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Aging veteran closer Lee Smith has been released as has Hartford's ineffective setup man, Tonny Fossas, both of whom were rotting in AAA Glastonbury.
With three roster spots to fill (two from above and one from previous transaction with Ponxatawney) Hartford has done the following:
The Whalers have signed free-agents Chris James (RF), Tony Birdsall (LF) and Bob Mitchell (LHP-relief). James and Mitchell will be assigned to AAA while Birdsall will immediately fill LF until Strawberry's return (if the league allows it). Vince Coleman will be sent down to AAA to make room for Birdsall.
Owner/GM/Chrabascz had this to say of the moves, "Smith's career is done-period. And it should come as no surprise that Tony and I had our differences of opinion. James, Birdsall and Mitchell should each provide a welcome breathe of fresh air. Birdsall will be given an immediate opportunity to prove himself in left (field) until Daryl returns sometime early next week. Vince has provided some speed bat hasn't put the bat to the ball at all. Hopefully he can have some fun done in AAA for awhile. What's been most frustrating for me is that we have all of these base stealing players in Vizcaino, Reynolds, Coleman, etc yet we haven't stolen barely any!"
Written by Jeremy Chrabascz