In many ways, the Maltese Falcons accomplished exactly what they wanted to in 2021 as they looked to strip the organization down to the studs and rebuild another annual powerhouse that those in RDBL circles have come to know. The Falcons enter 2022 with the most points in RDBL History while matching the Alamo Short Stacks with a record six cash finishes.
After a complete restart, the Falcons expectedly sat towards the bottom of the standings through the first six weeks of the season but the consistent tinkering of GM Gary Falzon and Assistant GM Erik Nielsen paid off as the club got hot and made a surprising push for a Playoff spot. While they came up short, finishing in 8th place overall, the Falcons look ready to return to prominence helped by their acquisitions of Kyle Tucker and Gavin Lux.
What Went Right?
Wheeler the Ace
Wheeler took his performance to new heights in 2021, posting a 2.78 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in a league-high 213 1/3 innings. His full season 624.0 points ranked second to Walker Buehler while his 247 strikeouts also fell just shy of the league lead. Wheeler is under contract as the ace of the Falcons through 2023 which prevented the club from even discussing him in trade talks last season.
Trade Talks
The Falcons didn't receive the offer they were seeking on Bryce Harper leading into the 2021 Draft, electing to hold onto the star outfielder and pick up talks during the season. The club struck a deal with the Alamo Short Stacks that helped both clubs, but landed the Falcons a foundational player under a rookie deal in Kyle Tucker (2R/$3). The club also pulled the wool over they eyes of the Las Vegas Aristocrats, landing Gavin Lux (Minors) in exchange for right-hander Carlos Martinez. Martinez would go on to post -50.0 points as an Aristocrat (11.88 ERA in 16 2/3 IP), ranking as the worst scoring pitcher in Franchise History. The exit of Corey Seager in Los Angeles should open the door for Lux to have a 500 at-bat season in his activation year for the Falcons.
Haniger Resurgence
Haniger had a fantastic 2021 campaign, with 39 home runs, 100 RBI and a .804 OPS (122 OPS+). After missing all of 2020, that became the second-highest home run total by someone who did not play the previous season. His $11 contract looks like a boon for Falzon and Nielsen and a player to build around through 2023.
What Went Wrong?
High Priced Bats
The Falcons elected to spread around their cap space in the 2021 Auction, staying out of the top-tier of Free Agents and instead focusing in the $15-30 range. The club hoped to add a pair of core players in that range and while they struck gold on Wheeler, they missed the mark on Eugenio Suarez ($25/Released) and appear unlikely to retain Anthony Rizzo (2/$31). Suarez hit just .172/.259/.372 and was cut late in the season while Rizzo has posted a modest 109 wRC+ over his last two seasons which will likely fall short of his $31 price tag.
Major Injuries
Max Muncy (2/$17) was one of the key finds of the 2021 season for the Falcons, pacing the offense with 338.0 RDBL Regular Season points. In the final day of the MLB Regular Season, Muncy suffered an elbow injury that was thought sideline him for just the Playoffs but in an MLB Network interview last month, the first baseman mentioned he actually tore his UCL. Reports are that the Dodgers are confident he will be ready for Opening Day, but time will tell if that's the case.
Muncy's injury was far from the only one the Falcons dealt with in 2021. Draft Day additions Kirby Yates and James Paxton each went down with Tommy John in the first week of the season, combining for 1 1/3 innings total. The club also lost prospect Royce Lewis (knee) for the season just days after acquiring him from the Cloverdale Clovers.
2022 Early Roster Projection
The Falcons look poised to bring back a balanced Keeper Roster with a great deal of positional flexibility that teams covet. The infield could be crowded as Jonathan Schoop, Dansby Swanson, CJ Cron and Adalberto Mondesi all have cases to return alongside Max Muncy and likely activation Gavin Lux.
Kyle Tucker looks poised to take the next step into a Fantasy superstar and was one of the league's top scoring bats from May on last season. Haninger will slot alongside Tucker while Waiver Claim Josh Rojas could add depth across multiple positions.
The rotation will bank on the thought that the 2021 performance of Ranger Suarez (400.0 points) will be sustainable to slot behind Wheeler and Tyler Mahle.
Raisel Iglesias is expected to anchor the bullpen following a dominant season in Anaheim.
Farm System
The Falcons are carrying a league-high 14 prospects with only Lux expected to be a safe activation. Fellow infielder Nick Madrigal is next in line from an ETA standpoint and could certainly make an activation case for himself in Spring Training if he can secure a starting spot for the Cubs on Opening Day.
Trevor Larnach will be another name to watch in Spring Training after quietly getting 301 at-bats at the big league level in 2021. Larnach managed a .223/.322/.350 line with seven home runs and is currently penciled in as the starting left fielder for the Twins.
The club looks to have nailed both of their 2021 1st Round picks in Triston Casas and Zac Veen who each look like potential studs despite longer ETAs.
Giants outfielder Luis Matos was one of the biggest risers in prospect circles last season and looks to have some serious star power if he can continue to hone his approach and plate discipline to pair with elite bat to ball skills. Fellow Giants farmhand Heliot Ramos should have a chance to make the big leagues in 2021, though a shaky performance at Triple-A last season could push his timeline to 2023 joining slugger Nolan Gorman who shares a similar timeline.
While Veen might possess the highest upside of any prospect in the Falcons Farm System, young outfielder Hedbert Perez isn't far behind and will be a name to watch in 2022.
Royce Lewis and Jeter Downs will face important 2022 seasons as Lewis looks to re-establish his value following a knee injury while Downs looks to shake off a disappointing year at the plate at Triple-A.
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