Small Market Connecticut Making Big Waves
1/1/2014: Bridgeport, CT – The Connecticut Nutmeggers gave their fans an unexpected Christmas present this past week by signing three of the top free agents on the market. On December 21st, they announced the signing of two major additions to the lineup, shortstop George Riley and designated hitter Octávio Pexego. Then, on Christmas Eve, Nutmeggers fans were treated to what was perhaps an even greater treat: the signing of SL Golden Arm winner Pedro Barrón.
“We felt we were able to grab the best pitcher available on the free agent market,” GM Frank Esselink said. “Barrón steps up and fills the number one starter role for us, making the rest of our staff better. He won the Golden Arm award over a pair of guys who are either asking for the moon in terms of salary or required 15 players for one season and exclusive negotiating rights. To be able to add a pair of top-flight offensive weapons with the track record of Riley and Pexego, as well… well we’re quite happy.”
The Nutmeggers were in the bottom half of the IL in nearly all offensive statistics last season, finishing 10th in runs scored and 20th in the PEBA overall. Riley will give the team something it has never had: a guy who will be among the league leader in walks and could post an OBP over .400. The team expects to bat him in the leadoff position despite his relative lack of speed. Incumbent shortstop Ronald Lowry, who finished 4th in the IL Royal Raker voting last season, will shift over to third base. Pexego, a former Royal Raker winner, will take over the DH duties from swing-for-the-fences Jorge Morín.
The pitching was middle of the pack – 6th in the IL and 11th in the PEBA in runs allowed. On the surface, that doesn’t look too bad, although it certainly could be improved upon. The problems lie deeper, however. The team’s winningest pitcher, Carlos Cervantes, left for free agency. The team’s up-and-coming young starter António Cruz wanted a hefty raise in arbitration just weeks after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He wasn’t offered arbitration at all.
Enter Barrón. The SL Golden Arm winner will have his work cut out for him as he tries to show the rest of the league that this past season wasn’t a fluke. Rumors suggest the Bears themselves felt Barrón has had his best season. Of course, given they now have Hancock pitching for them, they’re far less likely to miss their 2013 ace.
Around the league, opinions on the deal have been mixed, with most feeling that the Nutmeggers have overpaid for aging veterans with their best days behind them. American Baseball Perspective’s Earl Valentine wrote, “It’s going to take much more than that to get them to the level of Arlington or Florida. They’ve also now sunk nearly $51 million on payroll into their 2016 club. We’re talking about a team that only won 76 games this year. These moves will be great for the fans but bad for the team, I fear.”
Others kept their distance. The Bakersfield Bears merely issued a vanilla statement regarding their departed ace. “We wish Pedro and the Nutmeggers nothing but the best. Pedro is a warrior, one of the real class acts in the league, and we would have loved to keep him in Bakersfield. But sometimes circumstances beyond everyone’s control make that impossible.” It’s easy to see them chuckling to themselves over the fact that they signed Hancock to an extension that’s nearly identical to Barrón’s contract.
The team with the most to lose by these signings could very well be New Jersey. As the 4th seed from the IL to make the postseason in 2013 – a rather large surprise – these moves are a direct challenge to their desires to stay in that position. It’s possible that Arlington, Florida, or Charleston will fall out of the playoff picture in 2014. It’s not unprecedented for a preseason favorite to hit all sorts of obstacles along the way, but New Jersey is the team on the bubble until one of those other three teams shows they no longer have it.
Opinions throughout the Hitmen organization were solicited by various news agencies immediately upon hearing the news. Manager Tracy Evans was put on the spot by reporters this past week. “This is a very high risk maneuver,” he responded. “With only 13 players on the active roster – 16 after the addition of the ‘big three’ – Connecticut still has a lot of holes to fill… You can’t blame a team for trying to get better and win more games. I wish them luck and we will definitely have to rethink our strategies when we play them this coming season.”
Scouting director Martín Diharce told the Associated Press, “I love the ‘El Chupacabra’ deal… Pexego and Lowry will be a one-two punch in the lineup to fear!”
Beat writer Tomasz Kamien will likely be given the silent treatment in the New Jersey clubhouse for the way he gushed about the moves. “I think the biggest winners here are Kettley and Lowry. They now have ‘El Chupacabra’ and George Riley in the lineup to give opposing pitchers something to think about. I think this acquisition could mean break out years for their young bats! The fans love it. I love it.”
Florida radio personality A.K. was enthusiastic about the team’s improvement, as well. “When you look at major off-season changes, you gotta think Connecticut,” he told listeners. “The Nutmeggers brought in the Three Amigos! No other team aside from perhaps the Bears has made such an impact this offseason! The team finally has something that resembles an offense. Lowry, Kettley, Riley and Pexego… my, oh my! That’s some heavy hitters for you, baby!
“Reséndez finally gets some help with the addition of Barrón. This should take a load off the shoulders of Reséndez and allow him to relax a little. I’m predicting a breakthrough year for Reséndez! For the longest time, the team lacked a 1-2 combo. It was like having jam without the peanut butter! Well, finally… the team has some PB&J, baby!
“Overall, the signings send a direct message to their fan base and the rest of the division. The Nutmeggers are not sitting back and fooling around! They are here to do some damage in the standings! All three players give instant credibility to the offense and pitching. I’m predicting at least a 10-game improvement from this group.”
The team will formally introduce all three players at a press conference tentatively slated for early next week.
Samuel Platt covers the Nutmeggers for the Connecticut Post