Bunner & Sullivan meet – purse strings open

[Codgers]

Heading into the offseason GM Rob Sullivan had hoped to see a budget increase after a flurry of moves at the 2039 trade deadline saw the Codgers become a competitive team. Instead, the notoriously cheap owner of the Codgers Hopkins Reginald Bunner set the teams budget at $142MM, the same as the previous two seasons.

Sullivan was not happy. He had met or exceeded almost every goal set by Bunner. He had completely revamped the team by the trade deadline including a big trade that saw the team acquire a true ace to lead the young pitching staff in James McCoy. When the dust settled the Codgers had one of the most exciting young pitching staffs in the PEBA. There were positive moves made to the offense, but Sullivan was counting on a budget increase to help bring the offense from the worst in the league to a top fifteen offense.

Sullivan met with his controversial agent and man servant Arthur Fleck to discuss his options. Stepping down as general manager was not an option, not in his first full season. Several options were discussed including blackmail, bribery and even an accident meant to remove Bunner as owner. Even at 73 years old and in poor health Sullivan didn’t think waiting for Bunner to die was an option – the team was entering a window of competitiveness before the pitching staff started to earn big contracts. Something needed to change now.

Gotti Jr. reached out to Bunner to set a meeting between the team owner and its general manager. Rumors say the meeting was cordial with Sullivan making his case for an increased budget. He felt the team could not wait on the bats in the minor leagues to mature because by the time Takeuchi, Ocasio, Cervantes, Chavez and Terry made it to the Codgers the young pitching staff would be negotiating their first free agent contracts. Plus, there are no guarantees all or any of these prospects become good PEBA hitters.

Bunner relented and offered a modest increase in spending to allow Sullivan to prove his plan but on the condition the team did not make any long-term commitments. Sullivan got to work right away inking a power bat at a position of need in catcher Claudio Perez to a three-year deal. He followed up that signing with outfielders Lorenzo Valdes, and Kyoichi Ngata and bullpen arm Bartolo Baca. He then traded for long time target catcher Freddy Morales. There are whispers in the front offices of other PEBA teams that Sullivan is not done shopping.

Time will tell if Sullivan’s plan works but Codgers fans have certainly taken notice as interest in the team is at an all time high and projected attendance is up 15% while revenue has seen a 21% bump. Even season ticket sales are on the rise but still short of last season’s numbers. To get another budget increase Sullivan needs these moves to pay dividends not only on the field but at the box office.