[ayaghmour2]

What's the best thing to do when your offense is full of struggling veterans? Add another struggling veteran!

In a move that is sure to spark some discussion, the Chicago Cougars sent a three piece package: Carl Clark, Jim Mako, and their 1st Round Pick for a player they've wanted to add for a very long time. A former 1st Overall Pick. A 6-Time All-Star. A former Whitney Winner. A tried and true veteran who knows baseball like his own group of brothers. A slugger with a 79 WRC+ in 70 games.

Wait, did you say 79? And you gave up a pick, a top 100 prospect, and a top 200 prospect?

You betcha! He can even play center field!

Yes folks, the Chicago Cougars have acquired Gothams center fielder Sal Pestilli!

Selected 1st Overall by the Dynamos way back in 1936, many thought it would be the Cougars who added Sal Pestilli when the Dynamos announced they traded their former face of the franchise, but the price was deemed too large. This time, it wasn't, and it could be what the Cougars need to finally win their elusive title.

Pestilli, now 31, is one of the rare players to completely skip the minors, and it proved to be the correct choice, as he was instantly one of the top players in the Federal Association. Pestilli slashed .306/.365/.572 (145 OPS+) with a league high 33 homers in 595 trips to the plate. If there was a Rookie of the Year award back then, he would've won it, as he was worth a full 7 WAR with 17 doubles, 14 triples, 12 steals, and 94 RBIs with an elite 50-to-14 walk-to-strikeout ratio. The encore was even better, as Pestilli managed to improve on that stellar showing, worth a league high 8.5 WAR while also leading in runs (134), doubles (22), homers (46), RBIs (132), and slugging (.627). Pestilli produced a 156 WRC+ and hit .307/.350/.627 (161 OPS+) as he took home his first of what some thought would be many Whitney Awards.

Unfortunately for Pestilli and the Dynamos, the then 23-year-old took a huge step back, and hit just .258/.306/.497 (114 OPS+), although it did come with 21 doubles, 29 homers, 116 RBIs, 90 runs, 10 steals, and a 5.1 WAR, while his 15 triples again led the league. The "slump" continued the next season, as his .249/.296/.470 (114 OPS+) line once again felt pedestrian, as he showed so much talent and promise in his first two season. But despite the middling numbers, the counting stats were there, as he produced 18 doubles, 33 homers, 12 steals, and a league high 127 RBIs. And the defense out in center always impressed, with season after season of positive zone ratings.

Some were wondering if this was the end for the talented outfielder, but he quickly silenced the doubters, as the then 25-year-old hit .288/.347/.511 (136 OPS+), worth an impressive 7.7 WAR in 153 games. He hit 25 doubles, 11 triples, and 30 homers with 113 RBIs, again leading the league. But as was the case all too often, Pestilli took another downturn, and produced his first sub 5 WAR season in 1942. He hit just .273/.306/.423 (110 OPS+) and failed to drive in 100 runs (94) for the first time since his rookie season. The defense is what always made him valuable, and he put together his fourth consecutive and fifth season in six years with a zone rating above 10. With the war in full swing, the patriotic Pestilli decided he would leave baseball, joining the Air Force and effectively ending his Dynamo career. There were rumors that he would be moved, and that eventually happened in 1945, when the Gothams acquired him for Jim Lonardo, Wally Hunter, and their 1st and 2nd Round picks.

Pestilli ended his Dynamo tenure as one of their best hitters, owning a .280/.328/.417 (130 OPS+) triple slash with 119 doubles, 82 triples, 189 homers, 73 steals, and 676 RBIs, while walking 262 times with just 91 strikeouts. He was worth almost 40 (38.4) wins above replacement in 885 games, not too shabby for a guy who was just 26 when he left. His .517 slugging ranked behind just Al Wheeler for Dynamos, and he sits 4th for homers and 6th for RBIs.

Sal returned to the ball field after the war ended, and spent the 1946 season with the Gothams, who had their eyes set on the title. They came up short, something the Gothams don't like doing, Pestilli, however, was advertised, and the slugger hit .281/.340/.461 (136 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 9 triples, 21 homers, and 75 RBIs. He swiped 14 bases, scored 80 runs, and was worth 6.8 WAR in 148 games. With Pestilli, Red Johnson, Walt Messer, and Mahlon Strong, the Gothams were expected by many to challenge for the Fed crown, but just like the Cougars, they have fallen a bit flat. A day before June ends they're just 36-38 and 11 out, and Pestilli's struggles have been part of the reason they haven't gotten things going. The 31-year-old is hitting just .243/.293/.371 (77 OPS+) in 284 trips to the plate, which would be the first time he failed to produce an OPS+ of at least 110. Not only that, the power is gone, as while Strong, Johnson, Messer, and Pete Casstevens all have double digit homers, Pestilli has just 5. Even his defense isn't the same, as his 3.3 zone rating and 1.014 efficiency would be career lows if the season ended today.

So, why did I want him?

Simply put -- he should be a star

Even with all the struggles, Pestilli still ranks as the 6th best center fielder, and considering Don Lee is hitting .211/.323/.271 (63 OPS+) with a -3.9 zone rating (.958 efficiency) and Clark Car's .203/.260/.312 (55 OPS+) is even worse. Carlos Montes likely won't be back until late July, and then he'll need a rehab stint, and we need to start winning as soon as possible. Billy Hunter has been decent in center, but I don't love it as a long-term solution, and he's far better suited for second. With Pestilli we finally have a good glove in the outfield, and you have to imagine the guy with a 126 career WRC+ still has something left in him.

Dixie Marsh seems to believe so, giving a glowing report of the veteran outfielder, saying he "has the tools to be a standout defensive center fielder" and he believes he is "certain to unleash his obvious talent both on the field and at the plate." I'm re-scouting him again since the accuracy is just average, but that's from earlier this month (June 6th). Sometimes players just need a change of scenery, and I don't think there would be any other legit center field options available. It's a huge risk, huge reward deal, as we could get more of '47 Pestilli and we parted with a rather large package. Still, I'm comfortable with our system depth, and a first round pick won't mean much if we can finally win a title. It's moves like this that can make or break a season, and I think it will all be worth it.

Or at least I hope...