SIGNINGS
Pittsburgh re-signed star reliever Mark Mundschenk to a 3 year 12.2 million dollar extension
FREE AGENCY
Memphis signed former Texas SS Chi-ming-Xie to a 3 year 17.7m dollar offer (AAV = 5.9 m). The contracts third year is a vesting option based on AB's. 34 year old is a career .302 hitter with 159 home runs. He signed as an international free agent with San Antonio in 2000. He was the 2001 Jackie Robinson award winner, the World Series MVP and Silver slugger. (He has since won 3 more SS awards). He is a 6-time all star.
Kansas City superstar Doug Schneider has found a new home. The 28 year old slugger agreed to a 5 year 25.5 million dollar contract with the San Antonio Broncos today. The 2-time gold glove winner will take his career .299/.351/.467 slash line and 80 HR and 348 RBI's in 598 games to division rival San Antonio.
TARPONS SNAG SAMVDIO
Florida Tarpon GM Gehrig Schilling opened their winter meetings by announcing the signing of a 1 year contract with free agent SP Luis Samvdio. Luis was a New York Punisher and the club did not offer him arbitration, allowing the 24 year old to declare free agency. Sources say the deal is well south of 1 million for the 2007 season. Those same sources have said the Tarpons are at the table working on a long term deal with the young hurler.
CUBAN DEFECTER LOOKING FOR AN ABA HOME
27 year old fireballer Luis Anguiano has a story to tell. His winter began on a raft off the coast of Cuba and today, in New York, has come full circle. The lefty is said to be fielding a bevy of offers from no less than 16 ABA clubs. The rumor mill is circling around 3 possible destinations. The Phantoms are working their bottomless pockets as are the Storm in LA. The dark horse appears to be the upstart Tarpon club and the story is that Luis has a strong desire to play on the east coast and if possible would like to be near his family in Ft Lauderdale.
The deal he is seeking appears to be one of 4+ years and 3+ million per year.
TARPONS, BEARS SWAP PLAYERS AND PICKS
The San Francisco Bears acquired relievers Juan Madrid and Jorge Esparza as well as the 4th round draft choice of the Tarpons in the upcoming draft while sending 23 year old P prospect Leith Southorn 26 year old LHP Jon Nacleiro and SS prospect Harland Bolduc and their 2007 1st and 2nd round draft choices to Florida in return.
Madrid was the 2006 Goose Gossage Award runner up and went 8-6 7 Saves with a 2.48 ERA and 87 K's in 58 innings while Esparza was 1-2 3.68 in limited tim with the big club this season.
Southern is the leagues #80 prospect. He was signed out of Canada in 2002 and features one of the games better change ups.
Naclerio was the 15th overall pick in the 2001 draft out of Michigan State by the Bears. In 2005 he was 12-3 with 6 Saves in 76 games out of the bullpen but many think he's going to be after a starting role in Florida. He was 8-10 in 24 AAA starts this year before being called up and being a part of the Bears 1st world series title.
Barlouc was also the Bears 1st round pick, 19th overall in 2006 and he also hails from Michigan State. He is rated the games best defensive prospect at shortstop. His bat hasn't projected but he has hit at each of his minor league stops.
The draft choices now mean Florida will pick 26th and 30th in round 1, 23rd, 28th and 29th in round 2.
CUBAN STAR “LANDS” IN FLORIDA
The Florida Tarpons and left handed star of the Cuban National team Luis Anguiano have agreed to terms on a 5 year 17.875 million dollar contract. The deal, the richest ever for a Cuban born player, will keep the lefty in South Beach for the next 5 seasons at 3.575 million a year. There were tenious moments leading up to the signing as the Tarpons had to fight off 12 other ABA clubs vying for the southpaws services.
Through his translator Anguiano commented on how grateful he was to all the teams in the process and how bad he felt for the 11 other clubs as “I'm happy for Tarpons, who get me. The other teams will have to wait 5 year to win tropy again”
A quick rundown of trades this offseason
And a look at the WAR +/- for all 28 ABA teams
NEW FACES IN OLD PLACES
Minnesota replaced Mgr Mike Griffin with baseball lifer and career minor league Mgr Dick Shannon. Supposedly a very good guy with young players who favors older school tools and approach.
32 year old Jorge Colon became the ABA's youngest GM in league history when he signed on with St Louis this winter.
The Surge also took on former Husky Mgr Mike Griffin to be their 2007 field general. Griffin is signed through 2011
Phoenix hired veteran front office man Darrell Woodard and have given him a 3 year deal to turn that despondant club around.
Darrell immediately hired bench coach Kohei Tanaka as the Roadrunner manager for the 2007 season.
BIG NAMES CHANGING PLACES (#) = Stars *
1B Guiomar Cortezo (3.5) traded from BRK to LA
RF Andy Burgett (3) traded from LA to BRK
SP Dwain Milazzo (3.5) left CHI signed with LA
1B Mike Mayo (2.5) traded from DEN to PIT
RP Luis Alfaro (4) traded from PIT to DEN
RP Juan Madrid (5) traded from FLA to SF
SP Talib bin Musa (2.5) left JAX for LA
3B Chris Letts (4) left KC signed with ALK
CF Doug Schneider (4) left KC signed with SAN
SP Ben Paulsen (2.5) left KC signed with SF
C Chris Yoder (2.5) left LV signed with OK
SP Ted Barlow (3.5) left LV signed with DET
CF Harland Legge (2.5) left LV for Japan
SP Tyrese Lawal (2.5) left LV signed with MEM
SP Kymani Hogues (2.5) traded from MIL to LA
SP Teagan Savoie (2.5) left OH for Japan
C Whip Sonier (2.5) left OK for LV
CF Maxence Brun (2.5) left OK for ALK
3B Chris Van Wagner (2.5) left POR for BUF
RF Zach Hogue (3) left POR for Tawain
SP Alfredo Rogers (2.5) left POR for MEM
2B Kevin Van der Werff (3) left SAN for Japan
SP Lupe Quintana (2.5) left SD for DEN
CL Mike Kelly (5) left SF for PIT
LF Jeff Lively (2.5) left STL still a FA
SS Chi-ming-Xie (4) left TEX for MEM
CL Bobby Patterson (4.5) left TEX for LV (out 5 months with torn UCL)
1B Jaquan Piggue (3) left WAS for LV