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With the World Series almost concluded, the Chicago Cougars agreed to another trade, this time with the fellow 8th Place New York Gothams of the Federal Association. The Cougars sent a trio of three youngsters for Gothams' starting third basemen John Kincaid.

Kincaid, 25 in December, was originally the 4th Overall Pick by the Gothams out of Portland HS in the 1922 Amateur Draft. He's spent three seasons as the Gothams starter at the hot corner, hitting .328/.367/.455 (118 OPS+) with 11 homers, 48 steals, and 181 RBI's. He's also a pretty solid defender, with a +6.0 ZR and 1.013 efficiency rating. His youth is a huge factor for the Cougars, as while they likely won't make much noise next season, Kincaid should be starting his peak once the team is ready to make the next step. And considering Chicago didn't have a single player who was both an above average hitter and defender last season, Kincaid is likely the most well rounded player on the big league club right now. He doesn't have much power, but he's an above average hitter with excellent speed and dependable defense.

Of the three players they had to give up, SP Ben Curtin is the only with big league experience. The former 2nd Round pick checks in as the 11th Ranked prospect in the Cougars farm system. He made 9 starts for Chicago, going 3-4 with a 4.95 ERA (94 ERA+), 1.90 WHIP, and 13 strikeouts in 63.2 innings pitched. While he was better in AAA, going 10-9 with a 3.52 ERA (119 ERA+), 1.45 WHIP, and 72 strikeouts in 163.2 innings pitched, the Cougars front office felt comfortable parting ways with him as they anticipate more rotation upgrades in the offseason. Curtin doesn't quite have the upside of the Cougars other pitching prospects, however he's a safe bet for a big league rotation with a high floor.

A higher upside prospect was moved as well, the 8th Ranked Cougar farmhand Dean Astle. The 20-year-old was a 9th Round Pick in the 1927 draft out of Berkeley. The southpaw isn't a hard thrower, but he excelled in 18 starts for Class C La Crosse. He went 12-4 with a 2.90 ERA (114 ERA+), 1.29 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts before earning a promotion to San Jose. He seemed over matched there, and in those 13 starts he was 2-5 with a 6.83 ERA (68 ERA+), 1.73 WHIP, and just 9 strikeouts with 31 walks. There are also internal rumblings in the Cougars front office that they are unsure if the high upside youngster will be able to start in the FABL. It will be interesting to see the path the Gothams take with the developing youngster.

The last piece of the return was CF Erv Frith. Ranked 20th in the Cougars system, it was known that the Gothams were seeking CF prospects, and they got a toolsy righty. He's got elite speed and range and everything needed to become a Gold Glover in the middle of the outfield. The bat hasn't quite developed, but Frith also has been stuck in the endless outfield log jam in the Cougars system. George Jordan has unofficially been named the center fielder of the future, and Frith doesn't have the bat of other corner outfield prospects such as Vince York, Howie Moss, Earl Johnson, and Ed Rhoden.

The Cougars have now rebuilt their entire left side of the infield with the additions of Combs and Kincaid, which then creates healthy competition for the last starting spot in the infield. Mack Deal seems to have the inside edge over this year's Rule-5 Pick Harry Simmons. The 23-year-old Deal's name came up in trade talks with the Gothams, however, the Cougars held onto the former 6th Overall Pick. His Rookie Season wasn't perfect, as he hit just .304/.367/.387 (84 OPS+) with 5 homers, 23 steals, and 77 RBI's in 617 trips to the plate. His defense at the hot corner was also supbar, as his -6.3 ZR at .968 efficiency rating are marks to improve on. He doesn't have much experience at second base, but he'll have all spring to work on it. Simmons, 25, on the other hand, spent his whole season at short where he was average (-0.5 ZR, 1.010 efficiency) and will now focus his energy on learning second. A natural third basemen, Simmons will likely make the active roster regardless of the outcome of the second base job. His versatility in the infield and his .315/.360/.414 (88 OPS+) batting line from the left side of the plate will allow him to spell righties occasionally against right handed pitching. He also stole 20 bases, hit 2 homers, and drove in 74 RBI's as he survived the entire season as the starting shortstop despite being our 3rd pick in the Rule-5 draft.