DEADLINE DEALS BOLSTER CONTENDERS

Five trades, with 2017 playoff race implications ranging from inconsequential to potentially massive, were completed involving a total of five teams near the deadline; other rumored deals fell through

Another BARB trade deadline has come and gone, and for the umpteenth-straight year the St. Francis Kansans made multiple deals geared at a playoff push for Scott Hatfield’s first league title.

The following, just two days before the deadline, was disseminated from the St. Francis offices:

“The St. Francis Kansans, having just gone over the .500 mark for the fifth consecutive season, have after months of indecision decided to go 'all in' on a trade of star prospects for a hired gun, Carolina RHP Stephen Strasburg.

The injury-prone Strasburg had struggled along with his teammates in a disappointing season for the Wildcats, going just 5-11 with a 4.28 ERA in 22 starts.   But the brittle righty, when healthy, has shown elite stuff and that made him attractive to the Kansans.  A beaming Team President, Scott Hatfield, was quick to remark: "I've ALWAYS liked Steve.   That's why I was happy to take him with the 122nd pick in the 2008 BARB Draft's compensation round, as a freshman out of San Diego State.  We think that just being on a team that's making a real run for the post-season, and just keeping things simple, will keep him fresh.   We think this could be the moment that he finally turns the corner, and lives up to his potential."

Speaking of potential, the price for Strasburg was NOT cheap:  St. Francis sent their best hitting prospect, precocious teenager Vladimir Guerrero Jr., along with Brazilian left-handed pitching prospect Luiz Gohara.   "We always hate to move great young talent before you have a chance to see it blossom," Hatfield conceded.  "But it's a tribute to our organization this year that we have hit on so many of our draft picks, and seen their value grow, and that's allowed us to have favorable leverage this year.’”

The next day, Hatfield approached the podium in a much feebler manner, according to reports:

”Beleaguered Team President Scott Hatfield began today's press conference with a long pause.

An awkward silence.

Then, it got worse.   Hatfield, rubbing hollows under his eyes, began the late afternoon presser by apologizing to the media.

"I . . . know this is going to be hard to understand, but we're trading away . . . Elvis Andrus."

Consternation among the knights of the keyboard followed, as reporters shouted:

"I thought you were BUYERS, not SELLERS?"

"What happened to the PLAYOFFS, just a joke?"

A reporter from the Worcester Times pool was overheard giving off war whoops, while the local Kansas scribes rubbed their temples.

Through gritted teeth, Hatfield replied, "Our . . . CEO, Mr. Drumpf, he's looked ahead at our future payroll, and he's-----Not.  Pleased.  He asked me WHY I am keeping Andrus, who will make $15 million next year, when I have two other shortstops?   Our shareholders are concerned about our bottom line, and we are concerned about our catching depth, and . . . .so, we've made a trade."

Hatfield handed a loose sheaf of paper to an assistant, and motioned that he read it, then quickly vanished from the room before reporters could realize he was ducking out.   The assistant, statistician Nate Silver, read the following in a monotone voice:

"Mindful of future financial constraints, the St. Francis Kansans have traded All-Star SS Elvis Andrus to the Frostbite Falls Flying Squirrels.   In return, the organization will receive C Wilson Ramos, and two prospects from Frostbite's system:  OF Willie Calhoun and a really great player, a good person on any side, C Andrew Susac.   The organization thanks Mr. Andrus for his many contributions to the ballclub, but we have lots of depth in the middle infield, and we aren't sure his visa will be renewed next year, if and when America becomes great again.   So, believe me, you'll thank me for this, you'll see."

(signed)  Donald Drumpf

CEO, The St. Francis Kansans Baseball Club and Drumpf Enterprises”

In an even stranger twist, in the hours leading up to the deadline the Kansans acquired ANOTHER catcher, Chris Iannetta, for the price of former budding star Matt Harvey. St. Francis now has four healthy catchers on their roster but will focus on platooning Ramos and Yadier Molina.

Strasburg and Ramos both impacted the Kansans early in their stints, with the flame-throwing right-hander pitching six solid innings with seven strikeouts in his debut and Ramos clearing the bases with a double in a comeback win September 2.

As for the trade involving Ramos, Frostbite Falls owner Andrew Haynes was pleased with his pickup of a starting shortstop.

“Elvis Andrus has long been a reliable starter at one of the most important positions on the field. Separate deals this year improved our future but cost us our two shortstops from Opening Day, Didi Gregorius and Trevor Story. We handed the reigns to a combination of Orlando Arcia and Alex Bregman, but they weren’t quite able to pull their weight with the bat. Andrus gives them more time to grow while strengthening our lineup for a chance to repeat as BARB World Series champions. Ramos was a great Squirrel for a number of years, despite dealing with injuries. Gary Sanchez’s emergence, however, made Wilson expendable. We wish him the best with his new organization.”

In other news, Carolina completed a pair of minor swaps. The Wildcats and Yuma Firebirds traded players to be named later, and Santi City send Anthony King’s squad lefty reliever Tony Cingrani in exchange for a player to be named.

Surprisingly, neither Ron Melkonian nor Anthony Guerra were heard from during the proceedings. Rumors flew that Melkonian was trying to pick up a young infielder from Frostbite Falls in exchange for prospects, and a blockbuster with a New England team hanging on to playoff hopes didn’t gain much traction.

PLAYOFF PROGNOSIS

The races in each divisions are strikingly different with one month to play. In the Cactus division, the playoff entrants are all-but assured – the only question is how they’ll line up. Yuma leads Brooklyn and Frostbite Falls by six games thanks to a sizzling 21-6 run in August. The Firebirds haven’t slumped all season and hold a magic number of 21 to clinch the division and a first-round bye.

The Moabs and Flying Squirrels, both with sparkling 88-48 records that would have either one on top of the Grapefruit division if they were there, are 18 games ahead of the Cactus’ fourth-place team, Cooperstown. Only a complete collapse would keep any of the three teams out of the postseason.

The Grapefruit, on the other hand, features five teams at least clinging to playoff hopes. St. Francis now leads the division by five games, with a magic number of 22. Brownsville sits in second, and after their worst stretch of the season Worcester is in third place. Casselton is 12 games back overall and four out of a playoff spot, and two-time defending Grapefruit champion New England sees themselves eight behind the Eliminators for the final place in postseason play. As with the typical ebb and flow of baseball, however, Worcester is destined to heat up again and push toward the top of the division.

For the first time in a number of years, there don’t appear to be any surprises in the playoff chase. Typically, a team with a low run differential will upend a team with an apparent advantage in the category for a spot, but in 2017 the top three in each league are far and away above any others in differential.