The Honolulu Hammerheads are heavily invested in the 2021 season with the league's top projected pitcher contract in Jacob deGrom (2/$66) and $66 additional invested in the shortstop combo of Carlos Correa and Corey Seager. That has GM Ross Horiuchi focused on a successful 2021 season but that hasn't stopped the Spokane Fightin' Fish from continuing to call on Seager.
Seager was part of the historic group of young shortstops who debuted in the mid-2010s, though he'd been a tier below the rest prior to last season thanks to a lack of steals, mediocre home run totals and a season lost to Tommy John surgery. He fully caught up to the rest of that group at the plate in 2020, breaking out in his age-26 campaign to hit .307/.358/.585 with 15 homers. He followed that up with an outstanding postseason, homering eight times in 18 games while hitting .328/.425/.746. His breakout was backed by his underlying numbers, as his barrel rate more than doubled to 15.8% while his exit velocity leapt from 88.8 mph to 93.2 mph, giving him an xBA of .330 and an xSLG of .653, suggesting he underachieved, if anything.
Given his longstanding reputation as a very talented young hitter, there's reason to believe Seager will remain one of the game's best shortstops in 2021 which has the Fish very interested.
The Hammerheads have resisted moving Seager but finally countered on Sunday according to sources with a deal that would return top prospect Julio Rodriguez as well as at least one activation-ready hitter.
Around the RDBL
- The Burlingame Blue Ducks are ready to move in their pursuit of starting pitching according to league sources. The Ducks had the league's deepest rotation in 2019 which led them to the RDBL Title. While the recent Astros signing of Jake Odorizzi gives the club another Keeper, GM Ryan Walsh is only committed to Dinelson Lamet (2FA/$5) for 2021.
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