Bullpen help on horizon?

I was unable to listen to all of Friday night's game at Traverse City, so I don't know if this was mentioned by Radio Randy during the broadcast: According to the Atlantic League web site and Lancasteronline.com, the Wild Things have re-acquired relief pitcher Joe D'Alessandro from the Lancaster Barnstormers of the independent Atlantic League.

This, I think, completes the earlier trade that sent D'Alessandro to Lancaster for future considerations.

The Atlantic League is in the midst of its all-star break, and Lancaster took advantage of the stoppage to bring in two former major leaguer relief pitchers, including Antonio Alfonseca. D'Alessandro, who was 1-1 with a 4.43 ERA, was one of the two pitchers dropped from the roster. D'Alessandrto had given up 22 hits in 22 1/3 innings.

With Washington last year, D'Alessandro was 3-2 with 4 saves and a 2.52 ERA in 20 games.

Barnstormin'

Two former Wild Things pitchers, Tom Cochran and Joe D'Alessandro, are trying to land jobs this season with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the independent Atlantic league.

D'Alessandro, who played for Washington last year and, at last check, had a standing offer to return to the Wild Things this year, was invited to the Barnstormers' spring training after attending three tryout camps, including one in Florida.

Cochran, pictured, spent the 2006 and 2007 seasons in Washington. He was released from the Cincinnati Reds' minor-league camp this year and was invited to Lancaster.

The Lancaster New Era did a newspaper story on D'Alessandro and a blog story about Cochran on consecutive days. You can read both stories here:

Joe D'Alessandro.

Tom Cochran.

UPDATE: Both Cochran and D'Alessandro have made the Barnstormers' roster for opening day, which is Thursday, April 23.

D'Alessandro to Lancaster

Joe D'Alessandro, who pitched in 20 games (3-2, 2.52, 4 saves) last year for the Wild Things will attend spring training with Lancaster of the independent Atlantic League. He is one of four "non-roster" players with the Barnstormers. Among the others is former Wild Things pitcher Tom Cochran, who had a brief stint in the Cincinnati Reds' minro-league camp this spring.

D'Alessandro has a standing offer to return to the Wild Things this year but had been working the Atlantic League tryout circuit.

There's still a good chance D'Alessandro could end up back in Washington. The Atlantic League is loaded with former major leaguers, and Triple-A and Double-A guys. D'Alessandro has pitched only 55 innings the last three years and none above the low-Class A level, so the odds are stacked against him making the Barnstormers' opening day roster.

D'Alessandro on the tryout circuit

Here's a link to a story about the Somerset Patriots - a powerhouse in the independent Atlantic League and managed by former major-league pitcher Sparky Lyle - holding a tryout for nearly 100 pitchers. Among them were Brian Holliday, a lefty who was drafted by the Pirates in the 12th round in 2002 out of Moon High School, and Wild Things reliever Joe D'Alessandro, pictured.

According to mycentraljersey.com, Holliday and D'Alessandro are two of four pitchers the Patriots are considering bringing to spring training.

Apparently, D'Alessandro has a contract offer waiting from the Wild Things but is trying his hand at getting into the Atlantic League. D'Alessandro, who was 3-2 with 4 saves and a 2.52 ERA with the Wild Things, said he wasn't happy with his performance at the tryout.

Here is what Lyle said about D'Alessandro: "D'Alessandro, he just seemed to throw with reckless abandon. He threw so many balls in the dirt, they were either in the dirt or up."

Patriots tryout.