[ayaghmour2]

January 2nd, 1903: The New Year started with two big free agent starting pitching signings. The Philadelphia Freedom added David Plater to a 5-year, $2,420 per year deal while the Brooklyn Bearcats signed Tim Allday to a 6-year, $3,400 per year deal, with the final season a player option.

January 7th, 1903: The UBL Hall of Fame results were published, with two players entering the hall. First was SP Yannick Bellarmine (1st, 91.2%) who went in as a Cleveland Cyclone and CF Jordan Prince (7th, 84.8%) who went in as a Chicago Lake Monster (currently the Cardinals). A few other guys surpassed the 60% threshold: SP Jonathan Brogden (3rd, 64.7%), LF Isaiah Abraham (5th, 63.5%), and RF Penn Myers (1st, 61.4%).

January 8th, 1903: We claimed RF Jason Love off waivers from Baltimore and then sent him to Class C Bay City.

January 12th, 1903: The Cleveland Cyclones signed CF Israel Cruz to a 4-year, $3,020 per year deal with the final season a 550 plate appearence vesting option.

January 15th, 1903: I hit the trade market to upgrade at second base, sending previous starter Carlos Ruiz and SP Chandler Nelson to the Cinncinati Red Hawks for 2B Jesus Camargo.

Camargo, 27, is older then Ruiz, but is a better player who doesn't have injury problems. He nearly never walks, but he;s hit over .315 in each of his full seasons in the UBL with OPS+ of at least 120. He's just slightly worse defensively, but definitely makes up for it with the bat.

January 16th, 1903: A day after the big trade, the Red Hawks extended CL Paul Monroe with a 3-year, $8,000 deal. The former 7th Overall Pick has spent his whole professional career with Cincy.

As we approach the preseason, it looks like the team is basically ready to start the new season. Time to win games in Detroit!