[Westheim]

The year ended without the Raccoons managing to open a roster spot with a trade. At this point everybody and their mother, and especially the Agitator knew that we had been trying to shift Noah Caswell and the last two years of his contract. Caswell had delivered two strong seasons, and now two injury-addled seasons, roughly hitting league average whenever he had his two legs under him.

Moving Caswell out and rotating the outfield back to Brass in left, Morris in center, and Christopher in right would be an immediate defensive boost, and we would probably hit more in the long run with Christopher being able to slot into the leadoff spot whenever Morris was slumping, or when Lonzo needed a day off could bat second without disheveling everything else in the lineup as well.

Nobody wanted Caswell, however, and it looked a lot like he would hang around for two more seasons. By the time the new year came around, the Raccoons tried for some relief pitching scraps on the market.

Maud, I think we should start stockpiling on fudge and Capt’n Coma for the new season. Put it on the shopping list, please.

+++

December 20 – The Miners grab ex-CIN SP Cameron Parks (72-98, 4.32 ERA) on a whopping 6-year, $43.7M contract.
December 24 – After a year in Atlanta, 35-year-old SP Troy Ratliff (104-125, 4.11 ERA) returns to the Capitals on a 2-year, $4.88M contract.
December 25 – Sacramento adds former Warriors RF/LF/1B Josh Bursley (.269, 65 HR, 379 RBI) for $38.4M over six years.
December 27 – The Pacifics sign ex-NYC SP Milt Cantrell (153-116, 3.43 ERA) to a 2-yr, $7.2M deal.
December 27 – Former Buffaloes and Titans reliever Kyle Zanni (26-18, 3.74 ERA, 80 SV) gets a 3-yr, $9.48M deal from the Scorpions.
December 31 – The Bayhawks acquire the former Knights closer Steve Watson (43-57, 3.90 ERA, 211 SV) on a deal worth $8.4M over three years.
January 3 – The Crusaders trade outfielder Kelly Konecny (.295, 8 HR, 175 RBI) to the Capitals for C Pedro Almaguer (.252, 77 HR, 424 RBI) and a prospect.

+++

2062 HALL OF FAME VOTING RESULTS

Career Gold Sox pitcher Garry Perrone became the only inductee into the Hall of Fame in 2062 by being elected off the first ballot with 90.8% of all votes. Perrone pitched in the majors for 13 years, but the four years at the end were marred my injuries and more injuries, and eventually ineffectiveness. His final strong season was at age 31 in 2052, and he was really elected on his eight complete seasons, but boy, was it an insane peak. In those eight years, he won FL Player of the Year honors six times, led the FL in wins five times, in ERA three times, and in WHIP also three times. He led in strikeouts only once, and didn’t win the triple crown, but pitched the Sox to four straight World Series trophies. For good measure, he won two Platinum Sticks. In 359 career games (301 starts), he went 180-59 with 2.69 ERA and 1,723 strikeouts in 2,169 innings.

Full results:
DEN SP Gary Perrone – 1st – 90.8 – INDUCTED
DEN 3B Ronnie Thompson – 1st – 73.1
OCT SS Ryan Cox – 1st – 25.8
??? SP Matt Sealock – 2nd – 17.7
CIN 3B Jesus Burgos – 1st – 14.5
??? C Julio Diaz – 1st – 11.7
??? RF Juan Benavides – 3rd – 11.7
PIT SP Roberto Pruneda – 9th – 8.5
??? SP Mike LeMasters – 2nd – 7.8
NYC SP Jeff Johnson – 1st – 7.4
CHA CL Josh Livingston – 4th – 6.7
SAL SP Orlando Leos – 1st – 6.4
NYC C Fernando Alba – 3rd – 6.4
??? 2B Mario Briones – 3rd – 6.4
ATL SP Brian Buttress – 3rd – 5.7
BOS SP Rich Willett – 10th – 4.9 – DROPPED
??? CF Dave Lee – 1st – 2.1 – DROPPED
??? LF Billy Hester – 1st – 2.1 – DROPPED
CHA 2B Miguel Martinez – 1st – 0.0 – DROPPED
RIC CF Gil Cabrera – 1st – 0.0 – DROPPED