[Westheim]

A few winters ago, the Miners spent nine figures on new players, which they’ve tried to selectively get rid of ever since. It’s not the first time we’ve been offered Anton Venegas. Now, Venegas would tick quite a few boxes – he’s an excellent defensive third baseman, he’s hitting over .300, and he can even swipe bases. Unfortunately he knew too well that he was good and had thus a surfeit of “attitude”, and he also came with five years left on a 7-yr, $34.96M contract, and the Raccoons were none to keen of footing that bill, especially with the contract backloaded and over $27M still on that bloody thing. We had just gotten through our phase of dragging a late-30s “third baseman” that got 30 grand just for tying his shoes to the grim physical end of his major league career.

And yes, it was a straight salary dump. These (and more) were all players that – individually! – would be enough compensation for the Miners for five years of Venegas: Cameron Argenziano. Aaron Brewer. Ed Crispin. Ryan Harmer. Jim Larson. Mikio Suzuki. Prospero Tenazes. Nick Thomason. Guido Kauffman (who??). Jeff ******* Raczka.

We sure weren’t being the only ones offered such a great deal. I didn’t want to be the only one so stupid as to take it, though.

And Cristiano informs me that Guido Kauffman is a 20-year-old Bonairean right-hander that put up a 5.64 ERA in 23 games for the Beagles this year, and that he has a crisp bum. – Is that in the scouting report, Cristiano? – Why are you blushing?

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December 2 – The Canadiens add ex-NYC RF/LF Adam Magnussen (.259, 65 HR, 403 RBI) for $16.56M over four years.
December 2 – Often-injured former Aces CF Brent Cramer (.274, 57 HR, 301 RBI) signs a 2-yr, $5.28M contract with the Bayhawks.
December 3 – Former Knights SP Kodai Koga (66-73, 3.79 ERA) joins the Bayhawks for a mere $3.6M over three years.
December 3 – The Crusaders land ex-CHA OF Oscar Caballero (.271, 45 HR, 382 RBI), who led the CL in triple and RBI in 2052, with a 3-yr, $9.72M offer.
December 3 – New York goes on to acquire C Aaron Kissler (.271, 8 HR, 46 RBI) from the Scorpions for outfielder Rick Colwill (.309, 2 HR, 26 RBI) and a prospect.
December 3 – The Indians add to the rotation with 25-yr old SP James Powell (20-29, 4.55 ERA) from the Rebels. Richmond gets two prospects.
December 5 – Next, the Indians send OF Chaz Kokel (.239, 24 HR, 172 RBI) to Sacramento for left-hander Joe Nix (25-26, 3.31 ERA, 6 SV) and a prospect.
December 5 – Infielder Jeremy Stalker (.274, 5 HR, 44 RBI) is acquired along with a prospect by the Buffaloes, while the Pacifics get OF William Kulak (.259, 8 HR, 60 RBI).
December 6 – The Wolves get OF Joshua Shaw (.328, 17 HR, 203 RBI) from the Canadiens in exchange for 33-yr old SP Leo Iniguez (69-86, 4.14 ERA), seven figures in cash, and #108 prospect OF Pedro de Leon.
December 9 – The Coons sign ex-NAS 2B/3B Travis Malkus (.258, 68 HR, 510 RBI) to an $850k contract for the 2053 season.
December 13 – The Aces throw $600k at the remains of Canadiens icon Jerry Outram (.324, 302 HR, 1,200 RBI). The 38-year-old, 5-time Player of the Year made only seven starts and hit just two homers for all of 2052 and due to a broken kneecap might not even be ready for Opening Day.

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Nope, Outram’s two homers didn’t come against Portland in ’52. But five of his 18 RBI did.

It’s hard to get excited about Malkus, a 32-year-old, hot-potato middle infielder. But he had a knack for getting on base and I had the crazy idea that he might start half the games (split with Crispin) at third base and actually bat leadoff ahead of Lonzo.