[ayaghmour2]

A little action as we start to approach Spring Training! In a trade of waived players, we sent SP Art Jackson to the Foresters for 3B Jake Moore. It's not like we needed another third basemen, but our bench was really bad last season and I'm working on adding more useful pieces. Before last season, Moore started 100 or more games in five of six years for the Foresters and the former 9th Overall Pick owns a productive .288/.358/.422 (113 OPS+) career batting line. He hit 18 of his 57 career homers in 1930, but it was the only time he managed double digits. He does have 512 RBI's in almost 1,000 games with the Foresters as well. He can handle either corner in the infield and should be our go to bat off the bench.

We participated in the Independent League Draft as well, selecting CF Chink Stickels from the Denver Plainsman in exchange for 2B Bob Crocker. I've been looking at Stickels for a while, he was one of my targets in the 1932 draft class. He was a 5th Round selection out of George Fox by the Pioneers, but didn't spend any time with the organization. He found his home in the Western League and hit a solid .290/.355/.448 (103 OPS+) with 6 homers, 26 steals, and 57 RBI's in his first real taste of professional play. I think this kid has a ton of talent as a big league center fielder, but his speed on the bases and range out in center are amazing. There were a few other center fielders I really liked (including one I wouldn't have gotten).

We'll have an extra seventh round pick in the 1935 draft as I moved lefty Herb Lowman to the Pittsburgh Miners. Pittsburgh has a huge park that is impossible for righties to hit homers at. This is perfect for Lowman, who is notorious for allowing homers. The recently 33-year-old did well for us this year, going 5-1 with a 3.72 ERA (122 ERA+), 1.48 WHIP, 28 walks, and 47 strikeouts in 84.2 innings. Pittsburgh has been on the lookout for pitching, and with some of the arms I've been able to add, I'm comfortable moving Lowman. The top three of the rotation is set; Lyons-Rankin-Leudtke, but there will be a full out battle for the 4th and 5th spot. New manager Jim Cathey wants to give the spots to George Johnson and Norm Stewart, but that's not what I want to see. I'd love for it to be Hank Spencer and Dick Sexton, but I am excited for the spring to start. There are a lot of guys trying out for a spot, including Johnny Walker, Don Grossman, Dick Reid, and Gordie Thompson as well.

It is past the draft pick signing deadline, and four of our guys will spend their 1935 in college instead of the professional circuit. 14th Rounder C Joe Henry will attend Lane State, 16th Rounder SP Eli Best will attend Daniel Boone, 19th Rounder C Val Smith will attend Georgia Baptist, and 20th Rounder CF Gene White will attend Maryland State. All are eligible for the 1937 draft.

Now with all picks signed, the farm systems are more or less consistent. We still rank first with 220 points. Washington (186) ranks right behind us with St. Louis (150), Baltimore (146), and the Sailors (136) rounding out the top five. Below are the new additions to the top 500 prospects:

4/20: SS Ollie Page
8/54: CF Bert Wilson
10/66: CF Chink Stickels
11/89: CF Carlos Montes
19/152: SP Hank Spencer
20/160: SP Pug Bryan
22/171: SS Ivan Cameron
26/201: SP Mutt Clabough (random minor league FA)
32/272: 3B Phil McKenna
34/294: SP Sam Hodge
38/448: 3B Dick Voss
41/477: SP Jim Miller
42/481: C Johnnie Williamson

EDIT: Included trade