With the prospects of a deep playoff run bleak, the Vermont Fighting Sioux management team pulled the deal on two separate trades, each involving a 36 year old Franchise All-Star.
In the first move, VFS sent former closer and current setup man Billy Wagner down south to the Miami Surf in exchange for MSU's #2 pick in the 2008 Rookie/FA Draft and Ryan Langerhans.
Wagner was a member of Sioux Nation from 2005-2008, racking up a franchise record (by a long shot) 96 saves to go with a 12-16 record and 3.26 ERA. This year Wagner passed the closing reigns to rookie Hideki Okajima and served as a setup man. Wagner, while 36, still possesses his dangerous fastball and should provide the division leading Miami with another relief option in their drive to the playoffs.
The other move saw the franchise's best catcher, Jorge Posada, get shipped to the Springfield Isotopes. The fact that SPR already owns NASBL's best record should be unsettling to their division rivals, as the rich only got richer with this move. Vermont also sent LH specialist Ron Mahay along with their #9 draft pick to SPR. In return Vermont received SPR's #2 and #7 picks as well as catcher Carlos Ruiz and promising reliever Santiago Casilla.
Posada (seen above during his recent rehab activities) leaves Vermont with a career that spanned 2004-2008 in which he hit 60 HRs (5th all-time for VFS), knocked in 217 runs (6th) and hit .273. He gives SPR a solid bat to use either at DH or catcher.
Asked about the perception that he's giving up on his team for this year, Sioux GM Justin Rabidoux said "You, sir are correct, we indeed are throwing in the towel. This team lacks the necessary pitching depth to make playoff noise and to think otherwise would be foolish. Last year we made a run at a title (eventually falling in the LF LCS) and were aggressive buyers in the trade market, if we thought we had the same chance again, we'd be trading picks for talent instead of the other way around. It was the right thing for us to do giving Wags and the Great Gazoo a chance to play meaningful baseball late in their careers and it allows us to get younger for next year".
Staff ace John Lackey (6-2, 3.80 in '08 w/VFS) may be the next man out the door.
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