NALB - 2006 Spring Training

K. Fields
2007-07-15T17:02:52-04:00
Baseball

Spring training got underway on March 2, 2006. Eyes are not only on the perennial powerhouse Knights but also the Luisville Beasts and their ballooning payroll. The Beasts enter the season with a mammoth $102.7 million payroll, almost $20 million higher than any other team. Expectations are very high in Luisville after several high-profile player signings. Time will tell if all of the aggressive spending pays off.

Brooklyn looked like a different team at the start of spring training, losing their first six games. They finished up 12-12, which was the best record in their division by one game. Luisville lived up to their towering expectations by posting a 17-7 record, best in the NALB.

Over in League 2, it was the familiar sight of the Stade Maples atop their division at 14-10. The Vancouver Wild were very strong as well, delivering a 16-8 record, four games ahead of St. James.

Spring training transactions:

3/19/06 - A contract extension between star catcher Topper Blefary and Stade was reached. Blefary will continue to play for the Maples and will pocket $39,900,000 over the next 5 years.
3/21/06 - The latest out of Dunedin indicates that Gene Battle has re-signed with the Otters and that the 38-year old starting pitcher is set to earn $8,812,800 over a 2-year span.
3/21/06 - A trade between the Nashville Firecats and the Luisville Beasts was made official this morning. The Firecats sent 26-year old third baseman Henri Cleveland to the Beasts in exchange for 32-year old center fielder Elmer Gallagher.
3/23/06 - The Phoenix Rattlers inked a deal with 28-year old Chuck Yeabsley today signaling that they not only wanted him on the field but in the clubhouse. Yeabsley, a left fielder, will draw $40,320,000 over the next 5 years.