ALATORRE TO PLAY NEAR “HOME”. FLORIDA SIGNS FREE AGENT PITCHER
28-year-old free agent pitcher Juan Alatorre has agreed to a 5 year 17.375 million dollar free agent contract. Florida outbid the Washington Jets, Los Angeles Storm, Las Vegas Aces and Detroit Phantom for the pitcher's services with the final decision apparently being geographically motivated. Juan brings a changeup rated as one of the leagues best, a very good curveball and a heavy fastball that sits in the 93-95 range.
GM'S OFFICE
This was a huge win. Our 2008 payroll sits at 19.976 million, 22nd in the league but close to 3 million more than I had planned.
Marketing has increased our ticket prices by 15% but this winter movement has generated a 30% increase in season ticket sales to date.
This is a huge piece of the puzzle for 2008 and moving forward. A veteran arm who I think will give us 200+ quality innings.
I love where this team is now. I feel like my 'helter-skelter' approach to acquiring talent is passed, and now each trade I am far more focused in a player(s) that specifically fill a hole or increase productivity in a needed role.
TARPONS CONTINUE FACELIFT, ACQUIRE MISSIONS HALLAMORE
Florida Tarpon General Manager Gehrig Schilling continued his roster overhaul today. Adding the game's top SS prospect in San Diego's Kennan Hallamore for a bevy of players including two top prospects. Headed to San Diego is 2B Jon Harris, SS Bobby Trumble, 18-year-old SS prospect Satoshi Kumagi, 23-year-old IF prospect Harland Bolduc and top P prospect, Tristan Ellison. San Diego also received Floridas 3rd round pick in the 2008 draft.
Hallamore went into last season as the 5th best prospect in the game and at 21 he is already challenging for a gold glove and many project him anywhere from a 50+ steal leadoff hitter to a .330+ 3 hole hitter. He signed out of Canada in 2004 and quickly shot up the prospect rankings.
San Diego took in a load of talent. Ellison is the ABA's 23rd ranked prospect but will miss the 2008 season after having elbow reconstruction late last year. Kumagai is the 80th ranked prospect and just 18 years old. A top-flight shortstop who many think will be a perennial all-star. The Tarpons sent their 2007 everyday 2B in Jon Harris as well as one of the games better defensive shortstops to San Diego in Bobby Trumble. Also heading west is IF prospect Harland Bolduc.
GM'S OFFICE
This was a blindside. San Diego came asking about Mendelson. I looked around and saw Hallamore as 'available' and sparked up a conversation. Another deal that took almost a week of back and forth. While it was not intentional, the overstacking I had done throughout the organization in middle infielders, 1B/DH types and the extra picks I had acquired all turned into what feels like a team I genuinely identify with. We will start just one player considered average or near average defensively with a slew of defenders that will contend for defensive awards. With Turner and Hallamore and Mike Haupt in center I would put this up the middle trio against any in the game. 3B will sort itself out but a dark horse in the mix could be Arturo Mendoza if he hits at all this spring.
2008 WINTER OF MOVES
Rather than break each one down again I'll give you a visual of my winter. I sent 16 players packing, 2 SP and 3 Everyday regulars, 5 draft picks and 295,000 in cash and received 8 players, a minimum of 2 who will start and play every day, 3 draft picks and 1.030 million in cash.
I traded 4 ranked prospects, including 2 in the top 50, and received 1 ranked in return. Both Cortezo and Hallamore were highly ranked but their no longer rookies.
We sent LA a total of 6 players, all 6 38 man rostered, and 4 draft picks
The 2 SP spots will be filled with 1 free agent signing already made and 1 young pitcher. The 1B and SS positions will be filled with the 2-star players I dealt for and the third everyday spot will be occupied by a mix of the players I got in return as well as 1-2 from the current roster.