Ultiplanet

Where is the MVP moving?

Jeff Babbitt, one of the most dominant UFA players in history, is presumably on the move after announcing via Evan Lepler that he would not be returning to the New York Empire. Let’s guess where he might be going!

1. New York Empire

The most likely team for Babbitt to end up with is, in very boring fashion, the New York Empire. Lost in the fanfare of the Empire winning 3 of the last 4 UFA titles is that the Empire probably spend more on player perks and salary than the rest of the league combined. The average UFA player probably makes close to $5 a game. My conservative guess is that Babbitt is making 200x that on salary alone, and making equivalent amounts in either perks or compensation for off field work, work that is just an excuse to pay players like Jeff Babbitt more money. If Babbitt’s departure came down to differences in contract negotiations, then unfortunately that Empire contract is the best offer out there. The Empire have housed, fed, and employed players at a pace that far outstrips the Jim Gerenscer Roughneck days, and is leagues ahead of comparable rivals.

Add to this that Babbitt keyed in on April 1, a date made infamous by fools, as the target date for announcing his 2024 team, and all signs point to a very mundane return to his former team. This is the dumbest option. It is also the most likely one.

2. DETROIT MECHANIX

Detroit will not (and probably cannot) compete with New York in terms of salary or perks. They can’t compete in terms of the team either, Babbitt is friends with his Empire teammates, and there is an outside chance he has never spoken to a single Mechanix player. Heck, Detroit is a downgrade in terms of cities to live in, although probably slightly cheaper. However, no team can compete with New York on the salary or friends scale, and Babbitt strikes me as someone who probably is not all that concerned with the quality of life aspects of the different cities. Detroit does have one distinct advantage which no other team, not even New York, can offer…

A win. New York has won 3 titles and lost 4 total games in 5 years. Even with Babbitt on the move, a coaching change, and losing Lithio to Chicago, the Empire are the prohibitive favorites to repeat as champions. The legacy is cemented, and while it might be fun to win, at this point everyone is questioning how much they care about the number of rings the Empire can rack up. Again, they are spending as much as the entire league on payroll, they really should win.

By contrast, Detroit hasn’t won a game since Obama was in office. They are the proud holders of one of the longest losing streaks in professional sports history, and easily the longest active in the US. They are in the midst of a historically non competitive run. Winning a single game with Detroit would be more impressive then winning a title with New York. Right now Babbitt is a chapter in a rather long book of Empire elites. It took Jagt and Osgar collecting MVPs for him to finally receive one, and people still think Jack Williams is better. If he went to Detroit and won a game, he wouldn’t be a chapter, he would be the whole book. Babbitt is just outside of the conversation for greatest UFA players ever. Winning a single game with the Mechanix would vault him to pole position atop that mountain.

3. BOSTON GLORY

The return of the hometown hero, this is the pathos choice for Jeff, who forged his Ultimate talents in the nearby mists of Amherst Massachusetts. Boston has his old UMass running mates, a talented if underachieving team, and all the appeal returning home can muster. They also are spending less on there entire roster than Babbitt made a game. Could the owners see the light and shell out major money for a big time player? No. Could the allure of mentoring the next Boston Big Man, Orion Cable, draw Babbitt north? Also no. But the draw of that Massachusetts drawl could prove tempting to a relocated Babbitt. I would never want to play for the Glory, but then again, I am not the reigning UFA MVP.

4. ATLANTA HUSTLE

Atlanta would be a bit of an odd move, but they have a history of paying relatively big money for big names. Khalif El Salaam famously signed with them for $3200, immediately making him one of the highest paid UFA players not playing for New York or Dallas in history! This would be a heavy pay decrease for Jeff, but it would keep him on the east coast, and send him to a contender. Atlanta is one of just 3 teams to have defeated New York since 2019, and they have been title contenders in each of the last 3 seasons, although they’ ve gotten in their own way en route to championship weekend.

Add in the happening hip hop scene, and you have a tasty location for any UFA player. Probably the closest Jeff could actually get to making New York money, Atlanta would be my second choice for team to play for if I were Babbitt (after Detroit obviously), but the hometown appeal of Boston probably brings it a notch below for Babbitt, even if Boston would lowball him on the salary.

5. THE WILD WEST

The Aviators made major money moves last season, signing Pawel Janas to a six year deal, and while the contract terms in the UFA are probably worth about as much as the paper they are printed on, it does represent a significant financial investment into a frisbee team. Colorado has shown a willingness to pay big money for what they want, they flew me out to call a game, even if that tends not to be on the players (last I checked just about everyone in Denver was making the UFA standard $50 for the season). Utah’s got that Mormon money, and who better to pair with Jordan Kerr than a player with the actual body of an NFL star. If Babbitt were wiling to leave the East Coast, these three teams would probably be tied as landing spots. None of them could touch the Empire offer, but all could put serious cash considerations on the table, and offer the allure of a very different environment to Babbitt, who may grown bored with his last 30 years near the Atlantic.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Chicago – maybe he really likes John Lithio

Philadelphia – maybe he really likes Sean Mott

Carolina Flyers – maybe he really hates the New York Empire

DC Breeze – maybe he really really hates the New York Empire

Indianapolis Alleycats – maybe he really hates the outdoors

Toronto Rush – maybe he really hates the USA

Montreal Royal – maybe he really hates the English language

Austin Sol – maybe he really hates everybody