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Pre-Season Adjustments and Planning
There are 101 players on waivers, 15 pitchers and 86 position players. Houston SP Max Miller (14-11, 3.77 in 2007) and 22-year-old San Diego C Justin Stone are the best available. They are both tempting but I have no room on the active roster for either one.
The AAA roster needed some depth at some positions and other positions were crowded. I took advantage of extra secondary roster spots to make a couple of trades for players being squeezed out of a spot on other teams.
Minor league RF Jose Cruz was traded to Boston for SP Estaban Valle, a 27-year-old right-hander at minimum salary with two options left. Valle was 5-5 with a 4.40 ERA last year. He was a Rule 5 pick and had to stay on Boston’s roster all year, but he really wasn’t ready. He is needed for our AAA rotation.
Reliever Reginald Davis was traded to Baltimore for minor league C John Heyrick. Villa rates the switch-hitting Heyrick as a 3-star prospect with good defensive skills. He could be useful as a third catcher next year if Rich Stanley’s contract is not renewed. Heyrick is 25, has all 3 options left, and only 1 year of ML service time.
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