Seven new Legacies coming in for ’89 including a Marquee who is one of the seminal players of this era and another who ends up being one of its most controversial and polarising.
These are the Legacy Players for the 1989 Season:
Seattle Mariners: Ken Griffey jr (83.8; 1685) MARQUEE 63%
Baltimore Orioles: Chris Hoiles 23.5; 894 ONE-CLUB PLAYER (conceded)
Chicago Cubs: Sammy Sosa (58.6; 1811)
Chicago White Sox: Robin Ventura (56.1; 1254)
Cleveland Indians: Omar Vizquel (45.6; 1478)
Kansas City Royals: Kevin Appier (54.5; 275 GS)
Texas Rangers: Kenny Rogers (50.5; 252 GS)
Juan Gonzalez (38.7; 1689) was also eligible for the Rangers, but Rogers’ higher WAR makes him the selection.
There are 150 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 5 rounds.
The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1988 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):
Round 1
1. Seattle Mariners (422)
2. Chicago Cubs (475)
3. Chicago White Sox (441)
4. Kansas City Royals (522)
5. Texas Rangers (404)
6. Cleveland Indians (481)
7. Baltimore Orioles (335)
8. Atlanta Braves (338)
9. Philadelphia Phillies (404)
10. California Angels (463)
11. St. Louis Cardinals (469)
12. Montreal Expos (500)
13. Houston Astros (506)
14. San Francisco Giants (512)
15. San Diego Padres (516)
16. New York Yankees (528)
17. Pittsburgh Pirates (531)
18. Milwaukee Brewers (537; dice roll)
19. Toronto Blue Jays (537; dice roll)
20. Cincinnati Reds (540)
21. Detroit Tigers (543)
22. Boston Red Sox (549)
23. Minnesota Twins (562)
24. Los Angeles Dodgers (584)
25. New York Mets (625)
26. Oakland Athletics (642)
Rounds 2 thru 5
1. Baltimore Orioles (335)
2. Atlanta Braves (338)
3. Philadelphia Phillies (404)
4. Seattle Mariners (422)
5. Texas Rangers (404)
6. Chicago White Sox (441)
7. California Angels (463)
8. St. Louis Cardinals (469)
9. Chicago Cubs (475)
10. Cleveland Indians (481)
11. Montreal Expos (500)
12. Houston Astros (506)
13. San Francisco Giants (512)
14. San Diego Padres (516)
15. Kansas City Royals (522)
16. New York Yankees (528)
17. Pittsburgh Pirates (531)
18. Milwaukee Brewers (537; dice roll)
19. Toronto Blue Jays (537; dice roll)
20. Cincinnati Reds (540)
21. Detroit Tigers (543)
22. Boston Red Sox (549)
23. Minnesota Twins (562)
24. Los Angeles Dodgers (584)
25. New York Mets (625)
26. Oakland Athletics (642)
Eligible PIT players: 8 position players + 5 pitchers = 13.
Far from an inspirational-looking Draft for us, either with regard to eligible players or the positioning of our pick, although there are a fair few decent players unspoken for so we might get lucky. Thankfully, we have no pressing needs and we’ll just play it as it lies when our turns come around.
We do, in fact, get fairly lucky:
1. OF Steve Finley, 23 (INELIGIBLE)
- Plenty of options open to us with Steve, who could supplant Ellis as a cheaper CF, be slow-burned or simply flipped for what we expect would be a fair return in a year’s time.
2. C Joe Oliver, 23 (PIT IRL: 1999)
- Will definitely be slow-burned with the view of eventually taking over the everyday role from Sluggo.
3. SS Mike Benjamin, 23 (PIT IRL: 1999-2002)
- Given our structure, I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if Mike ends up playing the most games for us of any of these Draftees—he’s the glove-heavy IF utility type we are always in need of.
4. IF Jeff Richardson, 23 (PIT IRL: 1991)
5. OF Steve Carter, 24 (PIT IRL: 1989-90)
A pleasant surprise.
