April 30, 2008

Connecticut Nutmeggers and New Orleans Trendsetters

December 10th, 2007

Connecticut receives:
SP Wil Suárez (21, A) - minor league contract

New Orleans receives:
Connecticut's 3rd 2008 draft pick via New Orleans (LF Bruce Jackson - 22nd pick)

Since Then:

San Antonio Calzones of Laredo and Kentucky Thoroughbreds

December 9th, 2007

San Antonio receives:
2B Naizen Nakayama (30, ML) - $1.9/$1.9/$1.9
SP Gary Fisher (28, ML) - $2.2/$2.2
LF Daron Little (37, ML) - $2.3
SP Sixto Núñez (17, AA) - minor league contract

Kentucky receives:
SS Iván Cardenas (28, AAA) - $0.38
CL José Álvarez (20, AA) - minor league contract
SS Darby Parker (21, A) - minor league contract
SP Cristián García (18, A) - minor league contract

Since Then:
Nakayama was traded 4 days later to New Jersey (12/13/07). He had an average '08 season at New Jersey's AAA affiliate and was traded in the '08 offseason to Manchester (11/06/08). Overall, Nakayama is an average serviceable infielder.
Fisher went 4-4 with a 4.04 ERA in 18 games with San Antonio in '08 before being traded to Manchester (7/14/08). A journeyman pitcher, Fisher is a bottom rotation starter or mop-up reliever at best.
Little was traded to New Orleans prior to the '08 season (2/11/08). He retired after the '08 season after delievering a .252/.311/.409 season. For his career, he was an average player.
Núñez played at San Antonio's Class-A and AA affiliates in '08. As of '09, he has steadily progressed to AAA and projects to have borderline big league talent. Lacking stuff, movement and velocity, Núñez has to rely on pinpoint control to be successful in the big leagues.

Cardenas had a below average '08 season with Kentucky. In 121 games, he batted .227 with 27 RBIs. A below average talent, he has prolonged his career by playing in winter leagues in San Juan and Liga Dominicana de Béisbol Invernal.
Álvarez has had excellent '08 and '09 seasons down at Kentucky's AA affiliate. It is questionable if he can translate his minor league success at the big league. He grades out as a pitcher with limited talent and low ceiling who may be better suited down at the minor league level.
Parker has played well for Kentucky at Class-A and AA in '08 and '09. It is projected that he has already hit his peak and is best suited as a career minor leaguer.
García has had solid seasons at Kentucky's SS-A and Class-A affiliate in '08 and '09. Projected to be an average talent, García has a shot to become a big league bottom of the rotation starter or long reliever.

April 28, 2008

Manchester Maulers and San Antonio Calzones of Laredo

December 1st, 2007

Manchester receives:
SP Francisco Molina (24, A) - minor league contract

San Antonio receives:
3B Randy Davis (35, ML) - $3.7/$3.7

Since Then:
Molina remahas pitched at Manchester's AA affiliate in '08 and '09. He has pitched decently but grades as out as a career minor leaguer.

Davis was traded to Tempe 11 days later (12/12/07). He was selected to the Planetary Extreme Baseball Alliance All-Star Game in '08 but was released by Tempe in the offseason (9/01/08). Since then he has signed a 2-year contract with Hermosillo Sols of the Alianza Béisbol Al Sur de la Frontera League where he has played decently at the tailend of his career.

April 27, 2008

New Jersey Hitmen and Duluth Warriors

December 1st, 2007

New Jersey receives:
SP Anthony Bagg (24, ML) - $1.4/$1.4/$1.4
3B Dan Schaffner (27, ML) - $7.0/$7.7

Duluth receives:
LF Manuel Rivera (31, ML) - $10.6/$11.7
SP Francisco Torano (31, AAA) - minor league contract
3B Harry Cassity (18, AAA) - minor league contract

Since Then:
Bagg started 17 games with New Jersey going 5-6 with a 4.63 ERA before being traded to Canton (7/14/08). As of '09, Bagg has gradually regressed from his decent '07 season with West Virginia and appears to be running out of chances to prove himself worthy of a big league roster spot.
Schaffner had a fabolous '08 season. He batted .312 with 8 homers and 64 RBIs in 147 games with New Jersey. He has continued his solid production in '09. Although his numbers are not flashy, Schaffner is a solid hitter who is capable of being an everyday starter.

Rivera batted .227 with 14 homeruns and 72 RBIs in 147 games with Duluth in '08. He has remained with Duluth in '09 and is having an average season. His run and power production numbers have steadily declined from his '07 All-Star days with then PEBA Champion, New Jersey.
Torano has pitched well at Duluth's AAA affiliate in '08 and '09. He has had continued success in his limited time with Duluth's big ball club in '09. Despite his success, Torano is on the older end of his career and nothing much should be expected of him.
Cassity played extremely well in '08 at Duluth's SS-A affiliate. He has struggled thus far in '09 after being promoted directly from SS-A to AAA. Possessing limited talent, Cassity does not appear to have the make-up to be a big league player.

Note:
This trade was part of a 4-way trade amongst Canton, Duluth, New Jersey, and West Virginia.

Canton Longshoremen and West Virginia Coal Sox

December 1st, 2007

Canton receives:
LF Orlando Valadez (24, ML) - $5.6/$5.3/$5.0
MR Travis Reynolds (33, ML) - $0.735
2B Carlós Gabaldon (25, AAA) - minor league contract

West Virginia receives:
SS George Riley (27, ML) - $8.4/$15.0/$14.5/$14.0/$13.0/$12.0
SP Ed Eubank (25, ML) - $0.38/arbitration/arbitration/arbitration

Since Then:
Valdez had solid '08 season with Canton. In 157 games, he batted .284 with 25 homeruns and 84 RBIs. As of '09, he remains with Canton and grades out as a solid hitter who is steady but not necessarily All-Star caliber.
Reynolds went 0-3 with a 5.44 ERA in 32 relief appearances with Canton in '08. He has since been traded to San Antonio (7/14/08). He signed a 1-year deal with Ciudad Acuña of the Alianza Béisbol Al Sur de la Frontera (4/30/09). Overall, he grades out as an average reliever who is on the tailend of his career.
Gabaldon has had average '08 and '09 seasons down at Canton's AAA affiliate. A utility infielder, it appears Gabaldon may not have enough talent to be a big league player.

Riley had an excellent '08 season with West Virginia. He batted .292 with 4 homeruns and 73 RBIs while scoring 89 runs himself. As of '09, Riley is one of the best hitting shortstops in PEBA and a consistent All-Star performer.
Eubank was flipped to Duluth as a part of the 4-way trade amongst Canton, Duluth, New Jersey, and West Virginia.

Canton Longshoremen and New Jersey Hitmen

December 1st, 2008

Canton receives:
C José Castillo (22, AAA)
SS Geoffrey Porter (22, ML)

New Jersey receives:
Canton's 5th round 2008 draft pick (RF Shou-chien Jung- 4th pick)

Since Then:
Castillo has played poorly at Canton's AA and AAA affiliate in '08 and '09. He projects to be nothing more than a career minor league catcher if lucky.
Porter had a decent '08 season with Canton. The speedy versatile infielder batted .266 with 7 homeruns and 48 RBIs in 134 games. He was traded to Reno a year later (12/19/08). Overall, he rates as a big league bench utility infielder who also is valuable in a pinch running situation.

Jung has been inconsistent thus far as of '09 in his minor league career. He ranks as the #64 prospect in PEBA (4/06/09). A fractured cheekbone has derailed his '09 season (7/16/09). Jung's strength include speed and defense but he needs to work on his hitting skills if he wants to develop into a big league player.

Note:
This trade was part of a4-way trade amongst Canton, Duluth, New Jersey, and West Virginia.

West Virginia Coal Sox and Duluth Warriors

December 1st, 2007

West Virginia receives:
C Rob Wright (30, ML) - $7.9
Duluth's 5th round 2008 draft pick (SP Jim Park - 11th pick)

Duluth receives:
SP Anthony Bagg (24, AAA) - $1.4/$1.4/$1.4
SP Ed Eubank (25, ML) - $0.38/arbitration/arbitration/arbitration
SP Chris Spencer (24, ML) - $0.38/arbitration/arbitration

Since Then:
Wright played well for West Virginia in '08. He batted .304 with 5 homeruns and 82 RBIs in 135 games. Furthermore, he threw out would-be basestealers at a 35.7% while showcasing a .993 fielding percentage. Inexplicably, he has been out of baseball since after the '08 season.
Park's pitching has ranged from subpar to decent in the '08 and '09 seasons with West Virginia's lower affiliate minor league systems. Lacking great stuff, Park appears destined to be a career minor league pitcher.

Bagg was flipped to New Jersey as a part of the 4-way trade amongst Canton, Duluth, New Jersey, and West Virginia.
Eubank pitched terribly for Duluth in '08. He went 7-18 with a 6.13 ERA in 30 starts in '08. As of '09, he has been demoted to Duluth's AAA affiliate. Possessing a below average fastball, Eubank looks to be a career minor league pitcher.
Spencer has pitched well in the minor leagues in Duluth's farm system. However, he has yet to shown that his minor league success can translate to the big league level. He has struggled in limited opportunities in the big leagues and appears not to have the make-up for it.

Note:
This trade was part of a4-way trade amongst Canton, Duluth, New Jersey, and West Virginia.

April 24, 2008

Arlington Bureaucrats and Fargo Dinosaurs

November 22nd, 2007

Arlington receives:
LF Leonard Lowe (27, AAA) - minor league contract

Fargo receives:
SS José Fuentes (26, ML) - $0.38

Since Then:
Lowe has been out of baseball since the '09 season. He last appeared in Arlington's AAA affiliate where he played horribly in the '08 season.

Fuentes played poorly with Fargo in '08. In 46 games, he batted .202 with 2 homers and 10 RBIs. He also spent time at Fargo's SS-A and AAA affiliates. He became a free agent in the '08 offseason where he signed a 1-year minor league deal with the Baní Depredadores del Peravia of the Liga Dominicana de Béisbol Invernal. He won 2008 Liga Dominicana de Béisbol Invernal Serie de Dominicana Final with Baní. As of '09, he is back in PEBA playing for San Antonio's AAA affiliate.

April 23, 2008

New Jersey Hitmen and the Reno Tenpinners

November 19th, 2007

New Jersey receives:
SP Juan Ibarra (31, AAA) - minor league contract
CF Tom Fogarty (27, AAA) - minor league contract
SP Francisco Torano (31, AA) - minor league contract

Reno receives:
SP Loren Mathis (33, ML) - $7.9/$7.9/$7.9

Since Then:
Ibarra appeared in 16 games with New Jersey in '08 posting a 1-2 record and 6.25 ERA. He became a free agent in the offseason and moved on to play in the Liga Dominicana de Béisbol ('08) and the Invernal and Alianza Béisbol Al Sur de la Frontera ('09). He currently is out of baseball.
Fogarty has had a few cups of coffee with New Jersey's big ball club but has yet to make a strong impression. He appears to be a career minor leaguer.
Torano was traded to Duluth two weeks later (12/01/07). He has been given an opportunity to crack Duluth's rotation after pitching well in the minors in '08 and '09.

Mathis had an off year with Reno in '08. He went 9-13 with a 5.77 ERA. A solid middle rotation pitcher, he has rebounded in '09 with Reno and remains .

April 21, 2008

Charleston Statesmen and the Arlington Bureaucrats

November 14th, 2007

Charleston receives:
1B Rod Borrell (29, ML) - $6.0/6.0/6.0
3B Allen 'Horse' Robinson (25, AAA) - minor league contract
CF Harald Bakboord (27, AAA) - minor league contract

Arlington receives:
1B Cipriano López (31, ML) - $8.5/$8.9/$9.3/$9.8

Since Then:
Borrell batted .313 with 12 homeruns and 106 RBIs in 15 games with Charleston in '08. After a poor '09 start with Charleston, he was claimed off waivers by San Antonio (6/15/09).
Robinson left Charleston several days later for minor league free agency. As of '09, he has played poorly as San Antonio's starting 3B.
Bakboord played awfully in 22 games with Charleston in '08 before being released (6/23/08). Since then he has won the 2008 League of the Rising Sun Neo-Tokyo Cup with the Yamato Battleships of the League of the Rising Sun.

López hit .278 with 18 homers and 80 RBIs in 155 games with Arlington in '08. He continues to be a solid offensive player with Arlington in '09.

April 19, 2008

Connecticut Nutmeggers and Tempe Knights

November 14th, 2007

Connecticut receives:
SP Argaw Adegoke (23, AA) - minor league contract
RF Dave Davis (26, AA) - minor league contract

Tempe Receives:
SP Daniel Sutton (33, ML) - $1.3

Since Then:
Adegoke remains in the low minors with Connecticut. He projects to be a career minor leaguer... if lucky.
Davis played poorly with Connecticut's AA affiliate in '08. He has been out of baseball since '09.

Sutton went 2-7 with a gaudy 7.89 ERA for Tempe in '08. He was released by Tempe mid-season (7/06/09). Since then he signed a 2-year contract with the Ciudad Juárez Velas of Alianza Béisbol Al Sur de la Frontera.

April 18, 2008

Manchester Maulers and Crystal Lake Sandgnats

November 8th, 2007

Manchester receives:
SS Glen Hester (23, ML) - $0.38/arbitration/arbitration/arbitration

Crystal Lake receives:
1B Manny López (26, ML) - $0.38/$7.4/$6.3/$5.3
MR León Rivera (20, AAA) - minor league contract

Since Then:
Hester batted .241 with 8 homers and 40 RBIs in 150 games with Manchester in '08. Still with Manchester, he suffered a fractured skull in '09 (6/23/09). He is viewed as an average hitter with excellent versatile infield defense.

López swatted 40 homeruns and drove in 124 RBIs while hitting .233 in 153 games for Crystal Lake in '08. An All-Star in '09, he has posted consistent power numbers for Crystal Lake.
Rivera 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA in 21.2 innings pitched for Crystal Lake in '08. He spent the majority of the season with Crystal Lake's AA affiliate where he posted a 10-4 record with a 2.85 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. He was traded to Aurora in the offseason (11/22/08) where he has pitched decently at Aurora's AAA affiliate in '09.

April 17, 2008

Aurora Borealis and Yuma Bulldozers

November 2nd, 2007

Yuma receives:
SS Daniel Groves (34, ML) - $11.4/$11.4/$11.4
SP Rafael Matos (30, ML) - $6.3
MR Bang-xao Shuo (24, AAA) - minor league contract
$1,500,000 cash

Aurora receives:
CL Mel Kennedy (31, ML) - $9.4
SP John Roach (28, ML) - $12.0/$12.0/$12.0
Yuma's 2nd round 2008 draft pick (SP Ernest Baker - 7th pick)

Since Then:

Aurora Borealis and Canton Longshoremen

November 2nd, 2007

Aurora receives:
MR Ángel Lara (23, ML) - $2.4
SP Ryuichi Yamauchi (22, ML) - $0.38/$0.38/$0.38/arbitration/arbitration/arbitration

Canton receives:
MR José Lugo (26, ML) - $0.38/arbitration/arbitration/arbitration
C Luis Navarro (29, ML) - $5.2/$5.2/$5.2/
MR Norberto Ruíz (23, AAA) - minor league contract

Since Then:

Charleston Statesmen and Manchester Maulers

November 2nd, 2007

Manchester receives:
SP José Morales (33, ML) - $6.9/$6.9
MR José Antonio García (33, ML) - $2.7/$2.7
SP Eric Butler (24, AAA) - minor league contract
MR Orlando 'Crabby' Ramos (23, AAA) - minor league contract

Charleston receives:
1B Domingo De Jesús (29, ML) - $7.7/$7.7
2B David Sneeddon (24, AAA) - minor league contract
2B Francisco Aguinago (29, AAA) - minor league contract
LF Scott Moss (20, AAA) - minor leaguecontract

Since Then:
De Jesús had a subpar season by his standards. He batted .250 with 21 homers and 94 RBIs. He was traded back to Manchester in '09 (5/17/09).
Sneeddon was released by Charleston in '08 (6/15/08). He has since signed a minor league contract with Manchester (6/24/08).
Aguinago was released by Charleston after the '08 season (10/02/08). As of '09, he has been out of baseball.
Moss was traded to San Antonio in '09 (7/12/09). He has played well in the minor leagues thus far.

Morales went 7-5 with a 2.93 ERA during the '08 season before being traded to San Antonio (7/14/08). As of '09, he has moved onto New Orleans and West Virginia. He has been a decent middle rotation pitcher in his career.
García wen 2-5 with a 5.33 ERA in 52.1 relief innings with Manchester in '08. He was traded to Omaha in '09 (6/07/09). He has been a serviceable reliever in his career.
Butler pitched decently for Manchester's AAA affiliate in '08 recording a 3.62 ERA with a 10-9 record. He has regressed in '09 and appears destined to be a career minor league pitcher.
Ramos went 1-2 with a 3.58 ERA in 78 relief innings for Manchester in '08. He was traded to Aurora in the offseason (11/25/08). He has developed into an excellent reliever with Aurora.

April 16, 2008

Canton Longshoremen and Omaha Cyclones

November 2nd, 2007

Omaha receives:
C Eric Morse (26, ML) - $6.0

Canton receives:
SP Robert McGillivantic (23, ML) - $0.38/arbitration/arbitration
MR Tom West (24, ML) - $1.2
SP Jonathan Hébert (31, ML) - minor league contract

Since Then:

San Antonio Calzones of Laredo and the Palm Springs Codgers

November 2nd, 2007

Palm Springs receives:
LF Michael Smith (27, ML) - $7.2/$7.2/$7.2

San Antonio receives:
Palm Springs' 3rd round 2008 draft pick (traded to Gloucester in Pexego deal)

Since Then:
Palm Springs' 3rd round pick was traded to Gloucester, who drafted SP Víctor Cruz.

Smith had an All-Star '08 season. He batted .302 with 35 homers and 103 RBIs. As of '09, he remains with Palm Springs where he is a solid season despite the slight dropoff compared to '08. Overall, he rates as one of the present day's lethal hitters in the league.

April 15, 2008

New Jersey Hitmen and the San Antonio Calzones of Laredo

November 2nd, 2007

San Antonio receives:
SS Marcos Sotelo (30, ML) - $1.6
SP Yukio Fujita (23, ML) - $1.5/$1.5/arbitration/arbitration/arbitration
MR Ron 'Stinger' Coture (20, AAA) - minor league contract
1B Carlos Aquino (26, AAA) - minor league contract
SS Stephen Everett (23, AAA) - minor league contract
CF Luis Hernández (27, AAA) - minor league contract
New Jersey's 2nd round 2008 draft pick (traded to Gloucester in Pexego deal)

New Jersey receives:
C Manuel González (27, ML) - $7.6/$7.8/$8.7/$9.7/$9.7
2B Alejandro Ortega (24, ML) - $5.9

Since Then:
González had a disappointing '08 season with New Jersey. He hit .239 with 14 homers and 56 RBIs in 129 games. He was traded back to San Antonio in the offseason (2/29/08). As of '09, he currently remains as one of the league's best offensive catchers
Ortega had an All-Star season with New Jersey in '08. He batted .316 with 30 homeruns and 94 RBIs in 133 games. He is having an off year in '09 due to injuries but remains one of the league's young bright infielders.

Sotelo had an average '08 season with San Antonio and was shipped to Palm Springs by the trading deadline (7/31/08). He was last seen in '09 playing for the Guaynabo Commandos of the San Juan Winter League.
Fujita had a mediocre '08 season with San Antonio and was traded to Manchester by the trading deadline (7/31/08).
Coture has pitched well for San Antonio's AAA affiliate but does not project much as a big leaguer.
Aquino has spent some time with the big ball club in '08 and '09 but has yet to make a strong impression. At best, he appears destined to be a career bench player.
Everett was traded to Tempe in '09 (5/24/09). He appears to be a "AAAA" player who posts great minor league numbers but fails to translate it to the big leagues.
Hernández was released by San Antonio in the offseason (10/02/08).

April 14, 2008

Connecticut Nutmeggers and Canton Longshoremen

November 2nd, 2007

Canton receives:
SP Tim Smith (33, ML) - $2.8/$2.8

Connecticut receives:
C Miguel Vargas (18, A) - minor league contract
2B Reynaldo Díaz (20, A) - minor league contract

Since Then:
Vargas has spent '08 and '09 with Connecticut's Class-A affiliate team. He has shown mediocre skills thus far.
Díaz was released by Connecticut midway through the '08 season (6/23/08). As of the '09 season, he has moved on to play for the Hermosillo Sols of the Alianza Béisbol Al Sur de la Frontera League.


Smith went 7-10 with a 4.76 ERA in 32 games with Canton in '08. He was traded to Manchester midway through the '09 season (6/14/09).

April 10, 2008

New Orleans Trendsetters and Fargo Dinosaurs

October 27th, 2007

Fargo recieves:
C Javier Rodríguez (34, ML) -$5.9/$6.4/$6.8
CF Dan Lewis (27, ML) - $9.8/$9.8
CF Tommy Fowler (20, ML) - $0.38/$0.38/arbitration/arbitration/arbitration
RF Luis López (24, AAA) - minor league contract
RF Esteban Flores (22, A) - minor league contract
MR John Ellis (27, AAA) - minor league contract
$5,000,000 cash

New Orleans recieves:
RF Ernest 'Sourface' Conard (33, ML) - $17.8/$17.8/$17.8
SP Alfredo Pinto (33, ML) - $3.9/$3.9/$3.9

Since Then:
Conard had an '08 All-Star season for New Orleans batting .313 with 38 homeruns and 110 RBIs in 145 games. He won the PEBA Championship with New Orleans in '08. His '09 season ended prematurely (7 games played) with a torn calf muscle (4/12/09).
Pinto went 13-10 with a 4.86 ERA in 32 games with New Orleans in '08. He was traded to San Antonio in the offseason (11/10/08) who subsequently traded him to West Virginia (12/17/08).

Rodríguez batted .240 with 9 homers and 68 RBIs in 136 games with Fargo in '08. He remains with Fargo in '09 and has put up similar numbers to the '08 season.
Lewis played so so for Fargo in '08. He batted .205 with 14 homeruns and 83 RBIs in 153 games. He was traded to Tempe in '09 (7/19/09).
Fowler hit .272 with 29 RBIs in a bench role for Fargo in '08. He batted leadoff for Fargo in '09 and has played decently.
López minor league numbers has dramatically declined since joining Fargo's farm system. At age 26, it is unsure if López will be able to regain his potential.
Flores has played poorly since joining Fargo's farm system. He batted .203 for Fargo's AA affiliate in '08 and has not played much better in '09.
Ellis went 1-2 with 5.93 in 38 games with Fargo in '08. He has since been demoted to Fargo's AA affiliate in '09 and has pitched poorly.

Manchester Maulers and San Antonio Calzones of Laredo

October 27th, 2007

San Antonio receives:
SP Kirby Gibson (34, ML) - $12.4/$13.2/$14.1

Manchester receives:
SS Ernest Mathis (24, ML) - $0.38/arbitration/arbitration
SP Jesús González (26, ML) - $3.2/$3.2/$3.2

Since Then:
Mathis was traded to Bakersfield by midseason (6/01/08). He has been strictly a defensive player in his career playing for San Antonio, Manchester, Bakersfield, and Omaha since the '09 season.
González went 13-7 with a 3.06 ERA in 31 games for Manchester in '08. He was traded to New Jersey in the offseason (11/06/08).

Gibson delivered an All-Star '08 season with a 19-7 record and 3.12 ERA in 34 games for San Antonio. He was traded in the offseason to Duluth (12/19/08).

Manchester Maulers and Bakersfield Bears

October 27th, 2007

Bakersfield receives:
RF Jude Pew (25, ML) - $8.0

Mancehester receives:
LF Mauro Martínez (25, AAA) - minor league contract
2B Mitch 'Snake Eyes' White (23, AAA) - minor league contract
SP Ed Mosley (25, AAA) - minor league contract

Since Then:
Martínez batted a dismal .208 with 36 RBIs in 127 games with Manchester in '08. In '09, he has been demoted to Manchester's AAA affiliate where he is having a decent season.
White played a majority of his games at Manchester's AAA affiliate in '08. During his callup of 44 games with Manchester, he hitted .200. He is having an excellent '09 season with Manchester's AAA affiliate but projects to be an average infielder in the big leagues.
Mosley splitted time between Manchester and their AAA affiliate in '08. He 1-7 with a 7.90 ERA in 9 games started for Manchester. He was let go in the offseason.

Pew immediately paid dividends for Bakersfield. He won the IL Royal Raker award in '08 with a .333 batting average, 45 homers, 152 RBIs, and 112 runs scored in 161. Pew is scheduled to miss 8 months due to a dislocated shoulder in '09 (7/09/09). He, however, remains one of the league's brightest stars for years to come.

Commentary: Our first blockbluster of the off-season! Kudos to Manchester; any real-life small-market GM will tell you how emotionally tough it is to part with an expensive star. You don't do it because you want to; you do it because you have to. But, if done right, these kinds of deals can work out. Here the Maulers stock up with 3 nice prospects. And Bakersfield gets a highly gifted outfielder to add to their mix of stars, showing that they're not quite ready to tear down just yet. Nice to see the strategies forming already! - Commissioner John

Almost 2 years later and all I can say is call the police because boy, you got robbed! - Nelly

April 8, 2008

San Antonio Calzones of Laredo and Tempe Knights

October 25th, 2007

Tempe receives:
SP Xue-Qin Yuan (26, ML) - $3.4
$2,000,000 cash

San Antonio receives:
Tempe's 3rd round 2008 draft pick (traded to Gloucester in Pexego deal)

Since Then:
Tempe's 3rd round pick was traded to Gloucester, who drafted SS Santiago Aragón.

Yuan pitched poorly for Tempe in '08 going 3-12 with a 6.08 ERA. He was traded to New Jersey halfway through the season (6/28/08). Since then, Yuan has moved onto several different teams but continues to pitch poorly.

April 3, 2008

New Orleans Trendsetters and the Connecticut Nutmeggers

October 20th, 2007

Connecticut receives:
C Tsuneari Horiuchi (24, ML) - $0.70/arbitration/arbitration/arbitration
SP Onne Adriaanse (35, ML) - $5.6/$5.6
New Orleans' 3rd round 2008 draft pick (traded back to New Orleans in Wil Suárez trade)

New Orleans receives:
C Jeff Cline (29, ML) - $18.2/$20.0

Since Then:
Cline batted .329 with 29 homers and 110 RBIs in 136 games with New Orleans in '08. A multi-time All-Star, Cline is arguably the best catcher in the league. He won the Planetary Extreme Baseball Alliance Champion with New Orleans in '08.

Horiuchi batted .211 in 111 games with Connecticut in '08. He remains with Connecticut in '09 and has yet to put together a decent season in the big leagues.
Adriaanse went 7-10 with a 5.16 ERA in 31 games with Connecticut in '08. He was let go in the offseason and has since moved on to play in the League of the Rising Sun including for Makurosu and Fushigi Yugi.
New Orleans' pick was traded back to New Orleans in a Winter Meeting deal.

Commentary: Hats off to you both for finding a way to make this work! Cline is going to be a monster addition for the Trendsetters, and Connecticut is getting some big-time talent interjected in the system. Looks like the proverbial trade that works for both sides. - Commissioner John

Hindsight is 20/20 but this trade has been in the landslide favor of New Orleans. Cline has been one of the league's best players whereas Connecticut has not much to show for it except for salary relief. - Nelly

April 1, 2008

Kentucky Thoroughbreds and the New Orleans Trendsetters

October 16th, 2007

New Orleans receives:
MR Isei Imamura (23, AAA) - $1.3/arbitration

Kentucky receives:
MR Jorge Sánchez (31, ML) - $1.4/$1.0
1B Robby Shepherd (28, AAA) - $0.38/arbitration

Since Then:
Sánchez went 7-15 with a 4.33 ERA in 31 games with Kentucky in '08. He was traded to Omaha in the offseason (3/17/09).
Shepherd batted a dismal .167 in 65 games with Kentucky in '08 and has been out of baseball since the '09 season.

Imamura pitched 12.2 innings for New Orleans going 1-3 with a 4.97 ERA before being traded to Canton mid-season (7/06/08).