The Black Mesa Anomalies bit the bullet and called up a pair of minor-league free agents: veteran C Ivan Rodriguez and aging closer Trevor Hoffman, adding nearly $6 million to payroll as the club. While incumbent backstop John Baker's BARB numbers were respectable (.255, 7 HR, 41 RBI), he was clearly running on empty. 'Pudge' Rodriguez, who begins his seventh BARB season at the age of 35, hit a punchless .232 (0 HR, 19 RBI) in a half-season with the former Oakeyland Ballers last year but will be given a chance to play regularly.
Hoffman, meanwhile, will join a bullpen anchored by Jonathan Papelbon's BARB-leading 21 saves, so he is unlikely to earn ninth-inning duty except in an emergency. The veteran, who was undistinguished (1-1, 3.65 ERA, no saves) last season with Casselton as a bridge to their relief ace (Bobby Jenks). At 40, Hoffman is junior in service time to only three other BARB hurlers: John Smoltz, Randy Johnson and Jamie Moyer.
To open up roster spots, the Anomalies confirmed that they were releasing former Oakeyland superstar J.D. Drew (.250, 11 HR, 40 RBI in 260 AB), a bit of a surprise, along with injured OF Reed Johnson, OF Scott Hairston, OF Ryan Church and RHP Humberto Sanchez, while calling up rookie LHP Ricky Romero.
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