[Westheim]

As the winter progressed, I found myself in a bidding war with the Crusaders for that last player I tried to add, a reliever to bolster the corps after the trade of both Moore and Dew earlier. You have to know what you’re getting into if you get into a bidding war with the Crusaders, though; it’s the proverbial land war in Asia.

The other thing that was still smoldering on a very low flame was a potential trade of Zach Graves for really anything useful, which would allow us to keep Hector Barcenas around rather than to send this rule 5 draft trophy back to where it came from. Not that I am sold on Barcenas; it was just that the bench was tipping to the left side and I was no declared fan of that. Turns out, none of the other 23 teams were declared fans of Zach Graves.

The bidding war stretched into March, while the Crusaders also made a trade proposal, although it was more a thinly-veiled insult at both Matt Nunley and my intelligence when they offered 3B Andy Schmit for Russ Greenwald (30 and dwelling in AAA professionally) and Alberto Ramos, that currently sterling prospect that was to start the season in Aumsville.

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February 7 – The Crusaders sign ex-CIN/POR 2B/SS Raul Claros (..277, 49 HR, 407 RBI) to a 2-yr, $1.52M contract.
February 12 – The Falcons ship 27-year-old LF/RF/1B Terry Kopp (.278, 86 HR, 415 RBI) back to the Federal League, and the Cyclones in particular. Charlotte receives OF/1B Chris Erskine (.281, 11 HR, 95 RBI) and a prospect.
February 23 – The Pacifics wrap up a 5-yr, $15.24M package for 29-year-old ex-LVA LF/RF Dan Brown (.252, 82 HR, 385 RBI).
March 6 – The Condors sign up ex-BOS/CHA INF Tony Casillas (.253, 34 HR, 277 RBI) on a 1-yr, $1.32M contract. Casillas, 28, would be on his fourth Contintental League team.
March 6 – The Titans trade for 30-yr-old LF/RF/1B Jose Avila (.291, 40 HR, 291 RBI), sending 33-yr old LF/RF Chris Almanza (.257, 128 HR, 455 RBI) and a prospect to the Falcons.
March 10 – The Raccoons snatch up 31-yr old right-hander MR Jimmy Lee (48-48, 3.45 ERA, 19 SV) with a 2-yr, $1.93M contract offer. Lee spent his entire major league career with the Blue Sox so far.

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Suck it, New York! The acquisition of Lee is the sweater given that he is actually from Queens and grew up within spitting distance of the Crusaders’ ballpark.

Lee’s contract is flat; we easily have enough budget space this season. Next year is a big “???” so far given that the Coons might well turn a winning record (gosh, I hope!) and would get some additional coin then (ya gotta believe!).

The Lee acquisition also ended Juan Barzaga’s bid for the Opening Day roster. Cowen maintained the long man job, and Barzaga was sent to AAA along with Mike Rehbock and Hector Morales, who had already been reassigned on March 1.

Ron Thrasher got 2-yr, $944k from the Loggers; the Crusaders threw $298k at Quinn MacCarthy; the same amount would allow Jason Seeley to not starve for another year as member of the Cyclones; Danny Rice would have to be content with $290k from the Wolves; Logan Sloan ended up with the Capitals for $308k;