In return, St. Francis takes on the contracts of veteran C Jason Varitek (currently on the DL) and former phenom-turned-benchwarmer Chad Tracy, along with a pair of minor-leaguers (SS Grant Green and LHP Zach Britton). For more on this deal, read what acting Friars GM "Trader" Jack McKeon has to say here.
Perhaps the biggest news, though, from the Creepers point of view is that immediately after acquiring Carmona, he was recalled from AAA and added to their rotation. Carmona was 1-1 in a pair of 'showcase' starts in St. Francis, and figures to be an upgrade over Armando Gallaraga. To clear a roster spot, and permanently cut their ties with a perpetual tease, the Creepers released disappointing (and currently injured) RHP Ben Sheets, then used that savings to sign former Arizona and Yuma starter Joe Blanton to a one-year, $1,370,000 contract on the parent club roster.
Blanton, who was released due to a roster squeeze in Arizona, certainly still has what it takes to carry the back of the rotation, and a lot more to offer than the perpetually-sidelined Sheets.
Thus, Pottsylvania has bolstered their rotation in two places with a pair of arms as a consequence of making this (salary-freeing) deal.
In addition, the club gets Molina (.224, 6 HR and 26 RBi in 35 games) for the rest of this year and perhaps beyond, while cutting ties with respected veteran Jason Varitek, clearly in the twilight of his career (.144, 7 HR in 61 games) but who might be able to mentor the stable of young backstops in St. Francis's system. The deal also cost them Chad Tracy, who was so much in the club's doghouse that he did not play regularly even when Aramis Ramirez was hurt, going 3-for-16 off the bench.
As for the minor leagues, Green is a 2009 draftee college who is hitting in A ball, but inconsistent on defense, probably two years away from majors at least. LHP Zach Britton on the other hand, is a 2006 draftee who seems likely to bid for a regular starting role sometime in 2011. While Britton needs to improve his slider, but sinker is already a plus pitch that should guarantee a relief role at worst for the Friars' newest pitching prospect.
In other BARB action:
WORCESTER 12, OAKLAND 4
WP: Brandon Morrow (6-3, 5.93)
LP: Wade Davis (0-1. 4.97)
Joe Mauer homered in his last three at-bats, including a grand slam in the eighth off reliever Matt Capps, and Brandon Morrow fanned ten batters over six innings, allowing just one run, as the Eliminators improved their BARB-leading record to 47-31. Ben Zobrist, in his first game in an Oakland uniform, went 2-for-4, drew a walk and collected a two-run, pad-the-stats RBI single with club already ten runs down.
FROSTBITE FALLS 5, BROOKLYN 4 (10 innings)
WP: Joakim Soria (2-3, 3.45)
LP: Francisco Rodriguez (1-4, 1.56)
Rookie utility man Sean Rodriguez tied the ballgame in the top of the ninth with a three-run pop off reliever Joakim Soria, but it was Adam Lind who had the last word, hitting a solo shot off a suddenly-vulnerable Francisco Rodriguez to lead off the bottom of the tenth, propelling the Squirrels (39-35) to a series win with the Moabs.
Rodriguez, who leads all of BARB with 23 saves, has blown two saves and taken the loss in two of his last five appearances.
POTTSYLVANIA 4, ST. FRANCIS 2
WP: Sean West (3-0, 3.29)
LP: Micah Owings (5-2, 5.88)
SV: Broxton (18)
Matt Kemp hit a go-ahead double to spark a three-run fifth, and spot starter Sean West worked six solid frames (5 H, 1 run) to send the Friars to their fifth straight loss, and sixth of their last nine since losing OF Shin-Soo Choo to injury.
Former Friars backstop Bengie Molina singled in his first at-bat with his new club after the Creepers made the decision to move veterans Chad Tracy and Jason Varitek. Micah Owings, the latest St. Francis whipping boy, took his second loss in three games as Pedro Feliciano failed to get left-handed hitting Brad Hawpe.
LOS ANGELES 9, ARIZONA 3
WP: Tim Hudson (5-6, 4.47)
LP: Steven Strasburg (1-2, 3.18)
Phenom Steven Strasburg struck out eight hitters in just five frames, but let Chris Coghlan single sharply with two runners in scoring position in the fourth, and the Flyers (29-48) avoided a sweep at the hands of the visiting Thunder, who have won seven of their last ten.
Tim Hudson, possible trade bait, not only took a 9-2 lead into the eighth ,but also collected three singles, an RBI and scored to led the Flyers attack. Ironically, Hudson lost his Opening Day start against the Thunder, knocked out in the fourth, but in two starts against the Thunder since then Hudson has allowed just seven hits and two runs in 15-plus innings.
MADTOWN 7, YUMA 5
WP: Jeff Niemann (8-7, 4.12)
LP: Matt Cain (7-7, 3.92)
Prince Fielder and Dan Uggla both took Matt Cain deep in their first at-bats, as the visiting Murlocs led 6-0 after four frames. By the time the Firebirds got the bats going, Uggla had added another boundary belt, his 8th of the year, and despite a ninth-inning hiccup by Brian Wilson (3 hits, 2 ER), the Murlocs (41-38) won their foruth straight, sweeping the three-game series from West-leading Yuma and pulling just a game-and-a-half out of first.
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