he can’t win those high leverage match ups. That series was a matter of 3 one run losses. We are moving on Heskin. He knows that and you know it.”

So with that the end of year conference almost ended, but then I asked Ermola my last question – two names – Gresham and Matterson – and with that he exclaimed, “NOPE, I listen to Joe – he has two more rings than me.”