[Westheim]

The Raccoons didn’t close shop after the rule 5 draft, not at all…

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December 2 – The Raccoons sign ex-WAS 1B Kevin Harenberg (.298, 277 HR, 1,287 RBI) to a 2-year contract. The 38-year-old 16-year veteran stands to make $4.6M as part of the deal.

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Now, that was some news. Even the Agitator had trouble finding enough vitriol for a second page of derisive comments and the fans loved it, at least that’s what Cristiano told me from observing Gobble, the concept of which was still beyond me.

There were several positives form that addition. First, we had a first baseman that had already had success with the team and that we were reasonably confident with not killing us on a daily basis. Second, the contract saw him guaranteed $2.4M for this season, while 2037 was a vesting option worth $2.2M and requiring him to play 120 games, so if old man issues befell him often enough, we wouldn’t be on the hook for that.

Preston Pinkerton was displeased for having to let go of #18, but Harenberg got the number back that he had worn in his first Coons stint and I wasn’t going to listen to any amount of bickering about it. – No, Preston, no! – You either stuff your snout with your banana and apple slices in your food bowl now, or I’ll take it away!!

(wrestles with Pinkerton over the food bowl)

Of course, the offseason was far form over, but the two biggest vacancies had been addressed, and now it was about rounding out the edges of the roster. We still had about $2.5M in the coffers, although there was already an offer out there to another player.

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December 4 – The Titans sign former Thunder catcher Mike Burgess (.276, 207 HR, 821 RBI) to a 2-yr, $7.48M contract.
December 4 – Former Raccoons closer Ed Blair (45-35, 3.11 ERA, 97 SV) joins the Condors for a 3-year deal worth $3.36M.
December 6 – Ex-LVA LF/RF Graciano Salto (.262, 148 HR, 604 RBI) signs with the Crusaders. The 32-year-old gets a 2-yr, $4.68M deal.
December 6 – With Salto signed, the Crusaders trade another 32-year-old corner outfielder, Keith Damron (.246, 114 HR, 483 RBI) to the Bayhawks for 2B/SS Kenny Elder (.253, 11 HR, 46 RBI) and #81 prospect CL Scott Holton. In a further deal, the Crusaders send Rookie of the Year (!) 1B Johnny Lopez (.272, 13 HR, 59 RBI) to the Canadiens for C Michael Duryea (.242, 12 HR, 37 RBI).
December 6 – Upon shipping INF Jonathan Rivera (.237, 14 HR, 159 RBI) and #36 prospect OF Ethan Moore to the Thunder, the Scorpions receive SP Miguel Bojorques (60-77, 4.52 ERA) and cash.
December 8 – The Buffaloes sign journeyman SP Josh D’Agostino (60-69, 4.05 ERA) to a 3-year contract. The 29-year-old will make $3.88M over three years after last pitching with the Rebels.
December 8 – The Aces send reliever Casey McQueen (13-15, 5.13 ERA, 39 SV) to the Knights for two prospects.
December 9 – The Thunder swap SP Ignacio del Rio (48-47, 4.18 ERA) to the Crusaders for two prospects, including #78 prospect SP Aaron Bryant.
December 10 – The hyperactive Crusaders acquire 3B Greg Ortiz (.267, 93 HR, 496 RBI) from the Falcons for three prospects.
December 20 – The Knights ink ex-PIT CL Robbie Peel (28-27, 4.14 ERA, 94 SV), handing a 3-yr, $5.76M contract to the Jamaican lefty.

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The winter meetings saw us in discussions with several teams. The Titans tried to get rid of Ivan Vega, 33, and also thought of the Raccoons, because, y’know, we ain’t got no outfielders or something like that. They had it in their head that we’d want to get rid of Colt Willes, which wasn’t necessarily the case.

Ultimately nothing materialized, and we were in a tight spot with our trading. The positions where we had lots of personnel and tried to get rid of a select few were far between, and then other teams rarely had interest in our players.

For example, Darren Brown was almost impossible to gauge for 2036. He had been all the way from totally in the zone to out of his mind in his brief, injury-riddled career. He had also majorly cocked up Game 7 in Tijuana. No team was keen on adding him, especially not for a prospect.

Also, the Raccoons were really hogging their remaining prospects and wouldn’t let go of any.

Other new engagements for former Critters: Noel Ferrero landed with the Pacifics for 3-yr, $1.71M; Adrian Reichardt rejoins the Titans at age 38 after three years abroad on an $850k deal; Giovanni James would make $560k with the Stars in 2036; Nick Bates got $560k from the Crusaders, but would have to work two years for it; Steve Gowan got 2-yr, $1.21M from the Thunder; the Falcons had $346k worth of mercy with Travis Zitzner;