Goldeyes face challenges restocking roster

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This article was published 18/12/2023 (677 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It may be the holiday season but Logan Watkins can’t afford to take much of a break from his phone.

The new manager of the Winnipeg Goldeyes has been busy texting and calling with players and agents from around the continent in hopes of putting together a winning club for the American Association’s 2024 campaign.

“I’m sure my wife doesn’t appreciate how much I’m on my phone but that’s part of the job, said Watkins, who was hired by the Fish on Nov. 1, in a conversation from his home in Wichita, Kan.

The Goldeyes were a major disappointment last summer under the watch of Greg Tagert — the former longtime manager of the Gary SouthShore RailCats. Tagert guided the Fish to the worst record in the six-team West Division at 43-57 in his lone season at the helm. Tagert signed a two-year deal last week to manage the Frontier League’s Tri-City ValleyCats.

Unfortunately for Watkins, a 34-year-old who played 58 games with the Chicago Cubs between 2013-14, it’s not an easy task getting Winnipeg back to its winning ways.

At this time of year, players typically want to hold off on signing a contract as they’re holding out hope for an affiliated opportunity. That’s nothing new, but what is new is the fact professional baseball in Mexico recently made the decision to allow teams to have a whopping 20 imports. The number of non-Mexican players was previously around seven.

“That’s made it really difficult because the salaries for players in Mexico is a decent amount higher than the American Association and all independent ball leagues. Obviously, you don’t blame players for wanting to pursue those opportunities. It’s something I did as a player as well,” said Watkins.

“I guess it’s just something that we’re going to have to deal with. The real difficult part is most of the veteran, older guys in our league… those guys are going to be offered pretty good money down there and it’s going to be impossible to keep them in our league. So, I think you’ll see our league be a bit younger this year.”

Watkins believes there could be some positives to having more young talent on the field, but having a glass half full mentality might not be so easy when the Goldeyes are likely forced to say goodbye to their best player — outfielder Max Murphy.

Murphy was the 2022 American Association Player of the Year and is currently playing in the Mexican Pacific Winter League with Mayos de Navojoa.

“Nothing is set in stone, but I think there’s a chance he may get an offer he can’t refuse to go down there (this summer). If that’s the case, all you can do is support him because he’s making a career decision that I think most people in his situation would probably make,” said Watkins, who previously spent two and a half seasons managing the Cleburne Railroaders.

The Fish have been able to retain the services of two important players as they signed reigning rookie of the year

third baseman Dayson Croes — the reigning AA rookie position player of the year — a few weeks back before reaching an agreement with starting pitcher Landen Bourassa on Saturday.

Bourassa, a 27-year-old from Lethbridge, Alta., who went 11-6 in 2023, returns for his fourth season with the Goldeyes and is living in Winnipeg this offseason.

The Goldeyes haven’t won a playoff series since claiming the league title in 2017, but Bourassa, who’s on his third manager in three years, is encouraged the team can compete with Watkins in command.

“I think Logan is going to be a really good fit for this job. Having already played against him, he’s always fielded a competitive team down there in Cleburne. I’d say they’ve given us fits over the last couple of years so i’m more than happy to be playing for him rather than against him,” said Bourassa.

Cleburne never missed the playoffs with Watkins, but a change of ownership led to the former infielder searching for work.

Former Railroaders owner John Junker reached out to Goldeyes owner Sam Katz and went to bat for the young skipper. The rest is history, and now the Fish have a young manager who’s eager to make a statement by winning a ton of ballgames.

“I guess you could say the competitor in me wants to show the ownership group in Cleburne that they made a mistake. There’s no hard feelings there, obviously, but that’s just the competitor in me.”

Watkins doesn’t have to wait long to stick it to Cleburne as the Goldeyes open the season on the road on May 9 against the Railroaders.

FISH ROUND OUT STAFF

The Goldeyes filled out their staff on Monday with the hiring of Mark Brewer as the club’s pitching coach and Adam Donachie as hitting coach.

Brewer, 65, brings a wealth of experience after spending the last 10 seasons in the Colorado Rockies’ system. His most recent stint was at the Class-A level from 2021-23 with the Fresno Grizzlies.

He has also worked as a minor league pitching coach or co-ordinator for the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Kansas City Royals, and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Brewer, who has never been involved at the independent level, was initially looking to retire.

“A guy I reached out to who I trust said that Mark will be one of the best pitching coaches we ever could’ve hoped to hire. For me, that’s as good of an endorsement for somebody that you could possibly hear,” said Watkins. “With as much affiliated experience as he has, it should be an easy transition and he seems like a guy who’s excited to take on the challenge.”

Donachie was the Lincoln Saltdogs’ hitting coach for the past two seasons. The 39-year-old former catcher/first baseman retired as a player in 2017 after playing 1,099 minor-league games. He was drafted by the Royals in the second round of the 2002 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft.

“Adam knows the league really well and knows players in the league. I really connected with him and he’s a good guy who knows what he’s talking about,” said Watkins.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

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