The Devil's Lair

Moon Devils Continue Stocking Bullpen

2008-06-19T02:26:00.000-07:00

Two more trades were finalized late in the night, bringing over 7-year veteran closer Tito Walsh from Trenton, and 25-year old setup man Earl Ramsey from Cincinatti. The hard-throwing Walsh has an excellent 4-seamer that has been clocked in the 97-98mph range with some regularity, and is complemented by a 12-6 curveball with some nice breaking motion on it. Ramsey is more of a finesse pitcher, sporting a changeup and slider that he can throw with pinpoint accuracy.

In return for Walsh, the Moon Devils sent top pitching prospect Alan Moreno to the Thunderbirds, and the rumors were finally confirmed as catcher Vic Clayton was sent packing the hundred miles down I-71 to his new home in Cincinatti, along with the defensive whiz Bubba McNichol.

First Trade of the Season

2008-06-18T19:39:00.000-07:00

After long negotiations with the Atlanta Tartans, a trade has finally been agreed upon that centers around the power-hitting catcher Jeff Whiteside, who is expected to get most of the playing time behind the plate and will likely bat mostly in the 6 through 8 spots in the lineup. The trade will also bring 25 year old righty Chad Lane over to Ohio, who will probably see some time in the big league club's bullpen at some point this year.

Going to Atlanta is 21 year old hotshot Bump Bunch, who is a well-rounded, athletic player likely to end up playing stellar defense at 3B and hitting for nice average and power.

This trade also lends credence to the rumors floating about that current catcher Vic Clayton will likely be one of the next to go in a trade.

Five Veteran Moon Devils Waived

2008-06-18T06:48:00.000-07:00

Earlier today five Moon Devils were placed on waivers, as the new GM continues to revamp the look of the team. Most notably among them are veterans Albert Tapies and Mac Jackson, who were starters the previous year and have spent a combined 9 years with the team. While Jackson took the decisions in stride, Tapies' well-known temper problems led to a particularly colorful profanity-laced tirade in the clubhouse.

"I can't [expletive deleted] believe they'd [expletive deleted] do this [expletive deleted] to me! After all the [expletive deleted] time and effort I've given to this [expletive deleted] team, this is how they treat me! [expletive deleted]! I demand a [expletive deleted] trade!! I ain't going back to [expletive deleted] AAA!! Those [expletive deleted] [expletive deleted] can go [expletive deleted] in [expletive deleted] [expletive deleted] with their [expletive deleted] little dog too and [expletive deleted] on the roof [expletive deleted] [expletive deleted] and choke on a [expletive deleted] [expletive deleted] in [expletive deleted] Tijuana!! [expletive deleted] this!!"

Also waived were relief pitchers Roy Tallet and David Kim, and slugger Henry Nixon.

Liriano's Remaining Arb-Years Bought Out

2008-06-18T03:54:00.000-07:00

Louie Liriano
Columbus
Moon Devils
Age: 30	B/T: L/L
Born: Barahona, DO
Position(s): CF
View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Signing to an evenly spread 27MM/3 year deal, superstar and fan favorite Louie Liriano ensures his presence in Ohio for another three years, as management preferred to go to a contract early and avoid his last two seasons of arbitration. While it cost 1MM more this season, the costs over the next two seasons should more than make up for the small loss.

Also, hard-hitting 28 year old third-baseman Phil Williams was recently added to the 40 and brought up to the majors, and trade rumors continue to swirl around slugger Vic Clayton, whose defense has been highly suspect behind the dish during his two previous two seasons in Columbus. A small collection of AL teams have shown interest, though it doesn't appear as if any details have been worked out on any deals yet, though the Devils will probably be looking to add another arm or two to the bullpen, or find a more defensively oriented backstop.

Lengthy Thoughts on Budgets

2008-06-18T02:31:00.000-07:00

Budgets just came out, and here's a not-so-brief overview: 27 teams at 14MM training - other 5 teams are at 13, 3 at 12, and 1 at 10. Only 3 teams below 10 in medical. Advanced Scouting looks nearly identical to Training, except swap one of those 12's for a 13.

On the prospect side of things, the international market should be VERY interesting to follow, with 16 teams having a combined 30MM+ tucked away in IFA scouting and prospected payroll (and another coming in at 29MM). 8 teams look to be on their way to punting International Scouting, and 5 punting HS and College each - "punting" being defined as 6MM current, and presumably 2MM next season, and the nada. Not sure what's going in New Britain with 7MM budgeted in each but a solid 16MM in Prospect Payroll. My 15MM in coaching ties me for 4th with 4 other owners - about what I expected.

And now for the fun part - when I realize my spare ~13MM (or so I expect post-arb) isn't even gonna get me a mopup pitcher on the FA market this season. Which means that I made the wrong budgeting choice. Doesn't look like I'll even have a chance at a Type-A relief pitcher, so I'll probably be keeping my 32nd overall pick and will basically be stabbing in the dark with my 6MM in HS and College scouting. Obviously each team will have 5-20MM payroll that isn't showing up yet due to arb-eligible players, but here's a rundown of what my now meager 13MM has to compete with:

San Juan Islanders - 52.4MM current, 112MM budgeted, and the icing on the cake, only 2 arb-eligible players, combined they look like they'll be no more than 6-7MM. With a possible extra 50MM Bossmau is most definitely going to have the most cash to throw around, likely at top 2B Alberto Flores as he doesn't currently have a 2B on his ML roster, and likely at one of the 4-stud closers and one of the 3 stud aces currently on the FA board. For everyone's sake (including his own) let's all pray he just doesn't hand out a couple 5 @ 20MM contracts and call it done.

Fittingly enough, the "Teamsters" will definitely not be under-paying any of their new players. Despite "only" budgeting 95MM for payroll, the look to be the second biggest players on the scene, likely to have ~45MM available to contend with San Juan on the market.

Of course, if it weren't for stud CF Chin-Hui Ma entering his final arbitration year (and joined by 4 other arb-eligible players), the Cincinnati Seven Hills would be right up there with the other two. Well under his budgeted 109MM at a mere 51.7MM, I'd estimate Cademord's deep pockets run to about 35MM extra this season - enough to compete with San Juan for quality of players, but not quantity.

The Santa Cruz Slugs look be be a tick behind, with only 42MM currently tied up but owing a fair amount of players arb-money, and will probably have 25-30MM leftover for Free Agents. Mitch's Philadelphia Paragons should be around 25MM under the budgeted 99MM, as his current payroll sits at 56MM with another likely 10-12MM tied up in arb players. The Charlotte Hornets look to be in a very similar financial situation as both of these teams as well. All three have the power to go big and sign a single high impact player, or spend the money to fill a couple roster holes with quality, but not all-star, players.

It gets a little less interesting from there though. As I keep going down the list it's looking like there's a slew of teams with ~20-25MM available as well: The Kansas City Monarchs, New York Yankees, Minnesota Screaming Eagles, Syracuse Spinners, Salt Lake City Ranchers, Charleston Battery, and the Boston Beacons all look to fall into that category.

Ugh. Looks like I'll really have to pursue trades as my main source of improvement this season. Get ready for some trade chats coming your way.