MAY MARKED BY MAKEOVERS

Eight trades (involving eight different teams) and 15 free agent moves dot the 2015 season’s second month.

BARB teams began emerging from hibernation as the calendar rolled over from April to May. Right away, the Brownsville Cutters recognized their opportunity to compete for the playoffs in 2015 and shored up the hot corner by signing both Juan Uribe and Alex Rodriguez. Santa Barbara joined the free agency excursion and picked up “open” free agent relievers Chad Qualls and Joel Peralta.

The next day came wind of two deals with free agency fliers attached. Anthony Guerra acquired highly-touted minor league shortstop Francisco Lindor and reliever Fernando Rodney from St. Francis.

Taking no questions from reporters, St. Francis's CEO Scott Hatfield confirmed the Kansans have dealt Rodney and Lindor in order to obtain a trio of young, less expensive arms.  Rodney had closed for St. Francis in 2012 before St. Francis obtained Koji Uehara, and had performed admirably in the same role this season when Uehara was sidelined with a spring-training injury.

This was Rodney's second stint with the club, and he holds the record for most games pitched in a Finches uniform.  But, while still effective, his $7.0 M contract made him one of a handful of players who had early-season trade value despite a significant contract.  Hatfield ignored reporters who pressed him on the financial angle, or those who questioned the wisdom of dealing Lindor, often described as the next Omar Vizquel.   His brief statement outlined the return St. Francis had received:  hard-throwing setup man Ken Giles, relief prospect Nick Burdi and journeyman Mike Montgomery, an original 2009 draftee of St. Francis who now rejoins his parent organization for a third time in seven years.

With an extra four-plus million dollars in cap room, Hatfield went to the open free agent market and came away with well-traveled lefty reliever Oliver Perez.

In New York, Eric Caskey announced the signing of utility infielder Gordon Beckham—and subsequently dealt him to Worcester and brother Matt. In return, Brooklyn received infielders Josh Rutledge and Jake Lamb. Rutledge was promptly released. His roster spot was filled with open free agent catcher Brayan Pena.

“Very simply, Brooklyn continues to look for a viable option at 3B. Castellanos has not performed as expected and his days with the club may be numbered...again,” Eric Caskey said. “Lamb and Kang will form a nice combination at 3B for the near future until one player takes the reigns every day. We see upside in both players and Kang's versatility allows us to move him around the infield as needed. Lamb has the potential to be the best pure hitter on the team in time. Pena, too, offers versatility as a switch hitter and a C/1B combo. He and Norris form a terrific duo to lead our organization.”

Matt Caskey was ecstatic with the deal. “Once upon a time, there were four top-tiered prospects: Alonso, Moustakas, Lawrie, and Beckham. Each had projections of elite, hall of fame caliber careers; each would be first round picks; each would be highly coveted by certain owners. Fast forward to present time, development was slower than anticipated but each are finally reaching their potential. Fable aside, Worcester is boasting quite the turnaround in lineup. From the days of Hanley, Cano, Teixeira, etc. anchoring championship caliber teams, Worcester is seemingly adjusting its mentality.  For 8 mil, Worcester can field its entire starting infield lineup. The doors that a move like this opens places Worcester in a fantastic situation for years to come. It should be noted, also, that the trade for Jose Iglesias is looking pretty good right about now as well. Having five-plus all-star caliber infielders is quite unique.  Game on!”

Soon after, a rumored blockbuster came to fruition. James Herndon, seeking an ace to get his rotation through the summer, signed Kris Medlen and swapped him in a package with Jacoby Ellsbury, Doug Fister and Huston Street to Kansas City for left-hander Cole Hamels.

“Once again, New England is making a push to reach the BARB World Series. This time behind a powerful pitching rotation that now includes 2 bonafide aces, a lights out bullpen with Betances and Miller, and an offense that has the potential to finish first in the league,” Herndon said.

“I'd like to thank my trade partner, Ron Melkonian. While we did give up quite a bit in established players to pull this off, we know this is the right move. Lester and Hamels will always get us to the 7th inning, where the game ends behind our bullpen.

Fister and Street will be missed, good riddance to Ellsbury.

It seems every time we make a push for a championship, it's behind a player that Ron has sent our club.”

Melkonian could not be reached for comment, but rumors flew of gleeful exclamations behind closed doors and the promise that his Rebels would be competitive in 2015.

All was quiet on the roster front for a few weeks in mid-May, other than Herndon waiving Rubby de la Rosa.

And then it happened. Something BARB observers were expecting to occur in 2016, but inevitable this year after the success of their top prospects. Jeff Moore’s Pottsylvania Creepers granted Allen Craig his unconditional release and optioned Anthony Gose to the AAA Really Bad Guys. In their place came hot-hitting youngsters Kris Bryant and Joc Pederson. The press release was simple: “The future…is now. Let’s go play spoiler.”

Spoiler may still be the role the Creepers end up with, but if early returns are any indication Moore could be guzzling champagne come October. Pottsylvania has the Cactus Division’s best record since Bryant and Pederson joined the club, 11-6, a mark just a half-game behind New England for best in the loop during that time. Toward the end of the month Moore was involved in a trade that allowed him to maneuver and call up a third prized rookie: Carlos Correa.

Brendan Ryan was released to make room for Correa after a three-way deal saw Jeremy Hellickson sent to Kansas City, Anthony Gose and a PTBN to St. Francis and Pedro Alvarez and Jarred Cosart to Pottsylvania. In addition, Tim Stauffer went from Kansas City to St. Francis.

On the same day, Ronald Melkonian swung another blockbuster, sending Prince Fielder, Homer Bailey and three players to be named to Riverside. The Rum Runners, seemingly packing it in and playing for 2016, swapped effective outfielders Yoenis Cespedes and Torii Hunter along with injury-prone right-handed starting pitcher Garrett Richards to the Midwest. The next day, flychasers Corey Hart and Colby Rasmus were released by the Rebels.

Alex Coffman was involved in another big sell-off, sending a long-time stalwart to St. Francis for a package of players:

"Today, former Darwin Finches founder and current St. Francis owner Scott Hatfield confirmed that long-time Darwin and Riverside DH David Ortiz, at age 39, will once again be playing for a Hatfield squad.   After repeatedly asserting that “Riverside is my (deleted) town” and claiming he was unwilling to accept a trade out of consideration of his family, Ortiz apparently had a change of heart, and agreed to accept relocation to the Midwest.

“Ortiz, drafted more than ten years ago by the Yuma Firebirds, was acquired in 2004 by Hatfield for the then-Darwin Finches and spent more than a decade with the same franchise, an unusual feat in the trade-happy BARB universe.  Even more amazing is the fact that Ortiz remained with one club despite being largely confined to a DH role in his career.

“In return for Ortiz, the Kansans have sent 1B Ryan Zimmerman and a pair of OF prospects (Josh Bell and Clint Frazier) to the Rum Runners, who at 15-23 are presently at the bottom of the Grapefruit Division, and continuing a major rebuilding effort.  Getting two prized minor leaguers for a veteran who will turn 40 this season, as well as a run-producing IF still only 30 years old wasn't easy. Only time will tell if the Kansans regret the high-priced rental of the veteran Ortiz."

Finally, Coffman was involved in a minor deal with Santa Barbara, swapping Ben Revere for Michael Choice and Luke Weaver. Guerra had acquired Choice from New England just days earlier, along with Yadier Alvarez and Erik Johnson, for Jonathan Papelbon and a PTBN.