[Westheim]

The Raccoons snuck around the Wolves’ John Katzman for a time in November, as the 25-year-old (who already had four years and some time of major league experience) because that kind of strong D up the middle and a high-volume singles bat was right up our wishlist for the #2 hole should we get Humphries, but the Wolves were less than inclined to trade him. Jimmy Wharton wouldn’t be enough, and also not a price I was willing to pay. Since the Wolves were broke as usual, there was hardly a way to shove a bigger contract their way to make up for the talent transfer. #2 prospect Nelson Aguilar would also tickle their fancy. The 18-year-old had been through a trying season in Aumsville and it was really hard to gauge right now whether he was worth the hype at all. In any case he was three years or more away from the majors. Trading him made no sense when we didn’t even know how many years we were potentially away from having a whiff at the division.

In the meantime I sounded the market for some players that may or may not be surplus to requirements or had strained my nerves enough (some both), and it didn’t look like we’d find suitors for J.P. Gallo, Jared Duhe, Jesse Dover, or Jose Corral any time soon.

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November 17 – The Crusaders acquire MR Dennis Marck (15-20, 4.26 ERA) and his freshly minted ring, plus #182 prospect CL Manny Romero, from the Cyclones for infielder Tony Gaines (.263, 26 HR, 259 RBI).
November 18 – The Stars trade OF Phil LeVan (.252, 25 HR, 190 RBI) to the Blue Sox for INF/RF Cruz Varela (.248, 0 HR, 11 RBI) and prospect.
November 25 – Former Rebels outfielder Willie Ospina (.273, 58 HR, 307 RBI) lands with the Crusaders for $15.2M over four years. The 26-year-old brings three Gold Gloves to New York.
November 27 – New York also lands ex-SFB/BOS SP Paul Egley (59-91, 4.31 ERA) with an offer of $31.84M over six years.
November 28 – In Vancouver they land 39-year-old ex-BOS SP Ricardo Montoya (213-107, 2.87 ERA) on a 2-yr, $11.6M contract.
November 29 – The Knights shift outfielder Ryan Bonner (.307, 0 HR, 63 RBI) to the Thunder for a prospect.
November 30 – The Scorpions sign ex-DAL 2B/3B/LF Alex Rodriguez (.260, 62 HR, 448 RBI) to a 3-yr, $7.56M contract.
November 30 – The Raccoons snatch 27-year-old Mexican free agent MR Edgar Gutierrez for $600k.
December 1 – The Raccoons make an even bigger pounce with the addition of longtime Boston division rival OF Steve Humphries (.277, 77 HR, 518 RBI). The 32-year-old signs a 5-year, $36M contract.
December 1 – The Warriors get former Miners catcher Nick Dingman (.283, 309 HR, 928 RBI). The 34-year-old signs for a surprisingly low $9.68M over two years.
December 1 – Rule 5 Draft: 13 players are taken from outside their old teams’ 40-man roster and at least temporarily added to another team’s major league roster. The Bayhawks alone make five selections. The Raccoons are not affected.
December 2 – Richmond adds ex-NYC SP Alex Dominguez (101-92, 3.70 ERA) on a 3-year deal worth $8.16M.
December 4 – Former Raccoons 1B Joel Starr (.274, 198 HR, 807 RBI) signs with Sioux Falls on a 2-yr, $12.2M contract. The Raccoons receive a second-round pick and a supplemental round pick as compensation.

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(excitedly waves a small brown Raccoons pennant that is inexplicably furry) Steve Humphriiiiiiies!!! (grins from ear to ear)

ALL WILL BE WELL NOW. (Cristiano Carmona draws breath) Cristiano, if you say a word now about our pitching, infield, catching, or general vibe, you’re gonna eat one of those rear wheels. (Cristiano reconsiders)

Edgar Gutierrez brings a good sinking fastball and a circle change. He also throws a bit of a curve, although my illusions to get a cheap starter were quite moderated. I’d be happy to fill out the pen and get a #2 hitter in between Humphries and Big Wharton. Talks were underway with more than one team in early December, and not just for scrubs, but impact players. My main issue was, however, that we couldn’t trade a starting pitcher, because the funds were not there to sign a new one after splurging on Humphries. Besides the Wolves’ John Katzman we were also scratching the Warriors for Andy Yocum. That was what the Raccoons needed now: a high-average, mobile, middle-infield bat that was gonna bat second, and then maybe scratch a good enough left-handed first baseman somewhere else. They’d usually go on the cheap after the holidays.

The sole issue with a lineup of Humphries – [any player named in the previous paragraph] – Wharton was that they were all right-handed hitters. Something to break up the monotony, perhaps?

Also, while trying to trade the offense out of the cellar, we may want to keep the pen at least superficially intact. Of the five reliables in there, we can’t trade more than one. And I already have my eye on which one’s Coons career is gonna be Dover.

Three days, by the way, were the difference between us getting the Warriors’ #22 pick, which went to Pittsburgh for Nick Ding(er)man, and instead we got a second-rounder, probably around #70, for Joel Starr. (sigh!)

Other old Brownshirts with new employment: Ramon Archuleta got $1.56M from the #1 pick holding Buffaloes; the Titans signed John Nesbitt for $1.16M over two years; Nick Robinson got $1.98M from the Crusaders;