August 31, 2008

Arlington Bureaucrats and Canton Longshoremen

November 2nd, 2008

Arlington receives:
SP Minoru Kudo (23, AA) - minor league contract

Canton receives:
2B Frederick Craig (26, AAA) - $0.39/arbitration/arbitration

Since Then:
Kudo was traded to Duluth a month later (12/18/08). He was promoted to Duluth in August '09 after having a solid season in AAA. Since joining Duluth's rotation in August, he has gone 3-5 with a 4.64 ERA in the '08 season. He rates as the #46 prospect in baseball (4/06/09). Possessing average talent, Kudo projects to be a back-end starter in the big leagues.

Craig had a solid '09 season at Canton's AAA affiliate. A slightly below average ballplayer, Craig projects at best to be a big league bench player.

Manchester Maulers and San Antonio Calzones of Laredo

November 2nd, 2008

Manchester receives:
2B Dewey Blackwell (22, AA) - minor league contract

San Antonio receives:
MR Gary Fisher (29, ML) - $2.2

Since Then:
Blackwell was traded to Omaha by midseason (6/07/09). A versatile infielder, Blackwell projects to be a future big league utility infielder.

Fisher was to Tempe a month later (12/18/08). He was then traded to Kentucky by the '08 trading deadline (7/31/08). Overall, he grades out as an adequate spot starter and mop-up pitcher.

Arlington Bureaucrats and Manchester Maulers

November 2, 2008

Arlington receives:
SP Kevin Hollins (22, A) - minor league contract

Manchester receives:
2B Juan Ríos (25, AAA) - minor league contract

Since Then:
Hollins has had an average '09 season at Arlington's AA and AAA affiliates. He appears to not have a big league make-up. At best, he rates as a big league mop-up reliever or 5th starter.

Ríos has had a subpar '09 season spending time at Manchester's AAA affiliate and big ball club. He projects to be nothing more than a utility infielder and possibly even better suited as a career minor leaguer.

August 7, 2008

New Jersey Hitmen and Kalamazoo Badgers

September 26th, 2008

New Jersey receives:
RF Gregory Arnold (26, ML) - $8.4

Kalamazoo receives:
SS Kien-lung Hsiao (22, AAA) - minor league contract
MR José Martínez (21, AAA) - minor league contract

Since Then:
Arnold played well in 5 games with New Jersey before the '08 regular season ended. He was retained after the season and since then has signed a 5-year deal with Gloucester worth $53,560,000. An '09 All-Star, Arnold is one of the game's great players. He plays his outfield position well and is dangerous with the bat.

Hsiao was traded to London early in the '09 season (5/17/09). Named the #81 prospect in PEBA (1/29/09), Hsiao has played well since his big league callup with London in '09. Average with the glove, his strength lies in his ability to make contact and drive the ball in the gap.
Martínez has pitched decently at Kalamazoo's AAA affiliate in '09. He may develop into a big league reliever but he rates as an average talent.