2026 Preview – Bronze League Edition

March 7, 2018 James Austin 1 Comment

We’re onto part three of the 2026 preview – this time we’re taking a look at the Bronze League. For the first time, the BL will have participants from the inaugural Premier League teams (Great Lakes and Philadelphia). Goes to show that all empires end some time.

Carolina Aces

Additions: Andrelton Simmons

Subtractions: Travis Hunter

Verdict: Carolina didn’t have a lot of money to spend, nor did they have any pieces to trade away. However, they got an amazing return for Travis Hunter, so there was some good bonus for the season. Best of luck to Simmons as he tries to install a major league atmosphere to a club that desperately needs some top competition to look up to.

Why to watch this team: Andrelton Simmons should instantly become one of the best fielders in the league.

Grade: B+

Houston Moondogs

Additions: Steve Nelson, Jeremy England, Miguel Coronado, Jesus Duarte, 2026 3rd Round Pick

Subtractions: Jimmy Papp, David Guerrero, German Garcia, Josh Combs, Matt Cooper, Cole Fisher, 2027 1st Round Pick, 2028 1st Round Pick, 2026 2nd Round Pick

Verdict: I like the moves for Houston. I think they’ve suffered long enough down there, and they need to make a run at promotion.

I don’t like the guys they got.

Steve Nelson is 34 years old. He doesn’t have much left in him, yet Houston gave up a 1st and a 2nd to get him. Jeremy England is also 34 years old. Houston is a team that’s been in the BL for their entire existence, but never went through a true rebuild. I get that they’re trying to build a contender, but for what they gave up to get who they got, I don’t think their resources went far enough.

Why to watch this team: Houston is all in for this season.

Grade: C-

Iowa Predators

Additions: Joc Pederson

Subtractions: None

Verdict: It would have been nice to see this team go through a rebuild earlier than last season, but their big pieces for trading are too old at this point. It may be time to salvage what they’ve got and begin the rebuild – but staying pat through the offseason doesn’t net you a bonus when it comes to a return for the aging players. Pederson will be nice for a lineup that needs juice, but we don’t know if the aging core of the Iowa staff will be able to keep up for the entire season.

Why to watch this team: For the three seasons they’ve been in the BL, their team ERA is 3.20. If you like pitching, this is your team – all they need is some offense.

Grade: C

Boston Rogers

Additions: David Achterburg

Subtractions: None

Verdict: They mad their big sell off last season. Losing Jeremy England, Justin Marchi, and others definitely hurts Boston’s chances of promotion this season. However, there are some bright spots on the team – Mike Alter will be a relief ace in the BL, and Francisco Arellano is coming off a season where he set the record for Home Runs in a single season. The signing of Achterburg may be what puts them over the hump, but could also be simple trade bait towards the middle of the season.

Why to watch this team: Francisco Arellano dingers.

Grade: B

San Diego Skylarks

Additions: None

Subtractions: None

Verdict: What is there to say?

Why to watch this team: They’ll make an interesting race between themselves and Carolina for the first overall pick.

Grade: C (I mean, I could give them an F but there’s no reason to penalize them for what they can’t do)

Indianapolis Hawks

Additions: Jose Sanchez, Ramiro Montoya

Subtractions: Dave Bailey, Bobby Lopez, 2027 1st Round Pick, 2028 2nd Round Pick, 2028 3rd Round Pick

Verdict: Indy made a great move this offseason by acquiring Jose Sanchez. Sanchez is only 26 years old and already has two Coke Blak Surge awards to his name. Did they overpay to get Montoya? Yes, but Sanchez gives Indy a lineup that will get them to the SL.

Why to watch this team: One of the first teams to go from win-now mode to tank mode, Indy should make a run for promotion this season after a successful rebuild.

Grade: A-

Wichita Weasels

Additions: None

Subtractions: Cameron Brasted

Verdict: Not too much to see here. They’re a team that finished in the lower half of the BL last season and, with no real pieces to trade away, couldn’t make many moves.

HOWEVER.

Cameron Brasted was the face of the franchise. They could (and should) have received more than just a first round pick in return for a serviceable 26 year old center fielder with good hitting.

Why to watch this team: This may be the season that their great pitching prospects get the call up.

Grade: C

Philadelphia Liberty

Additions: Jason Piperno, Paul Folk, Tyler Kolek, William Singley, Cong Thian, Matt Cooper, David Guerrero, German Garcia, Josh Combs, Ryan Mercer, John Chamblee, Ken Kovac, 2027 1st Round Pick, 2027 2nd Round Pick (2), 2027 3rd Round Pick, 2026 4th Round Pick, 2026 5th Round Pick

Subtractions: Jeremy England, Justin Marchi, Miguel Coronado, Antonio Ramirez, Matt Haley, Joe Kapanen, Ben Mandel, Ashton Reynolds

Verdict: Let’s see, that’s one player, two players, three players, four players… don’t have enough fingers to count how much they got back. They blew up the core of the team that they hoped would save them from relegation, and got a better return than what they gave up at the same time. That’s a pretty good offseason if you ask me.

Why to watch this team: This is a vastly different team from last season, but their starting eight has (for the most part) been kept around from the SL. This is a team that ran into bad luck last season, as their adjusted record had them finishing sixth. Look for them to make a run at promotion this season.

Grade: A

Great Lakes Monsters

Additions: Tony Bowman

Subtractions: None

Verdict: Great Lakes is right where they need to be at – they had a good roster for the opening seasons, but age caught up to them and they’re now in the rebuild stage. I can respect that they’re holding on to Josh Verburg – there’s a good chance he’ll be the first retired number in Cleveland – but Edgar Lugo isn’t getting any younger. The only suggestion would have been to deal out that bullpen duo of Bulger and Lugo, but they may be able to get more for them at the deadline.

Why to watch this team: Josh Verburg seems to be staying put in Cleveland for now, and he’ll be a top MVP candidate.

Grade: B-

Brooklyn Bulldogs

Additions: Luis Trevino, Mike Watson, ShinriKiyaru Yoshimoto, Miggy Rivera, John Johnson, Garrett Monty, Isidro Ahumada

Subtractions: Sal Baez, 2026 1st Round Pick, 2027 1st Round Pick, 2027 2nd Round Pick, 2026 4th Round Pick

Verdict: Brooklyn sold the (future) farm to get the team that they think will get them promoted. It starts with Luis Trevino, who should be an instant difference maker in Brooklyn. Throw in Mike Watson and they’ll get the offense they need to get back to promotion. However, a 1st round pick for a 39 year old is a bit steep, and dealing away a top prospect and (potentially) two first round picks to get a good player (but not a superstar) is also a bit steep.

Why to watch this team: Is the fourth time the charm? Brooklyn has always been up at the top of the standings,

Grade: C

After last year’s projections…

Projected Finish	Position	Actual Finish
Iowa	1	Bay Area
Brooklyn	2	Salt Lake City
Boston	3	Brooklyn
Salt Lake City	4	Houston
Houston	5	Indianapolis
Bay Area	6	Boston
Indianapolis	7	Iowa
Wichita	8	Wichita
San Diego	9	Carolina
Carolina	10	San Diego

This year’s projected standings are:

Standings:	Iowa	Brooklyn	Boston	Houston	Great Lakes	Philadelphia	Indianapolis	San Diego	Wichita	Carolina
1	0	2	0	5	0	0	3	0	0	0
2	0	6	0	1	0	1	2	0	0	0
3	0	1	0	4	0	2	3	0	0	0
4	3	1	0	0	0	4	2	0	0	0
5	2	0	2	0	2	3	0	0	1	0
6	3	0	4	0	1	0	0	0	2	0
7	1	0	4	0	3	0	0	0	2	0
8	1	0	0	0	3	0	0	1	5	0
9	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	4	0	5
10	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	5
	—-	—–	—-	—-	—-	—-	—-	—-	—-	—-
Points	55	89	48	91	40	71	86	16	39	15