[ayaghmour2]

In a move that looked to the future, the Cougars sent off team captain Art White to the Dynamos for a five piece package. Don't let the size fool you, as we went quantity over quality, but this move gives us plenty of flexibility for both this season and next season. To make the salary work, we retained 30% of White's salary this season, and added infielder Rabbit Mudd. A 36-year-old vet, Mudd spent the previous two seasons in the Air Force, with the two years prior in the minor leagues. This season the middle infielder has functioned in a bench role for the Dynamos, hitting .259/.373/.365 (109 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 3 tripes, and 4 RBIs, walking (16) a bit more then he strikes out (11). Mudd likely won't last past this season, but we need some help in the infield, and he can play second, third, and short. Depending how Ollie Page does this week, Mudd might take the job outright, but he'll get a few starts at the keystone regardless with the chance to pick up a few games at third as well. Mudd was likely to be DFA'd by the Dynamos, and since we can't claim players while being over budget, his inclusion seemed perfect as I would have loved to claim him otherwise.

In reality, the trade was for three prospects and a pick, with the pick being the 4th Rounder of Detroit's. With the draft changes, there's no more Duke Bybee's and George Sutterfield's ripe for the taking, but it's hard to complain about getting an extra prospect like Jim Mako, who ranks just outside the league's top 200. You can never have too many picks, and while our system is still on the deeper side, we've had to bring up plenty of youngsters to try to compete this season. We'll also add a young minor leaguer in Bill Perrin, a 5th Rounder from this season who I had my eye on due to his glove and work ethic. Just 18, Perrin is hitting just .107/.286/.179 (40 OPS+) in 35 trips to the plate, but there is plenty to like about the Ohio native. Perrin ranked 12th in the Dynamos system and 192nd overall, and we are in need of some infield depth in the minors. We do have plenty of youngsters, with our entire La Crosse infield in their teen years, but I'm okay pushing guys up to spread at bats around. This season we may need upper minors guys, but once the war is over, they can go right back down to lighter competition. Perrin is a project anyways, so immediate results aren't too important, and his speed and eye should help raise his floor. He's a natural shortstop with experience at first and third too, but I think he has the range to stick at short. Perrin won't ever hit for much power, but he puts the ball in play frequently and is always looking to take the extra base. He's one of those high-risk, high-reward types, with enough patience I think he can pan out as a productive big leaguer.

The other two prospects we acquired are still serving, so we won't have to worry about too many cuts. The lone pitcher in return is Gene Madison, a 22-year-old righty serving in the Navy. "Mean Gene" has been a rather high profile prospect, selected in the 2nd Round of the 1941 draft by the Pioneers. Two seasons later he was shipped to the Dynamos with a 4th Round Pick for another veteran starter, Joe Shaffner, and last season in AA he went 12-6 with a 2.91 ERA (133 ERA+), 1.42 WHIP, 104 walks, and 90 strikeouts. Madison has great stuff, with his slider a very tough pitch to hit. He does have some control issues, which will lead to walks an home runs, but his stuff will produce strikeouts and he's not too far off from the big leagues. I was a big fan of him come draft day, and I thought the Dynamos did well to acquire him for Shaffner, but some of the prospect shine has worn off. He's still a useful depth starter, but the chances of him becoming the #2 scouts thought on draft day is very unlikely.

The final piece is former 1st Rounder Bob Schmelz, who the Dynamos took in the first round of the 1942 draft. He was also a guy on my radar, but due to his defense, I was a bit more hesitant. The highest ranked prospect of the trio, Schmelz checks in at 189, and one spot ahead of Perrin in the Dynamos' ranking. 21 in November, Schmelz spent just one season in affiliated ball before enlisting in the Army a few months after his minor league season ended. He hit very well, with a 135 WRC+ in 21 games in C ball and a 124 in 10 games in Class B. Combined he had 6 doubles, 2 homers, and 12 RBIs with more walks (12) then strikeouts (7). A natural second basemen, I'm not sure if he'll ever see the keystone much in our system, as he seems destined for a first base job. The bat can make up for the lack of glove, as he works the count well and delivers above-average contact. If he can hit some longballs to go with it, he'll be your prototypical type first basemen, but he doesn't have the size of most power hitters. Even without much pop, he'll hit plenty of line drives and will rarely look overmatched at the plate, not quite Ray Ford level, but still very productive. We chased upside with this deal, and added multiple different types of players in a return that should help us in the post-war game.

The biggest part of this deal was moving White, who may not have gotten a rotation spot next season, while opening the door for one of our talented young pitchers. We don't need a fifth starter this week, so Mike Thorpe will get to join the rotation next week. Our other 4th Round selection last year, Thorpe has spent all of the season in the Blues rotation, going an impressive 12-1 with a 2.92 ERA (128 ERA+), 1.23 WHIP, 36 walks, and 29 strikeouts. Not a big strikeout arm, Thorpe is a soft tosser like White who relies more on producing weak contact then blowing things by guys. A very effective arm, the recently turned 23-year-old has been big league ready since draft day, and he's more developed then George Oddo who's been really good in his debut season. Thorpe's 83 FIP- makes me believe he'll have no trouble against tougher hitters, and our league best defense should help cover any rookie mistakes he has to deal with. I'm very excited to see how he performs, and I think long-term we're better off giving him starts this season then White. I'm hoping there won't be a major drop off in production, as first place is still in our sights. We could make a few more moves to improve the depth of the roster, but I wouldn't count anything out yet.