[ayaghmour2]

November 27th, 2028: Free Agents file today, and here are the top 10!

RHP Edwin Diaz
LHP Jorge Flores
LF Michael Conforto
RHP Jake Florence
3B Kennan Pulsifer
1B Andy Bostic
SS Jonathan Guzman
CF Ron Burk
RF Austin Hays
LHP Jairo Labourt

Usually this is the biggest news of the offseason, but instead, the biggest news is expansion is announced today! Here are the four teams entering the Major Leaugue, the first expansion since 1998:

Washington Senators (AL East)
Seattle Pilots (NL West)
Boston Doves (NL East)
Montreal Expos (NL Central)

Each team can protect 25 players, with all players less then 4 service years protected, and a maximum of 5 picks from each team.

A few teams are moving around as well:
San Diego Padres (NL West to AL West)
Cleveland Indians (AL Central to AL East)
Toronto Blue Jays (AL East to AL Central)

All the division now have 6 teams except the NL West and AL Central. They will get a 6th team in a few more years with more expansion.

A lot of minor league movement as well:

Winnipeg Goldeyes (AAA): Independent to Expos
Clinton Pilots (AAA): Idependent to Pilots
Albany Senators (AAA): Independent to Senators
St. Paul Saints (AAA): Independent to Doves
Huntsville Stars (AA): Independent to Pilots
Scranton Miners (AA): Independent to Doves
Memphis Blues (AA): Independent to Expos
Little Rock Travelers (AA): Independent to Senators
West Palm Beach Expos (A+): Independent to Expos
Orlando Bulldogs (A+): Independent to Senators
Peninsula Pulots (A+): Independent to Pilots
Wilson Tobs (A+): Independent to Doves
Gastonia Expos (A): Founded by Montreal
Burlington Bees (A): Angels to Pilots
Wisconsin Rapids Senators (A): Founded by Senators
Peoria Chiefs (A): Cardinals to Angels
Columbus Cardinals (A): Founded by the Cardinals
Appleton Foxes (A): Founded by the Doves
Jameston Falcons (A-): Founded by the Expos
Geneva Sentaors (A-): Founded by the Senators
Yakima Braves (A-): Founded by the Braves
Bellingham Mariners (A-): Founded by the Mariners
Everett AquaSox (A-): Mariners to Pilots
Seattle N (GCL) Pilots (R): Founded by Pilots
Washington A (GCL) Senators (R): Founded by the Senators
Montreal (GCL) Expos (R): Founded by the Expos
Boston N (GCL) Doves (R): Founded by the Doves

Next season, the expansion teams will likely get both a GCL team and an extra Rookie League Team.

The Amateur Pool Orgini adjusted as well:

American: 93.51 to 92.57
Puerto Rican: 3.50 to 3.47
Canadian: 2.99 to 3.96

I had to set my protected list, and this is who I chose to protect:

RP Ayden Hardemon
C Jackson Miller
LF Juan Ramirez
CL Chad Scoles
RP Luis Alcantra
C Pat Hughes
RF Jarred Kelenic
CF Daylen Lile
SS Isaac Nunez
3B Chris Reid
RF Palban Gamboa
SP Ignacio Hinojos
1B Mac Horvath
SP C.J. Jorgensen
3B Eric Kisela
RP Joe Kramer
SP Devon Peterson
RP Jamie Priest
2B Jon Reid
2B Noah Smith
LF Sergio Tello
SP Steve Paustian
SP Luis Ardon

Here's who I expect to be taken:
RP Blayne Enlow
RP Trevor Gott
RP Alfredo Herrera
C Dermott MacGregor
2B Nesty Cirese
RP Leonel Olvera

Although, the AI never ceases to amaze me, so who knows...

The draft is tomorrow!

November 28th, 2028: Before the draft, the Indians and Angels made a swap. The Indias acquired LF Jeff Del Vecchio and the Angels will recieve RHP Stephen Ridings and RHP Jonathan Chott. I like this deal both ways.

I talked to both Enlow and Gott before the draft, explaining that I left them unprotected so they could be the face of one of the two new franchises, and that I'd love to have them, but wanted to give them a great option to succeed.

The 35 round serpentine draft would start with the Seattle Pilots, followed by the Boston Doves, Montreal Expos, and Washington Senators. Let's just say that there are actually a decent amount of quality players available for the four fledgling franchises. I'll cover the first couple rounds, and then just notable players:

1st Round, 1st Overall: 2B Daniel Bautista (SEP): There are a ton of 4.5 and better potential pitchers, and the Pilots go with a 1* infielder from teh White Sox...

1st Round, 2nd Overall: SP Josh Sparks (BSN): Better pick here, rated a 1.5/2* as a starter, but higher as a reliever. He's a former 2nd Round Pick of the Rays.

1st Round, 3rd Overall: LF Johnanser Pointer (MON): The Rays have taken two hits, losing the solid defensive and speedy outfielder. He's rated just a 0.5/1.5.

1st Round, 4th Overall: RP Steve Hudson (WSH): Finally a good pick! A former 3rd Rounder of the Nationals, Hudson is rated a 3.5/3.5 as a reliever and he can play a little outfield as well.

2nd Round, 5th Overall: RP Noel Morgan (WSH): Back to back picks for the Senators, as they went with a 2.5/3 lefty from Oakland. He was a 2nd round pick of theirs.

2nd Round, 6th Overall: 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (MON): Well, I gess they wanted the Canadian. This would've been a good pick years a go, but now he's a washed up 29-year-old owed 55% of $264,000,000 for the next four seasons. First player selected with connection to me.

2nd Round, 7th Overall: LF Aydan Tomiak (BSN): Former 21st Overall Pick by the Phillies out of the University of Central Florida. He's rated a 1.5/1.5, but really is nothing special.

2nd Round, 8th Overall: 2B Tristan Hanoian (SEP): Another former player of mine. Hanoian is rated a 1.5/1.5 and came from Boston.

3rd Round, 9th Overall: RP Blayne Enlow (SEP): The Pilots made a smart choice, selecting 3.5/3.5 righty Blayne Enlow from the Miami Marlins. He's going to flourish with the Pilots as a leader and will be a very affordable piece for them.

3rd Round, 10th Overall: 1B Harvin Mendoza (BSN): Back to bad picks, a 1* first basemen from the Rays. That's three of the Rays six players taken already. And none of them are good.

3rd Round, 11th Overall: RP Aydan McFarlen (MON): A 3/3 Canadian from the Yankees organization. He was a 13th Round selection of theirs.

3rd Round, 12th Overall: RP Charlie Dickison (WSH): A 1.5/2 from the Reds, Dickison is a former 2nd rounder of the Mariners.

That's enough bad picks for now...

4th Round: LF Jaheim Tyes (MON): My second player selected

5th Round: SP Zach Linginfelter (SEP): The third of my players selected
5th Round: RP Alfredo Herrera (WSH): The fourth of my players selected

7th Round: LF Conner Capel (WSH): Former Marlin minor leaguer

9th Round: 3B Roberto Pena (BSN): My fifth player selected
9th Round: LF Tyrese Ephron (MON): Former Marlin who spent 18 games with us in 2027.

11th Round: RP Trevor Gott (SEP): The last of my players selected. A good selection by the Pilots.

16th Round: RP Greg Walston (SEP): Another former Marlin.

17th Round: CF Christian Franklin (MON): Former Marlins outfielder.

18th Round: RP Josh Watson (SEP): Former Marlin reliever.

21st Round: SS Logan Warmouth (WSH): Former Marlin minor leaguer.
21st Round: RP Sanshiro Onuma (SEP): Former Marlin reliever.

24th Round: 1B Keston Hiura (SEP): Former Marlin second basemen.
24th Round: 2B Jose Israel Garcia (MON): Former Marlins shortstop.

25th Round: RP Marco Jimenez (BSN): Former Marlin reliever

32nd Round: RP Ernesto Estrella (BSN): Former 2018 draft pick of mine that played with us.

My 40-Man roster is now down to 40, which is nice, since I can purchase the contracts of SP Chris Bigsby, C Pat Hughes, SS Rogelio Maldonado, and LF Bob Poulson.

On to the rest of the Free Agency!