NALB - 2017 Offseason

There were some notable roster moves before spring training began for the 2017 NALB season.

The Brooklyn Knights made relatively few offseason moves:

• The Knights traded RP Luís Monjarro to the Luisville Beasts in exchange for C Dan Conley, SP Ramón Madriz, RF Jaime Benabise, LF José Burgoa, and CF Wolfe Lucas. Dan Conley was the key acquisition. He is a fine catcher with a career batting average over .300. With the departure of Alvino Flores, Conley is expected to see extensive playing time behind the plate.
• Brooklyn extended the contracts of ten players through salary arbitration: Juan Fuentes, Romeo Usquiano, Porfírio Portio, Xerxes Scaife, Bruce MacOmish, Blas Ramos, Tony Tamayo, Maurílio Godim, Lariel Gómez, and Alberto Pescador.
• Arbitration was offered to Ángel Santago and Alvino Flores. Both declined and opted to file for free agency.
• Arbitration was not offered to Alexis Schmidt.
• Signed RP Rikira Kiyomizu to a three year extension at $2 million per year.
• Signed RP Bernard Gastelu for another year for $720,000.
• Signed international amateurs SP Santiago Decristino from Panama and CF Namboku Shimohira from Japan to minor league contracts.

Notable offseason free agent signings:

• The Stade Maples acquired the top player on the free agent market when they signed starter Tyler “Grits” Stivers to a $81.4 million, 6 year contract. That is the third largest contract in NALB history.
• Starter Kid Wilson found a new home in Nashville. He agreed to a one year deal with the Firecats worth $5.5 million.
• Gene Noke was the most desired catcher available. The Dunedin Otters scooped him up early. Noke got a 5 year commitment worth $33.5 million.
• Shortstop Larry Arceniaga was one of the most sought after players in this year’s free agent class. He decided to sign with the Nashville Firecats for $46.1 million over 4 years.
• Feliciano Gómez is an athletic player who played several infield positions for the Sky Chiefs over his six year NALB career. The Corals inked a 3 year $15.02 million deal with Gómez to bring him to Key West. What some fans may not be aware of is that Gómez is also an excellent pitcher with a blazing 100 mph fastball. The Corals may put his valuable arm to use in their bullpen.
• The Beasts added a big name to its starting rotation by signing pitcher Whitney Sanders for $48 million. Assuming he plays out his contract, Sanders will spend 5 seasons in Luisville.
• After seven seasons in Phoenix, superstar closer Stokley “Pumpkin” McGruder has found a new home in Nashville. The Firecats showed their commitment to winning by locking McGruder up for 4 seasons with a $21.4 million contract.
• The Richmond Slam will certainly miss their long time second basemen, Edmundo Ovelha. He tested free agency and was rewarded with a 6 year $58.4 million by the St. Rock Mudcats.
• In a surprising move, the Dunedin Otters awarded free agent closer D’Ángel Guzmán with a big pay day. His $28.4 million over 3 years surpassed closer Stokley McGruder’s contract, which was signed just nine days before.
• Goodbye Brooklyn; hello Vancouver! Left fielder Ángel Santago agreed to a 5 year deal with the Wild worth $48.8 million.
• After he was unable to come to terms on an extension with the Brooklyn Knights, catcher Alvino Flores declared free agency. The Phoenix Rattlers eagerly offered him $25.68 million for his services over the next 6 years.
• Starting pitcher George Manzo has the distinction of signing the longest contract out of this year’s free agent crop. He and the Vancouver Wild agreed to a 7 year deal for $55.3 million.

Notable offseason trades:

• The Washington Allies traded 33-year-old first baseman Pete Porter (retaining 20% of his salary) and 18-year-old minor league starting pitcher Ric Lenhart to the Nashville Firecats, getting 26-year-old catcher Doug Daly in return.
• The Las Vegas Luck traded 30-year-old reliever Paul Thompson (retaining 70% of his salary), 21-year-old minor league catcher Heriberto Galarita and $620,000 in cash to the St. James Crusaders, getting 19-year-old minor league starting pitcher Octávio Chávez and 24-year-old minor league shortstop Mark Ferguson in return.
• The St. Rock Mudcats traded 25-year-old shortstop Kazuki Sai to the Nashville Firecats, getting 25-year-old reliever Cordero Decena and 22-year-old minor league catcher Iorweth Crease in return.
• The Quebeck Sky Chiefs traded 28-year-old starting pitcher Dan Eckenrode and 22-year-old minor league starting pitcher Kearney Snipes to the Washington Allies, getting 21-year-old minor league starting pitcher Dave Kirby and 19-year-old minor league third baseman Kane Wyckoff in return.