AGBA Faces Changing Places

 

The APBA Galaxy Baseball Association (AGBA) witnessed some major deals prior to its Trade Deadline. Many of the teams decided to do their deals during the All-Star Break, to compete on even footing. There is still some time for some small deals to be made if needed.

Keep in mind, that we have to imagine that these owners don't see into the future, they have no crystal ball. They will be making moves on what they are feeling at the time. Plus the teams will make moves depending on their current team status.

So let's start with one of the big ones...

Transaction #0030

• Brooklyn Mets receive OF Bobby Bonds
• San Francisco Seals receive SP/RP Nolan Ryan

We all know that Nolan goes on to collect 5,000 strikeouts, while we all know that Bobby had the potential to be a possible Hall of Famer, but could never get past his personal demons. In the AGBA world, Nolan has been horrible on the mound for the Mets. 

Ryan was 0-4 with a 13.25 ERA in only 18.1 innings and 4 starts (he had one bullpen appearance). Although Nolan had 17 strikeouts, he had no pitching control, allowing 17 walks and 33 hits. Ryan had an astronomical 2.727 WHIP -- Nearly 3 baserunners per inning! 

Some people may read this and think that the Mets should have given Ryan more time, but time is the essence, especially during a 72-game season. The Mets needed at least another hitter to add to their weak hitting lineup, and had to pull the trigger to acquire Bonds.

Sure, in this weird universe of players playing from three different eras, we did have the chance of Bobby coming up to the Seals, and playing with his son Barry. Although this Bobby would be 6 years younger (22 in 1968) than his son Barry (who is 28 in 1993)... Think of it as a Baseball Heaven or weird Baseball Twilight Zone dimension or heck... Field of Dreams.

In this world, the San Francisco Seals were trying to keep Bobby out until September, so that his full regular season salary wouldn't have been activated. The Seals have more than enough players on their team, and outfield, that they could afford to do this. As the season went on though, Bobby started to voice his frustrations at the minor league level, on his desire to play now on the big league club. 

It's actual a good move for both franchises moving forward. Bonds would give this lineup some power right away. Brooklyn is one of the few AGBA teams, that doesn't have a slugger with at least 10 home runs; Brandon Nimmo currently leads the team with 7 home runs. 

Adding Ryan to the staff, should only be a bonus for the Seals. The Seals are obviously investing in his long-term future and believe that they can turn this guy around. Ryan would join a pitching staff that already has Juan Marichal, Gaylord Perry and Ray Sadecki. The Seals were using a 4-man rotation, with the before-mentioned being the top 3 slots in the rotation, while John Burkett and Madison Bumgarner split the 4th slot, working every other outing (Once every 8 games). The Seals (19-18-1), a preseason darling are hoping to play much better in the second half.

Despite giving away an athlete such as Bobby Bonds, the Seals feel that they were able to get Ryan while his stock was low. Ryan for this season at least, may still work out of the pen. 

Transaction #0031

• Florida Rockets receive OF Kevin Pillar, 1B/DH Rowdy Tellez & P Sean Reid-Foley [NC]
• Toronto Reds receive 3B Miguel Andujar and RP Drew Rucinski [NC]

The Florida Rockets trading away one of their better lineup pieces is not a surprise, with the struggling Rockets selling. The Toronto Reds will have more stability (and another option) at third base, which could keep Paul Molitor at first base and John Olerud at DH. 1B/OF Rhys Hoskins has struggled for the Reds, and adding Miguel Andujar to an already great top half of the lineup, may help the bottom-half of the lineup at having a better flow. 

The three eras are 1968, 1993 & 2018. Andujar had a big season for the Yankees in 2018, and has produced with this card during his AGBA Season -- batting .278 with 7 HR & 26 RBI for the Rockets, while his HR & RBI numbers were 2nd on the team. 

The Reds are buying, building on their recent winning momentum, trying to make a serious postseason push. The Rockets also traded prospect RP Matt Turner to Philadelphia for $500,000 in cash, while taking chances on SP Doc Gooden (who was bad for the New York Knights) and SP Kyle Freeland to help shore up their pitching problems now.

Transaction #0034

• Atlanta Firebirds receive DH/3B/2B Chip Hale
• New York Knights receive OF Mike Lum, plus $720,000 in cash.

The New York Knights took advantage of getting some out of nothing. It's not to say, that Chip Hale's 1993 card in nothing, which would be a great addition on Atlanta's bench. The Knights acquire a prospect in outfielder Mike Lum, plus cash to work with towards next year's roster. Hale was one of the Knights more productive bats earlier this season, until he cooled off in recent weeks. 

Atlanta was rumored to be possibly parting with OF Ron Gant, and one of the players mentioned was the Knights' RP Collin McHugh, but Gant started heating up while Atlanta outfielders Ronald Acuna Jr and David Justice cooled off. Gant has since won playing time, and Atlanta decided to keep Gant. With that in mind, Atlanta made cuts elsewhere, sent down OF Sandy Valdespino and decided to bring up RP Shane Carle, which activated his big league salary.

Transaction #0036

• Chicago Union receives OF/DH Matt Kemp
• New Orleans Pirates receive SP Jason Bere

In real life, the 33 year-old outfielder Matt Kemp returned to the Dodgers where he made a name for himself, having a strong season in 2018. During this AGBA season, his numbers may even be bigger, batting .309 with 6 HR & 25 RBI (through 37 games) in a weak, unpredictable New Orleans lineup. The Chicago Union's lineup has been underperforming, but could have better production adding Kemp to the mix. The addition of Kemp should be both beneficial to Kemp and Chicago, while the Pirates acquired SP Jason Bere, who had no room to play in Chicago's impressive rotation. 

Bere will be immediately plugged into the Pirates' rotation with the departure of their ace Steve Avery. Bere (Grade B/13-XW) will have to work on his control, but will give the team some strong innings, and will send hitters down swinging.

Transaction #0037

• Chicago Union receives 2B Ryne Sandberg
• Chicago Legends receive 2B Sandy Alomar Sr & OF Melky Cabrera

A notable trade, although a non-impact one to say the least. It's a trade that all the players will just have relocate in the city (or maybe not) to play for their Central League, opposite division rivals. The Legends want to play 2B Glenn Beckert more, who in the Majors was a National League All-Star between 1969-1972 -- Moving out Sandberg allows Beckert and other players more time. The Legends acquire a few pieces back.

Transaction #0038

• Cleveland Spiders receive 3B David Freese & OF Lee Maye
• Portland Thorns receive 3B Josh Donaldson

This trade is really a win-win for both teams. Cleveland has acquired a few more bench options, while they trade away a player who wasn't getting any playing time with Jose Ramirez at third. Josh Donaldson if you recall had a frustrating, injury-plagued 2018 MLB season, in which he split time with the Blue Jays and Indians. Portland should definitely benefit next season with Donaldson's comeback year with the Braves in 2019, but this was a move for the Spiders to make, who are in the win-now mode. David Freese's 2018 APBA card didn't translate for Portland, but could help in bigger pinch-hitting spots in a star-studded lineup such as Cleveland's. Lee Maye was likely picked up as another pinch-runner for the bench.

Transaction #0041

• Portland Thorns receive 2B Horace Clark, P Scott Sanders & SS Ricky Gutierrez
• San Diego Tigers receive 2B Lou Whitaker & SS Dick Schofield Sr

Portland made some more moves by trading Western League All-Star Lou Whitaker to the Tigers, in exchange for a younger, but weaker 2B prospect Horace Clark, plus pitching in Scott Sanders. Whitaker has been rumored for weeks on being dealt, it wasn't a matter of when, but where. For awhile, the Chicago Union seemed to be the favorite, but a deal couldn't be struck, and the Union went with a few different options instead. 

Whitaker is having a big year, batting .318 with 6 HR, 21 RBI, while carrying an outstanding .422 on-base percentage & .998 OPS. 'Sweet Lou' has been a doubles machine, smacking 23 in only 38 games (currently leading AGBA in that category). 

Transaction #0043

• Detroit Wolverines receive SP Steve Avery
• New Orleans Pirates receive SP Spencer Turnbull, RP Shane Greene, RP Blaine Hardy, C/OF Wayne Comer & a player to be named later.

Going into this inaugural AGBA season, the Detroit Wolverines or most of AGBA Baseball didn't expect the Wolverines to be neck-and-neck with the Cleveland Spiders at this point. The Spiders were a clear division favorite, not to mention a World Champion contender on top of that. But here they are, 4 points (2 games) back of Cleveland at the top of the Cobb Division Standings (Central League).

Detroit has adopted a 'win now mentality' knowing that the roster could be very much in flux next season. A few weeks ago, they added left-hand specialist Oliver Perez to the pen, shortstop Freddie Benavides for infield depth & speed, while calling up P/RP Daryl Patterson to the big league club. Now they add Steve Avery to pitch alongside with Denny McLain and Mickey Lolich in the rotation.

Despite having a 1-5 record, Avery had a 2.92 ERA & 1.146 WHIP to go along with 36 strikeouts in 52.1 innings for the Pirates.

And we'll end the post with a big deal between Vegas and Washington...

Transaction #0048

• Las Vegas Lizards receive OF Bryce Harper & SP Ken Hill
• Washington Maroons receive SP Pete Harnisch, 1B/3B Yuli Gurriel, RP Kenley Jansen, a player to be named later, plus $5 million in cash.

The Washington Maroons were expecting a much better season than the one that has played out. Trading Harper may make people scratch their heads, but he has been playing first base (1B-2) for the Maroons all season, due to a crowded outfield that has Larry Walker, Juan Soto and Marquis Grissom, plus Rondell White on the farm. The Maroons wanted to have an actual first baseman and now they have one in Yuli Gurriel (1B-4), who can also play third. The Maroons basically swapped Pete Harnisch for Ken Hill. Harnisch was dominate with Las Vegas and is among the strikeout leaders in all of AGBA this season. Washington adds another reliever in Kenley Jansen (14*-XZ) to go along with John Wetteland (24*-XY), Sean Doolittle (21*-XYZ) and Mel Rojas (14*). 

Las Vegas acquires Bryce Harper, bringing home a hometown hero and mega building block for a franchise that needs a solid pillar to build around. Ken Hill replaces Harnisch in the rotation, and should be a stable rotation piece for years to come.