While I am so looking forward to the budget and payroll becoming close enough to be a factor in decisions without needing house rules to govern behaviour, the vast differential in financial between v22 and v23 is rather clunky. So I have split the difference in the hope of somewhat smoothing the gradient over the next few years. Still, it is impossible to ignore the vast difference in newly-signed and previously-signed contracts.
So it is little surprise that we do indeed see our first million-dollar contract, with Jim O’Toole gleaning that honour. By the end of an otherwise uneventful offseason, there had been 4 signed above that mark led by Roger Maris’s deal with the BoSox.
Here are the key transactions:
- OF Roger Maris: Red Sox, 7 years / $1588000
- C John Romano: Athletics, 5 years / $1292000 (extension)
- P Jim O’Toole: Cubs, 5 years / $1248000 (extension)
- 1B Bill White: Phillies, 4 years / $1118000
- 1B Norm Siebern: Braves, 5 years / $980000
- OF Felix Mantilla: Cardinals, 4 years / $816000
- P Harvey Haddix: Phillies, 3 years / $600000
- 3B Frank Malzone: Yankees, 4 years / $592000
- 3B Hank Thompson: Giants, 3 years / $580000 (extension)
- 3B Al Smith: Phillies, 4 years / $544000
- SS Ron Hansen: Giants, 5 years / $524000 (extension)
- OF Frank Howard: Indians, 4 years / $467000 (extension)
- C Clay Dalrymple: White Sox, 4 years / $434000 (extension)
- P Jack Kralick: Dodgers, 3 years / $387000 (extension)
- OF Bob Skinner: Colt .45s, 3 years / $345000
- P Don Mossi: Red Sox, 2 years / $320000
- 3B Bob Johnson: Twins, 4 years / $217800 (extension)
- SS Gair Allie and P Wayne Carlander from Indians to Phillies for C Jesse Gonder and P Gerry Arrigo
- 2B Ken Hubbs from Cubs to Mets for P Lindy McDaniel
Another strong ST for our group at 12-6 with no injury news of note. Sadly that is not the case for a few other clubs, with the following key losses sustained:
- Athletics - SS Tom Tresh (concussion), season
- Braves - P Tom Borland (elbow), season
- Orioles - P George Perez (UCL), season
ALL TRANSACTIONS
The BNN boffins picked the quinella last year and have put us on top narrowly, along with the Tigers in the AL. They see The Mick giving that HR record a decent rattle as well, a feat I see as more likely than us topping the NL standings, I'm afraid.
FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS