"It's simple, we aren't gonna out-hit Vegas," said Pottsylvania owner Jeff Moore from his office at the Creeper stadium in Reno. " Our neighbors to the south have lots-o-power, so its simple: we need to out-pitch them, and Mark is gonna allow us to do that." Buerhle was not so enthused himself, according to Moabs insiders. The exasperated southpaw allegedly exlaimed, "Great! Edgar [Renteria] gets shipped to Frostbite. Now I get shipped to Pottsylvania? Where is it, anyway?"
ANALYSIS OF DEAL:
The rechristened New Yorkers picked up a valuable utility man in Aki Iwamura, who was injured and struggled to find playing time in a crowded infield team in his rookie BARB season. The Moabs have about 29 players and 12 picks, and while their strategy has been criticized in the media, they have now cleared away over $30 million in net salary by moving Renteria, Buehrle and Derek Lee*, while adding Iwamura, Jason Bay and four additional picks in this year's draft. It seems likely that they will trade more talent during the draft.
As for the Creepers? They could, indeed, have the division's best overall pitching especially if the Boom Sticks and Flamingoes lose any of their depth from last year. If they can stay healthy, the return of high-priced aces Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson to a staff filled with both youngsters (Yovanni Gallardo, Jon Lester, Adam Wainwright) and veterans (Cliff Lee, Braden Looper,Noah Lowry) could be the Central's deepest. The next order of business will probably be firming up the club's defense up-the-middle, where there is (as yet) no clear SS candidate, and aging Jim Edmonds in CF, and an erratic and injury-prone Ramon Hernandez behind the dish.
* As this article went to press, details were lacking about a proposed Derek Lee trade
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