Qualifying offer

 This year, only 3 free agents received the qualifying offer:

Billy Bass, Miami

Jose Encarnacion, Baltimore

Cristobal Rangel, Hollywood.

All 3 rejected it. Teams that sign him will have to forfeit some kind of draft pick, and the teams losing them will gain draft picks. The details depend on the financial circumstances of the teams, but these days will not involve first round picks.

Free Agent news

 Devan Arceneaux has opted out of the remaining years of his contract, making him a free agent.

After a week, he has met with Stars GM Alvin Lewis and both sides looked extremely happy as negotiations ended. While nothing is official yet, the feeling in Miami is that a deal is within reach, with the only question being how big the contract will be.

Shortstop Harmon "Buckaroo" Bokai, who played last season in Japan with the Seibu Lions, has announced his intentions to sign with an OOTP team. Last season Buck hit .361 with 21 homers and 74 RBI. He's capable of playing third and second in addition to short. His greatest skill is his ability to make consistent hard contact, but he's also known as a dangerous clutch hitter.

Cristobal Rangel is the top pitcher available. He's a real workhorse, throwing 243 innings, including 4 complete games. He won 17 games last year after winning 18 the year before, and is known as a dominant postseason pitcher, including a 5-0 record with a 0.55 ERA in 2021.

Billy Bass will be 33 next year, but still offers power (24 homers) and speed (22 SB). Joey Encarnacion hits for average, steals bases, and plays strong defense in center. Wellington Bear will turn 40 next year, but still offers power (25 homers). Josh O'Keefe has a lot of holes in his swing, but offers power and strong defense at short. After a terrible start in Las Vegas, he got on track with Portland, hitting .275 with a .468 slugging percentage.

World Series Game 5

 L.A. Garcia doubled with one out in the first, then moved to third on a Tejawa single. After a strikeout, Justin Alexander singled home the first run off Aaron Webb. In the third, Tejawa homered to make it 2-0.

Charlotte did the offense for defense switch, replacing Tejawa with Auger and Alexander with McLeod. Meanwhile George Dixon was in control. He was perfect through 4, and allowed just a single in the 5th.

In the 6th though, he quickly lost it. A walk, sac bunt, and single by Wheeler brought home the first run. Jones singled, tying the game. Miguel Cruz singled, and Cristian Reyes was hit by pitch to load the bases with 1 out. That was enough for Dixon, and Banuelos entered the game. Gary Lorenzo singled to make it 3-2 before the next 2 batters were retired.

Banuelos stayed in the game, giving up no more runs and striking out the last 5 he faced. Webb pitched 7 innings before turning the ball over to Townsend.

In the 9th, Auger drew a leadoff walk. He stole second as Donaldson struck out. Burgos struck out, bringing up Fuller. Fuller hit a ground ball to second, Raymond picked it up and threw to Miggy Cruz for the final out.

Congratulations to Nomad Garciajawa, Miguel Cruz, and the rest of the Bandits as they celebrate the second championship in team history.

World Series games 3-4

 Game 3:

Bandits won 8-2 behind ace Anthony Henderson. He went 8 innings, giving up 2 runs (1 earned) and striking out 8. Barrett Cordova took the loss. Rabbitt and Ryan Jones each scored 2 runs, Artie Jacobs doubled, homered, and knocked in 3.

Game 4: 

Ryan Jones and Simon Burgos hit solo homers for each team's first run. In the 3rd, Bandits got a leadoff runner and Peter Rabbitt beat out a bunt attempt for an infield single. Bill the Cat was quick to the pen, pulling Arnie Henry for Antonio Rodriguez. He walked Wheeler to load the bases with nobody out, but Bandits could only manage one run on a fielders choice grounder by Ryan Jones.

The 2-1 lead held into the 8th. Joe Perry allowed just one run over 6 1/3 innings. In the 8th they went to Chris Craig. With one out, L.A. Garcia singled, and stole second. Pinch hitter McLeod singled him to third. Wyckoff struck out, but Alexander walked to load the bases, and Burgos again brought in a run without swinging the bat, tying the game with a walk. Donaldson flew out to end the inning.

In the bottom 9th, Artie Jacobs singled. Ohan Yezekian, the backup catcher, pinch hit and doubled him to third. Alex Munoz relieved Jack McEoin, facing Peter Rabbitt. With the infield and outfield playing in, Munoz bounced one in the dirt, allowing Jacobs to score the winning run.

World Series games 1-2

 Game 1:

It was scoreless for the first 5 as George Dixon and Aaron Webb were in control. In the bottom of the 6th Angel Garcia singled, stole second, and moved to third on a single by the other Garcia. That brought up the #3 spot in the order, where Miguel Tejada started, but had been removed for defense, leaving the weak hitting William Auger. Luis Alfredo tried to steal second but was thrown out. On the next pitch, Auger put down a perfect squeeze bunt, and Garcia beat the throw home for the game's first run.

In the 7th, Peter Rabbitt singled, and Eugene Wheeler hit his 6th homer of the postseason to put Bay Area on top. In the bottom of the inning Justin Alexander singled and left for a pinch runner, McLeod. Bubba Donaldson singled, moving McLeod to third. After Simon Burgos struck out, Jason Fuller tied the game with a single.

Relief aces Adrian Banuelos and Chris Craig kept further runs off the board, sending it to extras. Banuelos pitched 2 scoreless innings, Craig pitched 3 and then started the bottom of the 11th. After the first out, Auger singled and stole second. Wyckoff flew out, and McLeod was walked intentionally. Bubba Donaldson then drew a walk to load the bases and end the day for Craig. Bay Area brought in lefty Anthony Vincent to face Simon Burgos. While he warmed up, Bill the Cat pulled Burgos aside, telling him "This guy is going to try and bust you inside. You know what to do." The first pitch did indeed come inside, and Burgos took it off his shoulder for a game winning HBP. This was the first time in postseason baseball history that a game ended on a hit batter.

Game 2:

Bay Area won 8-5, but the game wasn't really that close. Wheeler hit his 7th homer of the postseason, and Chris Goodwin had 3 hits, a homer, and drove in 2. Bay Area scored 6 off starter Malcolm Sherman and Chris Carlson allowed only one run over 7 innings. The Bandits took an 8-1 lead to the bottom 9th. After a leadoff single, Burgos hit a 2 run homer. The next 2 batters reached base before Bay Area went to Chris Townsend. He got 2 outs, a triple by Luis Alfredo made it a 3 run game, but Tejawa flew out to end it.