NABO48 w/ MLBPA ... Updated for '26

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This is not my best update, there are a few mistakes ... but none bigger than not saving any StL Shires screenshots or graphics.

Onto Update 15 ...

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Boston and DC continue to play .700 ball as poor Baltimore falls to 3rd place after leading the division for the bulk of the season.

Front running Montreal actual extends their lead late in the season.

These 4 teams bouncing around like dice in a yahtzee cup, who knows how this division will eventually sort out.

Santo Domngo maintains a significant lead.

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Mount Rainer division goes from 1 to 3 teams over .500

San Diego surges as the rest of the division's contenders falter.

With Wii Jr emerging as the MVP front runner and Nolan Goman contending for both the HR title and WPA crown, Windy City looks poised to win this division. StL shifts its focus to meeting the owner's goal of playing .500 ball.

Another update, another combination of standing in the Big Bend division.

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EAST - MVP Race
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[1] Ju. Rodriguez MON - 16.0
[2] Lindor DOM - 13.0
[3] Tatis Jr GEO - 10.9
[4] S. Suzuki NAD - 10.3
[5] Rutschman IND - 10.1




WEST - MVP RACE
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[1] Santander SLT - 12.0
[2] Witt Jr WIN - 11.6
[3] Acuna Jr SPA - 10.0
[4] B.Doyle GUA - 9.2
[5] W. Abreu SAS - 9.0

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EAST CYA RACE
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[1] Strider TOR - 13.1
[2] Crochet DC - 13.1
[3] Valdez GTH - 12.5
[4] McClanahan PHI - 12.4
[5] N. Cortes DC - 10.4




WEST CYA RACE
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[1] Skenes MEX - 16.2
[2] Wheeler PRT - 12.5
[3] Snell WIS - 11.7
[4] Suarez LAL - 11.6
[5] Kirby GEO - 11.1

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Windy City essentially puts us out of our misery.

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This has been my most disappointing season, and it doesn't look like we're going to meet our .500 goal.

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Being out of contention, and wanting to end this disaster of a season, I obviously simulated the last 11-12 games, day by day.

After much anticipation, DC finally makes it to the top of the division. Boston still makes the playoffs, and Baltimore (leading the division all year) makes it in as the last Wildcard.

Montreal has led this division all season, propelled by MVP front runner Julio Rodriguez,

Carolina wins the division on tie breakers. No joke.

Like Montreal, Santo Domingo has dominated this division for the bulk of the season.

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Portland finishes what they started, winning the division.

San Diego rises to the top, and finishes there.

Windy City takes the lead and then takes charge of the Great Lakes division.

St Louis, naturally, finishes the season on a .500 trend.

After all the jumping around shuffling in the standing, the division resumes it's season long trend of Space City at the top. San Antonio finds itself out of the playoffs, as does CYA favorite Skenes and Mexico City.

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The playoff matchups are set

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Albies gets a 30-30 season.

Well, at least it wasn't a score of 230 .... that'd be humiliating.

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We've got to do something, we are not in a good position .... financially or in the standings. Reminder: I'm using fictional contracts.

*cuss words*

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After a pretty exciting postseason, Space City claims the NABO48 Title.

Led by CJ Abrams, WS MVP

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The reality is this small market, highly popular (regionally) is cash strapped. Normally, I'd just play out a couple of seasons using the same roster and rotation, with some minor changes .... while developing young players.

But, since I'm presenting a dynasty here, that would not be very interesting or fun. So, I looked into our best assets, and there's Mookie Betts sitting there making 40+M AAV over the next 5 years. That's the contract that keeps us from making any significant moves. Reminder: Fictional contracts.

So, I shopped Betts to see about possibilities.

This was the most intriguing offer.

[1] Since, I'm shipping a big contract, I felt like I should take on some (albeit lesser) contract, to be somewhat realistic and fair.

[2] There's Max Scherzer ... a longtime love lust for the city of St Louis. Scherzer a hometown hero (U of M) and fantasy of the fans, is still serviceable at age 41.

[3] The real interest is in SS Ortiz. StL had plans to improve their up the middle defense to help out the SP and lower their league worst BABIP against.

[4] The real plan is to cut money to create budget room .... to make a run at SP Logan Webb, and extreme groundball pitcher with great control that could continue to produce with a good defense behind him.

[5] There is some realism in the trade from the New York side as well ... after seeing both Boston and Baltimore make the postseason, the cash rich Naturals decide to go in and start packing the roster with stars.

Reminder 2: One of my "house rules" is that I cannot add to or remove things from the proposal, so no sneaking a hidden minor league gem, or adding a good draft pick here and there, etc.

... and it's done. Let's look into the pieces.

In my mind, I'm also factoring in Webb, Suarez, or a 2nd-tier starter that I am able to sign in FA due to the free'd up money.

Betts joins Judge in NY, serving as their SS and leadoff batter.

OH NO!!! What have I done?

Gutierrez is a decent prospect for NY. He's all singles and stolen bases, which may play in this steal happy league, but StL already has 2 players of this type.

I didn't like losing Morlando. His defense isn't good enough to be a regular starting CF on a contending team, but he may become a great 4th OF or a good platoon partner.

Now to St Louis ....

Despite being 41, Mad Max is still a good mid rotation SP, for 14M/y over 3y. If he sucks or gets injured, I'm hoping he'll just retire.

... and the fan base loves bringing home the hometown star, also meets an owner goal.

Great SS defense, enough bat to produce daily, and an affordable contract moving forward. He may be the steal of the trade. Also allows me to let Baez and his 2.8 M demand to walk.

The fans even like it a little.

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Next up was to make a move on Webb.

He was asking for an AAV of like 42M on an 8 year deal.

I tried to cut into that by having higher AAV in the first years and decreasing amounts over 6 years (down from the 8y demand).

I started at 45M for y1, then reduced by like 5M over each of the 5y, so something like 40M, 35M, 30M, then 27M and I think 25M.

If he takes it, I'm happy, but I expected him to come back with much better offers, or asking for more years.

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While waiting for Webb's replay ... which was taking more days than I anticipated, I received a trade proposal from Mile High ...

Anticipating Webb to have multiple offers better than mine, I strongly considered this deal for some time. Musgrove is an improvement over what StL has and doesn't cost a fortune. This trade would allow the Shires to sign another "2nd starter" type in FA, if the Webb deal falls through.

If Webb signs with StL, they can make some minor moves to accommodate the additional cost.

StL accepts the trade.

Crim was StL's DH for much of the season. But, I'd rather be searching for a DH, or using as a position of development for younger players, than I would be searching for good SP's.

Irate is decent, but not enough control or stuff for him to be in the StL bullpen.

It's a small upgrade for decent money. A solid Plan B.

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... and of course, Webb signs the contract. That's great, I like our offer and payment scale. But, it does create a bit of a jam in our [1] Back of the rotation / long reliever and middle relief situations.

Solid pitcher, just what we're looking for to fit our strategy going forward.

The fans love it.