Charleston Statesmen and Tempe Knights

May 24th, 2009

Charleston receives:
CL Christos Douglass (33, ML) - $4.5
LF Víctor Martínez (19, ML) - $2.7/$0.60/$0.60/$0.60/arbitration
2B Jorge Rivera (22, ML) - $0.57/$0.39

Tempe receives:
MR Steve Wallace (28, ML) - $2.0/$2.8
3B Jeremy Lawrence (31, ML) - $2.5/$3.0
CF Mark Young (32, ML) - $1.0/$1.0/$1.0/$1.0/$1.0
MR Grant Mullen (30, AAA) - $2.2/$2.8
CF David LaFrance (21, AAA) - minor league contract
SS Silas Boone (23, AAA) - minor league contract
Charleston's 2nd round 2009 draft pick (3B Ty Newell- 14th pick)

Since Then:
Douglass had a superb '09 season while serving as Charleston's setup man. He went 4-2 with a 2.19 ERA in 43 relief appearances with Charleston. Sporting a 0.87 WHIP in '09, Douglass is one of the league's premiere setup men.
Martínez played decently in '09. Serving primarily as a DH, he batted .244 with 9 homeruns and 47 RBIs with Charleston in '09. A youngster, Martínez still has room to grow into a productive run producer. He has good power but needs to work on his contact and discipline.
Rivera batted .242 with 10 homers and 46 RBIs in 104 games with Charleston. A superb utility infielder, Rivera is an ideal bench role player that any team would want.

Wallace went 0-2 with a 3.69 ERA in 17 relief appearances with Tempe in '09. He was released prior to the end of the seaosn (9/01/09). Despite lacking big league caliber stuff and velocity, Wallace has proven in the past to be a serviceable reliever.
Lawrence had a solid season with Tempe in '09. In 79 games, he batted .287 with 4 homeruns and 37 RBIs. A versatile infielder, Lawrence is a solid option as a starter and an even option as a utility bench role player.
Young batted .252 with 23 RBIs in 103 games with Tempe in '09. His ability to play all 3 outfield positions make him an ideal 4th outfielder. He does not possess the offensive punch to be a full-time starter.
Mullen appeared in 21 games with Tempe before being released (9/01/09). Prior to his release, he went 2-3 with a 7.03 ERA. He lacks the velocity and stuff to become a truly effective reliever. At best, Mullen is a secondary reliever.
LaFrance batted .227 with 6 homeruns and 35 RBIs in 108 games with Tempe in '09. He was named the #55 prospect in baseball (4/06/09). His strengths include speed and raw power. He will need to work on his contact and discipline in order to progress into a starting caliber outfielder.
Boone was traded to San Antonio on the same day (5/24/09). He has the talent to become a big league utility bench player at the very least. He combines solid defensive skills with good speed and a serviceable bat. These traits make him capable of becoming a starting infielder one day.
Newell had a subpar '09 season down at Tempe's SS-A and Class-A affiliates. Drafted out of high school, Newell possesses good upside. He projects to have plus skills in hitting and gap power. Conservatively, he projects to be a utlity infielder but has the skills to be a big league starting infielder one day if he matures.

Aurora Borealis and Yuma Bulldozers

May 17th, 2009

Aurora receives:
Yuma's 1st round 2009 draft pick (SP Bill Bradley - 1st pick)

Yuma receives:
1B Jesús Reynoso (19, SS-A) - minor league contract
Aurora's 2nd round 2009 draft pick (SP Jonathan Allen - 23rd pick)

Since Then:

Kentucky Thoroughbreds and Omaha Cyclones

March 17th, 2009

Kentucky receives:
LF Ron Benson (28, ML) - $0.405
Omaha's 6th round 2009 draft pick (2B Aaron Stokes - 3rd pick)

Omaha receives:
SP Jorge Sánchez (32, ML) - $1.0
$600,000 cash

Since Then:
Benson had a serviceable '09 season. In 154 games, he batted .245 with 17 homeruns and 72 RBIs. Overall, Benson is an average ballplayer all-around. He is best suited as a role bench player such as a platoon outfielder.
Stokes, who is in his first minor league season, had a solid SS-A campaign in '09 for Kentucky. He is an average talent who has the potential to grow into a future big league bench player.

Sánchez continued his downward trend in '09. He pitched to a dismal 7-18 record with a 5.24 ERA. His lack of velocity and big league stuff makes him vulnerable as a starter. At best, Sánchez is a mop-up or long reliever.

Manchester Maulers and the Connecticut Nutmeggers

December 29th, 2008

Connecticut receives:
RF José Cortéz (26, ML)

Manchester receives:
Connecticut's 2nd round 2009 draft pick (compensated to Reno for Lorenzo Álvarez signing)
Connecticut's 3rd round 2009 draft pick (traded to Omaha in Jacques Fillion deal)

Since Then:
Cortéz was traded to New Orleans midway through the season (7/12/09). Prior to the trade, he hit .267 with 11 homeruns and 34 RBIs with Connecticut in 65 games. A former All-Star, Cortéz is a good RBI man. His numbers have slightly declined since '07 but he still remains a productive force in any batting lineup.

San Antonio Calzones of Laredo and Canton Longshoremen

December 18th, 2008

San Antonio receives:
CL Will Guffin (26, AA) - minor league contract
Canton's 7th round 2009 draft pick (C Felipe Oliva - 10th pick)

Canton receives:
MR Shigeaki Otani (25, ML) - $1.2/arbitration

Since Then:
Guffin was released by San Antonio a few months later (5/24/09). He signed a 1-year minor league deal with San Luis Potosí of the Alianza Béisbol Al Sur de la Frontera. Overall, Guffin is not much of a pitching talent. Expect him to bounce around various leagues as he tries to cling onto his baseball career.
Oliva, who was drafted out of high school, had a mediocre season with San Antonio's SS-A affiliate. He has shown the ability to hit high school pitching well so it remains to be seen if it will translate at the minor and big league level. Defensively, he has solid catching abilities that will mature with time. He could develop into a big league backup catcher one day.

Otani went 3-2 with a 3.95 ERA in 39 relief appearances with Canton in '09. An average reliever all-around, Otani is a respectable middle reliever and serviceable complementary bullpen piece.

Connecticut Nutmeggers and West Virginia Coal Sox

December 11th, 2008

West Virginia receives:
RF Bernardo Marín (34, ML) - $11.9/$12.7
SP Craig Rogers (23, AAA) - minor league contract
Connecticut's 6th round 2009 draft pick (3B Ernesto Nevárez - 2nd pick)

Connecticut receives:
1B Michizane Kouki (26, ML) - $3.2/$3.5
3B Jorge Ortíz (28, ML) - $1.0
SP Tim Higgins (34, ML) - $9.6/$10.3
RF Rafael López (25, AAA) - minor league contract
West Virginia's 2nd round 2009 draft pick (RF Peter Trent - 15th pick)

Since Then:
Marín was traded back to Connecticut by midseason during West Virginia's fire sale (7/19/09). Prior to the trade, Marín batted .250 with 7 homeruns and 29 RBIs in 90 games with West Virginia. He performed much better after returning to Connecticut. A very solid player in his career, Marín is still productive as the '09 season but it appears age will soon catch up with him.
Rogers was called up to the big leagues in April after 4 impressive starts at AAA. He went 12-5 with a 3.51 ERA in 24 starts in '09. Overall, Rogers grades out as a decent starter and should be expect to fill a middle to bottom of the rotation spot.
Nevárez has performed decently in '09 in his first professional minor league season down at West Virginia's SS-A affiliate. A solid defender with an average stick, Nevárez projects to be a bench or platoon player down the line.

Kouki had an off year in '09. He batted .225 with 8 homeruns and 45 RBIs in 147 games with Connecticut in '09. He is an above average run producer who is capable of starting. However, he plays at an offensive premium position where more production is expected.
Ortíz began the '09 season with Connecticut but was demoted to the minors in July. Prior to his demotion, he struggled mightily with a .159 batting average in 45 games. He possesses above average gap power and a good eye but has shown little ability to make contact consistently at the big league level. His inconsistencies with the bat make him a fringe big league bench player.
Higgins was traded back to West Virginia in the Marín deal (7/19/09). Before the trade, he sported an embarrassing 1-9 record with a 4.71 ERA with Connecticut. He has not pitched much better with West Virginia in '09. Overall, Higgins is on the downside of his career and not much should be expected out of him.
López started the season in Connecticut but struggled. He was demoted to AAA and eventually AA after 43 games and a .169 batting average. Possessing average talent, López projects to be a 4th outfielder at best.
Trent has played tremendously well in his first professional minor league season at Connecticut's SS-A affiliate. He was elected to the 2009 Surf and Snow Amalgamation All-Star Game. Despite his early success, Trent is considered an average talent. With his legs being his best asset, Trent projects to be a big league 4th outfielder with a slight chance of becoming a starter if he exceeds expectations.

New Orleans Trendsetters and San Antonio Calzones of Laredo

November 25th, 2008

New Orleans receives:
SP José Morales (34, ML) - $6.9

San Antonio receives:
New Orleans' 3rd round 2009 draft pick (SP Juan Valdés - 20th pick)

Since Then:
Morales went 8-4 with a 3.95 ERA in 18 starts with New Orleans before being traded to West Virginia (7/31/09). Overall Morales is a decent pitcher worthy of being a middle to back-end starter.

Valdés has had a solid '09 season with San Antonio's SS-A affiliate. Possessing average stuff, movement and velocity, Valdés appears to be a fringe big league starter. He could one day be a backend rotation starter in the big leagues if he puts it altogether.

Canton Longshoremen and San Antonio Calzones of Laredo

November 25, 2008

San Antonio receives:
1B Arron Campbell (27, ML) - $2.4/$2.4P
CF Tim Eaton (23, AAA) - minor league contract
Canton's 3rd round 2009 draft pick (LF Carlos Reyes - 10th pick)

Canton receives:
CF Jack Miller (24, ML) - $5.4/arbitration
C Willie Jeffries (27, AAA) - minor league contract

Since Then:
Campbell was traded to Duluth in less than a month.
Eaton has been about average as the starting CF in 2009.
Reyes has played decently in the minors. At best, he is a big league backup outfielder.

Miller has been awful as the starting CF in 2009.
Jeffries has been awful as the starting C in 2009.

Intent: None given.

Commentary: Hard not to see this as anything but a big win for San Antonio. - Coal Sox

Crystal Lake Sandgnats and Palm Springs Codgers

November 22, 2008

Palm Springs receives:
SS Héctor Castillo (26, ML) - $10.0

Crystal Lake receives:
Palm Springs' 3rd round draft pick 2009 (3B Ailen Hewitt - 18th pick)

Since Then:
Castillo is posting the best numbers of his career in 2009.

Hewitt has been average in the minors.

Commentary: A unique trade in PEBA history, Castillo was actually a pending free agent. As a result of a glitch in OOTP7/8's contract engine, Castillo signed a long-term contract at a dirt-cheap rate during the 2008 season. His contract was edited down to one year, with the stipulation that if he was traded he would receive a one-year, $10 million contract. Well, he was traded, and Palm Springs was the lucky recipient. It looks like it will be a win-win deal. - Coal Sox

Manchester Maulers and New Jersey Hitmen

November 6th, 2008

New Jersey receives:
CF Daniel Ríos (32, ML) - $11.0/$11.0/$12.0/$12.0/$12.0/$15.0
SP Jesús González (27, ML) - $3.2/$3.2
RF Alejandro Alemán (24, AA) - minor league contract
Manchester's 11th round 2009 draft pick (C Germán Collazo - 9th pick)
Manchester's 13th round 2009 draft pick (1B Pedro Durán - 9th pick)

Manchester receives:
RF José Cortéz (26, ML) - $8.3
MR Dan Mosley (34, ML) - $6.4
2B Naizen Nakayama (31, AAA) - $1.9/$1.9
$3,000,000 cash

Since Then:
Ríos' career continued to downspiral in '09. The highly overpaid outfielder batted .215 with 6 homers and 46 RBIs in 136 games with New Jersey. These days Ríos is nothing more than a contract albatross.
González had a solid '09 season with New Jersey. He went 12-10 with a 3.41 ERA. Overall, he grades out as a dependable number 3 type starter.
Alemán struggled at New Jersey's AA affiliate after being promoted in July '09 from his splendid Class-A performance. He has plus defensive skills and average offensive skills. His mediocre hitting skills will prevent him from being an established big leauger. He is a fringe bench player at best.
Collazo quit baseball to rock out on Rock Band.
Durán disappeared and was presumed dead while traveling to Panama to celebrate his great uncle's 58th birthday.

Cortéz was traded to Connecticut a month later for a 2nd and 3rd round draft pick(12/29/08). He has since then been traded to New Orleans in prior to the trading deadline (7/12/09). A former All-Star, Cortéz has gradual declined in production but is still capable of putting up productive numbers.
Mosley had his best season as a pro in '09. He delievered a 5-3 record with a miniscule 1.38 ERA. He also compiled 4 saves while pitching mainly in the setup role. The aging veteran has shown no signs of slowing down and has gotten better with age. He is one of the league's best setup men.
Nakayama has provided solid bench play for Manchester in '09. In 106 games, the utility infielder batted .277 with 2 homeruns and 18 RBIs while playing primarily filling in at SS and 2B. It appears he has found a home and niche in Manchester serving as an invaluable utility player.


Commentary: This will likely be my favorite pre-Winter Meetings trade. First, it's a bona fide blockbuster. Second, it's a challenge trade: My top outfielder for your top outfielder, let's see who's better! Third, it involves a player (Rios) that everyone said was untradeable, proving once again that there's no such word as "untradeable" (there really isn't, actually). Fourth, it's the first trade to involve draft picks from our newly added rounds 11-20. - Commissioner John

New Jersey responds to the trade.

Tempe Knights and San Antonio Calzones of Laredo

November 2, 2008

Tempe Receives:
1B Octávio Pexego (25, ML) - $7.7/arbitration
SS Charles Randall (30, ML) - $0.6
SP Jeff Fish (22, AA) - minor league contract
MR Ichiyo Sekiguchi (25, AA) - minor league contract
SS Chet Davis (24, AA) - minor league contract

San Antonio receives:
3B Will George (19, AAA) - minor league contract
C Brock Brett (23, AA) - minor league contract
2B Miguel Angel González (20, A) - minor league contract
Tempe's 1st round 2009 draft pick
Tempe's 4th round 2009 draft pick

Since Then:
Octávio Pexego has continued his dominating ways for Tempe.
Charles Randall has performed well in a utility role.
Jeff Fish has struggled at AA.
Ichiyo Sekiguchi has played well at A.
Chet Davis has struggled at A.

Will George has yet to play in 2009.
Brock Brett has been terrible as San Antonio's starting catcher in 2009.
Miguel Angel González has played well at multiple levels.
Tempe's 1st round draft pick 2009 (no selection yet)
Tempe's 4th round draft pick 2009 (no selection yet)

Intent: Tempe made the trade with the intent of becoming a playoff contender in 2009.

San Antonio made no statement about the trade.

Commentary: Talk about a blockbuster. Superstar Octavio Pexago changes hands for the second time in his career and instantly becomes the best player on the Knights. The cost was Will George, the 17th overall pick in the 2007 draft, plus two high-level draft picks in 2009. Since Pexago is only under Tempe's control for two seasons, the Knights do not have a realistic chance of contending in that timeframe, and he's expensive to boot, this deal looks like highway robbery for San Antonio. - Coal Sox

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.

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.

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.

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

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

New Orleans Trendsetters and Canton Longshoremen

July 6th, 2008

New Orleans receives:
MR Carlos Antonio (33, ML) - $3.9/$3.9

Canton receives:
1B John Greene (25, ML) - $0.38/arbitration/arbitration/arbitration
MR Isei Imamura (24, ML) - $1.3/arbitration
3B Rubén Leal (30, AAA) - minor league contract
New Orleans' 6th round 2009 draft pick (C Pat Johnson - 20th pick)

Since Then:
Antonio went 0-1 with 2 saves and a 3.43 ERA in 39.1 innings with New Orleans in '08. He remains with New Orleans in '09 as a setup reliever and has pitched decently.

Greene played well with Canton in '08. In 49 games, he batted .302 with 4 homers and 20 RBIs. He has played the majority of the '09 season with Canton's AAA affiliate where he was selected to the 2009 Global Baseball Brotherhood All-Star Game. He has potential to be a big league starting first baseman but has yet to receive a fair opportunity at the job.
Leal played poorly for Canton's AAA affiliate and was released by Canton in the offseason (10/07/08). He signed a minor league contract with Bakersfield in the offseason (3/08/09). A '09 AAA All-Star, Leal has shown flashes of big league talent but may not receive an opportunity considering his age.
Imamura pitched poorly in 22 games with Canton in '08 and has since been reassigned to Canton's AAA affiliate in '09. He has pitched decently in the minors in '09 but appears to be a fringe big league reliever who at best will be a mop-up or long reliever.
Johnson has struggled in his first SS-A season with Canton in '09. However, he potentially grades out as a borderline big league catcher talent.