2009/10 Off Season Review (Part 2)

As most owners realize, the baseball season doesn't end in September. It was an active off season for most teams in the EHCC, either building for the future or trying to add the missing piece to make their roster a contender for the 2010 crown. The Gryphons came so close to their first title in 2009, and they're hoping bringing on some more firepower on offense (Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Youkilis won't hurt) will give them the boost they need.


2009/10 Off Season Review (Part 2)
By: Conor Intabedd / Reno Weekly Rag



TOKYO OMYOUJIS

Gave Up...

Alex Rios (OF - CWS)
Derek Jeter (SS - NYY)
Brandon Webb (SP - ARI)
Chris Tillman (SP - BAL)
3rd Round MaDP (2010 - TKO) - R3P9 [Brett Myers (SP - HOU)]


Took On...

Jacoby Ellsbury (OF - BOS)
Jeff Niemann (SP - TB)
2nd Round MaDP (2010 - TIJ) - R2P3 [Brandon McCarthy (SP - TEX)]
2nd Round MiDP (2010 - PEO) - R2P6 [Player TBD]
2nd Round MiDP (2010 - LV) - R2P9 [Player TBD]
2nd Round MaDP (2011 - GLD) - R2P? [Player TBD]

After making the EHCC Playoffs for the first time in team history, Tokyo sees themselves as being on the brink of contending for a title. They did little to push themselves over the edge, however they surely didn't hurt themselves during this off season. The Omyoujis realized their biggest hole was speed, something they were hoping Alex Rios would remedy. He hasn't been the answer but there's no reason newcomer Jacoby Ellsbury won't fill that roll. Sending away injury riddled Brandon Webb doesn't hurt their chances this season. They grabbed draft picks to help them down the line for players they were considering cutting anyway (Rios, Jeter). They didn't make a big splash, one they might have needed to make it over the hump, but the moves they did make were calculated and smart.
Grade: B+


PEORIA CARDINALS

Gave Up...

Pablo Sandoval (1B, 3B - SF)
Max Scherzer (SP - DET)
2nd Round MaDP (2010 - QC) - R2P10 [Bronson Arroyo (SP CIN)]
2nd Round MiDP (2010 - PEO) - R2P6 [Player TBD]
2nd Round MaDP (2011 - PEO) - R2P? [Player TBD]

Took On...

Derek Jeter (SS - NYY)
Dan Haren (SP - ARI)
2nd Round MaDP (2010 - LV) - R2P6 [Derek Lowe (SP - ATL)]

The defending Eastern Division Champions did well for themselves this off season. The potential in the players they sent away are immense but the Cardinals are way past potential now and bringing on solid veterans in Dan Haren, who's still got plenty in the tank, and Derek Jeter, filling a huge gap Peoria has had for a while at SS, should go far in their quest for an EHCC title.
Grade: A


GOLDEN GRYPHONS

Gave Up...

Carlos Pena (1B - TB)
Dustin Pedroia (2B - BOS)
Scott Kazmir (SP - LAA)
Tommy Hanson (SP - ATL)
Frank Francisco (RP - TEX)
1st Round MiDP (2011 - GLD) - R1P? [Player TBD]
2nd Round MaDP (2010 - GLD) - R2P11 [Wade LeBlanc (SP - SD)]
2nd Round MaDP (2011 - GLD) - R2P? [Player TBD]

Took On...

Adrian Gonzalez (1B - SD)
Kevin Youkilis (1B, 3B - BOS)
Cole Hamels (SP - PHI)
3rd Round MaDP (2010 - RAK) - R3p5 [Mike Gonzalez (RP - BAL)]
3rd Round MaDP (2010 - TKO) - R3P9 [Brett Myers (SP - HOU)]
5th Round MaDP (2010 - ARL) - R5P11 [Joel Pineiro (SP - LAA)]

The Gryphons are no strangers to the off season trade market, being involved in 19 off season trades since the 2006/07 off season. Since trading for Chase utley at the deadline last season the Gryphons couldn't wait to test the waters for Pedrioa and wasted no time shipping him out once trading season started back up. Golden did well for themselves in upgrading positions, and along with Peoria they are long past the "potential stage" of developing players. Hanson is the prize being shipped away, but Cole Hamels fills that hole nicely, with Kevin Youkilis plugging the hole the Gryphons have had at 3B for a while. They lost just a little bit of depth in their rotation however, as even with the injuries Scott Kazmir along with Tommy Hanson will probably put up more productivity together than Hamels will alone.
Grade: B