[Westheim]

On February 15, we ranked 22nd in the league in payroll. I really wouldn’t mind having an additional million to blow, and even having an additional million available for players, wouldn’t place us higher than 21nd. The league median for payroll is $13.3M. We are at $10.1M. (mind that minimum contracts thing) When the Bayhawks signed Will Jackson in late February, we would have been 22nd even WITH that million more. We are that far off the rest of the league.

There was just no help coming from the free agent market. We could not add anything. We could just add some depth, and with that I mean one player as a fringe backup.

The Warriors approached me in the first days of April, trying to get rid of vastly overpaid outfielder Djordje Nedic. I had no need for “Georgie” (and no money), but they were after Don Irvin, one of our plenty of minor league first baseman. I tried to get a serviceable outfielder in 24-year old Tony Velasquez from them for Irvin, but they weren’t buying into that, and so we made no trade at the dawn of the new season and stayed put.

February 20 – The Bayhawks announce the addition of 33-yr old ex-SAL OF Will Jackson (.265, 200 HR, 838 RBI) for 4-yr, $4.56M.
March 25 – 31-year old ex-LVA OF Joe Douglas (.258, 56 HR, 533 RBI) ends up on the Blue Sox for 3-yr, $1.55M.