We continue our State of the Franchise Series with the 2023 Roger Dorn Baseball League Champion Lake Merced Goutfish, the 10th Franchise we have covered this off-season. Despite playing nine seasons while the majority of the league has played 10, the Goutfish became just the third Franchise to exceed $3,000 in lifetime winnings with their successful 2023 campaign which included their third Division Title.
Franchise History Page
President of Baseball Operations: Ryan Atkinson
Headquarters: San Carlos, CA
Seasons: 9
Cash Finishes: 5
Division Titles: 3
Lifetime Earnings: $3,265
Top Hitter: Ronald Acuña, 460.5 (2019)
Top Pitcher: Dylan Cease, 451.0 (2022)
2023 Season
With a $41 Draft Day investment in Bryce Harper, who was expected to miss at least the first half of the season due to Tommy John surgery, and Fernando Tatis suspended for the first month of the season, there was some concern that the Goutfish wouldn't have enough firepower to overcome their absences. That was hardly the case in 2023, mainly due to one of the best pitching staffs we have seen in League History.
Led by Framber Valdez, George Kirby, Blake Snell, Kodai Senga and lockdown closer Felix Bautista, the Goutfish tied the Spokane Fightin' Fish for the most pitching points in the RDBL Regular Season while pacing all clubs with a 3.51 ERA. They hardly rested on those arms, adding Brandon Woodruff, Joe Musgrove and Max Fried to the mix for their Playoff push.
Atkinson's entire pitching staff took that production to a whole new level over the five Periods of the season, breaking the RDBL Record for Playoff Team ERA with a ridiculous 2.52 mark. The group was led by Blake Snell, the National League's likely Cy Young winner, who led all pitchers in Playoff scoring while notching 0.47 ERA and 0.89 WHIP over 38.0 innings. His 170.0 pitching points were the seventh highest in RDBL History as he captured the RDBL Playoff MVP Award.
Lost to 2024 Free Agency
OF Fernando Tatis, RHP Brandon Woodruff, LHP Max Fried, RP Clay Holmes, RP Felix Bautista, RHP Joe Musgrove, OF Randy Arozarena, C Alejandro Kirk, IF Tommy Edman, 3B Alec Bohm, C Salvador Perez, OF Daulton Varsho
Current Projected Keeper Roster Ranked by Value
1 OF Yordan Alvarez (3R/$5)
2. RHP George Kirby (3R/$5)
3. LHP Blake Snell (3/$10)
4. RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1R/$1)
5. LHP Framber Valdez (2/$48)
6. RHP Kodai Senga (2/$12)
7. 3B Rafael Devers (2/$44)
8. 1B Christian Walker (3D/$15)
9. IF Ryan McMahon (2/$17)
10. 3B Christian Encarnacion-Strand (2FA/$5)
11. IF Ronny Mauricio (1R/$1)
12. RP Adbert Alzolay (2FA/$5)
The Goutfish have historically favored some more cap space than they currently have and with Bobby Miller not even included on the list above, it's likely Atkinson will be doing some tweaking before Draft Day. As currently constructed, the Goutfish have the look of a Title Contender yet again with a dominant and deep rotation alongside hitting stars Yordan Alvarez and Rafael Devers.
Dylan Cease (3R/$5) was a breakout performer in 2022, but his stumbles in 2023 and strength of the depth in the Goutfish rotation could make him a very valuable trade chip along with Marcus Stroman (2/$5).
While the Free Agent catching market has some depth, look for Atkinson to nab a backstop this Winter after losing three catchers to expired deals.
Farm System
1. RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Japan)
2. RHP Bobby Miller (Dodgers)
3. SS Ronny Mauricio (Mets)
4. OF Kevin Alcantara (Cubs)
5. 3B Muketaka Murakami (Japan)
6. SS Edwin Arroyo (Reds)
7. SS Elijah Green (Nationals)
8. OF Andy Pages (Dodgers)
9. SS Oswald Peraza (Yankees)
While the Farm System took some a hit with the exit of Adael Amador, few clubs can match the 2024 impact the Goutfish can produce with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Bobby Miller and Ronny Mauricio. All three look primed for Opening Day roles on the Goutfish Active Roster.
Kevin Alcantara mashed in Double-A and hasn't let up with an impressive showing in the Arizona Fall League, making him one of the premiere outfield prospects in baseball.
A so-so season for Muketaka Murakami in Japan and ETA of 2026 have dimmed the prospect value on the third baseman, though he remains one of the best International prospects in baseball.
Off-Season Questions
1. What's the focus of the return on excess pitching?
The Goutfish will clearly be able to move at least two starting pitchers this Winter, leaving fans wondering what GM Ryan Atkinson would like to address on his roster. The club could look to get back into the early rounds of the Reserve Draft where the Front Office has proven to be deadly or look to double down on their current 2024 Roster by addressing weak spots like catcher before Draft Day.
2. Patience with Miller, Yamamoto?
The Goutfish have shown their confidence in their roster in previous seasons, letting Yordan Alvarez sit for the 2021 Season only to add him to the Playoff Roster en route to their first RDBL Championship as a way to get more than three years of production from a star. Given their depth, the Goutfish could elect to do the same with Miller or Yamamoto, or at a minimum assess their early season performance before activating them when the in-season window opens in Period 9.
3. Confidence in Devers?
Rafael Devers had a strong year, posting 429.0 points while finishing as the seventh ranked third baseman in baseball. He's likely accurately priced at the 2/$44 option the Goutfish hold for 2024, but we know Atkinson is generally looking for stronger value from his Keepers which could make him a trade candidate this Winter. Atkinson faced a similar call on Matt Olson last season before dealing his 2/$46 option to the Lunatic Fringe for a 2nd and 6th Round pick.