Trade completed

The Wild Things today completed an earlier trade by sending right-handed pitcher Albert Ayala to Kansas City of the American Association. Washington had previously acquired catcher Pat Trettel for a player to be named later.

Ayala was one of the three players acquired by Washington in the deal that sent Casey Barnes and Michael Bando to River City. The Wild Things still owe the Rascals another player in that deal.

From Australia to Florida

The Wild Things announced Tuesday that the contract of right-handed pitcher Chris Smith has been purchased by the New York Yankees. He will go to minor league spring training in Florida with the Yankees in March.

Smith had a strong 2012 season with the Wild Things, posting a 9-6 record with a 2.92 ERA. He struck out 116 batters in 129.1 innings. Smith followed that with big season by playing this winter with the Brisbane Bandits of the Australian Baseball League. He was selected to play in the league's all-star game and had a 2.31 ERA in nine starts.

"Chris was a valuable part of our starting rotation and will be missed, but I wish him all the best in the Yankees' system. He has the skills that it takes to make it to the majors and I look forward to watching him develop," Wild Things assistant GM Steve Zavacky said.

More roster moves

The Wild Things announced Monday that seven players -- outfielders Gus Benusa (pictured) and Darian Sandford, shortstop A.J. Nunziato, second baseman Shain Stoner, right-handed pitcher Gary Lee and left-handed pitchers Shawn Smith and Anthony Collazo -- have signed contract extensions for 2013, and that two pitchers have been added to the roster.

Lee (7-5, 2.89), who finished last season as a player/pitching coach, will be a Veteran, according to Frontier League roster rules. A Vet is the one player on the roster who can exceed the FL's 27-year-old age limit.

The newcomers are right-handed pitcher Cole Brand and lefty Matt Phillips.

Brand spent three seasons at the rookie-league level in the St. Louis Cardinals system. Last summer, he had a 2.97 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 30.1 innings. I've written before that you shouldn't put much stock in rookie-league statistics because they don't transfer well to a player's potential in the Frontier League. However, what I like about Brand's numbers is that in 78 innings of pro ball he has issued only 16 walks and allowed just two home runs. Another plus is he has pro experience and is only 20 years old, which means he's still a Rookie by roster standards. Brand was drafted by the Cardinals out of high school in the 42nd round in 2010.

"Cole showed a lot of promise in his time with the Cardinals organization and we're looking forward to seeing what he can do in Washington," Wild Things assistant general manager Steve Zavacky said in a press release.

Phillips was signed by the Boston Red Sox as an undrafted player out of Cal State-Dominguez Hills in 2010. He played rookie ball that year and went 3-0 with a 0.78 ERA in 12 games, but missed all of the 2011 seasons because of an injury. Last year, he was signed by Abilene of the independent North American Baseball League and pitched in one unforgettable game. He went 2/3 of an inning and allowed four hits and four walks.

"(Phillips) comes highly recommended from the Red Sox organization and has been a strikeout pitcher in both college and his year in the Gulf Coast Rookie League," said Wild Things bench coach Bart Zeller.

The Wild Things also announced today that infielder Brad Agustin has been placed on the retired list. Agustin was one of the players acquired at midseason in a trade with London.

After reading the Wild Things' statements on these roster moves, one thing comes to mind: Why hasn't manager Chris Bando been quoted in any of the press releases?

Attention campers: FL tryout in Sauget, Ill.

If you're from Western Pennsylvania and you'd like to attend the Frontier League's tryout camp this spring, then you'll have some extra traveling to do.

The 21^st annual Frontier League Tryout Camp and Draft will be held April 29-30 at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill., home of the Gateway Grizzlies.

All 14 Frontier League teams will be represented at the tryout, and Major League Baseball scouts have been in attendance each of the past eight years. Advance registration is available at www.frontierleague.com and walk-up registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. April 29.

At the end of the first day of the tryout, managers will post a list of players invited back for inter-squad games April 30. At the conclusion of the games, action will break for 30 minutes as clubs evaluate the talent and prepare for the draft. 

An average of 35 players each season have been drafted by Frontier League teams and signed to spring training contracts over the past eight years. More than 340 players participated in last year's tryout at at Consol Energy Park, with 133 invited back for the second day. Forty-five players were signed to spring training contracts last year, with 30 appearing in regular-season games. Each year, at least one tryout camp participant has appeared in the Frontier League All-Star game. Several draftees have gone on to be signed by Major League Baseball organizations, including RHP Chris Jakubauskas who appeared in 69 MLB games (including 15 starts) over the past four seasons.

 

Last year, Rockford selected pitcher Mike Lee with the first overall pick in the draft. Lee was signed at midseason by the Atlanta Braves and finished the year starting nine games for the Braves' affiliate in high-Class A.

 

“The Frontier League Tryout Camp and Draft is the best way for a player to showcase himself so he can begin or continue his career in professional baseball,” commented Frontier League commissioner Bill Lee. “Our clubs take the workouts very seriously, and each year multiple attendees wind up making key contributions to playoff teams.”

What's in a name?

The Rockford RiverHawks have announced they will be changing the franchise's name in time for next season.

I have to admit, I liked the RiverHawks name and thought it was one of the better ones in the Frontier League. But after missing the postseason for five consecutive seasons, Rockford ownership wants a fresh start. Fans have been asked to submit nickname suggestions.

How about this suggestion: the Rockford Files?

No. That's even too dumb for independent baseball.

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