Plains Division
Pocatello Old-Timers
Last year result: 44-40; Missed Playoffs
Biggest loss: Prospect SP, Matt Campbell
Biggest acquisition(s) : RF Nate Neeley/SP Jeffrey Snowball
Goal for next year: Return To Playoffs
Pocatello did nothing but add talent at the major league level. Bonafide bat Nate Neeley looks to make a splash in Pocatello. He brings a much needed 4th bat they were missing last year, where there was a major dropoff after ROY CF Mike Baran, 3B Jeff Pistone, and RF Hercules Muldoon. The Neeley move did cost them their top pitching prospect, but that will be a small price to pay if the Old-Timers can end their two year playoff drought. That might not seem like much, but for an organization with so much success early on in the WPBL, you have to think both fans and members of the organization are desperate for another playoff berth.
Great Falls Black Eagles:
Last year result: 33-51, Missed Playoffs
Biggest loss: 2B Jon Galan
Biggest acquisition : 3B Graham Baldwin
Goal for next year: Not finish last
The final record looks worse than it appeared at times, with Great Falls making some moves with the future in mind at the trade deadline. Jon Galan, who was a fan favorite last year, was a great find for GF off the scrap heap last year. Signed to a minor league option deal, he played his way to a platinum stick and a solid payday, unfortunately pricing himself out of GF. The Black Eagles will be counting on further development from their expansive young core of talent, specifically stars CF Aaron Jury and LF Jayden Anderson. 3B Graham Baldwin looks to provide a solid veteran presence at the hot corner. The pitching staff some depth, but if Great Falls can hover around .500 on the backs of their stars, most people within the organization would be encouraged.
Gillette Bison
Last year result: 49-35, Division Winner, Lost 4-0 to Victoria in WPBL Championship
Biggest loss: 2B Enrique Veras
Biggest acquisition : SP Dusty Wakefield
Goal for next year: Compete again for their second title
Coming off a great season with a bitter ending, it was a somewhat calm offseason for a team who has all their core coming back (CF Brian Mcnary, LF Magnus Barnhouse, 2B AJ Ireland, SP Jesus Cerda, among others). With such a collection of talent, and an organization that has proven they can build a sustainable contender year in and year out, it’s hard not to be excited if you are a Bison fan. A lot of eyes are on young pitcher SP Dusty Wakefield, who has a great chance at rookie of the year. The young man burst onto the scene at the Hawaiian league this offseason, running away with the pitcher of the year there. If Wakefield can hit his ceiling, it will be hard for anyone to beat the well oiled machine that is Gillette.
Billings Bighorns
Last year result: 45-39, Made Playoffs, Lost 4-2 to Gillette in WPBL Division Series
Biggest loss: IF Frank Reetz
Biggest acquisition : RF/DH Alejandro Sanchez
Goal for next year: Recapture the magic that was their 2034
Billings was one of the darlings of the WPBL last season. After just barely squeaking into the playoffs, they beat division winner Crescent City 4-3 before losing a hard fought series to Gillette. SS Clifford Country and CF Xavier LaRue look to further cement themselves as one of the best 1-2 punches in the WPBL. They both are legitimate 5 tool players, who can win platinum sticks and golden gloves. Veteran Frank Reetz, who provided utility across the infield, will be missed, but his production with the bat was less than desirable and his departure from the team doesn’t seem like a main issue. Alejandro Sanchez is brought in on a reasonable 1 year deal, and his job is simple, bring his championship pedigree to a young locker room and hit the ball far. A lot of this season will depend on if the Billings’ pitching staff can prove last year was something sustainable, and not just lightning in a bottle.
Cascadia Division
Astoria Fighting Chinooks
Last year result: 47-37, Made Playoffs, Lost 4-1 to Victoria in WPBL Wildcard Series
Biggest loss: NA
Biggest acquisition : RP Javier Torres
Goal for next year: Win First Playoff Series in Team History
DH Joram is a superstar in the WPBL, but his teammate 2B Dane Wheeler may as well be THE superstar of the WPBL. On the backs of those 2, the organization has built a team that should compete for years to come. Astoria, who once held the title for being the “cursed” team in the young league, can quietly bring their playoff streak to 4 years if they can make it again this year. That they have proven they can do, but the fans and ownership are starting to want more, an extended playoff run. Is this the year? The talent is there, and it is getting harder and harder to bet against Wheeler.
Yakima Hops
Last year result: 41-43, Missed Playoffs
Biggest loss: P Victor Patterson
Biggest acquisition : LF Tyler Yowell (Minor Leaguer looking to Debut)
Goal for next year: Rebuild Farm
This looks to be a sort of pivot year for Yakima, after a playoff streak that ran from 2024-2032, the Hops have found themselves unable to keep up with the next crop of competitive teams. By giving away the contract of Push Pop last year, they have made it known they are thinking of the future a lot more than they are thinking of the now. I think Yakima will judge their year on how many of their prospects show promising flashes in the pros, and how many vets they can flip for assets.
Victoria Geese
Last year result: 48-36, Division Winner, WPBL Champion
Biggest loss: NA
Biggest acquisition : SP Alex Ortiz
Goal for next year: Win Again
Victoria, after their dominant postseason run last year, are very quickly approaching “Best Dynasty Ever” territory. They pretty much return the same team that got the job done last year. They snagged international rookie SP Alex Ortiz. Still a little raw, but if he can hit his ceiling, he adds another solid arm to what is already one of the best rotations in the sport. It’s no secret that at the same time, they have some emerging young talent looking to contribute this year. Is 23 year 1B Kevin Haese ready to be a regular on a team with championship aspirations? How about 24 year old catcher Travis Hansen? If they both are, The Geese may reach heights the WPBL has never seen.
Bremerton Admirals
Last year result: 31-53, Missed Playoffs
Biggest loss: P Geoff Collins
Biggest acquisition : C Franklin Solarzano (Minor Leaguer in first Full Season
Goal for next year: At least threaten the 40 win threshold
Bremerton has had a tough go as an expansion team. All 3 of their seasons have been uninspiring, and is leaving the ownership group grasping for straws on how to get this thing to take off. On the plus side, they do boast the 5th best farm system. Its seems prudent to hold on to all that talent, as all their top prospects are still a couple years away. It may be a long road to relevance for the Admirals, and fans are hoping their loyalty is rewarded before the end of the decade.
Southern Belt Division
Elko Truckers
Last year result: Business as usual in Elko. A winning record (45-39) and a record-setting 10th straight playoff appearance sent them to a first round playoff matchup with Gillette. Stellar seasons from Lucas Bone and Colby Stillman had the city buzzing with optimism but it wasn't meant to be. Gillette made quick work of Elko and swept them, leading to much disappointment heading into the offseason.
Biggest loss: Jeffrey Snowball. Snowball had a solid season last year and was a contributor to the Trucker's starting rotation. A 2.28 ERA with 2.3 WAR for the year certainly helped Elko during the regular season. However, at the age of 31 the Truckers seemed to think of Snowball as a piece they were unwilling to invest in long-term with the amount of young talent they have on the team. Snowball signed with rival Pocatello and is looking to make Elko regret the decision.
Biggest acquisition: Wayne Van Gundy. The Truckers decided to part ways with outfielder Nate Neeley in a trade that gave some salary flexibility, draft picks, prospects, and Wayne Van Gundy. While this was a trade for the future, WVG was the sneaky clever part of the trade for Elko. Van Gundy presents with a decent bat, a skilled glove in the outfield, and a minimal impact on the team salary at this point in his career. He has the potential to be a contributor right away in Elko.
Goal for this year: When you're the 2035 Elko Truckers, any outcome that doesn't result in a championship is a disappointment. After making the postseason for ten straight years, the minimum expectation is an 11th straight apperance. The hope is that they fare better than being swept in the first round. The dream is that they bring home their 3rd championship.
Bandon Barons
Last year result: A below-average 38-46 finish could leave a fanbase in despair if one wasn't looking for the very real positives. Mike Berns won his second MVP and is a franchise superstar for years to come. He was re-signed through the 2039 season and will be the cornerstone of Bandon's planned turnaround. Butch Campground had a great season as Bandon's ace and is still in his twenties(barely). Big contributions from Choo Choo Baloo and Derek Kimbell also created a lot of hope for what's to come in Bandon.
Biggest Loss: "Stinky" Vinny Vazquez was a key contributor to the Bandon starting five last year. 17 starts that led to a 3.68 ERA and a 1.5 WAR showed he was a steady presence for the team during sometimes unstable times. His loss will be missed, but Bandon feels they have the pieces in place to make up for his absence.
Biggest acquisition: Jon Galan. Galan is getting up there in age at 34 and will be starting for his third team in three years, but he continues to produce at a high rate. Last year Galan rattled off a .318 batting average while contributing a 2.8 WAR. He still provides a lot of value for whatever team he plays for and Bandon was quite excited to capitalize on that by signing him for this upcoming season.
Goal for this year: Make the playoffs. Bandon made an effort to improve their team this offseason and on paper they should certainly perform above their 38-46 record from last year. With their core of star players Bandon has a real chance of making the postseason. Their goal should be to get there and see what happens after that.
Nampa Sasquatch
Last year result: The Sasquatch took a bit of a step backwards last year as they had their worst season of their first 3 years in the league. CF Pedro Covarrubias remains a bright spot for the team as he continues to grow and is still only 24 years-old. Fellow 24-year old 1B Jason Maddox also had a solid season and gives the Sasquatch two players to build around. SP Hyo-Sang Kim signed a big contract with Nampa two years ago, but has lived up to the hype as he has had two very productive seasons that totalled 4.1 WAR for 2033 and 2034 combined. The Sasquatch definitely are working to put their foundational pieces in place.
Biggest Loss: Jeff Barnett leaving Nampa makes sense on paper. They are building around their young core and Barnett at the age of 32 isn't getting any younger. However, it's still a loss for Nampa. Barnett was a good veteran presence in the clubhouse, he was still producing solid numbers, and his intangibles were numerous. Barnett is still a free agent and reuniting with the Sasquatch isn't out of the question, but his absence would be noticeable this year.
Biggest Acquisition: Frank Reetz. The Sasquatch are working to counteract the loss of Jeff Barnet by bringing in another 3B veteran presence. 33 year-old Reetz batted .283 last year and was also this past season's Great Glove winner for the 2nd time in his career. He signed with the team for a reasonable 2-year contract that proved a savvy move by Nampa management.
Goal for this year: Play .500 baseball. The first 3 seasons for the Sasquatch have been challenging to say the least. Each year has led to a worse record and the Nampa fans won't let them use the "expansion team" excuse too much longer. Things must turn around soon. A .500 season or better would show the fans that they're making moves that are pushing them in the right direction and that would go a long way for fan interest and ticket sales.
Crescent City Kodiaks
Last year result: What an exciting time to be a CCK fan! They had their best record in team history with a record of 48-36 leading to a division title and a playoff berth. Luis Gonazalez tore it up at the age of 25 and was a legitimate MVP contender. He led the Pioneers Conference in hits, doubles, and triples this last year. SP George Matthews had a great year and looks to be able to produce in CCK for many seasons if they can lock him up to a long-term contract after arbitration. Despite the successful regular season, the Kodiaks were tripped up by the Billings Bighorns in the first round of the playoffs and lost in a game 7.
Biggest Loss: Bam Boozled. No one else comes close. The Kodiaks let go the best closer in the game who is still pitching phenomenally at the age of 32. Boozled wanted to get paid and and committing that much money to a closer who will be in his mid-thirties sooner rather than later wasn't on their agenda. While you can understand their logic, you also have to recognize the negative impact this will have on the Kodiak bullpen next year.
Biggest Acquisition: N/A. CCK let 8 players walk who combined for a total of 2.4 WAR last year. They have yet to make a single offseason signing. For a team that finished at the top of their division last year, this is a peculiar move. However, management believes they still have the pieces in place to make another run.
Goal for this year: Return to the playoffs. Despite being in the league since 2022 this was only the Kodiak's fourth playoff apperance. They've never made the playoffs in back-to-back years and a return to the postseason in 2035 would legitimize the franchise and the current team they're building around.
Mainland Division
Kennewick Tri-City Atoms
Last year result: Coming off a 2033 championship, the Atoms had a lot of optimism and momentum heading into the 2034 season. They lived up to the hype and matched their 2033 win total of 57. Kennewick was a very complete team last year, with key contributions all around on offense from the likes of Kellenberger, Harms, Peanut, and the Honda boys. An excellent trio of SPs in the form of Simkins, Koo, and Takashima had Kennewick ready for another postseason run. Unfortunately, the curse of the repeat championship struck down upon the Atoms and they were defeated in the second round by the Victoria Geese in 5 games.
Biggest Loss: The only player to leave this offseason was RP Jayden Hill. A talented reliever, but at 32 years-old the Atoms justifiably found him to be expendable.
Biggest Acquisition: N/A. Kennewick's plan this offseason is to roll it back with last year's crew.
Goal for this year: Championship or bust. Management believe they've created a title contender and their regular season performance last year proved that to be true. Some decisions will need to be made over the next several years regarding the future of the team, but this year the Atoms have the luxury of bringing nearly the whole team back...this time with a chip on their shoulder.
CDA Striking Miners
Last year result: Another down season for the Miners with a 27-57 record. The Miners have a lot of hope for their future, but they are not quite there yet. A few young guys such as Tommy Squeak and Chris Clotfelter looked good, but there were just too many holes on both sides of the ball to remain competitive this year. The Miners missed the playoffs for the seventh consecutive year.
Biggest Loss: The Miners let 15 players go in the offseason that combined for a total of 3.9 in WAR. Cesar Acevedo, one year removed from an All-Star season and currently only 27 years-old was the most notable player to move on from CDA.
Biggest Acquisition: The Miners made no effort to acquire new players in the offseason. This means one of two things: Either they are still committed to the re-build and are accepting another difficult season ahead or they are ready to move up their stockpile of young talent in the minors. Whatever the route, things better turn around soon if they want to maintain a fanbase in Coeur D'Alene.
Goal for this year: Establish hope for the future. The good news is that the Miners easily have the top minor league system ranking in baseball with tons of young talent. Prior to spring training, CDA had 16 players left on it's roster, but they have plenty of prospects ready to get out on the field. How many players they call up and how many they sign from the scraps left in free agency will remain up to management. CDA will not be a championship contender this year, but they could walk away from this season happy if top prospect Brian Campbell takes the ROY title in his debut year en route to an improved overall team record and more production from it's young core.
Penticton Lake Monsters
Last year result: 2034 was a huge step forward for the Lake Monsters as they posted a record of 45-39 and made their first postseason appearance. While they did lose in the first round in 5 games to the Atoms, this past season was a success by any measure. Franklin Wednesday cemented himself as a true superstar of the league and a fan favorite in Penticton. The Lake Monsters far surpassed pre-season predictions heading into the year.
Biggest Loss: While the Lake Monsters released eight players in the offseason, none were particularly noteworthy. Management feels they've cut the dead weight and are making room for new players from their minor league system. Penticton currently boasts the second best minor league system that includes two top-5 prospects in Jody Sprouse and Danny Gurgle.
Biggest Acquisition: RP Victor Cabrera. Penticton was committed to strengthening their bullpen in the offseason and a pair of signings in the form of Cabrera and Jayden Hill have given them more depth with their relievers. No major changes to the roster, just a committment to continuing to grow their in-house talent.
Goal for this year: Return to the playoffs and win a series. They may not be ready to win it all, but Penticton is on the right trajectory. With a core of solid players and many potential superstars ready to break into the league from the minors, Penticton is poised to be a factor in the league for years to come. Making the playoffs in back-to-back years would be a success for the Lake Monsters and winning their first playoff series in franchise history would be the icing on the cake.
Walla Walla Farmers:
Last year result: Coming off four straight playoff appearances, last year was a bit of a disappointment for the Farmers. While they did post a winning record at 43-41, they missed out on the playoffs. This has led to some fans and media members to immediately speculate if cutting ties with Rod Ramos last offseason was the right call. Bret Flop-Hopkins still had a great year and Juan Hinojosa had another successful season, but there were just a few too many disappointments at other positions for Walla Walla to make it to the postseason.
Biggest Loss: Graham Baldwin. At 27 years old, Baldwin has had a great start to his career and has showna lot of promise. Unfortunately, the Farmers did not see him in their future plans. Despite back to back seasons in which he posted a batting average higher than .300 and WARs of 2.8 and 1.7, the Farmers could not come to terms on an extension and he ultimately left for Great Falls. This is not a catastrophic loss for Walla Walla, but Graham is the type of guy you want on your team and his presence in the clubhouse could be missed.
Biggest Acquisition: Bam Boozled, no question. The Farmers landed one of the greatest closers in WPBL history. They paid for it, but it should benefit the team for years to come. Boozled should have several productive seasons ahead of him at the age of 32 and his Slider/Sinker combo is looking as good as ever. He led the league in saves last year while playing in CCK and no one would be suprised if he does it again with the Farmers.
Goal for the year: Make the playoffs and see what happens. First and foremost, the Farmers must make the postseason to avoid panic from their fanbase. Missing out on the playoffs in consecutive years with this talented roster after cutting ties with Ramos could really sound the alarm. If they make the playoffs, this is a team that has potential to make some noise and surpise some people. A return to the postseason is the goal, but this is a team that you can't rule out if they get there.
Season Predictions:
Pitchers of the Year: Greg Herfurth and Kenji Takashima
MVPs: Franklin Wednesday and Xavier Larue
Championship Prediction: Astoria over Elko
Comments