WEDNESDAY MARCH 16, 1977
FEDERAL LEAGUE MAKES NOISE WITH MORE FREE AGENT SIGNINGS
If anyone thought the signing of Jeff Burroughs was biggest move the Federal League would make this off-season they were sorely mistaken. With the shackles of being forced to sell players to MLB teams gone and an influx of cash from several new investors the Federal League clubs went on a shopping spree over the past two weeks.
The Cleveland Whales made the biggest statement as they signed outfielders Al Oliver and Cleon Jones, along with pitcher Dave McNally and infielder-outfielder Bobby Murcer. The 30 year old Oliver had spent the past decade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, hitting .280 with 8 homers and 56 rbi's last season. Jones, 34, spent last season as a bench player for the World Series champion Chicago White Sox. He is a lifetime .278 hitter in 1532 MLB games with Baltimore and the White Sox. McNally is also 34 years old and coming off an 8-15 season for the Minnesota Twins. He previously pitched for the Dodgers, Phillies and Yankees, going 115-83 in his career. Murcer is a 3-time all-star who played for Houston and Cincinnati before joining the Mets last season. He also had a brief stint with Boston of the Federal League.
Cleveland was not the only team to spend substantial money as the Pittsburgh Rebels inked 28 year old outfielder George Foster, who hit .251 with 9 homers for the Dodgers last season as well as 35 year old pitcher Natividad Martinez, a 14 game winner for the Mets in 1976. The Rebels also signed veteran catcher Jerry Grote (.223,2,46), formerly of the Milwaukee Brewers.
The highest paid Federal Leaguer for this season will be Baltimore Terrapins outfielder Sonny Jackson after the 32 year old agreed to a 4 year deal that will pay him $178,000 this season. Jackson has spent over a decade with the Houston Astros but was hobbled by injuries last season that limited him to just 55 games.
While Federal League salaries still pale in comparison to the major leagues (the highest paid MLB player this year is Lee Lacy's $430,000 deal with San Francisco) it is clear the loop will pursue mid-level free agents very aggressively.