New Faces Around The League

A flurry of potentially key roster moves have been made within the past 24 hours, and in case you missed them, the Double Mendoza Blog is here to fill you in.

Helena Promotes A Trio
With 20 games in the books, the Helena Caribou Barbies promoted 3 prospects to their ML squad now that arbitration will be delayed for them. The headlining player now ready to make his ML debut is SP Chin-Hui Martin. Martin is a 20-year-old phenom who received a $27.4M signing bonus as an International Free Agent, the most expensive bonus ever at the time the deal was inked. But he is a worldbeater, to say the least. One AL GM said, "He could win Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young both this season. But even if he doesn't, the future is bright for this kid." For a team 0.5 games back in the AL West, this is a significant move.

But the reinforcements don't stop there. The 2nd overall pick from the Season 2 draft, SP Trey Marshall has also received the call. Young himself at 21, Marshall may not be suited to start games yet. "He'll get his outs, but I don't think he's built the arm strength to go deep into ballgames," said one scout. This problem is likely to be exacerbated by Helena's attempts to run a 4-man rotation, at least temporarily. But when that rotation already features Pitcher of the Week, SP Bret Young, it is certain to become more fearsome with these two rookies joining it.

Lastly, SS Marty Crane is also on the cusp of making his ML debut after getting called up. Crane is a defensive specialist and should solidify the infield defense for the Caribou Barbies.

Crackers Collect Casey
SP/RP Christian Casey is returning to the senior circuit via waivers. The Atlanta Crackers won the claim for the former Cy Young pitcher, and hope that his arrival will stabilize a starting rotation in need of a shot in the arm. Casey will take SP Arthur Kielty's spot in the rotation, who was 1-2 with a 4.79 ERA in 4 starts. Lots of Atlanta starters have trudged out of the gate, but critics say Casey is not the answer. With SP/RP Ray Waters already in the rotation (who has averaged 4.0 IP in 3 starts), the Crackers now have two starters who seem more suited to long relief. The Crackers are hoping to reproduce their success of a year ago, when they were the top NL Wild Card and won their opening playoff matchup against the Cincinnati Boomers, but have started just 9-11, 2.5 games back of the NL South leading Montgomery Biscuits.

B.C. Dransfeldt Finds 5th Team
LF B.C. Dransfeldt has played for one team, and one team only, every year of his major league career. Thanks to the Oklahoma City Kingfishers signing him to a new $495K, 1-year deal, that will remain true for at least another year. Dransfeldt's world tour has the NL West as its epicenter, but he has played for the Vancouver Mammoths, Toronto Talons, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Richmond Wild Rumpus in the past. He is a .283 career hitter, and the Kingfishers plan to use him as a pinch-hitting weapon off the bench, and also as a utility outfielder.