[Westheim]

Heretofore untouchable pitching prospect Nelson Moreno was a bit back and forth between Aumsville and Ham Lake this season, which in itself wasn’t bad for a 19-year-old. He made 13 starts in Aumsville, for a 6-4 record and 3.54 ERA (against a .326 BABIP). He struck out 10.5 batters per nine innings, indicating he had the level figured out. He struck out 8.5 per nine with the Panthers, but also walked 5.7/9 and had a .311 BABIP that at least didn’t help his cause. He posted a 4-9 record and 5.15 ERA in 17 starts. There was no question about his nice qualities – 96mph heat with a devastating knuckle curve that was barely hittable (but also missed a lot). The tack-on stuff still needed work, too, that being a curve and a changeup. Reviews remained rave for the #5 prospect.

Given that he had been basically free ($20k) in the 2035 July IFA period, we were happy with having him in the pipeline. Now someone buy him a cheeseburger, he’s only 170 pounds on a 6’1’’ frame.

The Raccoons were thus not willing to part with Moreno even as they were looking for a major improvement in their current rotation. Everything else was basically up for grabs – but not that kid. Not that we figured to have many ranked prospects at this point. We’d already spent ranked prospects by the shovelful in trades in the last 18 months, which had gotten us a Game 7 loss to the Blue Sox and a new franchise record for homers in a season since. No rings though.

I sniffed around the Scorpions for a while for right-hander Josh Vercher, who was a very balanced pitcher approaching a K/BB ratio of 3 and having lots of other nice qualities. The Scorpions were however completely broke and Vercher didn’t make much (under a million at least), naturally limiting talking points to Nelson Moreno, so that deal went absolutely nowhere. You couldn’t even toss in the resolutely .500 Sabre – as an example – because there was no way they could eat the money.

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November 22 – The Bayhawks pick up the Buffos’ 1B Salvador Ayala (.257, 25 HR, 188 RBI) for RF Bobby Hennessy (.246, 12 HR, 69 RBI) and a prospect.
November 27 – The first major free agent of the winter season signs a new contract, with 29-year-old catcher Mitch Cook (.262, 99 HR, 451 RBI) changing leagues from the Rebels to the Falcons, persuaded by a 6-year deal paying just over $26M in total.
November 27 – The Indians also sign a Federal League type A free agent, former Wolves SP Eric Peck (64-59, 3.87 ERA) for 4-yr, $10.56M.
November 28 – Undying: 44-year-old RF Pablo Sanchez (.340, 162 HR, 1,680 RBI) inks a $1.48M deal for 2039 with the Warriors.
November 28 – Left-handed closer John Hennessy (25-18, 3.05 ERA, 66 SV), coming off the Gold Sox, joins the Crusaders on a 3-yr, $4.76M contract.
December 1 – Rule 5 draft: 15 players are selected in total. The Raccoons lose 22-yr old AA/AAA MR Zack Kelly to the Scorpions.
December 3 – Boston adds former Miners CF Mark Vermillion (.289, 90 HR, 518 RBI) with a 7-yr, $23.88M commitment.
December 3 – The Miners sign ex-DAL C Danny Zarate (.263, 169 HR, 844 RBI). The 35-year-old backstop signs for $8.72M over two years.
December 4 – Sioux Falls adds Cincy’s ex-closer Seth Odum (82-89, 3.09 ERA, 368 SV) for 2-yr, $3.44M as well as ex-IND 1B Brent Rempfer (.251, 132 HR, 487 RBI) for one year and $2.12M.

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The Raccoons locked themselves out from the rule 5 draft by filling the only available spot on the 40-man roster with AA southpaw Angelo Montano prior to the draft. I was bold enough to exclaim that our roster was too good and our holes too elaborate to be filled by a random 24-year-old afterthought. We had guys like that ourselves; isn’t that right, Steve Nickas? – When did you turn 25? – That’s not on my cue card here. – Maud? Maud! – When did Nickas turn 25? – See, Steve, even Maud doesn’t think you’re important enough to go into my birthday calendar. – Well, for example, on November 28 I have in there Ed Knopf, who owns three chicken drumstick frieries in town.

Kelly had been our 2035 fourth-rounder. The stuff on the kid was very much alright, but he had major control problems, even for a 22-year-old left-hander, and I wasn’t sure yet that we’d lost him forever.

The only addition the Raccoons had to show off in the run-up to the Winter Meetings was a 22-year-old Cuban lefty that had been washed ashore in the fall. Carlos Cabello had none too impressive stuff and little in terms of control, but he signed a minor league deal and would be assigned to Aumsville.

Former Raccoons with new tree holes? Ross Sibley had been a free agent but re-signed with the damn Elks for 2-yr, $2.56M; the Wolves made out a 2-yr, $1.82M deal to Pat Okrasinski;

Finally, there’s a Hall of Fame ballot out. Spot the former Raccoon who was not named Player of the Year for which I am to this day and forever mad about a certain Condors third baseman.