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ayaghmour2 · 04-26-2020, 10:03 AM

Just hours after the Castellini trade became official, the Chicago Cougars agreed to a trade with the Toronto Wolves. The Cougars will acquire CF Cy Bryant from the Wolves for SS Clyde Hinzman. Center field is a position that is weak throughout the entire FABL, as none of the top 20 players in the league are center fielders. And the top center fielder in the league is 31-year-old center fielder David Merchant of the Philadelphia Sailors, and I couldn't see the Sailors sending one of their pennant rivals one of their best players. I decided the best player to add would be someone who was better then what we had, but expendable for a team.

Bryant, 24, was taken in the 2nd Round of the 1924 draft by Toronto. Bryant debuted in 1928 and got a cup of coffee in 1929, but he spent all of the 1930 season in Toronto with the Wolves. He got into 61 games and made 51 starts, hitting .353/.394/.512 (131 OPS+) with 8 steals and 32 RBI's in just over 200 at bats. Bryant is also an excellent defender, with an impressive +7.5 ZR out in center this season and a career +14.0 ZR in 813.2 major league innings.

Bryant is sort of a close to home player, graduating from Chicago HS and now he'll have a chance to start his big league career with the team he grew up rooting for. He has a ton of upside, as an elite defender out in center with excellent speed on the base paths. At the plate, he makes consistent contact with an aggressive approach at the plate.

Despite all this talent, Bryant sat on the bench behind former 2nd Overall Pick Freddie Malley, a talented outfielder in his own right. For his big league career, he owns a .278/.331/.416 (104 OPS+) batting line with 18 homers, 57 steals, and 57 steals in 2,858 trips to the plate. Malley is also just 26, so there was no immediate spot for Bryant in center.

Speaking of 26-year-olds, Hinzman, a 23-year-old who ranks 6th in our organization, is stuck behind a 26-year-old in Ross Combs. Hinzman was our 6th Round selection in 1925 who made his big league debut this season. It was just a quick trip to the majors, going 4-for-16 with 3 doubles in 4 games in Chicago. Like Bryant, Hinzman, is also an elite defender and he had an impressive +13.4 ZR in AAA Milwaukee this season and has put up double digit positive zone ratings in each of his professional seasons. He's a high average hitter with a lot of speed, but with Combs entrenched at short and a similar prospect in Slim Bloom there was no clear open spot for Hinzman.

I fully intend to give Bryant the starting center field job this season, which makes things a little cloudier for guys like George Jordan, Bob McCarty, Joe Davis, Mike Smith, and Tom Thomas. I think with the additions of Bryant and Castellini, we have the chance to bring a pennant back to the North Side for the first time since 1922. Of course, the offseason is long, but if all three of the top teams don't make any additions, I think we can start the season as the league favorites.

04-26-2020, 10:03 AM	#104
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,036	Breaking News! Just hours after the Castellini trade became official, the Chicago Cougars agreed to a trade with the Toronto Wolves. The Cougars will acquire CF Cy Bryant from the Wolves for SS Clyde Hinzman. Center field is a position that is weak throughout the entire FABL, as none of the top 20 players in the league are center fielders. And the top center fielder in the league is 31-year-old center fielder David Merchant of the Philadelphia Sailors, and I couldn't see the Sailors sending one of their pennant rivals one of their best players. I decided the best player to add would be someone who was better then what we had, but expendable for a team. Bryant, 24, was taken in the 2nd Round of the 1924 draft by Toronto. Bryant debuted in 1928 and got a cup of coffee in 1929, but he spent all of the 1930 season in Toronto with the Wolves. He got into 61 games and made 51 starts, hitting .353/.394/.512 (131 OPS+) with 8 steals and 32 RBI's in just over 200 at bats. Bryant is also an excellent defender, with an impressive +7.5 ZR out in center this season and a career +14.0 ZR in 813.2 major league innings. Bryant is sort of a close to home player, graduating from Chicago HS and now he'll have a chance to start his big league career with the team he grew up rooting for. He has a ton of upside, as an elite defender out in center with excellent speed on the base paths. At the plate, he makes consistent contact with an aggressive approach at the plate. Despite all this talent, Bryant sat on the bench behind former 2nd Overall Pick Freddie Malley, a talented outfielder in his own right. For his big league career, he owns a .278/.331/.416 (104 OPS+) batting line with 18 homers, 57 steals, and 57 steals in 2,858 trips to the plate. Malley is also just 26, so there was no immediate spot for Bryant in center. Speaking of 26-year-olds, Hinzman, a 23-year-old who ranks 6th in our organization, is stuck behind a 26-year-old in Ross Combs. Hinzman was our 6th Round selection in 1925 who made his big league debut this season. It was just a quick trip to the majors, going 4-for-16 with 3 doubles in 4 games in Chicago. Like Bryant, Hinzman, is also an elite defender and he had an impressive +13.4 ZR in AAA Milwaukee this season and has put up double digit positive zone ratings in each of his professional seasons. He's a high average hitter with a lot of speed, but with Combs entrenched at short and a similar prospect in Slim Bloom there was no clear open spot for Hinzman. I fully intend to give Bryant the starting center field job this season, which makes things a little cloudier for guys like George Jordan, Bob McCarty, Joe Davis, Mike Smith, and Tom Thomas. I think with the additions of Bryant and Castellini, we have the chance to bring a pennant back to the North Side for the first time since 1922. Of course, the offseason is long, but if all three of the top teams don't make any additions, I think we can start the season as the league favorites.