The Worcester Eliminators, one of many BARB clubs attempting to deal with injuries, sent a clear signal to the rest of the league that they would be aggressive in retooling their roster, a bit of a surprise for a club that has always maintained a strong identity from year to year, especially in their offense-laden 2010 campaign that led to a world title.
Yes, Worcester GM Matt Caskey likes his offense. Concerned about his infield depth, and worried about the looming salary presense of injured OF Carl Crawford, Caskey traded both Crawford and young 1B Justin Smoak to the St. Francis Friars. In return, the Friars sent 2B Neil Walker to Worcester.
"The rationale behind this is simple," explained the Eliminators GM. "We needed contributors. I have all the confidence in the world Crawford will return and be impactful, but until that happens, his salary and status were handicapping this offense. The awesome start by Anthony Rizzo in AAA and the presence of 1st-round draft pick Paul Goldschmidt provides us with depth and confidence to lock-down first base. Smoak was expendable. Walker's versatility makes this a good trade for us."
Additionally, the Worcester Eliminators have cut LHP Tony Sipp and (using the cost savings facilitated by moving Crawford) signed 3B Chipper Jones and OF Adam Dunn as free agents. "Chipper was with us a few years back and he has an infectious winning quality that we need now. Dunn will provide a valuable late inning at-bat and we feel an insurgence in his career is coming. Time will tell."
FRIARS: NO IMMEDIATE IMPACT EXPECTED
The trade of Walker means that the Friars will hand the keystone position back to last year's regular 2B, left-handed hitting Kelly Johnson. Smoak was added to the lineup and would get some starts, according to GM Scott Hatfield, but is expected to share time with both Justin Morneau and Mark Reynolds, both currently sidelined with minor aches and pains. But there isn't a lot of room for Smoak to get extra at-bats at the DH slot, with rookie Jesus Montero on-board. As for Crawford, recovering from a serious injury, there is no expectation that he will make a meaningful contribution to the club until at least August, if at all. The absorption of the talented player's salary is a calculated risk for a club that has been willing to acquire some veterans. "Make no mistake," GM Hatfield remarked, "We are in no hurry to move anyone, because in the Central, we feel that we can be legitimate contenders with a few breaks. But, obviously, if we fall out of the race by August, productive veterans can become valuable commodities on the trade market."
SQUIRRELS: A BLIZZARD OF INJURIES
Meanwhile, another Eastern Division club, the heralded Frostbite Falls Flying Squirrels found themselves in an unprecedented position: so swamped were they with injuries and below-average performance, the five-time champions were mulling whether to pack things in before May was over. With players like Evan Longoriz, Wilson Ramos and Austin Jackson all on the DL, and with their bullpen thinning, GM Andrew Haynes was forced to sign free-agent pitcher Jason Frasor to round out his roster....and may have finally begun his first real youth movement, promoting IF Jason Kipnis and a pair of blue-chip OF (Mike Trout and Bryce Harper). Jackson, 2B Ricky Weeks and OF Drew Stubbs have all been mentioned prominently in trade talks...and the big monkey in the room (the underperformance of franchise players Albert Pujols and Tim Lincecum) has become a major issue with fans.
GM Andrew Haynes made no public statements about this, but observers have noted that Haynes plans a trip to Russia this summer, while his team scuffles in the standings. Some wild-eyed tabloids have shamelessly speculated that the club's bottom line is not so healthy, and that he may be seeking financial help from the seamy Moscow underworld. Others claim to have been contacted by well-known vocalist and harmonica whiz Jake Blues, who claimed (facetiously?) that Haynes "is on a mission from God." Will the truth ever be known?
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