[ayaghmour2]

What started as a hopeful Red Bond reunion and ended with a spot opening trade that sends Sal Pestilli to the third place Saints. This deal allows Joe Austin (.271, 7, 45, 17) to return to second as Montreal attempts to erase a seven game deficit. I hope we can do them some help this week, but getting a guy like Pestilli can only help a team. He has a 110 WRC+ with 8 homers, 11 steals, 25 RBIs, 30 walks, and 39 runs scored. A vintage performance from Sal could help them make up ground fast, and they were willing to part with a pair of top 100 prospects for our potential Hall-of-Fame outfielder. The prospects are nice, I'll get into that later, but this trade allows one of our many young outfielders to take the position next week. I won't say who that outfielder is yet, as that could be Smith, Reece, or Norman depending on any number of things. A lot can happen in a week, but I think the one thing for certain is that Don Lee will be happy. The 29-year-old captain hasn't been happy and asked for more playing time. He'll get it, with the deadline midsim, and no one will inform him of the impending callup until the week is over.

In exchange for Pestilli we'll receive two prospects I've had my eye on since they were drafted. Despite being the lower of the ranked prospects, White was a 5th Rounder in 1948, which even at the time I knew was too late. Since I just took Dixie Gaines in the 4th, I didn't want to go back-to-back with pitchers, and I ended up taking John Kerr the pick before Pug. Pug would've been the next pick, and there isn't really anyone after I would have rather had over him. Now 21, the lefty has pitched well in Class B, 5-7 with a 3.62 ERA (123 ERA+) and 3.77 FIP (84 FIP-). The 1.51 WHIP is better then it looks, and he has 82 strikeouts and 67 walks in 117 innings pitched. A three pitch pitcher, what fascinates me is the mid 80s sinker, which is and will always be his best pitch. It should help him keep the ball in our park, and once he can command his stuff it will be good enough for big league hitters. He can work around the corners and generate weak contact, and our excellent defense will be of great benefit to him. He's still a few years out, but that's the type of prospect we need, with so many young players ready to compete.

The second piece will have to deal with that competition, as "Southern Comfort" Herm Kocher will make his way to Chicago. Recently 22, the former 12th Overall pick has been moved twice in 1951, originally with the Keystones before they went to get the struggling Andy Lyon (5-4, 6.43, 31). Kocher hasn't progressed quickly and is actually Rule-5 eligible, and I think I'll keep him in Class A. He's hit .262/.304/.331 (74 OPS+) in 369 PAs with the Saints Class A affiliate, and asides from his steals (15) and defense (8.6, 1.051) not much is going right. We can take our time with him, as he's still the guy that hit .575/.606/.949 in high school and could hit high in a FABL batting order. Both OSA and Dixie Marsh comment on his power potential, but I'm more intrigued by his hit tool. He could bat over .300 and even contend for some batting titles, and his glove is more then good enough to stick in center. It's always nice to have a contingency plan, as there is on guarantee that any of our many ready guys are actually good. But I think at least one of them is better long term then a 35-year-old Pestilli and a head start could only benefit these guys for 1952. It's open season on the outfield spots and if I ever move Red Bond, Leo Mitchell can move to first to open the lasted spot. Everyone else seems to be staying put at this point, but the offseason will allow plenty of buyers to enter a smaller market.