1937 Offseason Recap
Let's go over this offseason's moves, chronologically. I'll include commentary when relevant and, of course, little tidbits on the new players entering the league.
Tampico trades 3B Gabriel Rivas (.277/.308/.323 last year) to Guadalajara, in exchange of SS Javier Zayas (20/50, yet to debut). In the end, Guadalajara managed to keep Zayas as these teams made another trade just 3 months later which saw Zayas return to Jalisco alongside 30 year-old LHP Gabriel Rojo (50/50 RP, yet to bedut) for another prospect in 2B José Pérez (20/50).
Jaguares sign Belizean 2B Joe Hercules: 22 y/o, speedy and with an above average glove though his bat is average at best at this level. He won't make his debut with Jaguares though, with them trading him for Tampico RHP Ángel Urquidi (50/50 RP, yet to debut) in January.
Tampico trade 36 y/o RHP Mario Quesada (45/45 RP, yet to debut) for Jaguares 1B Joaquín González (.275/.292/.312 in 81 career games).
Jaguares trade LF José Palmerín (.269/.304/.316 in 96 career games) for Puebla's veteran RHP Iván Moctezuma (45 IP, 2.00 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 6.9 K% last year). With Palmerín still young and only getting better and Moctezuma in decline, this could be a lopsided trade for Puebla.
Guadalajara trade young 3B Ángel Ziranda (.249/.309/.302 in 99 career games) to Mérida, getting veteran 1B Efraín Cuxum (.189/.250/.297 in 40 career games) and young C Luis García (.160/.192/.160 in 9 career games) in return.
Tampico sign Guatemalan RHP Leopoldo Chavarría: the 24 year old thrower has a mean curveball that will make him effective if he can get it under control, his fastball doesn't move much and he'll get hit hard if he throws it in bad spots.
In what was probably the biggest move of the offseason, the 3rd place Flechas de León acquired the 1937 batting champion and two-times Teyaotlani Award winner, RF Victor Barrios (.332/.394/.401 last year) from the Águilas, giving up #7 prospect LF Carlos Carrillo (20/65, yet to debut). This move just might push León from title contenders to title favorites, with them coming a close 3rd last year.
Mérida sign RHP Fernando Pérez: the Michoacán native comes out of the amateur leagues with a great fastball-slider combo with average movement and control. His weird throwing technique, bending himself at an awkward angle so he releases the ball near the ground, has only been seen once before, in lefty Humberto Nieto (who we'll talk about in a bit). Pérez should be a solid but unspectacular pitcher in the league.
The champions had been quiet so far, but then went and got a great center fielder to replace an aging Guillermo Aceves (now in LF, .233/.278/.297 last year). Coming from Tampico is Jesús Rodríguez (.247/.285/.323 last year) while another CF in Alberto Campana (40/55, yet to debut) went the other way.
The capital clubs made a move sending C Jesús Serrano (.227/.250/.227 in 7 games) to the Águilas and LHP Mario Rodríguez (2.74 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 8.2 K%, 8 SV last year) to the Jaguares.
Tampico trade LHP Humberto Nieto (3 SV, 5.95 ERA, 1.70 ERA, 5.4 K% last year) to San Luis, getting speedy 2B prospect Alejandro López (20/45, yet to debut) in return.
León continue to bolster their championship chances, first by signing Salvadoran youngster RHP Juan González: the 23 year-old dominated the Salvadoran circuit with his curveball-changeup-cutter trifecta which he uses effectively to prevent home runs and walks. If he reaches full potential, he'll be a very effective pitcher for a handful of years in the league. He signs for the 2nd most expensive contract per year ($680), only behind fellow Salvadoran Carlos Renderos.
The Arrows made another splash by trading for San Luis' 2B Francisco Escamilla (.253/.277/.346 in 78 career games), but they had to give up effective reliever RHP Mariano Avelar (no runs allowed in 4 appearances, 1 SV) and young C Guillermo Meraz (20/60, yet to debut). Both León and San Luis continue to beef up their roster and will now be expected to compete for the top spot.
Guadalajara sign 3B Oscar Torres out of the Yucatán amateur league: A solid defender with a good arm, effective on the basepaths, a disciplined hitter who doesn't have the best technique but will hit it far whenever he makes contact. With the Obsidians trading for Gabriel Rivas earlier in the offseason, Torres will be given time to adapt to the league before being handed the starting role.
With lefty Miguel Cazares (2.67 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 7.7 K% in 44 career starts) retiring, Puebla had to reinforce their rotation and they got someone with championship experience by trading for LHP José García (3.04 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 6.6 K% in 21 starts last year). In exchange they sent prospects C Miguel de León (20/50, yet to debut) and 1B Enrique Pérez (35/60, yet to debut) to Mérida.
The Eagles were the worst pitching team last year. In a bid to change that, they signed RHP Eulalio Garza, fresh out of university in Nuevo León: the 23 year-old is an average pitcher, with a great changeup the highlight of his repertoire. If he's not careful Garza will give up a lot of homers.
Rogelio Herrán has been the starting SS in San Luis for 2 years now, is probably the best defender in the league, and is still only 26. That didn't stop the Tunas from signing a backup in Zacatecas' Almado Almaraz. Almaraz is a very athletic player, which will lead to above average defense and baserunning. His bat is average, but that's not a bad thing as he would be a starter on a couple other teams in the league.
With that, the 1938 season is almost ready to begin! Next time we'll go over the experts' predictions for how the teams will do.