Topham Locks Up Own as Spring Looms
by Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger
February 6, 2020: Aurora, Colorado – Aurora has famously made their run over the past 10 seasons through trades for pitching and picks, and then building through their farm system that has system-wide been as successful as the parent team. They’ve held onto their own in places felt most prudent to do so and known when it was time to ‘let go’. This offseason has illustrated that philosophy perfectly as the Borealis continue to eschew the free agent market in favor of building within and keeping their own – a move that now includes system-wide coaching positions.
The most impressive of the offseason moves has to be the signing of Michel Provost to a 2-year extension that has the potential to be a 4-year deal (2-years guaranteed, two team options) that avoids the painful – price-wise, arbitration process. The deal has the reigning SL Golden Arm, coming off a 16-6 year with 258 K and just 9 BB while posting a 1.52 ERA, locked up through 2024, should Aurora chose to do so. Arbitration estimates for the young righty were sailing through the roof, with predictions that his number would set records for years to come (likely ending up in the $30M range) – or force the Borealis to trade him. Now at an average of $17.75M over four years, Aurora has a major cog set, dictating how the rest of the budget may be allocated over the next four years.
And allocate they did as Anastasio López, free agent-to-be after the 2020 season, was then signed to a 3-year, with a 4th–year team option, $13.25M deal that keeps him on the Front Range through 2024 as well. Despite the gaudy offensive numbers over the team’s history, their success has been predicated on excellent pitching and GM Will Topham has worked hard to bring together a core group that finally was able to get the team over the hump and win a Rodriguez Cup. López has struck out 444 batters the past two seasons and as a mainstay in this rotation, López has posted a 51-26 record and 3.65 ERA since his arrival from Manchester in 2016.
It’s already been documented, the deals that Aurora struck with other key players – Bryant Burris back in August and Scott Vinson, Mike Britt, ‘Porker’ Thompson, ‘Stork’ Holbrook, ‘Sleepy’ Kuhn, and Mike Hale prior to the end of the season – some have gone so far as to suggest that the timing was genius as far as Vinson is concerned as he rewarded the team with 12 RBI in 14 post-season games, despite only 58 during the regular season. Thompson and Vinson’s deal a 1-year extension for 2021, the other’s being 2-year extensions – some with option years, taking some into mid-arbitration years.
Rumors persist that Aurora may continue to look to negotiate with ‘Gypsy’ John Foster over an extension, but Foster’s agent has been vocal in the press that the two sides are, “far apart”. Foster’s numbers have been a great disappointment to Aurora as the former #1 pick has failed to meet the production they saw during his minor league career. Also rumored is Topham may try to ink Miguel Salinas to another year (2021) before the season starts. Signed to a rare free agent deal: 1-year, $13M, with a team option prior to the 2019 season, Aurora exercised that 2020 option after he hit .303 with 15 HR and 61 RBI following an extremely slow start. Lost amid these discussions is the potential for a long-term deal with SS Nick Giles, who’s break-out 2019 season (.325, 16 HR and 67 RBI in 97 games) gives the team faith they have their starter for years to come. Topham has reportedly said that, ‘after Provost and López, Giles is our #1 position-player concern.’ How long it takes them to get a deal done will tell us how pivotal such a deal really is.
But the signings have not been limited to the active roster as Aurora announced today that they have signed numerous members of their excellent, system-wide, coaching staff. On the Aurora staff, Pitching Coach Thomas Williams and Hitting Coach Kata Hayagawa both inked 5-year deals that keep two of the best in the league on the Front Range for many years. Williams, joining Aurora for the 2016 season, has guided a pitching staff that trails on Bakersfield and Florida as the top staff in the PEBA, as measured by ERA. Hayagawa also joined Aurora in 2016, after a 7-year stint as Hitting Coach in Thornton. Since his arrival Aurora trails only Tempe and New Jersey in team batting average (though Duluth is a very close 4th). Notably missing is Manager Don James who, at 68-years old is in the last year of his contract, is expected to be replaced by a younger – and cheaper, option from within. Williams’ name is one of those that has been floated about in social media discussions as a potential future manager for Aurora.
On the minor league front, Thornton Hitting Coach Luis González and Pitching Coach Takesi Rin signed 4- and 5-year deals. Rin, equally respected within the organization would be a likely replacement at Aurora should Williams be promoted. At SLRC, Manager Alonso García and Hitting Coach Rodrigo Gómez inked 3-year deals.
The moves this offseason have stretched the Aurora financial budget near to it’s limit, and with the potential of deals for Salinas and/or Foster for next year, Aurora could be looking at a salary base over $140M in 2021 – an amazing feat that can be nothing but a testament to the good will, no pun intended, that Topham generates with his players; this team arguably could push the $160-$170M salary threshold. As it stands now only four players on the current roster are not signed for the 2022 season! The Borealis are banking on, again, no pun intended, continued success on the field to fill the recently expanded Northern Lights Park with it’s increased ticket prices to cover the increased cost of operating. It’s never boring on The Front Range, and 2020 and beyond promise to continue that trend as a young, successful core begins to seek their pay day.
