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Tarpons continue to retool 'on the fly' as they deal 2 to Kansas City.
The Kansas City Spartans today announced a deal with the Florida Tarpons in which they sent 26-year-old utility infielder Utermaro Nishida and 23-year-old minor league reliever Eddie Hein to Florida in exchange for a pitcher and the 1999 5th overall selection Marsel Kharmandarian and 25-year old minor league LHP Josh Gilbert.
Nishida is a super utility guy who can play every position but Catch and Center. Puts the bat on the ball, outstanding baserunner despite a lack of speed and has legit pop. He hit 38 homers in AA back in 2000. With the need for as many arms in the pen as we can a versatile utility guy that can actually perform is a must. He's 26, making the minimum, and is another player I think will carry potentially big value around the deadline. Hein was a 6th round pick out of Colorado in 2003. He's a little guy (5'9”) with a really big arm. Doesn't have the physical makeup to be an innings guy or a starter even though he features 3 + pitches. He is however absolutely dominant on right-handed hitters. He's 23, all 3 options remaining and a hard working good kid.
Marcel was the 5th overall pick in 1999 out of Oklahoma U. by the New England Minutemen. A two time all-American he has a huge arm. We grabbed him in the 20th round of the expansion draft and he's gone 1-8 6.01 in 15 AAA starts. The talent has never carried over here. He's punched out 52 and walked 62 in 85.1 innings. All in all, it wasn't working out, and this was a huge 'get' in my opinion.
I don't want to carry a DH "only" player. With our rotation as dreadful as it is, and likely will continue to be, every player on this roster has to have diversity in use, both non-starting pitchers and position players other than catchers. Having said that I think Pat Stevenson is going to bring back a player at some point this year. Nishida will be added to the 25 man and we'll keep riding that option on Chris Fitzgerald, getting him back to AAA and some meaningful innings. Hein heads to Alamogordo where our guys want him to close, and after trying to move him and failing I've informed 37-year-old Jared Neuman we will be giving him his unconditional release.
Mid Season meeting with Owner Juan Medina
Had no qualms about the meeting kicking off with his expressing disappointment at the on the field performance. I could respond with nothing more than “We'll keep mixing and matching and I'll keep trying to get younger and more talented players through every outlet, including trades. No one in this organization is untouchable”.
Not sure why but he was very specific when discussing our prospects. He's clearly optimistic, but also in a somewhat surprising revelation, he seemed to not be real high on 1st overall pick Joe Linn. My guess is the 'friends' he surrounds himself have taken their daily fantasy 'smarts' into the owner's office here.
I was very happy to hear his excitement around our farm system. I think he clearly sees where we are headed and is in lock step with that course.
He ended the meeting by using the word “ecstatic” when talking about our progression as an organization to our pre-season goals but made it clear the on the field product needs to improve.
Personnel news:
There is a slew of contracts up at years end starting with manager Kevin Jackson. I am not going to reach out right now as I am not totally sold on him being the guy. No one outside my office knows that.
Overall I am very happy with how our minor league clubs are doing (though Hobbs and Rio Rancho just started their seasons) but where our clubs have underperformed I am more than ok with looking elsewhere.
(OUT OF GAME COMMENT) I was particularly intrigued by Orcins 'gameplay' in the area of organization personnel. I felt past iterations of the game had not fleshed out the AI enough to 'trust' the process. I am hoping that the gameplay I am seeing is true to form as it feels like letting them 'coach' is actually a thing now.)
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