Is it a Dunn deal ... and Hollenbeck too?

Though nothing has been released by the Wild Things (they're still waiting on the paperwork to be filed), Washington has traded right-handed pitcher J.J. Hollenbeck and left-handed pitcher Brooks Dunn to the American Defenders of New Hampshire (yes, that's the name) of the Can-Am League in exchange for two players.

The Wild Things will receive second baseman Ismeal Castro and right-handed pitcher Sean Heimpel.

Castro, 25, was once a highly touted prospect in the Seattle Mariners' organization and played 49 games at Class AAA Tacoma in 2006, hitting .303. A native of Cartagena, Columbia, Castro was signed as a 16-year-old by the Mariners. In 2002, he was the Most Valuable Player of the rookie-level Northwest League. He spent four more seasons in the Mariners' system.

The last two years, Castro has played in independent leagues. In 2007, he led the South Coast League in RBI and extra-base hits. Last season, playing for the Nashua Pride (the name was changed after the season), Castro batted .300. A switch-hitter, Castro has a career .292 batting average.

Heimpel, a native of Bethlehem, pitched in only five games for Nashua after concluding his collegiate career at Georgia State, an NCAA Division II school. Heimpel pitched Liberty High School to the PIAA championship game in 2002.

The trade clears a L2 roster spot - Hollenbeck was an L2 - for the Wild Things but there is still a roster logjam among older players. Castro is classified as a Veteran, so he basically swaps spots with Dunn. If Castro stays on the roster, then Washington has to make a decision on L2s between Mike Schellinger, Jacob Dempsey and newly acquired Jon Lewis. They would be able to keep only two of those players.

Another note about Castro: If he sticks with Washington, then he'll be (as best I can recall) only the second Wild Things player with Class AAA experience. Do you the other player?

One thing is certain about the 2009 Wild Things – they will have revamped pitching rotation. Dunn (2-6, 3.32 ERA), Hollenbeck (15-10, 3.88 in three seasons) and Aaron Ledbetter (FL's all-time wins leader) will not be back, so look for a flurry of signings (Rookies and L1s) after the minor-league spring training cuts.

From one Washington to another

Former Wild Things pitcher Chris Rivera, who was recently released, will get one more shot in affiliated ball. Rivera has signed with the Washington Nationals.

Rivera pitched in two games for the Wild Things in 2007 before having his contract purchased by the Chicago Cubs. After spending the remainder of the season in rookie ball, Rivera was released last spring and returned to the Wild Things. He appeared in 16 games (five starts) but struggled with control, walking 27 in 41 innings. Rivera had a 2-3 record when dropped from the active roster in August.

By the time we get to Woodstock

With this being a period of inactivity for the Wild Things, it's a good time to get caught up on what's happening around the Frontier League:

* There appears to be a good chance the FL will have two new teams in 2010 - one in a ballpark to be built in Woodstock. OK, so it's not that Woodstock. This is in McHenry County, Ill., northwest of Chicago and east of Rockford.

The other franchise is ticketed for a new ballpark at Heartland Community College in Normal, Ill., located between Peoria and Champaign.

Plans were announced weeks ago for a 6,500-seat multipurpose facility in Woodstock. Private donations and investors will fund the entire project. The Woodstock City Council (I don't know if Wavy Gravy is the president or not) approved zoning variances, clearing the way for more than 30 acres of land to be used for the ballpark. The schedule calls for site prep work in the spring and a June groundbreaking.

The ballpark in Normal was approved a few hours ago. The cost of the project has been estimated at $12 million. The town will contribute a maximum of $1.5 million for a parking lot. That money will be repaid through parking fees. The town will get half of the $3 parking charge, which is expected to generate about $100,000 a year.

I don't know how adding two franchise jammed around Rockford and Windy City helps the FL. The most glaring problem the league has is the gap between Florence, Lake Erie and Washington. The league desperately needs to add a franchise in Indiana and one in central/southern Ohio or even West Virginia. Adding two more teams in Chicagoland doesn't help.

* Owners of the Midwest Sliders are feeling the nation's financial pinch. From a story in Crain's Detroit Business:

One minor-league casualty of the economy has been the effort to build a $9.5 million Frontier League baseball stadium in Waterford Township (Mich.). The plan is still on track, said Rob Hilliard, managing partner of investors Baseball Heroes of Oakland County L.L.C., but backers have been forced to seek equity financing rather than bank financing.

“The debt side of the capital markets is horrible. It doesn't matter if the rate is zero percent if the banks aren't lending,” he said.

Owners also couldn't get a land deal done for the 4,000-seat stadium until late summer, it forced the stadium opening back a year, Hilliard said.

The team, which eventually will be called the Oakland County Cruisers, will play this year at Eastern Michigan University's 1,300-seat baseball stadium, and then move into the Diamond at the Summit stadium, next to the Summit Place Mall in 2010, Hilliard said.

Investors already have sunk $4 million into the project, and hired Leonard Capital Markets of Troy and Dickinson Wright P.L.L.C.'s Ann Arbor office to raise the remainder.

“It's a struggle and you have to be more creative in giving local business their money's worth. There's a challenge on the advertising side because of recession,” Hilliard said. “Times are tough and if the business is getting a good return on investment, they're going to keep in place their (investment) package. If they're struggling, it could be a victim.”

* Former Wild Things pitchers Stephen Spragg and Jeff Michael were among nine players released by the Lake County Crushers.

* Florence and River City swung a big trade (by FL standards). The Freedom sent outfielder Garth McKinney (.303, 18 HR, 28 SB), infielder Dorian Rojas and pitcher Brandon Hamlett to River City for infielder Brad Hough (.270, 9 HR, 24 SB), first baseman-outfielder Jeff Miller (.283, 15 HR) and pitcher Jonathan Miller (3-5, 3.76, 9 saves). The guys going to Florence probably wanted to re-connect with manager Toby Rumfield, who held the same job with the Rascals last year. Looks like Florence got the better end of this deal, though giving up McKinney wasn't easy.

* The Windy City Thunderbolts will hold an open tryout Feb. 7 in, of all places, Murfreesboro, Tenn.

3 arrive, 5 gone

The Wild Things have made their first significant roster moves of the year, acquiring two players, reinstating one from the retired list and releasing five from last year's 48-48 team.

Washington reinstated infielder Jeff Beachum from the retired list, signed right-handed pitcher Jace Smith and acquired right-handed pitcher Justin Edwards from Worcester of the Can-Am League to complete a trade for pitcher Ryan Mitchell prior to last season. Released were pitchers Chris Rivera and Sam Mann, catcher Gerad Haran, second baseman Phil Butch and outfielder Rob Vernon.

The only real surprise was Butch being released, though you can argue that Rivera and Haran have potential.

Beachum began last year as the starting shortstop but a back injury limited him to 16 games (.294, 8 RBI). If Washington brings back Bret Grandstrand as expected, Beachum will likely move over to third base or second base.

Edwards, pictured, is a West Liberty State product who was used as both a pitcher and third baseman by Worcester. Edwards batted only .173 in 52 at-bats and was 1-0 with a 4.37 in 16 games (2 starts) as a pitcher. Edwards is a Wheeling central graduate, the all-time hits leader at West Liberty and the son of Wheeling Jesuit baseball coach Terry Edwards.

The Wild Things did not annouce the signing of Smith, though it is posted on the Frontier League's Web site. More details about Smith when I find them.

Piecing together the roster

As we hang the 2009 calendar on the wall, we realize it's time to start putting together the Wild Things' roster for next season. We can give new manager Mark Mason and general manager Ross Vecchio some help and advice on who to keep and who to release.

To give you a better understanding of what roster decisions the Wild Things must make, keep in mind that each Frontier League team must follow these guidelines:

1. A team can have no more than 3 Veterans.
2. A team can have no more than 2 players classified as L2 (this will increase to 3 in 2010).
3. A team can have no more than 7 players classified as L1.
4. A team that goes with the maximum 24-man roster must have at least 12 players who are Rookies.

If a team does not have the maximum number of players in a particular classification, it can fill with players from a lower classification. For example, if you have only 2 Veterans, then you can carry 3 L2 players on your roster.

The Wild Things have already signed outfielder Jason Appel for 2009. He is a Rookie. Pitcher Aaron Ledbetter has aged out of the league.

Here is the current roster:

Veterans:
LHP - Brooks Dunn
SS - Brett Grandstrand
OF - Chris Sidick

L2:
RHP - J.J. Hollenbeck
RHP - Mike Schellinger
1B - Nathan Messner
OF - Jacob Dempsey
OF - Chris Raber

L1:
C - Gerard Haran
C - Kris Rochelle (IR)
3B/OF - Brad Arnett
2B - Phil Butch
INF - Chris Carrara

Rookies:
RHP - Rick Austin
LHP - Burke Baldwin
RHP - Joe D'Allesandro
RHP - Zach Groh
LHP - Dan Horvath
RHP - Sam Mann
RHP - Matt Maradeo
RHP - Chris Rivera
P/C - Josh Eachues
OF - Jason Appel
OF - Tim Alberts
OF - Rob Vernon

As you can see, the problem for the Wild Things is at the L2 spot. If they keep the 3 Veterans, then 3 of the L2 players must go. If they keep only 2 of the Veterans - which is a strong possibility - then at least 2 of the L2s must go.

As for the Veterans, Sidick is a keeper. With Grandstrand coaching at Ringgold High School this spring, you have to expect he will be back with the Wild Things. Dunn will be a tough decision. At times he was dominating last year, at other times only average.

At L2, I expect Washington to keep Dempsey and either Hollenbeck or Schellinger. If they go with only 2 Vets, then both pitchers can be kept.