CURRENT SIMBL FINANCIAL REPORT

LANCE'S LISTS: SIMBL FINANCES GOING INTO 2022 OPENING DAY

Did Exceptionally Weak 2022 Free Agency Class Make 'B-Rod' & Ceja The Highest Paid Players In SIMBL History?

After a three-season hiatus from playing in the SIMBL, Benjamin 'B-Rod' Rodriguez (above) has returned from the SIMBL First File Era as the SIMBL New File Era's highest-paid player and the highest-paid player in the SIMBL's 18-season history.  Rodriguez became the first player in league history to be paid annually over $30,000,000 a season possibly reflecting SIMBL GMs frustration over a exceptionally weak free agent class this past offseason.

By Lance Stanley
SIMBL Contributor

Hi again bedwetters.  Lance Stanley reporting.

Well youngsters, with the free agent courting by several teams of the returning Benjamin 'B-Rod' Rodriguez, DeAngelo Ceja and the SIMBL's version of Brett Favre in the AWOL James Sousa, the SIMBL's contract ceiling for resigning players or for free agent acquisition just went through the roof as expected with the open wallets of Cleveland GM Jonathan Fitzgerald and Whitby GM John Callahan respectively.

Perhaps out of desperation because of a very weak 2022 free agent class, Rodriguez and Ceja were quickly made the two highest-paid players in the SIMBL and in the SIMBL's 18-season history as SIMBL player contracts continue to balloon.

The SIMBL's hardline luxury tax of 115% and 50% will be hitting teams severely this season as the average SIMBL payroll is currently at $110,643,383 with the average player payroll at $4,067,675, both substantial increases from last season and even more skyrocketing than the 2019 first season of the SIMBL New File Era.  13 current teams will be over the Opening Day deadline of the SIMBL's luxury tax.

Most of the dud contracts that were appointed in the 2019 SIMBL New File Inaugural Draft will be expiring after this season including albatrosses such as Knoxville's Kenny Brooks, Willie Briggs and Sebastian Meander, Rochester's Nate Coleman and perhaps the worst contract currently in the SIMBL and maybe in SIMBL history in Cleveland's Andy Chase.

Here are the ever-important team payrolls going into 2022 Opening Day:

1 Calgary Clippers $163,224,500
2 Astoria Goonies $156,050,000
3 Knoxville Lumberkings $143,138,500
4 Whitby Battalion $142,706,500
5 Hawaii Pineapples $140,238,000
6 San Diego Warewolves $137,270,500
7 New York Enforcers $126,206,000
8 Bristol Owls $123,289,000
9 Cleveland Brownies $121,439,500
10 Boston Revolution $121,400,000
11 Montreal Expos $116,327,000
12 Augusta Spartans $111,932,000
13 Bend Bandits $111,398,500
14 Rochester Roosters $108,450,000
15 Oregon Pioneers $106,464,500
16 Toronto Rush $106,295,500
17 Texas Roadrunners $103,954,500
18 Deer Lake Direwolves $89,050,000
19 Hollywood Bounty Hunters $88,915,000
20 Las Vegas Hustlers $70,500,000
21 Asheville Smokies $70,005,000
22 Dallas Texans $69,620,000
23 Sacramento Giants $68,307,500
24 Chicago Hitmen $59,259,190

The SIMBL's highest paid players going into the 2022 SIMBL season:

1 Benjamin Rodriguez Cleveland $32,872,500
2 Deangelo Ceja Whitby $31,900,000
3 Cesar Castillo Toronto $27,600,000
4 Vinny Corleone Calgary $26,450,000
5 Ron Jackson Knoxville $25,970,000
6 Jason Flynt Knoxville $25,730,000
7 Chance Bailey Augusta $23,100,000
8 Carlos Molina Calgary $23,000,000
9 Kenny Brooks Knoxville $22,540,000
10 Willie Briggs Asheville $22,070,000
11 Bobby Grimes San Diego $22,000,000
12 DeShaun Mack Montreal $22,000,000
13 Mario Montalbano Oregon $22,000,000
14 Ken Blaylock Astoria$21,500,000
15 Antonio Santana Bend $20,000,000
16 Travis Wright Bristol $19,900,000
17 Glenn Webb New York $19,490,000
18 Bobby Bruno Hollywood $19,000,000
19 Andy Chase Cleveland $19,000,000
20 Robinson O'Neil Whitby $19,000,000
21 Sean Turner Montreal $19,000,000
22 Nate Coleman Rochester $18,000,000
23 Rhett Forrester San Diego $18,000,000
24 Jules Jurrey Bend $18,000,000
25 Sebastian Meander Knoxville $18,000,000

MONTREAL GM NORRIS CONFIDENT IN EXPOS AS THEY NOW STAND

Defending UL East Champions Gearing Up To Keep Current Star Players

Montreal GM Kevin Norris took criticism from Expos fans for not being more aggressive during the 2022 free agency period.  Norris recently stated that the two-time defending UL East champions are more concerned currently about locking up some of their star players, like All-SIMBL DH DeShaun Mack (above), long-term than by splurging in free agent acquisitions.

By Kevin Norris
Montreal Expos GM
SIMBL Contributor

(Montreal)- The Montreal Expos spent most of the off-season signing players to new contracts and keeping the team intact for another season. After failing to make a trade for a big name starting pitcher and not being able to sign a star free agent in Ron Jackson in which the team aggressively persuaded.

Jackson must have found Montreal too cold for his liking after the team gave him much more then his asking price. The first year he would have made S26,000,000, and the second year $25,000,000 with the third and fourth years being under $20,000,000 and the 5th year being a team option but still around $15,000,000.  Even though the team made no big free agent pick ups during the 2022 SIMBL free agent frenzy, the team should still contend with some good upcoming minor leaguers that will get a good close look this spring.  

The team might be criticized for not going after a big name player but GM Kevin Norris now has the funds to keep departing star free agents, such as All-SIMBL DH DeShaun Mack, in Montreal next season.

2022 SIMBL FREE AGENCY SIM 5 (TO 3/5/2022) SIGNINGS

Whitby GM Callahan Is Ceja Highest Bidder

Saturday, March 5th, 2022

The Calgary Clippers traded 22-year-old minor league closer Carlos Martínez, 25-year-old minor league center fielder Héctor Ángel and 25-year-old closer Mauro Maldonado to the Boston Revolution, getting 34-year-old reliever Nathaniel Greene in return.

Saturday, February 5th, 2022

Boston Revolution: Signed free agent SP Michael Sterling to a 2-year contract worth a total of $16,060,000.

Sacramento Giants: Signed free agent 2B Donnie Armstrong to a 2-year contract worth a total of $2,500,000.

Sacramento Giants: Signed free agent 2B Juan Fuentes to a 3-year contract worth a total of $3,750,000.

Sacramento Giants: Signed free agent C Jim Nolan to a 2-year contract worth a total of $5,020,000.

Sacramento Giants: Signed free agent MR Barry Melzer to a 3-year contract worth a total of $1,500,000.

Cleveland Brownies: Signed RF Derek Dixon to a 6-year contract extension worth a total of $92,860,000.

Thursday, February 3rd, 2022

Texas Roadrunners: Signed free agent DH Shawn Wheeler to a 5-year contract worth a total of $83,100,000.

Toronto Rush: Signed free agent SS Scott Carter to a 3-year contract worth a total of $8,400,000.

Toronto Rush: Signed free agent MR Chris Jacobs to a 1-year contract worth a total of $660,000.

Whitby Battalion: Signed free agent SP Deangelo Ceja to a 5-year contract worth a total of $155,500,000.

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022

Calgary Clippers: Signed LF Carlos Molina to a 5-year contract extension worth a total of $141,200,000.

Tuesday, February 1st, 2022

Toronto Rush: Signed free agent MR John Sterling to a 2-year contract worth a total of $800,000.

SOUSA RETIRES AGAIN & GOES AWOL; FIRST FILE ERA ACE CEJA LATE FREE AGENT ENTRY

SIMBL's All-Time Strikeout King Suddenly A Headcase, Cannot Be Found By League, Friends Or Family

SIMBL First File Era flame-thrower Deangelo Ceja (above) has taken James Sousa's place as the free agent pitcher at-large this offseason.  Sousa came out of a three-season retirement to rejoin the league he previously dominated for 14 seasons.  After fielding enticing offers from several SIMBL clubs, Sousa abruptly retired again without explanation and has had no contact with the league, friends or family since.  Ceja was the first pitcher ever selected #1 overall in the SIMBL Draft in 2011.  As a 23 year-old in his second season, Ceja sat down 344 batters during the 2013 season, a SIMBL record that still stands.

SIMBL legendary SP James Sousa has mysteriously gone AWOL from the league, his family and friends reports the SIMBL League Office and numerous SIMBL media outlets.

Sousa, who formally declared his re-entry into the SIMBL after a three-season retirement just weeks ago, abruptly announced his retirement after receiving hefty offers from SIMBL GMs the past few weeks.  He hasn't been heard from nor seen since.

"We know that James has been treated for some sort of anxiety and/or panic disorder," stated SIMBL Commissioner Christian DeMarco.

"We honestly can't say what James is thinking but when we hear from him we will let the league know and what his intent is." 

The SIMBL's second all-time wins leader with 234 and all-time strikeout leader with 3334, Sousa was excited last week to re-enter the league he dominated for 14 seasons in the SIMBL First File Era when he sat down for an interview with longtime SIMBL scribe Lance Stanley.

Stanley, who is known to have a close relationship with Sousa, has traveled down to Puerto Rico today to try to find the suddenly enigmatic two-time UL Hurler Of The Year and to see what his mindset is on returning to the SIMBL as he planned.

"Most importantly, I am down here to make sure that James is OK.  The SIMBL comes second after his safety and health.  That's what we are concerned about because nobody, not even his own family, has heard from him for the past 72 hours. I will not leave this island until I know that he is not in any harm," said the 74 year-old "Grandfather Of The SIMBL" in a news conference earlier today.

Meanwhile while the Sousa mystery unfolds, another SIMBL First File big name has followed Sousa's path and taken his place to return to the SIMBL before the free agency window closes.

Former 2011 SIMBL Draft #1 overall pick Deangelo Ceja has formally declared himself a free agent at large with the SIMBL League Office.

The 31 year-old flame-throwing righthander was the first pitcher in SIMBL history to ever be selected with the top overall pick of the draft.  He was selected by the former Tacoma Rain II/Asheville Smokies II franchise and made his SIMBL debut in 2012.  Ceja went 98-77 with a 3.25 career ERA and 1.05 career WHIP from 2012-2018.  His 344 strikeouts during the 2013 season, in only his second SIMBL season, still stands as a SIMBL season-single record.  At the close of the SIMBL First File Era after the 2018 season, Ceja was ranked as the fifth best pitcher in the SIMBL.

Ceja is a two-time All-SIMBL selection (2017-2018) and a two-time All-Star. He played the last three seasons in the Dominican Republic's professional league.  Despite his immense talent, Ceja has never been a 20 game winner in eight SIMBL seasons often the ace on poor teams.

"I look forward to being shown the money and to be back in the SIMBL again.  You will get what you pay for with me," said Ceja through his interpreter.

"It's time to play with the big boys once again."

2022 SIMBL FREE AGENCY SIM 4 (TO 2/1/2022) SIGNINGS

Cleveland Wins 'B-Rod' Bidding Sweepstakes

Monday, January 24th, 2022

Cleveland Brownies: Signed free agent LF Benjamin Rodriguez to a 5-year contract worth a total of $161,362,500.

Friday, January 21st, 2022

Chicago Hitmen: Signed free agent SP Julio Ramirez to a 2-year contract worth a total of $19,014,380.

Knoxville Lumberkings: Signed free agent SP Ron Jackson to a 5-year contract worth a total of $118,850,000.