Looters Review 2013 Transactions

Trades
To Baffin: 1B Enrique Rosario, 2B Anibal Castro
To New Orleans: SP Ivo Estima, SS Raul Sosa
This trade really didn't seem to help either side much.  Rosario ended up in St. Louis playing rather unremarkably. Castro similarly ended up elsewhere doing not much for Vista in a September cup of coffee.  Estima was sent down to AAA after a wild spell with New Orleans, and Sosa hung around all year as a servicable utility infielder.

To St. Louis: 1B Nathan Lammas, $5.5M
To New Orleans: SP Kevin Lane
This is a trade that has had ups and downs for both sides.  Lammas has power potential, but a bad contract from an ill advised contract extension last offseason.  This effectively bought him out for half his remaining cost and netted a starter.  Lane has also had ups and down with a 6-10 and 5.83 ERA since coming to the Looters in 18 starts.  He also had a 1.57 WHIP.  On a good team, he's a lower half of the rotation starter.

To Los Angeles: CL Zi-Jun Chou, $5M
To New Orleans: SP Tyler Law
This is a deal that worked out well for both sides.  Chou went to the Bruins and had 1 save and a 3.63 ERA in 22.1 innings striking out 29 with a 1.03 WHIP.  Law came to the Looters and had a good run.  He was 5-4 with a 3.95 ERA in 79.2 innings.  At 27, he still has good years in front of him and can be a major piece toward rebuilding the franchise.

To Baffin: Jesus Hernandez
To New Orleans: 1B Tim Merrill, 3B Jimmy Murphy, CL Shan Liu, MR Shinkichi Yano
Jesus Hernandez had been a large cog in the Looters bullpen and continued to do it in the Baffin bullpen.  He has helped tighten down the hatches of their bullpen with a 1.15 ERA since moving.  The Looters in return received a slew of minor leaguers.  Merill was to make the money work of the deal and will be gone.  Jimmy Murphy was servicable around the infield with a .269/.385/.394 slash in 104 at bats, and is arbitration eligible and may be offered to keep around as a cheap backup infielder.  Shan Liu got a promotion to AA upon coming over and had a rough time, but will repeat there next year with high hopes.  Yano had a mediocre time at AAA upon coming over with 11 saves and a 4.86 ERA, but will get to stick around to try to crack the majors next year.

To Vista: SP Javier Cervantes
To New Orleans: IF Rich Campbell
Classic "Change of Scenery" trade.  Neither was good where they were previously, neither performed well after the trade with Campbell already released.

Free Agent Signings
 1B Tony Marin - Marin was won in a heated bidding war with multiple other teams.  He started his time with the Looters on fire, but cooled off a bit.  He finished with a .255/.319/.486 line in 208 at bats which was good enough for a 112 OPS+ and 7.1 VORP.  He's still only 25 years old and will only get better.

Waiver Claims
C Sandro Cajani (from Jacksonville), Cajani is a nice defensive catcher who is young.  He hit rather unremarkably at .229/.296/.372, but had 11 homers and 58 RBIs in 406 at bats.

SP Rafael Santillanenz (from San Fran), Santillanenz is a hit or miss type arm.  In 15 starts for the Looters he went 5-8 with a 6.55 ERA; however, he had some really nice outings and is still 27.  Could be useful as a long man.

MR Juan Najera (from Jacksonville), Najera is a young reliever who has nasty stuff, but is still growing as a pitcher.  In 25 appearances for the Looters, he was 4-2 with 3 saves, and a 5.29 ERA.  He struck out a batter an inning, and will get a look next year in the pen.

MR Alphonse Chiaudani (from New York), 2-0 with a 5.09 ERA in 21 games.  He walks too many, but is still 26 and could come around.

MR Sergio Zaragoza (from Niagara Falls), Zaragoza was a huge pick up for the Looters bullpen.  He was 1-2 with 1 save and a 2.86 ERA in 28.1 innings.  He had an opponent average of .231 and has the potential to be a shut down arm late in the game.

CL Juan Morales (from Vista), Morales is someone who was offered to the Looters earlier in the year in the Law deal, and had continued to be scouted by the Looters.  When he appeared on the wire he was a quick grab.  He took over the closers role and got 4 saves and a 3.48 ERA in September in 10.1 innings.

CF Xun Shuai (from Vista), came to the Looters but sat on the bench all month.  Non-tender candidate.

CF Garland Holloway (from San Francisco), Holloway had a nice month since coming over at .281 average and 1.105 OPS with 4 homers.  Looters will keep tabs in free agency, but demands too much cash now.

SP Alex Torrez (from Los Angeles), Torrez got injured in his first start in New Orleans after 2.2 scoreless innings and out for 10 months.  He'll be back midseason, but was resigned to an extension for $1.1M next year with a team option for the following year.

C Francisco Diaz (from Vista), Yet another Vista player coming to the Looters on a waiver claim.  Diaz was claimed in the last sim of the season and dind't get into a game, but he's a good defensive catcher who is a free agent at year end.  His golden years from when he was with Hendersonville are long past, but can still be a backup.

Rule 5 Acquisitions
SP Ricardo Gomes (from Sacramento), 7-15 record, 6.68 ERA, 1.89 WHIP.  Gomes had a tough first year, but not having any better immediate options, will remain with the Looters rotation next year.

RF Donald Ellis (from Vista) - .247/.319/.291 slash line.  He'll be a free agent in the off-season and non-tendered.

3B Ronald Reardon (from Sacramento) - .244/.294/.356 slash, 4 homers, he's arbitration eligible this offseason and likely will be renewed as a backup infielder.

Releases/Lost Waivers
MR Jesus Velazquez (to Oklahoma City) - Valezquez didn't do much as a pitcher in New Orleans and got promptly released in OKC.  Currently in the Baffin bullpen where he's done mediocre.