(S26) - PT 1 - Keep the Change You Filthy Animal

[qWest]

A lot of exciting changes have made the powerhouse Otters team in Orange County even stronger than they were in season 25. Near the opening of free agency, OCO's FO had their eyes locked in on the trade block, monitoring any players being shopped around the league. When star S22 corner Brandon Booker went up on the block, a big race broke out among the teams in the trade market, and it was Sarasota and OCO that arose as the heavy favorites fighting it out for Booker. After a great deal of confusion and miscommunication from the lame duck GMs in Philadephia, it was believed around the league (and for Booker himself) that he would be going to Sarasota, despite OCO still being deep in talks with Philly and eventually rising to the top and securing the trade. However, Booker decided to take his fate into his own hands, taking to the free agency market instead of leaving his fate up to the now resigned GMs in Philadelphia.

This lead to a frenzy in the Orange County front office, which already had its hands full with the legal tampering period opening and negotiations going on with a number of high-profile FAs. While talks with star CB turned DT Rotticus Scott and former TEotY Heath Evans had been going well for the team, Booker had been a major part of the team's future plans which had suddenly been put in jeopardy. While Scott and Evans were locked up with big contracts during the opening day of free agency, it would day several long days, even pushing until after the draft for Orange County to eventually lock up Booker as well in what has to be one of the biggest free agency periods for a team in league history. These signings also allowed for WR Future Trunks and CB Lord Beerus to  bulk up and move to the OL, further bolstering the team's offense. I'm excited to see what these new weapons can add to the plethora of rising stars, like Ramza and Nakamura, that are already on the team.