The Hit - Blog

[Hitmen]

Friday, November 19th, 2038: Trenton, New Jersey

The reporters and fans have caught wind... big changes 'possibly' coming in New Jersey this offseason. But does that really come as any surprise? 95-67 in 2037, only to drop to a mediocre 81-81 in 2038. A 14-game swing that left many fans alike asking, "What went wrong?" Poor start for the pitching staff that may have dug themselves into too big of a hole to recover from? Poor defense up the middle? Missed, or poor trade results? Quiet bats?

One thing is for sure, the team was on the decline, and so were some of the options this offseason.

In the final year of his 5-year, $33.5M contract, it is no surprise that Orlando Trujillo had decided to decline his player option where he would have been making a measly $7M in a pitching field that looks to be lacking in quality arms. Trujillo led the team in wins, ERA, and ranked 3rd in strike outs in 2038 for the Hitmen.

"I'm worth double, if not triple that..." Trujillo told reporters after leaving Mercer County recently. In a season that saw Trujillo start off slow, he more than made up for it to end the season at 17-11 and a respectable 3.69 ERA. In just 4 seasons in New Jersey, Trujillo put together a 60-39 record, 3.22 ERA over 128 games, outperforming his previous 7 seasons in Duluth where he posted a 65-77 record and 3.65 ERA. Orlando has hit his stride and wants to expand on his 2 All-Star appearances in 4 seasons.

While any logical person can understand why the 33-year-old lefty is putting his faith in himself in what could be his final big contract, it is still a tough pill to swallow for fans to see the news of a declined 5th year and a want to test free agency. "I am happy to play in New Jersey and want to be here, but I deserve what my value is." New Jersey has the opportunity to sign him before potential free agents hit the market this off-season, but the question comes, will the front office cough up the rumored $17M-$20M a year Orlando's agent is seeking.

New Jersey's Bernardo Francisco Antollini slashed the budget this offseason by nearly $14M due to the lower performing gate numbers and ticket sales this past season, as well as claiming more of a focus onto the future. Could that mean that the Hitmen don't put in an offer? With pending free agents, Brendon Cardenas, Atasuke Inoue, and Lou Butler, the pitching staff is becoming thinner by the day.

If that news didn't upset fans, how about the rumors being true that Antollini declined superstar Tomás Martínez's final year and $48M owed on his contract?

The richest contract in the Planetary Extreme Baseball Alliance, Tomás comes off a season where his .292/.379/.608, 48 homerun, 126 RBI, and 40 stolen bases are reminiscent of his 2029 Royal Raker days, if not better. It's not every year you get a 40/40 performance from a 34-year-old DH. Currently sitting 4th in the voting this offseason in what is sure to be a Hall worth career, talks are that the Hitmen are looking to restructure Tomás's contract as he will enter the 2039 season at 35 years old. Rumors of his agent seeking $26M-$30M a year would still put Tomás near the top of the food chain, but no longer the highest paid player in the league.

Restructuring right? We can trust the management? You'd have to think despite slashing the budget and worrying about ticket sales that you could not give up both your best pitcher and also your best hitter? Right? ...Right? When Assistant General Manager Earl Sanford was asked what the plans were for this offseason, he did have this to say, "We want Trujillo and Martínez in gold and grey next year. We are going to take care of our own. We also have some holes to fill and some questions to answer. We want to avoid the slow start that is so normal here in New Jersey. Trust that we have the city's best interest at heart." Taking care of their own is evident with 7 extensions handed out in the first week of the offseason, mostly to avoid arbitration, have already made the headlines in New Jersey. However, two big names are still missing from that list...

Far from calming the nerves and reassuring fans with 100% certainty that these two stars will be suiting up for the team next year. And if they don't, then what's next?

Lee Kohler - The Hit, PEBAlmanac Contributor, Former New Jersey Hitmen IF, @alleatherKohler