Orcin Returns

[Orcin]

Off-Season Center

This is the segment of the off-season when the first few big-name free agents sign. I did not participate in this session; instead, I waited (patiently) for the Winter Meetings.

12/02/2014: The Cleveland Rockers signed the best catcher in the free agent pool, ex-Charleston star Nathaniel Robertson (28/R/3*), to a 6-year contract worth $106M. He is a good defensive catcher with above-average power, but the Rockers paid too much.

12/02/2014: CL David Hanna (35/R/5*) signed with Denver (3 years, $39M). Louisville fan interest dropped to 88. Please be patient, people. Our time will come soon. We are waiting for the after-Christmas sale. Yes, the popular colors and sizes will be picked over, but we will have clothes.

12/02/2014: Atlanta signed SS Ken Allen (32/R/3.5*) to a 4-year contract worth $40M. The former Nashville infielder’s career stat line is .295/.375/.459 with 221 stolen bases. He is an exceptional defender too.

12/06/2014: RF Mauro Jaramillo (29/L/4.5*) signed with Cincinnati for 7 years at $119M. He is a great contact hitter for the top of the order, but I think he is too expensive.

12/08/2014: Denver signed former Charleston star Richard Burnett (30/L/4*) to play center field for the next 4 years at a cost of $52M. Burnett hit .300 with 45 HR per year in 2011-12. Over the past two years, he has been injured a lot and averaged .245 with 12 HR per season. Which Burnett did they buy? It’s a bargain for the 2011-12 models.

12/11/2014: Nashville signed former San Diego INF Gerald Davis (29/L/4.5*) to a 4-year deal worth $73M. Davis will replace Ken Allen, who signed with Atlanta last week, at 2B. Considering the age and quality of the players, Nashville probably made the right move.

The prominent free agents remaining as we head into the Winter Meetings are:
• SP Carlos Torres, ex-SF, 28/R/4*, career 86-86 w/ 3.68 ERA
• CL Lucas Sanders, ex-WAS, 38/R/5*, 11x AS, career 2.26 ERA w/ 574 SV
• SS Paul Greene, ex-SAC, 27/L/4*, 2x AS, career .291/.347/.453
• LF Jake Butler, ex-ATL, 30/R/4*, 1x GG, career .279/.368/.413
• RF Anthony Gettingby, ex-SD, 32/L/3.5*, 2x AS, 1x OP, career .278/.333/.500
• SP Robert Westaway, ex-WAS, 38/L/3.5*, 10x AS, 2x OP, career 277-123 w/ 2.83 ERA
• SP Bill Robertson, ex-LOU, 37/R/4*, 6x AS, 1x OP, career 235-150 w/ 2.92 ERA
• 1B Denny Kramer, ex-CLE, 32/L/3*, 2x AS, 3x GG, career .289/.352/.502
• 1B Marcus Reynolds, ex-ORL, 31/L/3.5*, 1x AS, career .267/.338/581
• 1B Millard Whitaker, ex-STL, 31/L/3*, 2x AS, career 269/.356/.507

There are at least eight quality setup/closers still available and prices might be starting to fall.

[MarkCuban]

Originally Posted by Orcin

Off-Season Center
• 1B Denny Kramer, ex-CLE, 32/L/3*, 2x AS, 3x GG, career .289/.352/.502
• 1B Marcus Reynolds, ex-ORL, 31/L/3.5*, 1x AS, career .267/.338/581
• 1B Millard Whitaker, ex-STL, 31/L/3*, 2x AS, career 269/.356/.507

Looks like you'll get that 1B after all -- three 'prominent' left-handers still on the board. I'd wager the last one will sign for less than 8 Million.

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by MarkCuban

Looks like you'll get that 1B after all -- three 'prominent' left-handers still on the board. I'd wager the last one will sign for less than 8 Million.

You are probably right, but the compensation pick is also weighing on my mind. I would have to give up the 14th overall pick in the draft if I sign any of them.

[Orcin]

December 14, 2014

Subject: Winter Meetings Begin

The Continental Baseball Association winter meetings are a godsend to a gabby baseball media hungry for rumors, intrigue and talk of a brighter day. Free agents will meet with prospective clubs. The fraternity of managers will gather in little clusters, assessing the past season, while GMs sit in their own little covens concocting intricate potions in the hope that they will be able to pull off a magical trade before the meetings close in three days.

I am working on some potential trades for a first baseman, mainly because I don’t want to forfeit a first-round pick on a compensation eligible free agent. I probably can’t afford one of those three top names (Kramer, Reynolds, and Whitaker) anyway if I complete my entire shopping list.

My rankings for free agent short relievers in which I have interest are:
1. Carlos Pereira (31/R/4.5*) CLT 2014 = 83 IP, 1.95 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 7.3 K/9, 11 SV
2. Eric Cox (28/R/4*) CLT 2014 = 76 IP, 3.55 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 8.4 K/9, 28 SV
3. Joaquin Garcia (28/L/4.5*) CHS 2014 = 79 IP, 3.42 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 8.3 K/9, 41 SV
4. Anastasio Alomar (35/R/4*) DET 2014 = 80 IP, 3.47 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 6.3 K/9, 5 SV
5. Anibal Rocha (31/R/4.5*) ORL 2014 = 87 IP, 3.00 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 8.0 K/9, 0 SV

Compare those relievers to my projected closer, currently under contract at $3.2M:
Jorge Merced (29/R/4.5*) LOU 2014 = 85 IP, 3.18 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 9.9 K/9, 3 SV

Merced can be better than any of these guys if he can adapt to the closer role. I don’t see a reason to pay one of these potential closers more than Merced’s salary, but the free agency process will almost certainly lead to that.

I really need a dependable setup man that could slide into the closer role if Merced falters, but it will be hard to find someone that won’t be unhappy about not being the closer.

Perhaps a trade for a solid and affordable closer might be a better route, leaving Merced in the setup role where he is happy and productive. I intend to pursue the names above first, but I won’t go outside of my own parameters to land one.

[Orcin]

December 2014: Winter Meetings Transactions

12/14/2014: Washington signed ex-Baltimore C Dave Stewart (30/L/2.5*) to a 3-year deal worth $23 million. Stewart is a good overall offensive and defensive catcher. I think this is a much better value than Nathaniel Robertson’s contract with Cleveland.

12/14/2014: Louisville acquired 1B/3B Frank Carson (26/L/2*) from Phoenix for two AAA outfielders. Carson hit .273/.329/.451 with 24 HR and 87 RBI last year in his first full major league season. He could be the solution to the first base position or at least a good left-handed bat off the bench. Carson will be arbitration eligible next season.

12/15/2014: Louisville and San Francisco completed a trade sending C Gary Arkle (23/L/2*) to the Colonels in return for SP Maximo Rodriguez (27/R/1.5*). Arkle was the starting catcher for the Seals in 2012-13 before Manuel Ortiz was signed as a free agent. Arkle has a career .293/.339/.428 slash line and he is good defensively with a strong arm. He is expected to platoon with veteran Duncan Bland in Louisville. Arkle received a 1-year, $2.6M contract via arbitration for this season.

12/18/2014: Milwaukee picked up SP Jerry Huff (27/R/3.5*) on a 5-year contract worth $85M. Huff has a career 62-58 record with a 3.92 ERA.

There were several other minor trades but nothing that will change the fortunes of a franchise. Mostly, they were roster-balancing deals.

I received several trade proposals for LF Hector Martinez during the meetings. None of the proposals met my needs and budget, but it is good to know that Martinez has trade value. He doesn’t fit into my plans.

My offer to Joaquin Garcia of 2 years, $7M was easily topped by San Diego according to Garcia’s agent. I am reluctant to spend a large portion of my available funds on one player when I have multiple needs to fill.

[Orcin]

Off-Season Center

12/23/2014: The Philadelphia Firebirds signed former Louisville 1B Rick Thomas (29/R/2*) to a 2-year contract worth $7.4M. That’s more reasonable than his $5.5M arbitration estimate, but I still would not have paid that much for him.

12/12/2014: New York signed former Sacramento SS Paul Greene (27/L/3.5*) to a 5-year contract worth $88M. The Monarchs are trying to recover from a 65-97 season.

12/25/2014: Detroit signed Anibal Rocha to be their closer for 1 year at $3.8M. He was #5 on my short reliever wish list, but the other four are still available.

12/26/2014: SP Bill Robertson (37/R/4*) signed a 2-year deal worth $32M with Phoenix. There is no way I could have matched that, but fans were shocked that we did not keep Robertson on the team and fan interest almost crashed (down to 84 now).

12/30/2014: Milwaukee signed former Nashville Gold Glove 2B Ron Reynolds (30/R/3*) to a 2-year deal worth $17M. I was looking at him for a second base upgrade, but I was not willing to go that high.

12/31/2014: New York signed top starting pitcher Carlos Torres (28/R/4*) to a 5-year deal worth $91M. Torres was 15-8 with a 2.86 ERA last year for San Francisco.

01/01/2015: SP Robert “Workhorse” Westaway announced his retirement today at age 38. Several teams (including Louisville) had contacted him about pitching this year, but recovery from a torn rotator cuff suffered last summer was not going well. Westaway has a career 277-123 record with a 2.83 ERA and 2,541 strikeouts. Westaway won the Outstanding Pitcher Award twice (2005 & 2011) and he made the all-star team 10 times. His 277 wins are third all-time. His post-season record is 29-15 with a 2.84 ERA.

01/01/2015: Patrick Timm also announced his retirement from baseball at age 37. Timm played 12 seasons (2002-2013) in the CBA with a career stat line of .278/.357/.588 and 369 lifetime home runs. He was named the Patriot League Outstanding Player for three consecutive years from 2005 to 2007, and was a 5-time all-star.

I leave you with this look at a future Hall of Famer’s plaque. He will wear a Colonels hat.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Orcin

01/01/2015: SP Robert “Workhorse” Westaway announced his retirement today at age 38.

I ca- ... I can't talk right now.

[Jabez54]

One of the Elite Ones ... will be missed !!

[Orcin]

Off-Season Center

01/04/2015: Reliever Ken Cushley signed with New York for 1 year at $1.7M. I am surprised at that one. His demand was much higher a month ago.

01/07/2015: Orlando signed the first of the big three first basemen, Millard Whitaker (31/L/3*), to a 5-year contract worth $68.5M. That sets the bar pretty high for Marcus Reynolds, who led the Patriot League in HR & RBI while playing in Orlando last year.

01/09/2015: Indianapolis signed LF Jake Butler (30/R/4*) for 4 years at $46M. Butler is a good contact hitter that draws a lot of walks and plays great defense. He also misses a lot of time with injuries.

01/13/2015: Closer Joaquin Garcia signed a 2-year contract worth $7.7M to pitch for the Atlanta Flames. I had offered 2 years at $7M. I guess it is good to know that I was close.

It is time to get serious about a closer. Lucas Sanders will take $8.5M. That’s really too much for me. Carlos Pereira wants $8M, which is pretty high for 21 career saves. Cox and Watson want $4-5M and they are not as good as Merced. Anastasio Alomar is 35 years old, wants $3.5M, and his stuff is suspect.

It is hard to trade for a proven closer, but I might have to sacrifice some depth in other areas to plug a gaping hole.

[Jabez54]

Maybe ... Reliever Ken Cushley got a Brady-Attitude ... trying to create a win-win situation for the team ...

[Orcin]

January 17, 2015 (BNN)

Subject: Colonels, Bombers Make Trade

The Louisville Colonels have finalized a deal to acquire 31-year-old closer Bruce “Fat Cat” Brooks from Boston in return for 23-year-old first baseman Ramiro De La Parra and 27-year-old right fielder Héctor Martínez. Minor details still need to be worked out before the trade becomes official, but the players involved are expected to be with their new clubs soon.

So far in his career Brooks has saved 233 games. His lifetime record is 55-41 with 771 strikeouts and 209 walks in 685.2 innings and his ERA stands at 2.52.

GM Otto Orcin said, “Brooks is a team leader and will bring stability to the entire bullpen. This will allow us to leave setup man Jorge Merced in his preferred role and have the last two innings locked down.”

Brooks is no stranger to Louisville fans. He was originally drafted by the Colonels (2004 Supplemental Round 1, 69th overall) and played for the team from 2004-11. Brooks is the all-time leader in appearances for Louisville and fourth in career saves for the team.

Brooks will make $6.3 million this season and then becomes a free agent unless the Colonels can sign him to an extension. Orcin had no comment when asked about the possibility of entering into contract talks with his new closer.

Louisville also announced the signing of veteran free agent catcher Chuck Haines to a 1-year deal for $1.2M. Haines is an excellent defensive catcher who won Gold Gloves in 2009 and 2013.

[MarkCuban]

Originally Posted by Orcin

Louisville also announced the signing of veteran free agent catcher Chuck Haines to a 1-year deal for $1.2M. Haines is an excellent defensive catcher who won Gold Gloves in 2009 and 2013.

Originally Posted by Orcin

Louisville and San Francisco completed a trade sending C Gary Arkle (23/L/2*) to the Colonels in return for SP Maximo Rodriguez (27/R/1.5*).

Is Duncan Bland on the way out?

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by MarkCuban

Is Duncan Bland on the way out?

Good news for Duncan Bland fans. He has $38 million left on his contract and 10/5 rights. So he's not going anywhere.

[MarkCuban]

Originally Posted by Orcin

Off-Season Center

01/01/2015: SP Robert “Workhorse” Westaway announced his retirement today at age 38. Several teams (including Louisville) had contacted him about pitching this year, but recovery from a torn rotator cuff suffered last summer was not going well. Westaway has a career 277-123 record with a 2.83 ERA and 2,541 strikeouts. Westaway won the Outstanding Pitcher Award twice (2005 & 2011) and he made the all-star team 10 times. His 277 wins are third all-time. His post-season record is 29-15 with a 2.84 ERA.

Is Robert Westaway being offered a coaching position a-la Silas Cambell? How is ol' Silas holding up as a coach?

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by MarkCuban

Is Robert Westaway being offered a coaching position a-la Silas Cambell? How is ol' Silas holding up as a coach?

Silas Campbell is still the hitting coach at our Class A affiliate in Evansville. As for Robert Westaway, we don't know if he is interested in coaching. The pitching coach at Lexington is on a one-year contract, so I think we will find out next October.

[Orcin]

Off-Season Center

01/21/2015: St. Louis signed SS Vicente Ramirez (28/L/2.5*) to a 4-year contract worth $28M. Ramirez hit .347 in 2014 but missed 2 months with various injuries and failed to qualify for the batting title. He is a slick fielder with a low strikeout rate.

01/28/2015: Dallas signed reliever Anastasio Alomar to a 2-year deal worth $6M. He is slated to be the closer for the Rattlers.

01/31/2015: San Francisco added SP Kenny Lewis (36/R/2.5) to their rotation, giving him a 2-year contract (vesting option for year two) at $17M.

02/01/2015: Louisville signed veteran 1B Mike Guy (32/L/1.5*) for 1 year at $1.2M to backup new 1B Frank Carson and provide left-handed pinch-hitting. Guy hit 25 home runs in each of the past two seasons for Nashville. He brings great leadership and a very high work ethic which should help in the clubhouse.

02/02/2015: Louisville added a veteran starting pitcher to their staff today. SP Mike Anderson (31/R/1.5*) will receive $1M and he is expected to compete for a job in the starting rotation this spring. Anderson was 9-14 with a 4.72 ERA with San Francisco last season. He can still bring that fastball at 99-101 mph and has a pretty good cutter. He relies on a forkball as a change of pace and out pitch.

02/02/2105: Louisville signed swingman Salvador Castaneda (29/R/2.5*) at $1.2M for 1 year. Castaneda was 10-7 with a 4.42 ERA for Denver last season, starting 17 games and relieving 19 times. He keeps the ball down and in the park. He is best with a good infield behind him, and he will enjoy that luxury with the Colonels.

02/05/2015: Baltimore signed reliever Eric Cox for 2 years at $4.6M. His price came down once it became apparent that he was not the high-demand closer his agent said.

02/05/2105: Seattle signed former Louisville SP Vicente Lopez (31/R/2.5*) to a 4-year contract worth $37.6M. Lopez was 14-9 with a 3.68 ERA for Atlanta last season. I was tempted to chase him, but Trauttmann is half the price and three years younger.

Let’s take another look at the priority list before heading into the pre-season activity.

done 1. Starting First Baseman (Carson plus Guy as insurance)
done 2. Closer/Setup Reliever (Brooks)
done 3. Starting Pitcher (Anderson)
done 4. Future Catcher (Arkle)
5. Second Base upgrade (working on it)
6. Reserve Outfielder that bats R (getting to it)

[Orcin]

February 5, 2015 (BNN)

Subject: CBA Pre-Season Begins

With the start of the Continental Baseball Association preseason today, the baseball drought has ended and clubs are making their way to training facilities across the country. There is much to do and little time before the regular season commences.

Teams have to work through spring training, while general managers have roster moves to consider, young players to assess and decisions to make about lineups and the rotation. The baseball juggernaut is starting to roll forward! The Continental Baseball Association is primed and ready to go!

The preseason is all about making tough choices and that process begins today. Some of those tough choices will be in the free agent market, where time is growing short for players and teams alike to find a chair before the music stops. Who will blink first in this high-stakes game of chicken?

So far, the off-season winners and losers in terms of WAR gained/lost are:

1. New York +7.4
2. Louisville +6.8
3. Chicago +5.8
4. Dallas +3.8

27. Baltimore -8.8
28. San Francisco -10.1
29. Seattle -10.2
30. Sacramento -10.4

[Orcin]

Pre-Season Center

02/09/2015: Detroit and Atlanta traded overpaid veterans, with 1B Alejandro Fernandez (38/L/2*) going to Detroit and CF Julio Sarlinas (30/L/2.5*) heading to Atlanta. Detroit cleared $21M in salary for next season in the deal.

02/09/2015: Louisville agreed to terms on a contract extension for CL Bruce Brooks. The deal pays $20M over 3 years, with the third year structured as a $7M team option with a $700K buyout.

02/09/2015: Louisville announced that free agent SS/2B Jason Searles (29/R/1.5*) has signed a 1-year contract at $1.2M. Searles will compete for the second base job in spring training and could also make the team as the utility infielder. Searles has won a Gold Glove at shortstop and has a .274 lifetime batting average.

02/13/2015: Louisville signed LF Ray Banks (29/R/2*) to a 1-year contract worth $1.2M. Banks plays all three outfield positions well and has blazing speed on the bases. He has a .262 lifetime average and has been a platoon player for Dallas and Nashville recently.

02/14/2015: Cleveland signed CL Jason Watson to a 3-year deal worth $13M. He will be the setup man for CL Pepe Saldana.

02/14/2015: Dallas signed Carlos Pereira to be their closer for 1 year at $8M.

02/14/2015: San Francisco signed 1B Denny Kramer (32/L/3*) to a 2-year contract worth $14.4M. Kramer is a solid hitter with power and fields his position well. (I would have been interested in him, but I refused to forfeit a first-round draft pick.) The Seals already have star 1B John Wright, so it will be interesting to see where this goes next.

02/15/2015: Cleveland signed CL Lucas Sanders to a 2-year contract worth $17.6M. Now, Pepe Saldana will be the setup man and Jason Watson will handle the seventh inning. That is a very strong bullpen, and they have a nice lefty in Steve Rumbold too.

02/25/2015: Louisville claimed left-handed reliever Shusaku Kouki (23/L/1.5*/4*POT) off waivers from St. Louis. Kouki (pronounced KO-key) missed the entire 2014 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. He will compete for a bullpen spot this spring.

02/28/2015: Detroit signed veteran LF Bang Ying (32/R/3.5*) to a 4-year deal worth $24M. Ying is an injury-prone singles hitter playing a power position.

03/05/2015: Los Angeles was rewarded for their patience by signing LF Anthony Gettingby (32/L/3.5*) to a 1-year contract at $4M (below market price IMO).

Free agent 1B Marcus Reynolds is still available, but I refuse to sacrifice a first-round pick to sign him. I am going with Carson and Guy at first base.

[Orcin]

March 7, 2015 (cbatraderumors.com)

Subject: Spring Training Preview – Louisville Colonels (2014: 82-80, 3rd)

GM Otto Orcin is back. He has been busy all winter, but has he restored the Colonels to their former status as perennial World Series participants? The BNN tally of offseason changes shows Louisville to be the CBA’s most improved team. That still might not be enough. The team must get improved performance from their starting rotation to catch the rest of the challenging Midwest Division, much less the Federal League.

Key Acquisitions: LF Bryan McConnell, 1B Frank Carson, CL Bruce Brooks
Important Losses: LF Eduardo Sanchez, SP Bill Robertson, CL David Hanna

Rotation: This Louisville rotation does not come close to the quality of a decade ago. Ordonez is an excellent pitcher but he has yet to make fans forget Robert Westaway. Trauttmann has a long way to go to catch Ray Alexander, much less Antonio Luna. Rodriguez and Anderson are fighting to stay in the majors in the three and four spots. Will Spencer was 18-6 two years ago, but he had a poor year in 2014 and will battle for the fifth spot with several younger pitchers.

• Edgardo Ordonez (29/L) draft 2003 R#1 by WAS, acq 2006 via trade from WAS; 2014 LOU 18-11, 3.97 ERA
• Wallace Trauttmann (29/R) draft 2004 R#1 by PIT, acq 2008 via trade from PIT; 2014 LOU 12-13, 4.32 ERA
• Juan Rodriguez (29/L) draft 2003 R#1 by MIL, signed via free agency 2014; 2014 LOU 8-10, 4.01 ERA
• Mike Anderson (31/R) draft 2001 R#13 by STL, signed via free agency 2015; 2014 SF 9-14, 4.72 ERA
• Will Spencer (29/R) draft 2004 R#4 by LOU; 2014 LOU 9-9, 5.18 ERA
• Jerome Clark (27/R) draft 2009 R#8 by DAL, acq 2010 via trade from DAL; 2014 AAA 6-1, 3.19 ERA (missed 4 months with torn tricep)
• Marcos Maestas (24/R) draft 2008 R#1 by LOU; 2014 LOU 3-8, 3.63 ERA
• Juan Jose Rodgers (26/R) draft 2006 R#1 by LOU; 2014 AAA 14-6, 3.35 ERA

Bullpen: Bruce “Fat Cat” Brooks returns via trade as the closer. Jorge Merced is still the setup man. Salvador Castaneda was signed to get from the starter to this tandem. The rest of the bullpen is young and relatively unknown.

• Bruce Brooks (31/R) draft 2004 R#1 by LOU, acq 2015 via trade from BOS; 2014 BOS 9-8, 3.01 ERA, 38 SV
• Jorge Merced (29/R) draft 2003 R#3 by LOU; 2014 LOU 6-4, 3.18 ERA, 3 SV
• Salvador Castaneda (29/R) draft 2003 R#1 by SAC, signed via free agency 2015; 2014 DEN 10-7, 4.42 ERA, 2 SV
• Bruce Irvine (24/L) disc 2007 in Canada by CHI, claimed off waivers 2015 by LOU from CHI; 2014 CHI 6-4, 5.71 ERA
• Garry Latham (24/R) draft 2008 R#22 by LOU; 2014 LOU 2-2, 4.63 ERA
• Daniel Carlson (21/R) draft 2011 R#1 by SAC, acq 2015 via trade from SAC; 2014 AAA 1-7, 3.86 ERA, 10 SV
• Sylvester Sanderson (24/L) draft 2008 R#13 by LOU; 2014 AAA 9-7, 2.81 ERA, 23 SV
• Shusaku Kouki (23/L) disc 2009 in Japan by DET, claimed off waivers 2015 by LOU from STL; missed entire 2014 season (Tommy John surgery)

Catcher: Duncan Bland split time between catcher and first base last season to take some stress off his 35-year-old body. The Colonels obtained young catcher Gary Arkle from San Francisco to assume some of the load. Arkle hit .290 as the starter for the Seals in 2012-13. The Colonels also signed veteran Chuck Haines for insurance and still have another skilled veteran in Juan Alejandrez.

• Duncan Bland (35/R) draft 1998 R#1 by NY, acq 2001 via trade from NY; 2014 LOU .224/.280/.344
• Gary Arkle (24/L) draft 2008 R#3 by SF, acq 2015 via trade from SF; 2014 SF .262/.326/.444
• Chuck Haines (30/L) draft 2002 R#6 by SF, signed via free agency 2015; 2014 BOS .244/.300/.384
• Juan Alejandrez (35/L) disc 1997 in DR by ATL, signed via free agency 2014; 2014 AAA .286/.344/.552

Infield: Frank Carson was obtained from Phoenix to take over the first base job. Free agent Jason Searles, a former all-star (2012) at shortstop, will compete with incumbent Lance Morrison at second base. The left side of the infield is all-star quality with Gold Glove shortstop Luis Vargas and slugging third baseman Phil Gillespie.

• 1B Frank Carson (26/L) draft 2011 R#3 by PHX, acq 2015 via trade from PHX; 2014 PHX .273/.329/.451
• 1B Mike Guy (32/L) draft 2004 R#2 by BAL, signed via free agency 2015; 2014 NSH .248/.311/.458
• 2B Lance Morrison (27/R) draft 2009 R#2 by MIL, acq 2013 via trade from MIL; 2014 LOU .243/.319/.351
• 2B/SS Jason Searles (29/R) draft 2007 R#1 by STL, signed via free agency 2015; 2014 STL .240/.284/.317
• 2B Pedro Soto (25/R) draft 2007 R#4 by STL, acq 2009 via trade from STL; 2014 AAA .251/.359/.297
• 2B Randy Hoddinott (26/R) draft 2009 R#10 by LOU; 2014 AAA .208/.264/.268
• 3B Phil Gillespie (25/L) draft 2011 R#1 by LOU; 2014 LOU .284/.312/.498, 28 HR, 100 RBI
• 3B Jason Sykes (24/R) draft 2008 R#1 by ATL, acq via trade 2009 from ATL (for Ron Hartman); 2014 AAA .269/.347/.410
• 3B Felipe Ortiz (24/R) disc 2009 in Cuba by BAL, acq 2010 via trade from BAL (for Pedro Dominguez); 2014 AAA .250/.320/.301
• SS Luis Vargas (24/L) draft 2010 R#1 by LOU; 2014 LOU .333/.391/.404
• SS Richard Griffith (28/R) draft 2009 R#3 by LOU; 2014 AAA .290/.357/.381

Outfield: All-star Eduardo Sanchez was traded but this is still a strong group. LF Bryan McConnell was obtained from Sacramento to anchor the lineup from the right side of the plate. Veteran Rafael Valdez returns in center field and will try to stay healthy this time. Potential young star Brian Ferguson will move to right field. Fernando Chavez and free agent Ray Banks will compete with several young players for the backup roles.

• LF Bryan McConnell (26/R) draft 2010 R#1 by SAC, acq 2015 via trade from SAC; 2014 SAC .297/.351/.465, 18 HR, 88 RBI
• LF Ray Banks (29/R) draft 2004 R#1 by MIL, signed via free agency 2015; 2014 NSH .233/.291/.378
• LF Craig Dixon (28/R) draft 2010 R#3 by LOU; 2014 AAA .227/.325/.352
• CF Rafael Valdez (28/S) draft 2004 R#1 by PVD, acq via trade 2006 from PVD; 2014 LOU .253/.346/.439
• CF Joe Young (24/L) draft 2010 R#4 by LOU; 2014 LOU .237/.318/.437
• CF William Price (26/L) draft 2008 R#4 by LOU; 2014 LOU .347/.390/.547, 95 AB
• RF Brian Ferguson (25/L) draft 2011 R#4 by LOU; 2014 LOU .267/.349/432
• RF Fernando Chavez (24/L) draft 2011 R#3 by LOU; 2014 AAA .303/.380/.557
• RF Barry Fontenot (26/L) draft 2010 R#6 by LOU; 2014 AAA .254/.373/.468

Top-Rated Players: SS Luis Vargas, 3B Phil Gillespie
Top-Rated Pitchers: SP Edgardo Ordonez
Projected 2015 Finish: 88-74, 1st in the Midwest Division

Editor’s Note: Since it was my first year back in the saddle, I gave a thumbnail bio for every player on the 40-man roster, some of whom will not survive spring training. I will hit the minor league highlights later. My last season here was 2008, in case you want to look at which draft picks and trades were mine vs. the AI.

[Westheim]

I hope Randy Hoddinott makes the team. Sounds loveable.