Re: Bears Official Baseball Blog: The BOB Blog
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2019 3:27 pm
Bears 2029 Free Agent Class
10 February, 2029
Thus far in 2029 the Bears have signed free agents to over $107M worth of deals, but still have the financial flexibility to acquire more salary/talent if they should choose to. While none of these players were considered elite but most pundits, there is plenty of talent.
RP Hsin-ta Lian ($50.2M, 6 years), hailing from China, was the first free agent brought in by the new front office. At just 26-yers-old, he comes to PEBA with both youth and elite stuff. Scouts rave about the action on his sinker and slider combination, but if Lian has a weakness it's in his command (or lack thereof). While he's expected to unseat veteran Sadakuno 'Eagle Eye' Nakagawa for the closer role, he will need to limit the free passes in order to lock that role down.
At 34-years-old, SP Martín Ramírez ($21M, 3 years) is the elder statesmen of this class but still throws white hot heat on the mound, topping his plus-plus fastball out over 100mph. Having only pitched at the ML level for four years, Ramírez is a late bloomer that prides himself on dependability. He's managed to pitch over 700 innings in those four years, accumulating 13.1 WAR with an ERA+ of 112. His 2028 season was a bit of a downturn, however, as he gave up 29 HRs and over 200 hits. He is expected to earn the 4th spot in the rotation, taking the place of the departed SP Declan Littleworth (now of the SS Evas), but will face competition from the youth of the Bakersfield organization.
Hardly enough can be written about the constant turnover in the Bears outfield, but newcomer RF Bruce 'Smokey' McGuire ($26.2M, 4 years) seems to have an obvious role as, at minimum, a platoon partner for OF Steven Hooper. His bat will determine how much playtime he ends up with, but a full time job in the outfield is certainly possible given the value the front office places on defense. His signing is not great news for Hooper's platoon partner from last year, RF Mark St. John, but given his predilection for exotic lineups, it's possible manager Wayne Kedsch finds opportunities for both righty corner outfielders.
10 February, 2029
Thus far in 2029 the Bears have signed free agents to over $107M worth of deals, but still have the financial flexibility to acquire more salary/talent if they should choose to. While none of these players were considered elite but most pundits, there is plenty of talent.
RP Hsin-ta Lian ($50.2M, 6 years), hailing from China, was the first free agent brought in by the new front office. At just 26-yers-old, he comes to PEBA with both youth and elite stuff. Scouts rave about the action on his sinker and slider combination, but if Lian has a weakness it's in his command (or lack thereof). While he's expected to unseat veteran Sadakuno 'Eagle Eye' Nakagawa for the closer role, he will need to limit the free passes in order to lock that role down.
At 34-years-old, SP Martín Ramírez ($21M, 3 years) is the elder statesmen of this class but still throws white hot heat on the mound, topping his plus-plus fastball out over 100mph. Having only pitched at the ML level for four years, Ramírez is a late bloomer that prides himself on dependability. He's managed to pitch over 700 innings in those four years, accumulating 13.1 WAR with an ERA+ of 112. His 2028 season was a bit of a downturn, however, as he gave up 29 HRs and over 200 hits. He is expected to earn the 4th spot in the rotation, taking the place of the departed SP Declan Littleworth (now of the SS Evas), but will face competition from the youth of the Bakersfield organization.
Hardly enough can be written about the constant turnover in the Bears outfield, but newcomer RF Bruce 'Smokey' McGuire ($26.2M, 4 years) seems to have an obvious role as, at minimum, a platoon partner for OF Steven Hooper. His bat will determine how much playtime he ends up with, but a full time job in the outfield is certainly possible given the value the front office places on defense. His signing is not great news for Hooper's platoon partner from last year, RF Mark St. John, but given his predilection for exotic lineups, it's possible manager Wayne Kedsch finds opportunities for both righty corner outfielders.