[Westheim]

January 21 – Free agent SP Nick Waldron (35-50, 4.52 ERA), formerly of New York, joins the Canadiens on a 3-yr, $7.72M deal.
January 22 – The Pacifics pick up former Bayhawks SP Preston Young (106-105, 3.94 ERA) for a 2-year contract worth $9.28M.
January 22 – The Knights acquire SS/3B Tomas Guangorena (.240, 5 HR, 105 RBI) from the Warriors in a trade for MR Matt Guadagno (8-5, 3.13 ERA, 4 SV) and #70 prospect CL Mike Mingione.
January 22 – Atlanta further adds reliever Alvaro Garza (22-31, 3.37 ERA, 64 SV) for MR Freddie DeWitt (0-0, 6.00 ERA), the #144 prospect, and an unranked prospect.
February 3 – The Crusaders throw a 2-year, $10.4M contract at 37-yr old ex-NAS MR Roberto Navarro (68-58, 3.79 ERA, 79 SV).
February 5 – Pittsburgh gets three years of former Rebels SP Adam McDonald (42-51, 4.19 ERA) for $11.96M.
February 8 – The Titans go all out with a 3-yr, $16.32M contract for former Canadiens closer Matt Nelson (31-33, 3.41 ERA, 108 SV).
February 13 – The Raccoons sign veteran SP A.C. Stebbins (125-111, 3.94 ERA, 1 SV), lastly of the Crusaders, to a $1.1M contract.
February 15 – The Buffaloes get a former closer for a $1.18M bargain by signing ex-SFW CL Lorenzo Lucatero (33-34, 3.20 ERA, 186 SV).

+++

After three months of haggling with Francisco Tello, his price began to double in February and the Raccoons didn’t have that kind of dosh anymore after their Tyler Wharton excesses, which made us bend deeper into the bargain bin for leftovers – keep in mind, it was February. No All Stars left at this point, usually, at least not recent ones.

A.C. Stebbins had in fact never been an All Star and at age 38 was unlikely to be bestowed the honor in this lifetime anymore. A 15-year veteran, we hoped he would keep the #5 spot in the rotation warm until we were bold enough to bring up Val Centeno (who looked closer to the majors than Jimmy Wharton right now).

By the way, Jimmy Wharton and Tyler Wharton? – Not related in any way. The prospect is from Georgia, and the slugging superstar is from California.

Where are they now? Diego Mendoza got $950k from the Scorpions; Paul Labonte went to the Gold Sox for $590k; Franklin Serrano got $560k from the Scorpions;