[Westheim]

The Raccoons didn’t really have much more to do this offseason after signing Mike Lane, since they had already used up their budget, and then some. Steve from Accounting announced the budget deficit to be $350,730 and all that was left was the cash reserves of some $2.4M that Nick Valdes could withdraw at any moment anyway.

It wasn’t like there was budget room to be gained by swinging a trade. While the Raccoons had 14 players on the payroll that made seven figures, I would have struggled to point out any one of them as being surplus to requirements, not even Ryan Sullivan, who was likely to miss the entire season on the DL. That didn’t mean we didn’t *require* his services… Since Sullivan’s 2062 contract was a player option, it was entirely possible that he would not pitch for the Raccoons again.

The 14 millionaires aside, the Raccoons had only four players signed up to a non-minimum contract for six figures (Bravo, Ricky H., DeRose, Gonzales). Gonzales was likely to end up on waivers at the start of the season, although we had not yet quite made up our mind about the precise composition of the infield. Yeah yeah, there was Starr, Lonzo, that Nick, that Nick, and that Nick, but then there was the question whether Jack Kozak was gonna make the Opening Day roster (makes unsure paw movement) and whether he would count as an infielder or outfielder.

Outfielders on the extended offseason roster Brass, Cas, and Joe-Chris (all for sure), Morris (probably!), and Oley (eeeeeh). Since Brass was the only right-handed batter in that group, Jack Kozak had a pretty decent case to be the fifth “outfielder” in that mix. That left another spot open on the roster for an infielder like Gonzales, although we perhaps wanted a guy to spot Lonzo against right-handers, which would make Jon Bean the most likely filler. Also still hanging around the roster for no good reason and only leaving marmalade paw prints everywhere: Bernie Ortega and Armando Suriel. Gauge their chances to make the team from that previous sentence at your own leisure.

So, yeah, a real right-handed outfielder would still be a fine addition to the team. But will he play for free?

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January 29 – The Titans sign up former Wolves closer Jason Posey (61-53, 2.71 ERA, 296 SV) on a 3-yr, $19.2M contract.
January 29 – Ex-Vegas 2B/SS Jim White (.271, 65 HR, 533 RBI) gets a 3-yr, $7.44M contract with the Gold Sox.
February 4 – The Crusaders bring in 38-year-old former Buffaloes SP Austin Wilcox (189-170, 3.93 ERA) on a 2-yr, $12.8M contract.
February 5 – The Miners take the last type A free agent of the market, signing 29-year-old ex-RIC CF/RF Antonio Cruz (.284, 43 HR, 275 RBI) up on a $25.6M contract running for four years.
February 19 – The Indians spend $1.98M on ex-PIT CL Cruz Madrid (32-25, 4.08 ERA, 66 SV), who made one appearance in 2060 before heading for Tommy John surgery and was not going to make it to Opening Day.
March 21 – The Titans bring on ex-CHA SP Art Schaeffer (141-109, 3.32 ERA) on a 2-yr, $12M deal.

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The Raccoons did not make any signings in those last two months of the offseason, but there was one offer still out there for a right-handed reliever, 25-year-old Paul Barton, that had been left to rot in AAA by the Blue Sox and had elected minor league free agency. He had sought a minor league deal with major-league option, but the Raccoons offered a major league contract instead, because Barton had all his options and could be kept in AAA as reserve all year that way.

Yes, Steve from Accounting, I know, money money money! You sound like Nick! – What do you mean, which one??

Only one former Furball got another paying contract in this period, as Gaudencio Callaia joined the Stars for $530k.