Blue Crabs Sign MLB Vet John Halama
April 10, 2009 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs News Release
In one of the last pre-season transactions for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, the club has re-signed one of the most notable names in its short history. Starting pitcher John Halama is back in the fold for 2009, after beginning last season with the Blue Crabs and ending it in the Cleveland Indians organization. Halama, who is entering his 16th year as a professional, has spent time in the Major Leagues in nine seasons with seven different teams.
With a career Major League record of 56-48, Halama made his MLB debut with the Houston Astros in 1998, going 1-1 in six starts. Halama was then sent to the Seattle Mariners in October of that year, as the player to be named later in the trade that sent hurler Randy Johnson from Seattle to Houston before the trade deadline earlier that season. Halama would spend the next four seasons on the Mariners roster, amassing a 41-31 record in 130 appearances and 81 starts from 1999 through 2002.
Through free-agency, Halama would go on to suit up in the big leagues for the Oakland Athletics (2003), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2004), and the Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals in 2005. Halama's last season in the Major Leagues came in 2006, when he went 3-1 in 17 appearances and a start for the Baltimore Orioles. Halama spent the 2007 season with the Long Island Ducks in the Atlantic League and made 26 starts, before transitioning to the expansion Blue Crabs for 2008. After sparkling in eight starts, going 4-1 with a microscopic 1.91 ERA, Halama was inked to a deal by the Cleveland Indians and assigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons of the International League. He would prove to be just as dependable for Buffalo, notching 16 starts with an 8-6 record and two complete games.
Halama is 37 entering this season, and has put together an impressive 121-89 record at all levels in his career. He was originally drafted by Houston in 1994, and made his professional debut that summer in their organization at Class A Auburn in the New York-Penn League. Halama has accumulated well over 1,000 strikeouts in his career, and will have a good opportunity to pass 1,200 strikeouts for his career this season. The righty has 492 strikeouts at the Major League level.
The Blue Crabs also rounded out their roster this past week by finalizing the trade for utility infielder Mike Just. Just, a right-handed bat, is one of the younger Crabs, entering just his fourth professional season. He debuted as a pro with the River City Rascals of the Frontier League in 2006, batting .317 in 52 games. He followed that up with a .336 performance in 94 games with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the Northern League in 2007. Last year for the Newark Bears in the Atlantic League, Just hit .276 in 102 games as a versatile infielder. In three professional seasons, he boasts a career .309 batting average with seven home runs and 93 RBI. He turned pro out of Liberty University, where he played four seasons from 2003 to 2006. The Just signing completed his trade from Newark, as Southern Maryland acquired his rights in exchange for right-handed relief pitcher Matt Hensley and infielder Enohel Polanco.
The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs will open their second season of Atlantic League Baseball at HOME on Thursday, April 23 at 7:05 p.m., against the Liberty Division rival Long Island Ducks. The Blue Crabs will play 70 home games this season at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf. Season tickets, group events and mini-plans are currently on sale for the 2009 season. The Blue Crabs can also help your group fundraise at no risk and no up-front costs, by helping you sell hundreds of tickets to exciting Atlantic League Baseball. Please call 301-638-9788 for more details and to save your seat at the ballpark today!
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Atlantic League Stories from April 10, 2009
- 3'2 Dave Flood invited to Spring Training as the ultimate on-base machine - York Revolution
- Blue Crabs Sign MLB Vet John Halama - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
- Ducks Sign Miceli - Long Island Ducks
- York Revolution and ESPN's Todd Gallagher Bring "Small Ball" to the Plate - York Revolution
- Barnstormers Add Two To Bullpen - Lancaster Stormers
- Ducks Ink Three Former Big Leaguers - Long Island Ducks
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