Hartford GM Cleaning Up Previous Mess
By: James Chaseman
Harpoon axe nearly $70 million in future salary obligations
March 29, 2021: West Hartford, CT -- General Manager Jason Warnke has been busy this winter taking back the reigns of a team that both he and owner Grey Davidson III had on auto-pilot over the last several seasons. Sparked by a relocation to Hartford and the Seaboard Division of the Imperial League, Warnke made it clear that he is no longer planning on sitting idle watching this team continue to play mediocre baseball. "Admittedly, I have been focused on other businesses of mine," commented the usually hands-on GM. "Unfortunately, we left the team in incapable hands and have made a few missteps. I vow to not let this happen again."
These "missteps" Warnke was referring to were capped last season with a draft debacle that led to the suicide of
former Director of Draft Operations, Steven Fields. "We put a lot of faith in some young, intelligent executives over the last 24-36 months. While the plan to build through the draft and to make a youth movement started off on the right foot, it quickly spiraled out of control last year. I realize now that it is crucial that I need to be more hands on."
Along with this declaration has come action, and it has been swift. In the last few weeks, GM Warnke has traded away nearly $70 million in future potential salary obligations and just over $47 million this season. Overall, the salary exposure for the upcoming 2021 campaign has been slashed by over 47%, sitting currently at $42.75 million, the cheapest payroll in all of professional baseball. The only other team to rival this shoestring budget are the newly absorbed Niama-Shi Ghosts ($44.1 million), formerly from of the League of the Rising Sun. This will be their first season in the PEBA, and with only 10 players under contract, it is unlikely that they will enter the 2021 season under $50 million. The only other franchise with a payroll under $50 million would be the Tempe Knights, who currently sit with $49.9 million on their books.
How was this salary slashing accomplished? One word: Trades.
On March 1st, catcher Wayne Williams, who was scheduled to earn $9 million this season with a team ioption for 2022 was shipped to the Neo-Tokyo Akira along with a second and third round draft pick in exchange for 31 year old utility infielder Tasuku Nishikawa, 24 year old catcher, Kiyohiro Kojima, a later second round pick, $3 million. Both Nishikawa and Kojima will likely make the Harpoon's Opening Day roster. Kojima has been tearing up the ball field this spring, batting .415 while smacking 4 doubles and 3 home runs in 67 plate appearances. His play has been surprising. While this will clearly not keep up for an entire season, shedding Williams' contract was well worth sliding back in the second round of the draft and giving up a third round draft pick.
Later that day, Hartford also announced that they would be sending Edgar 'Hammerhead' Valentin to the Rio Grande Ocelots in exchange for 23 y/o prospect outfielder Shojiro Kotara. Valentin, who is still only 32 years old, has had issues staying healthy the last several seasons. While his production while on the field is still very good, Hartford upper management felt it was in the best interest of the club to trade away hi $8.87 million contract. Health was a risk the team simply did not want to take. Kotara joins Hartford having never played above AA ball. A long shot at best, there are some scouts inside the organization that think Shojiro has significant upside. Kotara's ability to play all three outfield positions, his untapped potential to get on base and hit for moderate power, coupled with his base running instincts could mean that the young Japanese outfielder might one day get a shot in the pro's.
Then came the big budget splash and the seemingly impossible. Pundits around the league thought that the $25 million that former superstar pitcher Daryl 'Quagmire' Lewis was scheduled to make over the next two seasons (2021/2022) would be immovable. Just today, the Harpoon proved the so-called experts wrong, as they returned to the Ocelot well, sending the 32-year old veteran starter to Rio Grande Valley in exchange for three players-to-be-named later. The General Manager RGV, Matthew Higgins, was cited as saying "Yes, this is an expensive gamble, but one we are willing to take -- particularly if Quagmire can return to even close to his pre-2020 form." While the team essentially gave away Lewis, they were in no position to refuse $25 million in salary relief on a player who may or may not return from injury the same player as before. This was a wise move for the new Hartford franchise.
Rumors persist and have been confirmed by two sources, that Jesse Powell, Tim Dundee, and Alejandro Barrios will all be shipped out of town in exchange for a third round pick. It is unclear at this time which team these three will be headed to. However, their departure will clear yet another $9 million plus off the books. In total, over $47 million in 2021 salary has been shed by the once financially strapped organization -- and all done in less than a month. Perhaps this is proof that GM Warnke is serious about taking over the reigns once again, and getting baseball in Hartford started off on a positive foot.
It is unclear what the franchise will do with all this newly found budget space. It appears as though Warnke is in negotiations with several well respected veteran fan favorites for short term, low cost deals. This would make sense, given the initial goal in Hartford will be to attract a new fan base. Perhaps 2021 is not the year where the fans will be able to call the Harpoon "their own," but at least they might see a few recognizable, former all-stars in the dugout. Hopefully this will garner enough goodwill over the season to keep people excited for the future, as the Hartford Harpoon's farm system continues to develop and a massive amount of financial flexibility opens up after this season to target key free agents. With literally less than $15 million on the books in scheduled contracts for 2022, the Harpoon can write their own destiny provided they continue the craftiness that was once again displayed this month.