|
NEW JERSEY EAGLES 2016 ROTATION/LINEUP
Rotation
SP Felix Hernandez - We're lucky we got him locked up. His ERA and record (2.30, 14-3) are tops in the majors. At just 26 years old and with a lot of experience, he'll be an excellent ace for the team in the years to come. He was acquired through FA on a 5 year deal worth over 11,060PP, the largest contract on the team.
SP Cliff Lee - He's 33, but he's still got it. A solid #2 lefty, he might as well be a second ace. He struggled to an ERA over 5.00 after we signed him in the 2013 offseason, but has rebounded to a great 2.47 to this point in the season. Him and King Felix make a great LHP/RHP combo at the top of the rotation. We've got him under contract to guide these young arms for the next three seasons.
SP Andrew Brooks - The ace of the team in its inaugural season, he's a soft thrower who dominates hitters with his array of pitches. He was a Cy Young winner and had the highest earned run average in both 2012 (2.55) and 2014 (2.24). Last season he lead the league in strikeouts at 252, and in 2014 he also had the highest win percentage in the bigs (.882), which is also the highest of active pitchers. Mind you he's only 24 years old. We're looking to extend him before he hits free agency in November.
SP Clayton Kershaw - A pretty good, young left-hander who is a nice option to have from the beginning, middle, or back-end of the rotation. He's got a great CB and has improved his other pitches since we grabbed him from the Dodgers a few years ago. At only 1,490PP he's not costly and can only improve with time. Hopefully we'll get him secured by the end of this season.
SP Matt Moore - Yet another young lefty who has his contract up at the end of the year. He hits 97 on the gun and has really good breaking pitches. At times he baffles hitters like nobody's business. Moore can really racks up Ks for the team and is a valuable asset to have as our 5th starter. Acquired through trade from Tampa a few years ago, Matt is definitely a priority to sign since he's been very solid at a young age.
Bullpen
SW/LR Sean Haynes - Haynes was a top draft pick back in June, but we weren't able to get him since we drafted last. We pulled the trigger on a deal with the KC Royals for SS Zack Cozart and relievers Bobby Parnell and Jonathan Broxton to bring him in. He has a 97 MPH fastball with good stuff in his arsenal. He's only a rookie so he's struggled so far with the team. In time he'll make for a good starter, or at worst, a satisfactory closer, at least in my opinion. Haynes is under team control for 5 seasons so he'll have plenty of time to make adjustments.
MR Glen Perkins - Glen has always been a sound set-up guy for Minnesota. We picked him up via trade recently for Jose Herrera, a power 1B (C/C) that began with the team in 2012, as well as pitching prospect Rey Romero (91/C/B), who spent some time with the team until we finally gave up on him. We were looking to bolster an already exceptional 'pen and, because we have some great SU, Perkins is a fine option to have in middle relief. Perkins brings a 98 MPH heater plus a good SLD/CHG combo, and it's lead to a 2.70 ERA. The team is looking to sign up the impending FA for a few more seasons.
MR Joakim Soria - Soria just hasn't been like his 2009-2010 self, but he's still a reliable reliever. He's been up and down with the team over the last few seasons but has now settled into a mid-relief role. He has a sparkling 1.84 ERA this season that pretty much guarantees he'll be offered a contract to stay with the team.
MR Jonny Venters - The 27-year old fireballer was a nice coup from Seattle for just infielder Angel Cesar (C/E/C/D/C/D), fellow reliever Joba Chamberlain (98/C/E), and starter Homer Bailey (93/D/B) back on the 25th. That may seem like a lot, but the team has depth at each of those positions. At 770PP, he's also a bargain - he'd be a closer or set-up man on most teams. Compiling a 1.99 ERA in 31 or so innings, he's saved 17 of 18 for Seattle and is most certainly a guy we want to re-sign following the season.
SU Chris Price - Last year's AL Rookie of the Year has been a key component of the bridge to our elite closer, Aroldis Chapman. Both have the ability to blow away hitters with a 100+ MPH fastball, but with good stuff also. He's 25 and has maintained a great ERA over his time in the bigs. We were able to sign him after he was drafted twice but wouldn't accept his team's offers. Price will make for a reputable replacement for Aroldis in case he leaves in November; he's locked in for 4 more seasons at 5780 a pop.
SU Chris Sale - Snagged from the White Sox a few years ago, Sale is a huge chunk of what is a marvelous bullpen. He could be in the rotation right now but since he has been superb at the back end of the 'pen, we've kept him there. When a guy has a 1.25 ERA in 65 innings, you know he's doing something right. His unique sidearm delivery and breaking balls keep the opposing batters off balance, and having top speed of 98 helps. We gotta make sure we bring him back for the next season, and more.
CL Aroldis Chapman - Where do I start...Leader in saves for three years straight (43/40/41), Reliever of the Month multiple times, a 0.96 ERA with 32/32 saves.. offenses hit just .182 against him.. 14.8 K/BB.. highest amount of saves in a season by an active pitcher (43, 2014).. The kid's a beast. The best closer in the majors, and we have him. It took just our stud SS Corey Braun to get Aroldis back in 2012.
Lineup
Dustin Ackley 2B - The 24-year old Ackley accomplished a huge feat back in 2014 - a .366 batting average, 7th all-time for one season. He's the best contact hitter on the team and routinely hits for .300 or higher. Ackley doesn't pack too much power, but he's a quick runner and a solid fielder also. He's versatile with the ability to play 1B and center field (which he also played in college) and all in all is an excellent table-setter at the top of the lineup. We were lucky to obtain him from the M's early on in our franchise's life, as he's been a cornerstone. Only being paid 780PP for his efforts, it's only fair he gets a nice raise in his salary this offseason, preferably in the way of a long-term extension.
Brandon Phillips SS - He's known as "Dat Dude BP", and for good reason. Him and Ackley make for an admirable 1-2 punch with their speed and ability to make contact and get on base. He's slowing down a bit at 31, but his Gold Glove fielding hasn't, and he was signed in FA to be here for the next three seasons at most.
Hunter Pence RF - Pence is beloved by the NJ fans for not just his awkward antics on the field, but his true #3 hitter talent. That's what he's evolved into, even if it doesn't show that in his batting line this season. The right fielder is a gifted batter and fielder, too. His arm from right is among the best in the majors. We've wrapped him up for the next two seasons after receiving him from the Giants.
Brandon Carter LF - The team's top hitter since 2012, a multiple-time All-Star and a huge power threat. He's hit for over 100 RBI almost every year since the Eagles began play. He's just 24 and yet has turned into one of the top hitters in the MLB. Carter's a consistent force and the face of the Eagles. He has been since 2012 and hopefully will continue to be in the future.
Chris Davis DH - Though he's not too great at fielding, Davis has been a good source of power in the middle of the lineup after we landed him in a exchange with the Orioles. We can count on him to knock in runs and knock 'em out of the park, too. Davis's still in his prime at 26 so we'd like to keep him here, but it's not our top priority.
Evan Longoria 3B - It's well known Longo is a star and one of the top 3B in baseball. When we were able to procure him from the Rays, we were elated. It was another star added among this stacked lineup, and to this point you could argue he's been our best hitter, statistically. A fantastic hitter and a solid defender, he's under team control for the next 5 years. We got a hold of him for relievers Sean Doolittle (98/D/E) and Drew Eldridge (99/D/C), as well as rookie catcher Eduarde Castellano (C/E/F/D/E/D), back on July 18th.
Ryan Zimmerman 1B - Zimmerman was the Gold Glove centerpiece of the Nationals - that is until we picked him up for just a 4 yr/700PP contract this past November. In the spring we converted him to first base - we were unsure where he would fit into the lineup since we have a lot of third basemen. Zim was then named our starter at first and continues to produce. He may not be the #3 hitter like he was in Washington, but he's probably under less pressure knowing there's other producers. That means Ryan can just be Ryan, and I'm sure he'll do fine.
Mike Trout CF - Today we completed a deal for the 23 year-old phenom that sent relievers Andrew Bailey (99/C/E), Bobby Parnell (100/C/E), and Louis Coleman (96/D/E) to Los Angeles. He's been slotted in the lineup over Mike Saunders even though Saunders had been a big contributor to the team over the last few years. That's how confident we are in his game-changing ability. Mike Trout is at home, where he will undoubtedly in front of friends and family who make the short trip from Millville, NJ to the stadium nearby. We'll get to see him for the next two years or more.
Francisco Cervelli C - We landed Francisco while he was sitting behind Russell Martin with the Yankees. He certainly surprised me with his hitting ability - I thought as him as more of a defensive catcher. We've been more than satisfied in that area, but more with his arm - he does an awesome job of throwing out base runners. For a guy who was supposed to be nothing more than a mere backup at the big-league level, he's turned out quite good. He'll be around for a bit longer on a 430PP contract.
Bench
Mike Olt 3B/1B - Olt had been a starter at points throughout the years after we acquired him from Texas. When we were looking to make the team better, we looked at young players not starting for their teams who had lots of untapped potential; ones who if they were starting would grow into reliable sluggers. Olt was one we were able to get, and it turned out he was a valuable starter in time and now has become a great bench piece, especially since he's learned to play first. We can trust him to fill in in the case of injury or any other time he's needed. He's under contract for just 460PP.
Manny Machado SS/3B/2B - Manny's another young player who was formerly a starter but now that we have All-Stars around the infield, he has the versatility on the bench that I appreciate. He's just 24 and would be starting here had we not made the acquisitions we had. We've got him for 3yrs/920PP.
Mike Saunders CF/LF - Mike was starting this season but after we recently got Mike Trout from the Angels, he was demoted to the bench. He struggled to a .265 average but did collect 7 homers, so we felt it was time for Trout to get an opportunity. For the time being, Saunders provides excellent outfield depth with his great defense, ample speed, and solid contact. If Trout begins to have trouble, Saunders will likely be the first to hear his name called.
Andre Zieno C - Andre was a member of the inaugural team from 2012 that has remained on the squad since. He has traded spots with fellow catcher Zack Wylie from time to time, and though he's not the best hitter, his specialty is his defense. Zieno's a good blocker behind the plate and with confidence he'll occasionally trash talk the hitters. At 25 he's experienced and it's nice to have a switch hitter on the bench. If he doesn't do well, we know we have the vet in Wylie down there to take his spot. That'll likely motivate Andre to do his best. He'll have to earn a spot on the team, even though his contract status is at 3yrs/430PP.
AAA
John Axford SU/CL - Axford has had experience with the team in the past, and did a respectable job. When we let him go only to see him back in free agency, we decided to give him another chance. He's good depth to have when a reliever goes down because he's been around and been a closer also.
Cole Stewart SW/LR - Stewart was the Mets top draft pick a season ago and we knew he was the best pitcher in the draft. At the time I figured he would fit into this young team and become a blue-chip SP. He's struggled at the major league level and at 28 his time to make something of himself is running out. In a way Haynes is his replacement as the top prospect coming up for the team. There's still some time for Stewart to do something though - he's under a 5yr/800PP contract. If he doesn't quickly, he might get swept under the rug.
Casey Janssen MR/SU - We've had Janssen on the minor league roster on a few occasions and he's been waiting for a chance to get some pitching in ever since he left the Blue Jays. At this point, I don't see him logging too many innings for the team unless there's an injury (or multiple) or as a September call-up. He's a good reliever to have though, because he's been successful before, more recently in the late innings.
Xavier Jarana SW/LR - Jarana was a draft prospect we grabbed from the Angels. He throws a 95 MPH fastball with a few decent breaking pitches. He'll make for an okay long reliever/swing man for now but could become a back-end starter in the future.
Billy Butler 1B - Surprisingly, Butler was cut by the Royals even though he's a bang-up hitter. At 26, he has plenty left in the tank. Right now we don't have a role for him so he's been toiling in the minors. Later on he could become trade bait or possibly a pinch-hitter since his D is subpar. He'll earn 430PP over the next 3 seasons.
Derrick Barker 3B - Barker was a former late draft pick of ours who we cut to save roster space but we picked him back up as an extra pinch hitter. He doesn't fit into the plans of the team going forward, but if he impresses in September, some team might be interested. We've got him on a 6yr. contract but it's likely he won't last for the majority of it.
Jack Ryan 2B/SS/3B - Jack Ryan is an infield prospect of ours. He is said to have Gold Glove-type defense but hasn't been on the team long enough for me to judge. While on the bench or in the minors, he's improved his contact and speed as well as his defense. He's learned to play second and third after being drafted as a SS. He'll be called up in September for sure but after that, I'm unsure what we'll do with him. We have plenty of infield depth but Ryan makes for a suitable defensive replacement, and an option for pinch-running. We'll have to see on him, and 3yr at 460PP is probably enough time.
Felix Camacaro OF - Felix has more or less been a bench player during his time with the Eagles. And it's kind of a shame, since he's talented. Since we've acquired Hunter Pence and Mike Trout, with Mike Saunders moving to the bench, there isn't a place for Camacaro at the moment. His speed and ability to get on will be considered for sure when we decide we need an outfielder on the team, whenever that may be. He'll hang around for two seasons at 430PP.
Mike Schoening OF - The same for Camacaro could go for Schoening. At one time they were considered starting outfielders for the team. But things have changed, and him and Camacaro now provide capable depth to the outfield, both of them being able to play more than one part of it. When an outfielder goes down, either him or Camacaro will be called on. He's already 28, but even if it doesn't work out for him here, Mike could also be fill a need for us as trade bait. He's got 5 more years on his deal for now.
Ronnie Jeroloman OF - Ronnie is a recent draftee who ended up being a free agent. He'll be a September callup but probably nothing more, honestly. He's simply not as good as the above guys. We took a chance on him for now just to have some extra help in the outfield. He probably will be the first to go in the case of a roster move.
Tony Cresse SS - Tony was recently grabbed from the Astros for 3B Josh Fields. He's an extra infield option to add to all of the guys we currently have. At 22 he has plenty of time to develop into our next 2B or SS or perhaps our next infielder to join the bench. Currently, he's a sturdy fielder and needs to develop some hitting and running skills. We've got him on the standard rookie contract, 4yr/430PP.
Any questions/concerns from the agents?
_________________
Nick 
Last edited by philliesfan134 on Thu May 25, 2017 9:41 pm, edited 49 times in total.
|
Login
Register
Wiki
FAQ
Search
