[Westheim]

The winter meetings began with a stab in the back by the spineless Crusaders, who traded the pitcher I had been after to the Rebs instead. I yelled across the hall of the hotel and shook my fist, promising the Crusaders’ GM the most bitter revenge he could imagine, which left several onlookers puzzled and confused.

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December 3 – The Crusaders send SP Julian Ponce (47-34, 3.05 ERA) to the Rebels, along with a pitching prospect, for C Fernando Alba (.317, 36 HR, 140 RBI) and some AAA pitcher.
December 3 – New York also moves LF/CF Chris Russell (.279, 82 HR, 511 RBI) to the Falcons for the return of LF/RF/1B Graciano Salto (.260, 233 HR, 954 RBI), now 37 years old, and a prospect.
December 4 – Former Loggers SP Joe Feltman (69-69, 4.07 ERA) lands a 7-yr, $26.04M deal with the Pacifics.
December 4 – The Crusaders keep dismantling with CL Manny Vasquez (18-14, 4.14 ERA, 32 SV) being sent to the Wolves for a prospect.
December 4 – The Capitals get 32-yr old SP Matt Peterson (66-79, 4.34 ERA) from the Miners for C Giampolo Petroni (.313, 4 HR, 21 RBI), a rookie in 2040, and a prospect.
December 4 – The Canadiens pick up left-handed MR Ryan McConnell (2-5, 4.97 ERA) for the #86 prospect, CL Ricardo Marquez, who is sent to the Condors.
December 4 – Tijuana sends INF Bob Nelson (.236, 10 HR, 48 RBI) to the Falcons for two prospects.
December 6 – The Knights pull off a stunner with a trade for Cincy’s 1B Jamie King (.311, 68 HR, 233 RBI), the current Federal League Player of the Year, parting with MR Matt May (17-14, 3.30 ERA, 41 SV) and an unranked prospect … and nothing else.
December 6 – The Condors add veteran 3B/2B Nick Rozenboom (.273, 152 HR, 679 RBI) on a 2-yr, $3.32M contract. The 36-year-old was with the Cyclones last season.
December 7 – The Titans send LF/RF John Davis (.265, 5 HR, 92 RBI) to the Pacifics for C Andy Graham (.277, 10 HR, 100 RBI). Both players are 27 years old.
December 9 – The Crusaders secure 30-yr old right-hander CL Josh Livingston (37-32, 3.25 ERA, 84 SV) on a 3-yr, $7.52M contract.

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The Loggers got merely a third-round pick from the Pacifics for the loss of Joe Feltman. L.A. had a protected first-round pick and had already given their second-round pick to the Buffaloes. How are the Loggers always getting the worst deal…?

Oh well.

At least they’re getting SOME deal.

The Raccoons got no deals on their pursuits of another starting pitcher. They didn’t get Aaron Howell from the Titans, probably undervalued and wasting in the pen, but the Titans were asking for ALL the prospects.

The Raccoons also didn’t get the return of Gilberto Rendon, who was a free agent and probably the best offer out there that was tied to a pick forfeiture, 36 years old or not. And while Rendon was only seeking a 1-year deal, the price on that escalated from $2M to $3.6M during the winter meetings, at which point the Raccoons had to drop out of the bidding war because it was getting a tad too insane even for us.

With the winter meetings over, we still have Ian Wilson pitching in the #3 hole of the rotation, and we still have about 17 first or second basemen that we don’t exactly dig, and none of which can play defense (anymore). Good times.