A Yahoo! article was forwarded to me about the unusual number of big-name players who are still free agents as spring training moves deeper into March. This could have an affect on the Atlantic League.
Guys like Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Mike Piazza remain unsigned. So do long-time major-league pitchers like Jeff Weaver and Kyle Lohse.
Why is this the case? Here’s an excerpt …
General managers (and owners) appear less attached to the idea of filling their rotation with veteran arms than giving their young pitchers a shot, and at a tenth the cost.
“Fewer teams are paying for replaceable players,” one assistant general manager said.
The article suggests there could be a lot of late Roger Clemens-like signings in which players join teams after the season has already begun.
“Either that,” one baseball operations official said, “or the Atlantic League is going to be loaded in April. Loaded.”
Now, no one is suggesting that Barry Bonds will be suiting up for the Bridgeport Bluefish next month. But the more players who are unemployed, the more talent there is available at the indy level.
There’s a good chance we’ll watch an improved product at Clipper Magazine Stadium this summer. And it will be interesting to see what Long Island’s roster looks like in spring training.
In other news:
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* SS Danny Gonzalez’s interest in returning to the Barnstormers is based on the fact he believes more scouts can see him in Lancaster than in Mexico. That’s a common feeling among players who turn down more money to come to the Atlantic League.
* The Josh Stevens to Southern Maryland rumors persist. Lancaster is looking for a position player in return.
In obscure former Stormer news:
* P Chris Clem, who was a member of the Barnstormers’ championship team in 2006, will return to the Frontier League’s River City Rascals this season. He led the Rascals in innings pitched last season.
* Kevin Wilson, who played with the Barnstormers in 2005 and briefly in 2006, is the hitting coach with the Frontier League’s Windy City Thunderbolts.
* C Alex Derhak has signed with the El Paso Diablos of the American Association. This will be his fifth team since the Barnstormers traded him to the Gateway Grizzlies in June of 2006.
* P David Lipson was released by the Can-Am League’s Sussex Skyhawks last month. If you remember Lipson, you are the greatest Barnstormers fan of them all. He was on the team for about 30 seconds at the end of the 2005 season.
In Atlantic League news:
* AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com has a list of all the players signed to each AL team to this point. This will also be added to the Blogroll at the right of the front page.
Great reporting Jason!
I can’t believe Barry Bonds is gonna be a Barnstormer!
Actually this is exciting if something of the like happens. I’m assuming bigger named players look at these leagues as a way to stay in shape as opposed to the minimum wage barely support a meth habit salary. Plus I’m sure it would be fun to be an older but good MLB player and come tear up this league. Obviously I was kidding about Bonds, but can you imagine him hitting one towards the Coors light barn it the Clip.
Didn’t an Indy league already offer him a contract?
Last fall in Western PA. The Washington Wild Things.
Obviously, it was a joke at the time. But like the U.S. flag and the moon, The Wild Things can claim his rights by offering him the first contract.
Thanks Jason. It is great to find out where other Barnstormers are ending up.