[Westheim]

Anybody remember that I’ve been trying to trade for Kennedy Adkins for the entire 2050s decade…?

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November 21 – The Scorpions trade for the Warriors’ 2B/SS Ryan Harris (.266, 6 HR, 50 RBI), parting with MR Josh Penington (16-16, 4.73 ERA, 23 SV) and a prospect.
November 24 – For a $350k signing bonus, the Raccoons add 22-yr old Cuban super utility Arturo Bribiesca to the organization.
November 26 – The Loggers deal OF/3B Bryant Law (.240, 7 HR, 61 RBI) to the Capitals for 2B/SS/LF Miguel Cruz (.194, 0 HR, 1 RBI).
[b]November 27 – The Raccoons acquire 29-yr old SP Kennedy Adkins (71-44, 2.92 ERA) from the Buffaloes in exchange for 28-yr old OF Matt Cox (.252, 98 HR, 402 RBI), 27-yr old Dave Blackshire (.238, 2 HR, 11 RBI), and 27-yr old AAA MR Jim Larson (3-5, 4.85 ERA).
November 29 – Former Knights first-sacker Jay Rogers (.270, 78 HR, 343 RBI) hooks up with the Stars for a $18.56M contract over four years.
November 29 – Ex-TOP LF/RF Nate Culp (.271, 222 HR, 717 RBI) signs a 3-yr, $10.32M contract with the Crusaders.
November 30 – The Wolves send SP Zane Fenlon (22-23, 3.73 ERA) to the Capitals for #24 prospect SP Josh Scarbro.
December 1 – 2B Tony Aparicio (.291, 277 HR, 1,452 RBI), who will be 41 in April, signs one more $6.6M contract with his most recent team, the Canadiens.
December 1 – The Knights sign a pair of 36-year-old position players; former Buffalo 1B/LF/RF Eddie Moreno (.276, 401 HR, 1,429 RBI) agrees to a 2-yr, $10.6M deal, while ex-NYC 3B/2B Ronnie Thompson (.281, 12 HR, 717 RBI) will take in $1.04M for one year.
December 1 – Ex-LAP C Eric Monaghan (.244, 102 HR, 470 RBI) winds up with the Thunder thanks to a 6-yr, $19.24M deal.
December 1 – The Blue Sox trade right-handed swingman Rafael Mendoza (6-13, 4.65 ERA) to the Miners for a prospect.
December 1 – Rule 5 Draft: 16 players are selected. The Raccoons lose MR Raul Medrano (0-1, 4.57 ERA) to the Wolves.
December 2 – The Rebels bring ex-POR SP Arthur Pickett (156-104, 3.77 ERA) back to the FL East, signing the 36-year-old to a 3-yr, $6.3M deal.
December 2 – The Knights acquire 1B Dale Haracz (.266, 41 HR, 218 RBI) from the Loggers, who receive INF Robby Gaxiola (.292, 4 HR, 31 RBI).
December 5 – Portland adds a big-time closer in former Blue Sock Tommy Gardner (57-59, 2.53 ERA, 401 SV), who signs for three years and $9.9M.
December 5 – The Bayhawks add left-handed ex-VAN SP Andy Overy (71-63, 3.84 ERA) for 4-yr, $15.84M.

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Oh no. Not Medrano. How will I live. (causally keeps nomming chips with the use of his left hindpaw)

The Buffaloes had a young team that was nevertheless not any good. They didn’t have a real way forward. It was unlikely that they were going to be good any time soon, which wouldn’t be helped by this trade either. Matt Cox had his worst season in recent memory in Portland, and while I was not actually trying to get rid of him, it was quite convenient that the Buffos were interested in him. The rest of the deal was finding the least painful combination of throw-ins – at times Matt Walters, Eloy Sencion or Matt Knight, as well as various AAA pitchers were part of the conversation as well as AA infielder Richard Anderson, who seemed thoroughly stuck where he was and like a weird request for the Buffos to have.

Adkins was under contract for five more years and $24.52M. $3.32M in ’55, then $5.3M annually until 2059, which was a player option year.

We sign Tommy Gardner for three years – or one for every Reliever of the Year award on his mantelpiece. The idea here is simple: Tommy Gardner ends games. It’s that easy. 11 straight years as a closer for three different teams, including five for the Indians, which we surely still remember.

There is still money left over, but we have also yet to settle on the fifth starter (Brobeck or nah) and whether we make a splurge for another outfielder that might cost us our first-round pick after all… although the options were slim in that regard.