SAINTS AGREE TO TERMS WITH STAR RELIEVER, TWICE
The Denver Saints have made it clear they are aiming to be the next Dynasty in the ABA. Today they signed superstar closer and one of the most sought-after free agents this winter in 29-year-old Jon Carruth to a 1 year 3 million dollar deal.
About 2 minutes after that announcement word came down that Denver just agreed to terms on a 3 year 4.56 million dollar free agent contract with 34-year-old Mike Kelly.
Carruth saved 39 games with a 0.92 ERA last season and has 159 career saves with a 3.07 ERA.
Kelly saved 40 games with a 2.39 ERA last season and has 204 career saves with a 3.54 ERA.
With Closer Tim Reese, who set the new ABA record with 53 saves and a 1.76 ERA, the three men at the back end of the Saints bullpen combined for 132 saves last season alone. Career wise they have 447 saves between them.
CHICAGO EXTENDS KOUFAX WINNER
Ezequiel Cordero made a career year pay off. Today he announced he'd agreed to terms with the Chicago Hitmen on a 4 year 20.8 million dollar contract extension that will keep him in Chicago through the 2012 season with a vesting option (25 GS) that would guarantee the 5th year at 5.1 million.
The 3 time Koufax winner and 6-time all-star were said to be eager to extend beyond this coming years deal and the two sides had no issues making it happen. He is 162-100 3.70 in 361 games over his 12 year ABA career. Chicago signed him as a 19-year-old free agent out of the Mexican league in 1995.
Former Tarpon Juan Pedemonte signed a 1 year 900K deal with Alaska
Star slugger Zach Hogue who left the ABA after his 2006 season to join the CPBL in China has returned to the ABA after what he described as 'the worst year of my life'. The slugger who hit 187 home runs from 2002 to 2006 for the Portland Lancers signed a 1-year 1.1m dollar free agent deal that many are saying might be the steal of the winter.
HALL OF FAME VOTING
There were no winners in the HoF voting this year. Hector Fields led all voters at 62.4% in his 2nd year on the ballot.
Washington signed 28-year-old Alfredo Almaguer to a 7 year 30.32 million dollar free agent deal. The lefty is 52-44 3.90 in 187 games, 160 career starts with 1046 K's in 913.1 innings.
DENVER KEEPS THE PRESSURE ON
The Saints have announced the signing of 29 year old OF Amari Tutson to a 4 year 9.48 million dollar free agent contract. The former Panther OF is a career .257 hitter with 165 HR's and 471 RBI's and figures to provide even more depth to what has to be the 2009 odds on favorite Saints.
KODIAKS MAKE A HECHT OF A SIGNING
The Alaska Kodiaks and superstar free agent Eric Hecht have come to terms on a 6 year 28.52 million dollar free agent deal. The 30-year-old old is a career .322 hitter with 230 HRs and 635 RBI's in 815 games. He was the 2006 and 2007 NL batting champion as well the 2004 Jackie Robinson award winner. He's finished 2nd twice and 3rd once in the Hank Aaron Award voting is a 4 time all star and 3-time silver slugger winner.
GM'S OFFICE
An unscheduled meeting was held with ownership today and Mr Medina has informed me that our 2009 budget will increase from 36 to 40 million dollars. We are blowing away season ticket expectations and the train feels like it is pulling out of the station. I won't use that money unless it allows me to extend a current player with a contract we are ok with.
MINNESOTA RESIGNS RICK
32 year old Gold Glove Left Fielder Korey Rick is staying in Minnesota. The free agent and team announced they had agreed to terms on a 1 year 1.86m dollar deal.
HUSKIES ACQUIRE BORROWS FROM FLORIDA
The Minnesota Huskies followed up their announcement of Korey Rick by telling the press they'd acquired 28 year old IF Eric Borrows from the Florida Tarpons for P prospect Jeff LeDoux. The teams also swapped 5th round picks in the upcoming draft.
Borrows had a very good season with the Tarpons but the maturation of two way prospect Arturo Mendoza has made Borrows available. Minnesota approached Florida about the deal with LeDoux as the offering, it came together very quickly after that. The Huskies plan on Borrows being their everyday 1B.
GM'S OFFICE
They were very aggressive here. LeDoux is the ABA's 117th ranked prospect and a future top of the rotation arm as long as he stays healthy. Mendoza is going to take over everyday at 3B and if he can have a good spring he'll also occupy the 5th spot in the rotation, or we will move to a 6 man rotation with him as the 6th guy.
OFF SEASON SIGNINGS AND TRADES
Here's a sort of visual look back at the winter activity. #'s next to the teams are the # of the free agent signing that player was. Den 8 means that was Denver's 8th Free Agent signing of the winter. Kind of an all encompassing chart for the winter. Some teams made zero moves....
POST SEASON FIRINGS/HIRINGS/NOTES
Oklahoma Drillers FIRED GM Nehemiah Sanon MGR Jeff Datz and hired Daisuke Yama****a as the new GM and Craig Swan as the new Manager
Minnesota Huskies FIRED GM Paul Hermann MGR Dick Sharon and hired GM John Knox and Manager Randy Bass
St Louis Surge Fires GM Bruce Kison hires GM Brett Creamer
Austin Colts fires Manager Ed O'Hara hires Manager Mark Souza