The Madtown Murlocs have finally completed a long-discussed swap with the Texas Tornadoes, but (not resting on the laurels) also triggered a deal with the Fresno Regulators. The goal for both, presumably, is the future for a club that at the time the deals went down was 37-55, dead last in the West.
Madtown's swap with Texas involves highly-touted RHP Rick Porcello (listed on their blog as their #3 prospect) and a serviceable member of Texas's lineup (OF Jeremy Hermida) in a trade for even more prospects: in this case, OF Travis Snider, LHP Martin Perez and another prospect to be named after the season.
Madtown's deal with Fresno, meanwhile, was the conclusion of a long-discussed (for several weeks) but never-finalized transaction that seemed like more of a salary dump, with the Regulators taking on the big dollars of aging backstop Jorge Posada (over $6.5 million, as it happens), as well as RHP Ervin Santana and a pair of minor-leaguers to be named. In return, the Murlocs picked up some insurance for Jimmy Rollins by acquiring veteran SS Jhonny Peralta, IF Pablo Sandoval and veteran 1B Mike Jacobs. In all, Madtown shed $4.4 million in salary between the two deals.
POTTSYLVANIA: THE BEST KIND OF 'TRADE'?
The Pottsylvania Creepers are having a serious run of luck in the high-risk, high-reward sector of the pitching market. They began the year with over $17 million invested in two hurlers (Chris Carpenter, Pedro Martinez) whose chances of pitching in 2009 seemed respectively slim and none. What has happened, in the interim? Carpenter is an incredible 16-3 with a 2.16 ERA in 'reality' and the recently-inked Pedro has gone 4-0 with a 3.64 ERA in six starts, reaching the seventh inning in each of his last two outings with the Phillies.
In the BARB version of 'reality', the numbers have not quite the same shine, with Martinez not yet activated....but Carpenter (7-1, 2.11 in 13 BARB starts) has been very solid. Imagine if the Creepers could've afforded to spend the seven figures it would've taken to keep injured LHP Billy Wagner, who remarkably has also made it back to the majors in the last few weeks.
The Pottsylvania Creepers are having a serious run of luck in the high-risk, high-reward sector of the pitching market. They began the year with over $17 million invested in two hurlers (Chris Carpenter, Pedro Martinez) whose chances of pitching in 2009 seemed respectively slim and none. What has happened, in the interim? Carpenter is an incredible 16-3 with a 2.16 ERA in 'reality' and the recently-inked Pedro has gone 4-0 with a 3.64 ERA in six starts, reaching the seventh inning in each of his last two outings with the Phillies.
In the BARB version of 'reality', the numbers have not quite the same shine, with Martinez not yet activated....but Carpenter (7-1, 2.11 in 13 BARB starts) has been very solid. Imagine if the Creepers could've afforded to spend the seven figures it would've taken to keep injured LHP Billy Wagner, who remarkably has also made it back to the majors in the last few weeks.
TRADES: LITTLE IMPACT ON PENNANT RACE?
Contenders or pretenders? It seems that most of the wheeling and dealing in the last few months has been between teams that are either out of the race already or who are scuffling on the edges of the wild card. Where are the legitimate contenders in all this trade talk, making trades that might actually affect this year's pennant race? Largely absent, it seems. But, if rosters could talk, here's what some of them might say:
BROOKLYN: There are some questions about a rotation with a pair of greenhorns like Ubaldo Jiminez and Chris Volstad getting to start. They would probably like to get a veteran setup guy to complement rookies Jose Mijares and Justin Maserson in their pen. And there is the little matter of whether the backup catcher (Saltalamacchia) is going to be able to contribute if called upon. So, the Moabs would probably not turn their nose up at either pitching or catching down the stretch. They certainly have enough pitching depth in the minor-league system to make deals if they choose.
CASSELTON: This is an exciting team, riding some quality arms into the Central Division lead and carrying a bright future with prospects like Bruce, LaPorta, Hap, Upton, etc. etc. The problem is that the club's most attractive players are its pitchers and prospects. They can't expect to win a title by dealing away their present strength (pitching) and they can't become a perennial contender if they loot their minor-league system for a playoff run. So as long as they are in contention they don't have much impetus to deal. Should the Creepers (as expected) get hot and Casselton fades, then it would not be surprising to see the Horned Toads shop high-salaried vets (Orlando Hudson, Carlos Zambrano). Their biggest need is an everyday SS who will end the parade of utility players or miscast 2B/3B at the position.
DARWIN: The Finches have such pitching depth in the minor leagues that their failure to address their bullpen woes or their lack of run production has been mystifying. On offense, a move is definitely overdue. With David Ortiz confined to bench duty, the logical move would be to make Chipper Jones a full-time DH and find someone with power to man the hot corner. (Kevin Kouzmanoff? Brandon Inge? Mike Lowell?) And, while a return to form by Josh Hamilton wouldn't hurt, the largest issue is 'who's the closer today?' No team could benefit more from a clearly-definited veteran closer, something that has been lacking since J.J. Putz was injured. But so far the Finches have rejected most inquiries and instead have auditioned a parade of wanna-be starters (Oliver Perez, Jonathan Sanchez,Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer).
FRESNO: This club is mathematically in the hunt for a wildcard spot, but they've probably already made all the moves they can make. The acquisition of Ervin Santana definitely upgrades their rotation, and they have been on a run-scoring tear when playing home-and-home series against Central clubs. Formerly the property of splash-making GM Ronald Melkonian, this edition (christened the Regulators) eschews depth just as the prior regime did: their bench (Michael Bourn, Casey Kotchman, Kosuke Fukudome) could stand some more versatiliy int he infield. Adding a spare part is not likely to propel them into the finals at this stage.
FROSTBITE FALLS: They have to be concerned about infield depth with Michael Young, Jose Reyes, Carlos Pena and J.J. Hardy hurt or scuffling. They would like to add left-handed power and have been linked in trade talks to players like Shin Soo-Choo, Billy Butler and J.D. Drew. They traded a quality setup guy in Carlos Marmol and have to be counting the days until B.J. Ryan's contract can be jettisoned, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see them deal for bullpen help to build a bridge to Joe Nathan.
POTTSYLVANIA: Ryan Theriot has been an answer at SS, so much so that the Creepers unloaded the highly-talented Jose Reyes. But if he was hurt, or if Aramis Ramirez can't get healthy, you're going to see a lot of Erick Aybar. Or Chad Tracy. Or Aubrey Huff. Or Blake DeWitt. Bottom line: they could use another bat, and one with the versatility to play something besides a corner slot. Former utility man Ben Zobrist, now a regular with St. Francis, would've fit the bill nicely. If they could put together a package of prospects, there are offensive players available at 2B, among them Ian Kinsler, Aki Iwamura and Dan Uggla.
In other league action:
YUMA 7, WORCESTER 2
WP: Roy Halladay (11-5, 2.49)
LP: Jair Jurrjens (4-5, 6.50)
'Doc' Halladay played gun-slinger for nine innings, his BARB-leading ninth complete game of the season, and the nearly-forgotten Travis Hafner homered in a rare start as the Firebirds (54-40) won their fourth straight on the road in the East against Worcester. Red-hot Joe Mauer's hitting streak continued with two more safeties in a losing cause, his 14th straight game, lifting his average to .299.
DARWIN 6, BROOKLYN 4
WP: Zack Grienke (13-3.10)
LP: Roy Oswalt (9-6, 3.68)
SV: Gregg (11)
Zack Grienke was so-so, allowing four runs, but Roy Oswalt hung a slider with the bases juiced for Adam LaRoche, who pumped a GRAND SLAM in the third to put his club ahead, and the Unnatural Selections got a rare 1-2-3 ninth from their bullpen to shut the Moabs down and stay two games ahead of hard-charging Yuma. Grienke, despite the average outing, became the first BARB hurler this year to reach 13 wins.
CASSELTON 13, POTTSYLVANIA 8
WP: John Danks (12-5, 3.61)
LP: Chris Carpenter (7-2, 2.39)
Orlando Hudson and Garret Atkins each had four hits as part of Casselton's 18-safety attack, and the Horned Toads fought off Creepers rallies in the last two innings to win a slugfest at home in Casselton. The Toads (55-45) remain 2.5 games up in the competitive Central.
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