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.

First offseason trade

The Wild Things have made their first offseason trade, sending starting pitcher Casey Barnes, first baseman Michael Bando and a player to be named later to the River City Rascals in exchange for right-handed pitcher Albert Ayala, first baseman Chris Andreas and left-handed pitcher Cory Caruso.

Barnes, pictured, spent two seasons with Washington, posting an 11-12 record and a 3.11 ERA in 32 starts. In 2011, Barnes was third in the league with a 2.34 ERA but didn't finish the year with Washington as he had his contract purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies and spent a brief stint with their Williamsport affiliate in the New York-Penn League. Barnes had signed a contract extension with the Wild Things during the 2012 season.

Bando, the son of Washington manager Chris Bando, struggled at the plate in his only season with the Wild Things, batting .172 last year with one home run and eight doubles in 180 at-bats.

Ayala is a career independent leagues pitcher. He has spent six seasons in the Indy leagues, posting a 12-17 record with a 4.94 ERA and 17 saves in 155 games (20 starts). Last year, he played for River City and Southern Illinois, finishing with a 0-0 record, 9 saves and 2.95 ERA. He also played in the Frontier League in 2007 with River City and 2008 with the Midwest Sliders. Ayala turned 26 years old earlier this month.

Andreas is a 24-year-old first baseman who was a 39th round draft pick of the Seattle Mariners in 2011 out of Sam Houston State. He played one year of rookie ball in the Mariners' system and hit .336 but did not have a home run in 116 at-bats. With River City last season, Andreas batted .261 in 79 games with 6 home runs and 11 doubles.

Caruso was a 50th round draft pick of the Miami Marlins in 2011 out of Cal State-San Bernardino but did not sign. He returned to college and last spring had a 3-4 record and 3.19 ERA, but he struck out only 51 in 90.1 innings, which suggests he's not a power pitcher. He signed with River City and pitched in 29 games (one start), going 0-2 with a 4.45 ERA. He struck out 25 in 28.1 innings. Caruso still has Rookie status.

By Wild Things standards, this is early in the offseason to make a trade, but River City and Gateway generally build their rosters sooner than the league other teams in the league.

Washington also signed pitcher Dominick Ruscitti, a rookie out of Kutztown University.

It's about time

The home run hit Wednesday night by Washington's Mike Bando (pictured) at Normal was notable not only because it was the first of Bando's pro career, but it also ended a lengthy home-run drought.

Bando's home run was only the second hit by a Washington first baseman this season, and the first since Trevor Pippin hit a solo homer in the 10th inning to beat Evansville May 20 -- the third game of the season. That means the Wild Things went 70 consecutive games without getting a home run from somebody playing first base, which is supposed to be a power position.

More on the Lawson trade ...

Last Monday, the lead story on the North American Baseball League's website was the trade between the Wild Things and San Angelo Colts that sent second baseman Scott Lawson from Washington back to his native Texas. The Associated Press even ran the trade in its transactions section.

The trade involved five players and "future considerations." The Frontier League finally posted the trade on its website today and we've learned the identity of the future consideration. Right-handed pitcher Ryan Turner, also a native of Texas, has been dealt to San Angelo.

Turner, you might recall, was the pitcher Washington signed this offseason who had been drafted four times, including three by Tampa Bay, for whom he played last season. New Wild Things manager Chris Bando had said that Turner "should be at the back end of our bullpen."

Washington also signed right-handed pitcher Alfredo Caballero, who last year pitched for three teams in three independent leagues and compiled a 7-7 record and 5.77 ERA. Caballero was named the Pitcher of the Year in the hitter-happy Pecos League after going 6-3 with a 4.52 ERA for the Alpine Cowboys.

Caballero played his college ball at Incarnate Word, an NCAA Division II school in San Antonio. Caballero's statistics during his final season in 2010 were off the charts. As a reliever, he was 6-1 with 10 saves, a 1.26 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 57.1 innings.

The Wild Things also announced the signing of first baseman Mike Bando.