THIRD SEASON - PRESEASON UPDATE
Today is Arb day in my third season at the helm of the Flytraps. And this is the first season where I believe my team will be ready to compete and make a playoff run, though we will be doing it with a very young roster.
For budget day, I almost went with an identical budget from last season. Coaching at 16 million because the majority of my coaches did not want to be rehired, 16 each for college and HS scouting, 10 in international scouting, 14 in training, 11 in medical, 14 in advance scouting. My only change from last season was dropping prospect budget down from 20 to 18 -- I had extra at the end of last season that I spent of signing roster filler internationals. This leaves my player payroll at 70 million - still low, but I only have 48 million commited for the season.
On resign free agency day, I resigned what coaches I could (my only ML coach to return is my pitching coach so coach hiring will be a royal pain in thass this year) and resigned over 30 minor league free agents (any position players that catch, play a skill position, or have servicable ratings, and every starting pitcher and all relievers with decent STA/DUR combos). I also released a couple of arb eligible guys (Buster Rogers - no furture with the team, and McKay Xavier who played decent for me the past 2 years as a backup catcher but was not worth paying anything more than minimal salary). I also declined Kelly Hill's option and bought him out for just over a million (as opposed topaying him that horrendous 5+ he wanted). I still have a couple bad contracts , but all but one of them is entering its final year this season, and my budget is in great shape to be able to absorb that money this season.
I went 0-for-3 in arb hearings, but they were all guys asking for between 1.5 and 1.7. I now have just over 20 million in player payroll to play around with and free agency starts tomorrow. I am also keeping an eye on the trade market and would be happy to spend my payroll there instead if the right offer presents itself.
Up next -- trade and/or free agency updates as well as a preview of this year's 25 man roster.