[ayaghmour2]

Team Transactions:

3/10: It's not a move that happened, but I got one of those fun trade proposals when the AI totally disregards talent when they have a big contract. The Lightning, with the 11th highest payroll and #1 budget offered me Jim McNiff (4.5*) for a reliever, Jonathan Hyde (3.5/4.5) in a deal that just doesn't make sense. And to top things off, my stupid Assistant GM doesn't think it's a good deal...

You're telling me I just have to give up an intriguing young reliever for arguably the 2nd best pitcher in the game? That's crazy!

Of course, my intention is not to just mindlessly take advantage of the occasionally imperfect AI, so I'll refrain from snatching a third ace to add to my collection.

3/28: Our outfield starts a man down, with Justin Arrington missing 5 weeks with a strained posterior cruciate[/LIST]ligament. Zack Lawrence, who I'm glad I held on to, will fill in during his absence.

4/1: LF Jorge Rancier was DFA'd. He'd be sent to Grand Rapids if he is not claimed.

League Transactions:

3/3: New York acquired SS Jim Torres from Baltimore for RHP Gene Parsons and SS Edgar Santellanes.

Torres, 27, is a former 4th Round Pick by the Mustangs. He's got a little taste of the big leagues, hitting .203/.277/.358 with 10 homers and 31 RBI's in parts of four seasons with Milwaukee and Baltimore. He doesn't really excited, but he's an average fielder and an average defender, making him a decent option to start.

Parsons, 32, has spent his big league career mostly with the Cajuns, before a year with New York last season. In 548.1 innings, the former 3rd Round pick out of Arizona State has a 5.93 ERA and 1.48 WHIP with 348 strikeouts. While those numbers don't look good, he was a starter most of his career before a much improved season in the pen with the Rebels where his ERA and WHIP were down to 4.24 and 1.35. He's just a long guy, nothing too special.

Santellanes, 20, is the real gem, and it makes this deal seem really stupid on the Rebels side. He's got by far the most potential, and even though he turned 20 on the 28th of February, he's already rated 1.5 overall with 3.5 potetnial. He mixes elite defense with great speed and plus power to profile as one of the most intriguing shortstop prospects in the game. He commanded a large $810 bonus in the 1901 IFA period, and seemed like a great investment until the Rebels seemingly dumped him with Parsons.

For some perspective, I clicked the ever dangerous "what makes this work" button on his trade screen and only two names show up, D.J. Ruhnke (4/4.5) and Jonathan Simmons (4/5).

All they had to give up was a 2.5*...

3/18: A pair of late relief signings today, starting with Buffalo adding RHP Jalen Ramsey on a 1-year, $2,140 contract. Ramsey is one of those talented pitchers that bounces around because he never really reaches his potential. Since 1899 (he debuted in 1895), he's been with New Orleans, Newark, Cleveland, New York, Philly, Boston, and now Buffalo. The former 19th Overall Pick out of Long Beach State, Ramsey owns a 4.69 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 370 strikeout sin 384 innings.

The second signing was former Charger, LHP Tyler Bienvenu. He joined the Pittsburgh Pilots on a 1-year, $1,900 deal. A 3rd Round Pick by Washington in 1890, Bienvenu owns a 3.87 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 580 strikeouts in 562.2 innings as well as 156 saves, mostly coming in his run with Boston that spanned 1894-1902.

3/22: Another relief signing as the New Orleans Cajuns inked Australian righty Martin Heathershaw to a 1-year, $2,060 deal. The 32-year-old has a 4.26 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, and 252 strikeouts in 323.1 innings with St. Louis, Boston, and Cleveland. His 1904 with Cleveland was solid, as he had a 3.65 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 49.1 innings.

3/25: Another member of the Chargers pen last year, RHP Ben Follmar, inked a 1-year, $2,220 contract with Brooklyn. A 3rd Round Pick out of Woodstock HS in 1893, Follmar had a rough year with us, pushing his career ERA and WHIP up to 5.39 and 1.47. I'm a little surprise he got a big league deal, but there is value in being an Iron Man, and now he gets to join the defending champs.

3/29: Another leftover reliever, RHP Peter Brown, inked a 1-year, $2,000 deal with Baltimore. The 12th Overall Pick by New Orleans in 1895, Brown is coming off a solid year with a 3.55 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 38 innings with Philly. In his career with the Cajuns and Freedom, he's 39-42 with a 4.67 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, and 468 strikeouts in 180 games (94 starts).

Final Opening Day Roster:

SP Ron Howard (4/4)
SP Nate McCue (3/3)
SP Kevin Miller (4.5/4.5)
SP Matt Puckett (3/3)
SP D.J. Ruhnke (4/4.5)
RP Jose Acuna (4/4)
RP Simon Ellingson (3.5/3.5)
RP Matt Macias (3/3)
RP Josh Fisher (3/3.5)
RP Yu-wei Li (4/4)
RP Juan Londono (4/4)
RP Pat Peters (3.5/4.5)
CL George Mars (5/5)
C Omar Atillio (2/2)
C Jeremy Bell (3/3)
1B Giobbe Capuana (3.5/3.5)
2B Jesus Camargo (3.5/3.5)
3B Ben Etienne (4/4)
3B Steve Hall (1.5/3.5)
SS Seth Bland (2.5/2.5)
SS Damian Salcido (5/5)
LF Jesse Chesley (2.5/2.5)
LF Zack Lawrence (3.5/3.5)
CF Adam Markley (5/5)
CF James Rose (2.5/3.5)
RF Jonathan Simmons (4/5)

Just Justin Arrington (4/4) sits on the DL, and he likely replaces Jesse Chesley when healthy.

For the season, I'm going to give montly updates that touch on team and league transactions as well as a summary on the month and how things are shaping out.