Winter Re-cap

Another season is upon us, and while we're all deep into Spring Training and awaiting Opening Day, let's take a look back on one of the most interesting Free Agent Markets we've seen and a short list of trades that will affect this year's pennant race.

The first major transaction this Winter was the quick deal between the Wichita Black Lightning and the Austin Alamos. The Alamos, realizing they needed more than one 20 million dollar man to compete, agreed to deal max contract SP David Unamuno to the Lightning for 2B Benjamin Jackson and 3B/SS prospect Davey Cora. Cora however, was not protected for the Rule 5 draft and ended up being the first selection by the Pittsburgh Pranksters. It had been rumored throughout the league that Jackson had lost the favor of Lightning GM zhawks last season, when a conversation rumored between the two held zhawks as telling Jackson and his Agent (consequently his mother) that new scenery might be needed. And it has long been known that zhawks had been trying to improve the rotation since last winter.

"We'd really pursued Una last year in Free Agency but just weren't able to get an agreement in place," said Lightning GM zhawks, "We were very fortunate to get an opportunity to add him to our rotation this winter."

This was followed up very quickly by the Las Vegas seven out making two quick moves. First, agreeing to a deal with the Helena Hellcats for C Billy Robertson. Robertson has yet to hit the Majors, but projects to be a top five catcher in the league with the bat when he does. The club gave up Johnny Wilson, who projects to be a fringe #1, most likely a good #2 starter.

But the biggest move the seven out made was likely the least expected (at least from this sports writer). The team went out and secured a deal with the top position player on the market in 3B Heath Sanders. The contract is heavily front loaded, but for a franchise that has a lot of young talent that doesn't matter. Sanders may be on the downside of his career in terms of age, but the seven out is counting on their training staff and Sanders work ethic to make this work long term. Sanders total contract was $49.5m over 5 years, coming out to just under $10m a year and only counting $6.9m towards the cap in the final year. (Like I said a STEAL).

Las Vegas also went out and signed veteran SP Billy Puckett to anchor the back end of their rotation after the Wilson/Robertson trade. Puckett brings veteran leadership to the clubhouse and gives gm taz21 a role model for his younger pitchers. While taz21 said "The contract had to be back loaded, which usually isn't my philosophy", he realized that any small consequences of this deal were outweighed by the phenomenal signing of Sanders.

The trade with Las Vegas wasn't the only deal that Helena made. They were also active with the Texas Cow Pies, sending SS/3B prospect Alex Borbon and Willie Cano to Texas for three players, Edgard Manzallio, Eugene Parker and Gaby Lewis. In a move that signaled Texas' changing philosophy three years after winning the World Series, the team decided to add a few more parts for the future, even if sacrificing a few wins today. For Helena, it showed that they recognize threats in their division to their 11 year stint in the top two, yet at the same time their need to realize that top two in their division doesn't get you into the playoffs, thanks to the stacked NL North. Overall, the trade filled a need for both sides and really was a win for both.

The Minnesota Conspiracy were also in the trade market earlier this winter, receiving one of the final pieces that the Pranksters had to offer, Jeff Bradford. The team gave up Jimmie Hague, who is a solid prospect. But really a win for both sides as Minnesota continues to fight for a spot in the NL North and Pittsburgh rebuilds.

Heading back to the FA market, there were two starting pitchers who project to be top two starters for whoever signed them; Oscar Fox and Vinny Bong. And boy did they have different market value. Bong ended up signing with the Salem volcanoes for $45.5m over 5 years along with 2B Chip Glynn who signed for $30.5M over 5 years.

But Fox, now things were different there. I'm not sure if it was agent, demand or just the outright craziness of Lightning GM to improve his rotation this year, but Fox ended up getting a contract worth $70m over 5 years, the richest contract this FA period. And to put the this into Laymen's terms for those Lightning fans who just saw their season tickets price double, your team just spend $150,000,000 on two players over the course of the next five years!

And not to be outdone, Lightning division rival, Helena went out and spent on a pitcher too, however, this was of the bullpen type. The team secured the service of longtime bullpen arm Keith Bold for $58.5m over 5 years. However, this contract was back loaded; worth $8m this season and $14m when Bold is 36. Helena made a strong move for the present, but what might it cost them tomorrow?

Finally, I couldn't go the entire article without mentioning my friends up in Buffalo.

Buffalo was rumored to be in on Bold, only to pull an offer late. In doing so it left the team to make a deal for a relief pitcher that GM indiansrck27 called "critical addition" earlier in the winter. The Buffalo Black & Blue Brachiosaurus sent CF Jin Ho Shibata to WIS' very own hometown team Cincinnati Clowns in exchange for Cookie Suzuki and Dorian Adams. In a very close trade, I like this a bit more from the Cincy side of things, but understand all the drivers in Buffalo's decision. They had a backlog at CF/2B and got the most they could out of it to improve their team to make the playoffs this year. Cincy got a very good player that they can build into both today's and tomorrow's lineups.

That's all folks.