We continue our State of the Franchise Series with the Lunatic Fringe who enter their 11th Season in the Roger Dorn Baseball League with a pair of Peninsula Division Titles. The Fringe are coming off a fourth place finish, exercising patience with a talented group who skyrocketed up the standings between June and July to lock in the top Wild Card spot before a fourth place finish in the RDBL Playoffs.
President of Baseball Operations: Tony Guglielmi
Headquarters: San Carlos, CA
Seasons: 10
Cash Finishes: 4
Division Titles: 2
Lifetime Earnings: $1,625
Top Hitter: Ronald Acuña, Jr., 541.0 Points (2023)
Top Pitcher: Sandy Alcantara, 614.0 Points (2022)
2023 Season
The Fringe looked to be on the verge of becoming the league's most anticipated seller in June, but GM Tony Guglielmi had other plans as the club stuck with their core before catching fire and vaulting into the top Wild Card spot. Surviving the loss of ace Sandy Alcantara, the Fringe rode a historic season from Ronald Acuña, Jr. who joined Aaron Judge as the only winner of the RDBL Hitter of the Year and Playoff MVP in the same season.
The move to give $66 to Acuña was hardly Guglielmi's only star-studded move as the club stole Cody Bellinger for just $4 and Kyle Bradish with a Reserve Draft selection while acquiring Matt Olson (who produced 504.0 points) for a pair of Draft picks. Underrated outfielder Lane Thomas helped lead the offense to the second most points in the RDBL last season with all four of those key acquisitions set to return next year.
The 2023 season also marked the a wave of starting pitching options hitting the big leagues and finding success, led by Grayson Rodriguez who emerged as a strong option behind Kyle Bradish and Jordan Montgomery in 2024 while Triston McKenzie, Clarke Schmidt and Josiah Gray all look ready to contribute.
Lost to 2024 Free Agency
RHP Sandy Alcantara, RHP Lucas Giolito, OF J.D. Martinez, 1B Ryan Mountcastle
Current Projected Keeper Roster Ranked by Value
1 OF Ronald Acuña (2/$66)
2. RHP Grayson Rodriguez (1R/$1)
3. RHP Kyle Bradish (2D/$5)
4. 1B Matt Olson (3/$46)
5. OF Cody Bellinger (2/$4)
6. IF Noelvi Marte (1R/$1)
7. OF Lane Thomas (2D/$5)
8. LHP Jordan Montgomery (2/$20)
9. RHP Triston McKenzie (1R/$1)
10. IF Jeimer Candelario (2/$6)
11 OF Marcell Ozuna (2FA/$5)
12. SS Jeremy Pena (3/$9)
13. IF Wilmer Flores (2FA/$5)
14. RHP Josiah Gray (1R/$1)
15. OF Brandon Marsh (2R/$3)
The group is headlined by 2023 Hitter of the Year and Playoff MVP Ronald Acuna who is fresh off the most dominant offensive season in RDBL History with Matt Olson and Cody Bellinger adding to one of the league's top units. The Pitching staff will be the story of the off-season as GM Tony Guglielmi has a bevy of options while being squeezed a bit by the 2023 Playoff activations of Josiah Gray and Grayson Rodriguez.
Kenta Maeda (2D/$5), Reid Detmers (2R/$3) and Andres Gimenez (3D/$15) stick out as potential trade candidates this Winter while catcher will be a key area for the Front Office to address through trades or the Auction Draft.
Farm System
1. *RHP Grayson Rodriguez (Orioles)
2. SS Noelvi Marte (Reds)
3. *RHP Josiah Gray (Nationals)
4. RHP Triston McKenzie (Indians)
5. SS Jackson Merrill (Padres)
6. RHP Clarke Schmidt (Yankees)
7. SS Carson Williams (Rays)
8. C Harry Ford (Mariners)
9. IF Brayan Rocchio (Guardians)
The Fringe continue to do an excellent job in the Reserve Draft with Guglielmi zigging with a pitching-heavy Farm System while everyone seems to be zagging with a hitter-only approach. The Farm System should produce six Opening Day starters between Grayson Rodriguez, Noelvi Marte, Josiah Gray, Triston McKenzie, Clark Schmidt and Brayan Rocchio with 2023 draftees Jackson Merrill and Carson Williams not far behind.
With Rodriguez and Marte looking like elite options and Merrill holding similar upside, the Fringe Farm quietly ranks among the league's best heading into 2024.
Off-Season Questions
Is Guglielmi willing to enter the Draft with a full rotation?
The Fringe have a stable of starting pitching options heading into 2024. The locks to return are Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez with Jordan Montgomery and Josiah Gray ready as well. The club will be forced to make the call on Kenta Maeda (2D/$5) and Reid Detmers (2R/$3) along with the potential activations of Triston McKenzie and Clarke Schmidt also ready. The option is there for Guglielmi to bring a full rotation into 2024, but the more likely scenario is for the club to leave one open.
Address catcher over the off-season or in the Draft?
The Fringe are unlikely to bring back Connor Wong or Travis d'Arnaud, leaving them currently empty at catcher. Guglelmi could be in luck as the 2024 Free Agent Class has a strong group of backstops available, led by Willson Contreras, Jonah Heim, Cal Raleigh, Mitch Garver and Salvador Perez.
Ace hunting in Auction?
The Fringe will be without Sandy Alcantara in 2024 after riding the ace for the last three seasons. Provided Guglielmi leaves a spot open in the rotation, the Fringe could leverage much of their cap space for a front-line starter in Auction. While they might not have the spending power to target Zack Wheeler or Spencer Strider, the Fringe could be players for Max Fried, Joe Musgrove or Justin Verlander to round out their pitching group.