Outlaws Make Trade
Published on December 23, 2008 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Chico Outlaws News Release
(Chico, CA. December 22, 2008) After a series of discussions begun in Las Vegas at the Baseball Winter Meetings, the Chico Outlaws and Yuma Scorpions of the Golden Baseball League (GBL) announced today that they have reached agreement on a 7 player trade that will add pitching and hitting to the Chico squad and much needed relief to Yuma.
Yuma will send OF Rich Janeway, RHS Evan White, RHR Mike Martin, and RHR David Stringer to Chico in exchange Relievers Todd Gelatka, Eric Sheridan, and Mitch Arnold.
This is the second of a number of anticipated off-season moves under new Chico General Manager Curt Jacey and new Outlaw field Manager Greg Cadaret. Jacey has won Independent Minor League championships in two different leagues and has had his teams in the playoffs in 8 of his 10 seasons as a minor league general manager, while Cadaret, although in his rookie season as a professional manager, is considered one of the most knowledgeable talent evaluators in northern California. The Outlaws won the GBL Championship in 2007 but fell to the worst record in the league in the first half of 2008 and finished 7th overall of the 8 GBL teams by the end of the season with a 34-52 record.
"We need to do some off season work on the roster to help the team be positioned for another championship run in 2009," said Curt Jacey, General Manager of the Chico Outlaws. "There is a tradition of winning ballclub's in Chico and we intend to restore this club to that level, but in a way that also provides opportunities for many of the Outlaw players from last season."
Cadaret adds "All four of these players are very well known for their amateur and professional accomplishments in northern California. They all went to north state high schools, three played at Shasta College, and then all went to top university programs before beginning very successful pro careers. I'm pleased to add this level of proven pro pitching and hitting, and just as important is the fact that these young men are products of our community as well."
Chico finished 7th in the GBL in hitting last season and hit about half the home runs of the league leading teams. This trade brings them a player that would have been one of the top power hitters for Chico in OF Rich Janeway (.342, 12 HR, 29 Doubles, 93 Runs, finished 5th in GBL MVP voting). In addition, they pick up All-Star right-handed starting pitcher Evan White who had a 7-4 record for the Scorpions, right handed reliever Mike Martin who went 4-1, and rookie closer David Stringer who went 1-0 after joining Yuma late in the season after finishing his collegiate career with Stanford in the College World Series. All four are northern California residents as Janeway is from Redding; White is from Corning, Martin from Red Bluff, and Stringer from Palo Alto.
Yuma had a high-powered offense last year that averaged 11 runs per game, and had a fine season at 47-40, but just missed the playoffs. Their biggest issue was the pitching staff and, notably, the bullpen performance. They receive closer Todd Gelatka who was the 2007 GBL Pitcher of the Year and won three and saved six games this year in 32 appearances, starter/reliever Eric Sheridan who won four games and saved three this past year in 28 appearances, and LHP reliever Mitch Arnold who went 1-1 with four saves for the Reno Silver Sox before being traded to Chico in the off-season.
"I'm excited to upgrade our bullpen as that was our biggest need in the off-season," said Yuma Scorpions General Manager Mike Marshall. "It's great for our four players going to Chico as they will get the chance to play close to home and works out well for us as it opens roster spots to allow for reshaping of our team for this coming season."
Golden Baseball League Stories from December 23, 2008
- Chico Outlaws and Yuma Scorpions Make 7 Player Trade - GBL
- Outlaws Make Trade - Chico Outlaws
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