POWER PLAY - Knights Acquire Slugger Guerrero in 4-Player Deal with Roadkill

(New York Daily Mirror - June 15, 2009)

NEW YORK - In a move that may signal the end of the Knights' philosophy of "station to station" baseball, the team announced today that it had acquired slugger Vladimir Guerrero from the Georgia Roadkill in a 4-player deal that also involved draft picks for 2010.

Going to the Roadkill are disappointing right-hander Adam Wainwright and Jeff "The Mistake" Baker, a little-known infielder whose only claim to notoriety is being mistakenly drafted by Mitch Pak this year instead of catcher John Baker.

Guerrero, 34, gives the Knights a legitimate power threat in the lineup as well as a dominant throwing arm from right field. Not since Javy Lopez wore a Knights uniform have the Knights wielded a hitter of Guerrero's caliber. The Knights also acquire 28 year old righty middle reliever Seth McClung in the deal.

Wainwright, 27, was drafted by the Knights in 2007 and had a good season for the club in middle relief that year (5-5, 4.30 ERA, 48 K). He was promoted to the starting rotation for the infamous 2008 season. While he had a dismal year (5-14, 5.60), he actually was one of the better starters on that terrible club, striking out 115 and posting a 1.64 WHIP. He was off to a rough start this season, losing his first four decisions and posting an awful 8.47 ERA. He had been demoted to AAA Cedarhurst prior to Block 2. Baker, who will turn 28 next week, hit .381 for the Knights in very limited action (21 at bats). Baker is a useful infielder who can play second and third.

"We hate to have to part with Adam," said GM Mitch Pak after the trade was announced, "but you have to give quality to get quality. There's no question in my mind that Adam Wainwright is a quality pitcher, but not everyone can succeed in New York. We think having Vlad in our lineup for the rest of this season is a game-changer and we are glad to have his power with us for years to come."

The latter statement was probably aimed toward the naysayers on New York's WFAN sports radio, who immediately derided the trade as "too little, too late" and pointing out that Guerrero, at 34, probably has his best days behind him and will not be the power threat Pak is talking about. To his credit, however, Pak apparently did trade the expendable pitcher, as the Knights are still well-armed in the starting department with Jon Lester, Matt Cain, Joe Saunders and Gavin Floyd all signed through next season.