Big Names, New Places (Boys of Summer - League Update)

McCutchen is hoping to be the answer for Chicago.

The third season of the Boys of Summer APBA Baseball League is half-way through, and we are starting to see teams move their chips, place down their cards...

Who's all in? Who is out?

The league was quiet for the first couple months after the season started, but then the Chicago Nine broke the silence by picking up veteran Justin Morneau in exchange for speedy, plus-outfielder Anthony Gose; The two players have a stark contrast in terms of power, but both give their teams something that they seek.

The Portland Microbrewers (back-to-back National League Champions) once again have the best record in the entire league (in seek of the 1st BoS World Championship) made a huge splash in acquiring shortstop Troy Tulowitzki; Portland also acquired reconstruction relief project Neftali Feliz in the deal, while the Corktown Tamales get themselves a catcher (which they desperately needed) with a little pop and reliable, consistent reliever Mark Melancon.

The Traverse City Panthers were close into landing two big-name starting pitchers from two other franchises, but had to settle on Adam Wainwright from the Kingsley Brownbeards. Things will get interesting as the Panthers will not have Wainwright, Alex Cobb, Drew Smyly, and Henderson Alvarez for the 2016 seasons (due to MLB injuries) -- but will have Matt Harvey returning, to go along with Corey Kluber and a down-year from Julio Teheran (who was finding his way in 2nd-half for MLB). The Wainwright trade comes with another price, the Panthers traded Tampa Bay's Nathan Karns (7-5, 3.67 ERA & 145 K's in 147 IP) who had a good season for the Rays, with Yankees' pitcher Adam Warren (7-7, 3.29 ERA & 104 K's in 131.1 IP), plus T.C.'s 2nd Round Draft pick for upcoming draft. The Panthers acquired scrap in pitchers Roberto Hernandez and Rex Brothers, who will both not play a role in the team this season, and will find themselves most likely available after the season.

The Panthers are rumored to have been shopping Brandon Finnegan, Teheran, Alex Cobb and Dalton Pompey in an attempt to bring a bigger name than Wainwright.

Wanted Man: San Diego, 3rd team to land Puig.

Two big trades went down on November 1st, the Chicago Nine, no strangers to making a deal (I believe they have made the most deals in the league's brief history), landed Andrew McCutchen. In exchange for McCutchen, the Nine send Cuban star outfielder Yasiel Puig, young ace Danny Salazar of the Indians, and Chicago's third-round draft pick. Chicago acquired Puig from Traverse City prior to the 2015 BoS Draft in a blockbuster trade that watched the Nine send Miguel Cabrera, Drew Smyly, Josh Harrison, Leonys Martin & a Chicago 3rd Round Draft Pick (that ended up being Dalton Pompey) to Traverse City; Puig was sent to Chicago with pitchers Yu Darvish and Cody Allen, plus first baseman Brandon Belt & T.C.'s 1st Round Pick (Rusney Castillo).

Miguel Cabrera happened to be acquired hours before the Chicago-Traverse City Puig-Cabrera deal, when Chicago acquired Cabrera and Wade Miley from the Buffalo Yankees in exchange for young phenom Chris Archer and second baseman Ian Kinsler. Chicago having a knack for landing big players and trading big players, also landed Adam Jones and Elvis Andrus from the World Champion Fairgrove Tigers, in exchange for Carlos Gomez and Shelby Miller.

Johnny Cueto & Holland shooting for division title & more.

The other big trade on November 1st was between the South Side Spartans and Holland Hitchhikers. In a attempt to try to keep up with the N.L. East leading Panthers, the Hitchhikers landed ace Johnny Cueto and two veteran relievers (Jordan Walden and Joel Peralta) in exchange for a equally impressive package of shortstop Andrelton Simmons, starting pitcher Zack Wheeler, outfielder Adam Eaton and the Holland's 2nd Round Draft Pick.

We are at the closing hours, as the BoS has until November 6th (8:00 am) to get in any more deals before the Trade Deadline.