July 27, 2008

Connecticut Nutmeggers and New Jersey Hitmen

Sepetember 2nd, 2008

Connecticut receives:
3B José Montaño (21, AAA) - minor league contract

New Jersey receives:
CF Claudio Córdova (27, ML) - $3.7

Since Then:
Córdova played well for New Jersey in September of '08 after the trade. He batted .344 with 3 homeruns and 18 RBIs in 26 games. He was not retained by New Jersey in the offseason. He has since signed a 5-year deal worth $25,810,00 with New Orleans (3/18/09). An excellent righfielder, he rates as a solid but not spectacular all-around offensive player .

Montaño has played well for Connecticut's AA affiliate in '09. An average talent all-around, Montaño projects as a future big league bench player at best.

July 14, 2008

Arlington Bureaucrats and Bakersfield Bears

July 31st, 2008

Arlington receives:
C Harvey Nuesink (28, ML) - $0.38
Bakersfield's 3rd round 2009 draft pick (1B Ed Shaffer - 22nd pick)
Bakersfield's 5th round 2009 draft pick (LF Jack Jackson - 22nd pick)


Bakersfield receives:
SS Francis Hampton (28, ML) - $0.38/$0.58/$0.58
C Gabriel Camacho (22, AAA) - minor league contract

Since Then:
Nuesink played poorly at Arlington's AA affiliate. He was released in the offseason (10/24/08). He projects to be a career minor league catcher.
Shaffer has struggled in his first SS-A minor league season. A good defensive 1B, he rates as average on offense. He projects to be a borderline big league player.
Jackson has played well in '09 in Arlington's farm system. He has a chance to develop into a big league player one day but his talent ceiling appears to be average.



Hampton batted .255 while providing solid defense in a utility role for Bakersfield in '08. As of '09, he remains a steady serviceable utility infielder for Bakersfield.
Camacho hit .261 and provided steady defense in 45 games in '08 with Bakersfield. Named the #46 prospect as of 4/06/09, Camacho has improved in the '09 season. An all-around catcher, he has grown to provide an above average bat along with good defense behind home plate.

July 12, 2008

Manchester Maulers and San Antonio Calzones of Laredo

July 31st, 2008

Manchester receives:
SP Yukio Fujita (24, ML) - $1.5/$1.5/arbitration/arbitration/arbitration

San Antonio receives:
SP Jeremy Hann (19, AA)
Manchester's 3rd round 2009 draft pick (LF Tyrone Miller - 9th pick)

Since Then:
Fujita went 6-3 with a 3.23 in 12 starts with Manchester in '08. He remains with Manchester in '09 and has pitched solidly. Overall, he rates as a dependable middle of the rotation starter.

Hann has pitched pretty well in San Antonio's farm system. However, he has suffered a severe setback in '09 with a torn labrum that will put him out of commissioner for at least 12 months (7/11/09).
Miller has struggled in his first SS-A season in '09. A solid defensive outfielder, Miller projects to be a big league platoon player or 4th outfielder.

Manchester Maulers and Aurora Borealis

July 31st, 2008

Manchester receives:
C Francesco 'Guns' Amati (22, AAA) - minor league contract
SP Ryuichi Yamauchi (23, AAA) - minor league contract
1B Tony Torres (20, A) - minor league contract

Aurora receives:
C Wilson Berry (23, ML) - $0.38/arbitration/arbitration/arbitration
SS José Rivera (22, AA) - minor league contract
Manchester's 7th round 2009 draft pick (CF Miguel Gutiérrez - 9th pick)

Since Then:
Amati hit .243 with 2 homeruns and 13 RBIs in 43 games with Manchester after the trade. He has struggled greatly in '09 and is better suited in a backup role.
Yamauchi has blossomed with Manchester. A two-time AAA All-Star, Yamauchi's highlights including pitching a no-hitter against Florida (4/29/09). Overall, Yamauchi rates as a solid top middle rotation pitcher.
Torres has played well at Manchester's Class-A affiliate in '08 and '09. However, he rates with a low ceiling and his numbers may not translate well at the big league level.

Berry has underperformed by his standards in Aurora as of '09. Overall though, Berry has solid defensive skills and above average hitting skills for a catcher.
Rivera rates as the #21 prospect as of '09 (4/06/09). He has performed well in Aurora's farm system. Excluding pure power and speed, Rivera rates well in all other categories. An excellent versatile infielder, Rivera has tremendous contact skills and patience. He projects to be an everday infielder in the big leagues one day with potential to become an All-Star.
Gutiérrez has played well in his first minor league season with Aurora's SS-A affiliate in '09. A mediocre talent, Gutiérrez projects at best as a 4th outfielder in the big leagues.

July 10, 2008

New Orleans Trendsetters and Palm Springs Codgers

July 22nd, 2008

New Orleans receives:
CF Jorge Ruíz (24, ML) - $1.2/arbitration

Palm Springs receives:
$1,166,100 cash

Since Then:
Ruíz batted .228 with New Orleans in 54 games after the '08 midseason trade. He was traded to Connecticut a year later (7/12/09). For his career, he rates as a limited offensive player who posseses excellent defensive skills along with exceptional basestealing skills.

July 8, 2008

Kentucky Thoroughbreds and Duluth Warriors

July 22nd 2008

Kentucky receives:
3B Anastasio Calderón (30, ML) - $1.5

Duluth receives:
SP Ramón Ornelas (35, ML) - $1.5

Since Then:
Calderón batted .197 with 6 homeruns and 25 RBIs in 55 games with Kentucky. He has been out of baseball since after the '08 season. For his career, he was a well below average player.

Ornelas went 1-3 with a 5.67 ERA 10 starts with Duluth after the trade. He left via free agency after the '08 season to sign a 1-year minor league deal with Azua Zafiros Blanco of the Liga Dominicana de Béisbol Invernal. For his career, he rates as a bottom rotation starter at best.

July 7, 2008

New Orleans Trendsetters and London Underground

July 14th, 2008

New Orleans receives:
3B Dominic Gagné (29, ML) - $4.9

London receives:
LF Daron Little (37, ML) - $2.3
1B Morimasa Sasaki (24, AAA) - minor league contract
SP Felipe Rodríguez (22, SS-A) - minor league contract

Since Then:
Gagné flourished with New Orleans in 68 games. He batted .313 with 17 homeruns and 49 RBIs after the trade while helping New Orleans win the 2008 PEBA Championship, He became a free agent after the season but was not signed until Reno after 3-year deal mid-way through the '09 season (8/15/09). Overall, he rates as an above average switch hitter with competent skills at the hot corner.

Little played decently for London. He hit .260 with 10 homers and 30 RBIs in 72 games. He retired after the '08 season.
Sasaki has played solidly for London's farm system in '08 and '09. A steady average player all along, Sasaki appears better suited as a minor league veteran than big league player.
Rodríguez has pitched well during his stint's at London's Class-A affiliate in '08 and '09. He has struggled since his promotion to AAA in '09. He grades out at best as a big league bottom rotation pitcher.

July 6, 2008

Manchester Maulers and San Antonio Calzones of Laredo

July 14th, 2008

Manchester receives:
SP Gary Fisher (29, ML) - $2.2/$2.2
CF Manny Lara (23, ML) - $0.38/$0.38/arbitration/arbitration/arbitration
SP Tekkan Terada (25, AAA) - minor league contract

San Antonio receives:
SP José Morales (33, ML) - $6.9/$6.9
Manchester's 2nd round 2009 draft pick (SS Randy Blake - 9th pick)
Manchester's 5th round 2009 draft pick (3B Roberto Luna - 9th pick)

Since Then:
Fisher went 1-6 with a 5.43 in games with Manchester in '08. As of '09, he has been traded to San Antonio (11/02/08), Tempe (12/18/08) and Kentucky (7/31/09). For his career, he has been a serviceable backend starter or mop-up reliever.
Lara played horribly with Manchester in '08 after the trade. He batted .215 in 68 games with 2 homeruns and 17 RBIs. For his career, he has been an average outfielder.
Terada spent '08 and part of '09 at Manchester's AAA affiliate. He was released by Manchester on 5/17/09 and subsequently signed to a minor league contract a week later by Bakersfield (5/25/09). He rates as a career minor league starter.

Morales went 7-5 with a 2.53 ERA in 17 starts with San Antonio after the trade. He was traded to New Orleans in the offseason (11/25/08). Since then, he has been traded again to West Virginia during the '09 trading deadlone (7/31/09). Morales has been a solid middle rotation starter in his career.
Blake has been average in '09 while playing in his first minor league season at San Antonio's SS-A affiliate. He projects to be a future big league utility infielder.
Luna, who was drafted out of high school, has struggled in '09 in his first minor league season with San Antonio's SS-A affiliate. He projects to be a borderline big league backup catcher.

San Antonio Calzones of Laredo and Connecticut Nutmeggers

July 14th, 2008

San Antonio receives:
LF Roberto Rodríguez (29, ML) - $14.0/$16.0/$16.0/$17.0/$18.0
SS Charles Randall (29, ML) - $0.54/$0.64

Connecticut receives:
2B Miguel Angel Hernández (29, ML) - $4.4/$4.4
2B Kunimichi Kato (36, ML) - $2.7/$2.7
MR Jacob Dotson (29, ML) - $2.2/$2.2
LF Lorenzo Ramírez (37, ML) - $4.4
San Antonio's 1st round 2009 draft pick (LF Oliver Douglas - 13th pick)
San Antonio's 2nd round 2009 draft pick (C Dalton Scott - 13th pick)
San Antonio's 3rd round 2009 draft pick (3B Ronald Lowry - 13th pick)
San Antonio's 4th round 2009 draft pick (SP Ánibal Moreno - 13th pick)

Since Then:
Rodríguez had an All-Star caliber second half of the '08 season with San Antonio. He batted .318 while banging out 9 homers and driving in 43 RBIs. He was traded to New Orleans in the offseason (11/10/08). Although owning a hefty contract, Rodríguez remains one of the league's best offensive leftfielders in the game in '09.
Randall played poorly in 43 games with San Antonio after the trade. He batted a miniscule .145 average with 3 RBIs. He was traded to Tempe in the Pexego deal in the offseason (11/02/08).

Hernández missed a majority of the second half of the '08 season with a fractured foot (7/27/08). He played extremely well in the '09 season but once again injuries have shortened another year. He batted .304 with 4 homers and 30 RBIs prior to tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (8/16/09). For his career, Hernández is an above average hitter with excellent defensive skills and versatility when healthy.
Kato batted .309 with 2 homeruns and 8 RBIs in 44 games with Connecticut in '08. The rejuvenated aging Japanese infielder remains with Connecticut in '09 where he has had a solid season.
Dotson pitched poorly for Connecticut in '08. He went 3-4 with a 7.26 ERA in 22 relief appearances. He has pitched better in '09 and grades out as a decent middle reliever.
Ramírez batted .306 with 4 RBIs in 41 games with Connecticut. He retired in the offseason.
Douglas, who had a stellar college career with Southern Miss, has carried his success in his first season in the minors in '09. He projects to be a future big league regular who can swing the bat for a high average along with power.
Dalton was released by Connecticut prior to his first full year in the minor leagues (7/19/09). He has since signed a 1-year minor league deal with Lupin of the League of the Rising Sun (7/20/09).
Lowry has played well in '09 in his first professional minor league season at SS-A. An infielder with above average defensive skills, he has shown an average bat but possesses plus power potential. He projects to be a future starter with possible star power.
Moreno has pitched well at Connecticut's SS-A affiliate in '09. Although too early to tell, he has potential to be a big league starter one day. He won't be a star but could one day provide serviceable pitching at the end of the rotation.


Commentary: San Antonio responds to the trade.

July 4, 2008

New Jersey Hitmen and Yuma Bulldozers

July 14th, 2008

New Jersey receives:
SP Rafael Matos (31, ML) - $6.3

Yuma receives:
SP Xue-qin Yuan (27, ML) - $3.4
New Jersey's 7th round 2009 draft pick (MR John Miller - 21st pick)

Since Then:
Matos pitched poorly for New Jersey in 14 games after the trade. He compiled a 4-7 record with a bloated 6.42 ERA. He signed a minor league deal with Omaha in the offseason. For his career, he has been a below average bottom of the rotation starter.

Yuan went 4-10 with a 4.93 ERA in 15 games started with Yuma after the trade. As of '09, he signed a 3-year contract with Kentucky worth $3,900,003. For his career, he has pitched subpar and best suited as a mop-up reliever or backend rotation starter.
Miller has pitched well in '09 in his first minor league season with Yuma's SS-A affiliate. He has the potential to one day be a decent big league reliever

July 3, 2008

San Antonio Calzones of Laredo and Canton Longshoremen

July 14th, 2008

San Antonio receives:
MR Travis Reynolds (34, ML) - $0.735

Canton receives:
San Antonio's 5th round 2009 draft pick (CF José Villa - 13th pick)

Since Then:
Reynolds made 13 appearances in '08 with San Antonio going 1-4 with 4.13 ERA and a save in 32.2 innings. Since then, he has signed a 1-year deal with Ciudad Acuña of the Alianza Béisbol Al Sur de la Frontera (4/30/09).

Villa has struggled in '09 in his first minor league season with Canton's SS-A affiliate. However, he has a chance to grow into a serviceable outfielder if developed properly. He has raw hitting potential and solid defensive skills.

New Jersey Hitmen and Canton Longshoremen

July 14th, 2008

New Jersey receives:
SP Oscar Holloway (29, ML) - $12.6/$12.6/$12.6

Canton receives:
SP Anthony Bagg (24, ML) - $1.4/$1.4/$1.4
MR Zander Miller (24, ML) - $0.38/$0.38/arbitration/arbitration/arbitration
CF John Knight (23, ML) - $0.38/arbitration/arbitration/arbitration
1B Albert Rishworth (26, ML) - $1.2/$1.2/arbitration/arbitration/arbitration
C Leo Coury (22, AA) - minor league contract
New Jersey's 3rd round 2009 draft pick (3B Ken Vance - 21st pick)
$1,000,000 cash

Since Then:
Holloway pitched superlatively for New Jersey after the trade. He went 7-1 with a 2.90 ERA on 15 games started. Holloway remains with New Jersey in '09 and has had a decent season. For his career, Holloway rates as a top of the rotation pitcher ideally as a #2 starter.

Bagg went 4-4 with a 5.48 ERA 13 starts with Canton in '08. As of '09, he has struggled while spending time with Canton and its AAA affiliate. He rates out as a minor league starter.
Miller went 4-2 with a 4.26 ERA in 30 games with Canton after the trade. In '09, he has had a mediocre season with the majority of the time spent with Canton's AAA affiliate. He grades out as a potential bottom rotation starter or long reliever.
Knight struggled with Canton hitting .229 with 3 homeruns and 11 RBIs in 54 games after the trade. He was traded to Aurora in the offseason (11/25/08). He has had a breakout '09 season with Aurora.
Rishworth batted .263 with 5 homeruns and 20 RBIs in 67 games with Canton in '08. He has struggled with Canton in '09 but still has potential to be a solid hitting first baseman if he ever develops.
Coury has spent '08 and '09 with Canton's AA affiliate. He grades out as a potential big league defensive backup catcher.
Vance has struggled mightily in his first minor league season at Canton's SS-A affiliate in '09. A solid hitter in high school, he has the potential to be a good gap hitting infielder in the big leagues one day if developed properly.

Commentary: *BOOM* The hammer drops on a true blockbuster. This to me is one of the most fascinating trades in PEBA history. There's a lot happening here, and the fallout won't really be able to be judged for a few years. What can be immediately deduced is that a number of Imperial League playoff contenders are going to want to enter scramble mode to respond to this opening salvo in the Trade Wars. - Commissioner John

Kentucky Thoroughbreds and London Underground

July 14th, 2008

Kentucky receives
3B Josh Emery (26, ML) - $2.5

London receives
MR Powell Lilley (22, ML) - $0.38/$0.38/arbitration/arbitration/arbitration
LF Toyozo Ishihara (34, AAA) - minor league contract

Since Then:
Emery played miserably in 57 games with Kentucky after the trade. He batted a dismal .210 along with 5 homeruns and 27 RBIs. After the '08 season, he signed a 1-year deal with Nezahualcóyotl of the Alianza Béisbol Al Sur de la Frontera where he played exceptionally well. As of the '09 season, he has been unemployed.

Lilley pitched well for London after the trade. In 26 relief appearances, he went 4-1 with a 2.67 ERA. He was traded to Kalamazoo early in the '09 season (5/17/09). In his young career, Lilley has been inconsistent showing flashes of brilliance while other times making managers pull their hair out.
Isihara appeared in 58 games with London in '08. He hit .228 with 4 homeruns and 13 RBIs. He signed a 2-year deal worth $1,710,000 with Niihama-shi of the League of the Rising Sun in the '08 offseason (12/08/08).

July 2, 2008

Manchester Maulers and Canton Longshoremen

July 14th, 2008

Manchester receives:
1B Martin Bido (21, A) - minor league contract

Canton receives:
C Bill Mytton (21, AAA) - minor league contract

Since Then:
Bido had an average '08 season with Manchester's AA affiliate. He has progressed well in '09 at AAA and projects one day to be a serviceable first baseman.

Mytton did not play as well after the trade while playing for Canton's AAA affiliate. A superb defensive catcher, Mytton does not have the offensive talent to become a big league regular. At best, he may grow into a defensive backup catcher but his lack of offense makes him a liability in the batting order.

July 1, 2008

San Antonio Calzones of Laredo and West Virginia Coal Sox

July 14th, 2008

San Antonio receives:
RF Will Thomas (32, ML) - $11.7/$11.7/$11.7
SP Flobert Hoeks (26, ML) - $0.38/$0.38/arbitration/arbitration/arbitration

West Virginia receives:
SP Tim Higgins (33, ML) - $9.0/$9.6/$10.3
MR Héctor Nieves (27, ML) - $2.8/$2.8

Since Then:
Thomas played well for San Antonio after the trade. In 70 games, he batted .269 along with 9 homeruns and 24 RBIs. As of '09, the aging Thomas remains with San Antonio where he has played poorly in a bench role.
Hoeks pitched decently in 11 games with San Antonio after the trade. He went 4-2 with a 4.55 ERA in 59.1 innings. He remains with San Antonio in '09 where he has been a serviceable mediocre middle of the rotation pitcher.

Higgins went 6-5 with a 4.24 ERA in 14 starts with West Virginia in '08. He was traded to Connecticut in the offseason (12/11/09). Prior to the 2009 trading deadline, he was traded back to West Virginia (7/19/09). For his career, he has been a decent middle of the rotation starter.
Nieves pitched well for West Virginia after the trade. In 43 innings, he compiled a 4-3 record with a 3.14 ERA along with 3 saves. He remains with West Virginia in '09 and is having a career year as a setup reliever.

Commentary: San Antonio responds to the trade.