Welcome back to The Wexler Wire, where I tackle your smartest, strangest, and most suspiciously specific offseason questions. The inbox has been overflowing, and while I can't answer them all, here's a fresh batch worth dissecting. Q: Are the Cubs going to extend Luis Gonzalez or Gerónimo Peña?(Asked by Marty DeBenedetti from Wrigleyville, who claims to have named his dog “Gonzo.”) Rumor on the street, somewhat surprisingly, is no. The...
Bill Swift has left the building—and by the sound of it, the Cardinals couldn’t pack his bags fast enough. The 34-year-old right-hander was dealt to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for Toronto’s 1997 4th round pick, a return that’s about as uninspired as it gets for a pitcher who once looked like an ace. Let’s backtrack. Swift arrived in St. Louis midway through the 1991 season and immediately looked like a steal, going 9-1 with...
The Carlos Delgado saga is officially over. The Toronto Blue Jays have traded their 23-year-old franchise cornerstone to the Texas Rangers in exchange for two future first-round picks and a pair of prospects. The trade:To Texas Rangers: 1B Carlos Delgado (ML)To Toronto Blue Jays: 1996 TEX 1st round pick, 1998 TEX 1st round pick, SP Alberto Reyes (AAA), CF Rich Becker (AAA) From the Rangers' side, the logic is easy to follow. After years of...
There’s a saying among gardeners: if you don’t water the roots, don’t be surprised when the tree stops growing. Carlos Delgado wasn’t just planted in Toronto—he blossomed there. Developed from within, nurtured through the early lean years, and finally emerging as one of the most productive offensive players in the Doubleday Baseball League. And yet, after nearly being uprooted without warning, it’s no wonder the fruit is starting to...
What started as a late-night trade rumor has turned into a full-blown organizational crisis in Toronto. Carlos Delgado is furious, and now the spotlight is swinging toward general manager Jose Mata, whose handling of the situation has raised more than a few eyebrows around the league—and inside his own clubhouse. Let’s start with the headline: Delgado, one of the most productive bats in the league and a foundational player in...
If the 1995 DBL Draft was a game-changer, then these new prospect rankings are the scoreboard—and the Chicago White Sox are running up the score. The White Sox vault into first place in the updated system rankings with a staggering 250 points. Nomar Garciaparra (2nd overall prospect) headlines the group, but the reinforcements go deep: Jason Giambi (4th), pitching ace-in-the-making Will Adams (16th), slugging corner infielder Tony Batista...
While it's far too early to declare "winners and losers" from the 1995 Diamond Baseball League draft, it’s not too early to highlight the teams that seemed to approach the process with vision, patience, and precision. One team that stood out to me—despite having no fourth-round picks—is the Chicago White Sox. The Sox walked away with a haul that bolstered their core at multiple levels and may quietly define their future. Let’s take a...
It was done. Sources from both the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays confirm that, as the draft commenced, a blockbuster trade was agreed upon in principle: 📦 Carlos Delgado — Toronto’s slugging first baseman and one face of the franchise —🧳 For a package from Seattle, including their coveted first-round selection. Phones buzzed. Travel logistics were discussed. Mariners staff reportedly began prepping a press...
We’re in the thick of the 1995 DBL offseason, and if you’re looking to move salary, your options are limited. If you’re trying to add salary? You're one of a few. The financial landscape has taken shape—and it's not particularly kind to those who overspent or who haven't yet made their roster cuts. Right now, we can sort the league into four camps: Teams in great shape Teams in good shape Teams in okay shape And teams that need to make...
The Washington Senators came heartbreakingly close to a championship last season, falling just short in the World Series. If there were any doubts about their ability to stay at the top of the league, those were erased in the opening minutes of the 1995 draft. Armed with three consecutive picks, the Senators wasted no time adding right fielder Vladimir Guerrero, catcher Jason Kendall, and pitcher Liván Hernández—a trio that could ensure...