Prologue | Chapter 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

Chapter Eleven: A Change in Plans

The next lot of players presents some interesting possibilities. Frank Thomas enters the final day of bidding without one bid to his name. Thomas absolutely murders left-handed pitching, and would certainly fill the hole in Salem’s lineup against southpaws. However, signing him would mean shifting Mark Teixeira to right field, where he would become a defensive liability. Of course, Thomas would also be a defensive liability at first base. But with a bat like his, defensive shortcomings are easy to overlook. From the start of the auction, Salem has been planning to bid $5 million on Salmon, so they budget the same amount toward Thomas.

Another player available in the current lot is Billy Wagner, a nasty left-handed reliever who would fit perfectly into Salem’s plans. Unfortunately, Wagner will be very expensive – more than Salem has ever spent on a relief pitcher. Because of that expense, Salem would likely have to sacrifice their dream of owning Trot Nixon. Nevertheless, after a lengthy debate, it is decided that a $6 million offer will be given to Wagner.

While the office staff kills time waiting for the night’s results, Glander sits in his chair, staring at the auction board, the wheels turning in his head.

“What’re you thinkin’, chief,” Reuschel says, as Glander continues to stare straight ahead in tense concentration.

“I’m thinking about Schilling,” Glander says, referring to another player in tonight’s auction lot. Schilling, who had been the #1 target of the Salem front office before the acquisitions of Wood and Webb, is currently listed with a bid of just $4 million.

“Schilling?,” Reuschel says with a chuckle. “We moved on from him a long time ago, Hoss. We don’t need him anymore.”

“Need isn’t the issue,” Glander says, his eyes still fixated on the board. “Dominance. That's what intrigues me. Think about it, B.D.. If we add Schilling to Webb, Wood and Zito…”

His words trail off, and Reuschel begins to wear the same look on his face that Glander has been wearing for the past several minutes. Finally, Reuschel breaks the silence.

“We can’t afford him, can we?”

“Let’s ask the accountants,” Glander says.

An impromptu meeting is held, and it is determined that Salem can afford to bid as much as $11 million on Schilling. It would mean sacrificing Trot Nixon, however, if the team intends to acquire a decent reliever and second baseman through the auction.  With Austin Kearns and Milton Bradley available to fill that third spot in the outfield against righties, however, Nixon would be a luxury.

“We’re not going to get Wagner at $6 million, and I seriously doubt Thomas will go for as low as $5m,” Glander says. “The only other reliever I’d spend $6m for in this draft is Damaso Marte, and he’ll probably go higher than that, too. That means we’ll be picking up a cheap reliever, regardless. And there are always plenty of good relievers available on the trade market during the season.”

“Oh, what the heck.  Let’s do it,” Reuschel says, pounding his fist on the desk.

An $11 million bid is placed on Schilling, and the Salem war room is brimming with anticipation. The prospect of owning a rotation with four legitimate aces is too delicious for words. Given the prices other ace pitchers have fetched so far in the auction, Schilling will surely go for more than $11 million. But it is nice to be able to dream about such a thing, if only for a short while.

At 10:00, the entire staff is gathered in front of the large flat-screen monitor hanging on the wall of the Salem war room. In stark contrast to the mood felt in the room during the first night’s announcement, tonight the room is buzzing with excitement. The electricity in the air is palpable as the screen flickers and the results are posted. The roar of the office staff is so loud, the vibrations from the sound waves cause ripples in the new 90-gallon aquarium in the center of the office.

Curt Schilling is coming to Salem.

The strategy for the remainder of the auction is now set in stone. All of the tough decisions are out of the way. Two days after signing Schilling, the Salem front office is still in celebratory mode as they place a $5 million bid on Tim Salmon. Salmon fills one of only two remaining holes on the Salem roster. As a 35-year-old injury-prone player with an inconsistent track record and uncertain future, there is little doubt that Salem will win Salmon’s services. A bid of more than $5 million would require that he be signed to a contract at season’s end, and no team would be reckless enough to commit to such a contract. Since the Cowtippers hold the first tie-breaker on Salmon, there is not a hint of tension or drama in the room as the front office awaits the announcement of the night's winning bids.

The mood changes quickly, however, as it is announced that Salmon has jumped ship to the South Carolina Sea Cats for the shocking sum of $5.5 million. In an instant, Salem’s best-laid plans have been foiled. It is the first unexpected turn of this auction for Glander and his staff, and Glander is not happy.

“How could this happen?,” Glander screams at his staff. “I pay you (bleeping) people top dollar to ensure that we are NOT surprised by anything on Draft Day! You’re all fired! Pack your bags!”

The next day, Glander and Reuschel sit in the empty war room, staring once again at the draft board as Salem H.R. people frantically search for replacements for the office staff.

“Maybe this was a blessing in disguise,” Reuschel says, his voice echoing off the walls.

“What do you mean, Big Daddy?,” Glander asks.

“Well…maybe we take that $5 million we were gonna give to Salmon and put it toward Nixon instead.”

“There’s no way that Nixon is accepting a $5m deal,” Glander responds with a laugh, shaking his head. “The least he would accept is $8 million. Maybe $7.5.”

“So let’s offer him $7.5,” Reuschel says, cheerfully. “What’s the worst that can happen?”

The Cowtippers still have a couple of holes to fill. They have no second baseman, they have no third outfielder against left-handed pitching, and they need another bullpen arm as well. With $12.8 million to spend, they’ll be stretching that money pretty thin to fill all of those holes. Yet adding Nixon would give Salem a formidable lineup against right-handed pitching, teaming with fellow righty-mashers Lance Berkman and Luis Gonzalez.

“Let me ask you a question,” Glander finally says, after considering Reuschel’s proposal for several minutes. “Who would be more valuable to this team: Nixon or Polanco and a $5m reliever – let’s say Ugueth Urbina?”

“Well,” Reuschel says, gnawing on a toothpick, “I’d have to say it’s pretty even. I mean, Polanco and Urbina would give us some great depth, but Nixon would give us great strength. It’s a toss-up, chief.”

Glander is now pacing back and forth in front of the big screen. “Okay, question #2: if we were to trade for these guys in the middle of the season, who would cost us more: Nixon or Polanco and Urbina?”

“No contest,” answers Reuschel, fully enjoying this game. “Nixon.”

“Then it is settled!,” exclaims Glander. “We bid $7.5m on Nixon!”

That night, what is left of the office staff gathers around the monitor, waiting nervously for the night’s results. Salem has also placed a $4 million bid on second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, on the off chance that the Nixon bid is accepted. When the bids are announced, Glander and Reuschel exchange a gleeful high-five. Nixon has signed with the Cowtippers.

“Bring back the rest of the staff,” Glander happily orders his H.R. people. “All is forgiven!”

The bid on Grudzielanek fell short, and the signing of Nixon leaves Salem with just $5.3 million to spend on a second baseman, an outfielder and a relief pitcher. The Cowtippers could conceivably bid as much as $4 million on Polanco, which would leave just $500k for an outfielder or relief pitcher, but there is no way Polanco will go for so little, given the prices that lesser players have received in this auction.

“Damn that Gene Patterson,” Glander says through clenched teeth. If it weren’t for Patterson’s $7.5 million bid, Nixon would have signed for just $6.5 million, leaving the Cowtippers with enough money to possibly win the bid on Polanco. Instead, the Cowtippers now find themselves in a position of weakness, with several holes to fill and not enough money left to fill those holes.

Glander still has one trick left up his sleeve. Once again, he reaches for the phone, contacting several teams about the possibility of a trade. Marlboro has been practically begging teams to take one of their two quality middle infielders – Melvin Mora or Ray Durham – for weeks. But the Hammerheads are asking for a left-handed outfielder, and when Glander floats a hypothetical offer of Luis Gonzalez for Mora and reliever Matt Mantei, Hammerheads GM Ken Kaminski rejects it out of hand.

Southern Cal is contacted about the availability of Todd Walker. However, too much time has passed since the Slyme were shopping Walker, and he is no longer available.

After a while, it becomes clear that Salem will have no choice but to fill one lineup position with a good-glove/no-hit middle infielder.

“If we had known that at the start of this draft, we never would have picked up Young in the first place,” Glander admits. “The whole plan from Day One was to build a middle infield of Young and Polanco. Plan B would be Polanco and someone like Neifi Perez. But Young and Perez? That just doesn’t appeal to us at all.”

As a last resort, Glander contacts the Wapakoneta Hippos to see if they would be willing to sign Polanco, then trade him to Salem for either Tomo Ohka or Michael Young. Hippos GM Bobby Sylvester replies with a two-word response: “Not interested.”

Next on the list is Gillette GM John Bochicchio, whose team has a ton of money left to spend. Gillette has spent the entire auction losing bids on starting pitching, so Ohka would appear to be a perfect fit. A message is left with Bochicchio, and Glander and his staff anxiously await his response.

With just an hour remaining until Polanco's auction ends, Bochicchio has still not responded to Glander’s message. In a panic, Glander whips out the Rolodex and phones Atlanta Fire Ants GM Gene Patterson. Patterson, too, has a ton of money to spend, but no glaring need for the two players Glander is offering. Thinking that perhaps there is someone else that would entice Patterson, Glander desperately reaches for his final opportunity to own Polanco. Patterson responds that he needs to look into the Cowtippers roster a bit further.

As the countdown to 10:00pm draws closer and closer, Glander’s phone rings at 9:45. Patterson has rejected the proposal. At 10:00, Glander and his staff officially learn that their $4 million bid on Polanco has fallen short.

Neifi Perez, here we come.

Next up:
Chapter Twelve: Finishing Touches