Veteran outfielder Cody Kane, a potential future Hall of Fame inductee and one of the more well-respected leaders in the game, had signed an 8-year deal with the Portland Wild Things in November of 1973. But if he thought he could help bring a championship to stumptown, he was wrong. Fortunately for him his agent negotiated an opt out for him after the 4th year and earlier this off-season he took it.
Yesterday it was announced that he had signed a 3-year deal to play for the Boston Berserkers, a team much more likely to contend, having finished 2nd in the SJL this past season and with 3 straight years of over 90 wins. With Cody Kane slotted into the lineup between lead off hitter Chase DiMascio, a 3-time All-Star who last year hit .320/.385/.533, and 2-time league MVP Justin Vargas, who was .349/.402/.615 and led the league in home runs with 35, Boston's lineup looks nearly unstoppable.
Granted, Boston's starting pitching might hold them back a bit, but adding the talented, who joins shortstop Matt Bell as team co-captain, looks like a good move for both the team and Kane's chances of getting back to the KCS (he has 1 championship ring from 1972 when he helped lead the unlikely Charlotte Sting to the promised land.)