[Westheim]

February 22 – The Cyclones trade CF/LF Matt Little (.268, 65 HR, 310 RBI) to the Stars. The departure of the 27-year-old outfielder nets them two prospects.
March 2 – The Canadiens send OF/1B Rick Atkins (.287, 82 HR, 490 RBI) to the Rebs for LF/CF Jeff Hawkins (.295, 6 HR, 50 RBI) and the #10 prospect in the league, CL Alex Tabares.
March 15 – The Warriors find a way to spend $30.3M in March, signing ex-PIT SP Jesus Ordonez (42-47, 4.06 ERA) to a 5-year deal.
March 31 – Sacramento signs ex-Condors OF/2B/SS Mike Pinault (.223, 71 HR, 341 RBI) to a 2-year, $4.32M contract.
March 31 – The Scorpions also get MR Leo Garcia (4-2, 4.05 ERA, 2 SV) and a prospect from the Aces in exchange for 2B/SS Carlos Cervantez (.261, 20 HR, 151 RBI).
April 3 – The Titans ship C Jonathan Gutierrez (.280, 100 HR, 447 RBI) to the Miners, along with a prospect, for the service of SP Adam McDonald (53-64, 4.15 ERA).

+++

I was entirely busy trying to balance the budget in the last weeks. Nobody wanted to flick a backup infielder for one of our superfluous and useless right-handed relievers, so there was nothing else to do really. When you’re broke, you’re broke. And your rotation is gonna consist of five bodies and at least as many rolls of duct tape.

There was one thing that we did for the future, and that was signing a 4-year, $6.5M contract with Tony Gaytan that would take out his last two years of team control at $1M and $1.5M, and then two years of free agency for $2M. It looked like a low-risk gamble, since he was not likely to lose his fine control at 27, and in the meantime, enjoy the fireworks. Yes, it’s Crusaders and damn Elks and everybody and their mother hitting their homers, but your kid’s four, he doesn’t know the difference. Make a brave face.

And if **** does hit the catapult, then we’ll have the most expensive mop-up pitcher in the league. (shrugs!)

But the Coons have won the division ONCE in the last 14 years, and were within single digits of the winner only four other times… maybe stop looking for perfect, and go more for “that’ll do”. Also, mind the 5-year window with this lineup.

The longest stretch with only one playoff appearance for the Raccoons, by the way, was 20 seasons from 1997 to 2016. Only the 2010 Coons got there (and didn’t win a ring either). In that whole stretch, we also only had four other seasons where we were at least within single digits of first place (all clustered from 2007 to 2012, except 2008).

Apart from that we only signed up a random Cuban left-hander, David Delgado, who had four pitches but no stamina, and stuck the 23-year-old in Ham Lake, and you’ll never hear from him again.

Former Raccoons that found a new home in this time included Pedro Mendoza, signing with the Thunder for $570k; Juan Sanchez was taken in by the Stars for $600k; Lorenzo Marquez joined the Knights for $590k; Atlanta also added Angel Alba for $620k; Trent Brassfield got on the Blue Sox for $660k; Evan Alvey then also joined the Knights for two years and $1.65M; Dave Blackshire (age 42!) signed with the Stars for $600k; the Knights kept bringing them in, signing Rafael Valencia for $530k; Diego Mendoza landed with the Loggers for $620k;