The Diamond Baseball League offseason is underway, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at the transaction wire. So far, the league-wide trade market has been eerily quiet, outisde of the 19,000 deals that the Pittsburgh Pirates have made—fewer deals, fewer rumors, and a distinct lack of movement among the usual churn of contenders and retooling squads. Behind the silence is a simple but uncomfortable truth: the salary structure in the DBL...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Just 23 days after hitting the grand slam that sent the Washington Senators to the League Championship Series, Mike Stanley is gone. The Senators officially dealt the 31-year-old catcher to the Boston Red Sox, along with the 1995 second-round pick acquired from St. Louis, in exchange for the 1995 fourth-round pick originally belonging to Orlando. It’s a trade that says what the Senators have been trying to say—quietly,...
A series by your favorite esteemed writer Graham Wexler looking at one potential off-season trade per team. CLEVELAND SPIDERS ACQUIRE CHRIS NABHOLZ AND BRIAN L. HUNTER FROM THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES FOR BERNARD GILKEY AND STERLING HITCHCOCKThe Cleveland Spiders’ starting rotation has no shortage of name recognition. From veterans like Bret Saberhagen and Masaki Saito to knuckleballer Tim Wakefield and comeback story Ron Robinson, Cleveland’s...
A series by your favorite esteemed writer Graham Wexler looking at one potential off-season trade per team. WASHINGTON SENATORS ACQUIRE RP TROY PERCIVAL FROM THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS FOR THE 1996 1ST ROUND PICK VIA TORONTOThe Washington Senators have been very clear about their interest in the elite reliever market all offseason, and with good reason. As they scour the market, who qualifies as an elite reliever? They want someone cost controlled...
A series by your favorite esteemed writer Graham Wexler looking at one potential off-season trade per team. PROPOSED TRADE: TORONTO BLUE JAYS TRADE 1B WILL CLARK TO THE SAN DIEGO PADRES FOR 2B ROBBY THOMPSON, 1B TROY NEEL, AND C MARK BAILEY The Toronto Blue Jays are an interesting team. Strapped for cash and flying very close to the sun with its payroll, barely missed the playoffs. They face a critical offseason of decisions, mainly whether to...
A series by your favorite esteemed writer Graham Wexler looking at one potential off-season trade per team. Colorado Rockies Acquire CL Scott Radinsky from Los Angeles Dodgers for a 1995 2nd-Round Pick The Rockies don’t need to overhaul their bullpen — but they do need to finish games with a little more certainty. Despite a playoff-caliber roster, Colorado’s middle relief has been shaky, and too many late leads have...
A series by your favorite esteemed writer Graham Wexler looking at one potential off-season trade per team. Montreal Expos Acquire RP Pedro Martinez and a 1997 4th round pick from San Francisco Giantsfor a 1995 3rd round pick The Montreal Expos don’t need a splash. They just need stability. Fresh off finishing with the second-best record in the league, the Expos are entering 1996 with a loaded roster. Their early exit from the playoffs was...
A series by your favorite esteemed writer Graham Wexler looking at one potential off-season trade per team. SEATTLE PILOTS ACQUIRE 1B KENT HRBEK FROM BALTIMORE ORIOLES FOR LF BUTCH HUSKEY Sometimes, it’s about knowing when to go all-in on experience—and when to cut bait on upside. The Seattle Pilots, fresh off a 1995 campaign in which they missed the playoffs, make a calculated move by acquiring veteran slugger Kent Hrbek from the...
The Doubleday Baseball League has officially released the draft order for the upcoming 1995-96 Amateur Draft, and while the order of selections may look straightforward at first glance, a flurry of recent trades has reshaped the landscape of Day 1. Here’s the finalized first-round draft order: PickOriginal SlotCurrent Owner1Chicago White SoxChicago White Sox2Baltimore OriolesCincinnati Reds3Boston Red SoxWashington Senators4Detroit...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Riding high off their triumphant United League Championship, the Washington Senators scored another major victory this weekend: securing the future of baseball in the nation's capital with a $250 million renovation agreement to convert Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium into a baseball-only facility. The sweeping deal, finalized late Saturday night, was brokered by Senators team president Alex Cumana and Mayor Marion Barry...