(Galena, IL) The Galena Hamsters, in what amounts to the most high-profile
trade ever made by the franchise, has agreed to send Tom Glavine and Ramon
Tatis to the Houston Hellraisers for third baseman Jeff Cirillo and young
relief pitcher Darren Dreifort.
Glavine was not shocked about the trade: "I knew my time in Galena was
coming to an end. They have some great young pitchers coming up and the
team wanted to see them pitch. I became expendable. My time in Galena was
fantastic, especially last season! But I must say, I'm anxious to get to
Houston to start raising some hell!"
Indeed, it is expected that Glavine will help to "raise hell" for the
Hellraisers. Houston has made some key free agent signings and trades this
off season to build a contender, some even pick Houston to finish above
Punxatawney, who lost their offensvie catalyst Rondell White to free
agency. With Glavine added, and with their previous acquisitions of Pat
Hengten, fireballer Pete Schourek, and with Nagy signed on for another
year, Houston now boasts one of the best starting rotations in the Defiant
League. And Houston's offense is even more mighty than the pitching, with
Canseco and Mike Piazza leading the way.
While many expect Houston to be neck-in-neck with division winner
Punxatawney in 1998, most experts expect the Hamsters to be even more
deadly in PVBL's second season. Says Peck, Hamsters' owner/manager: "We
lost Vinny Castilla to free agency, but now we have Jeff Cirillo to take
his place. Our pitching is even stronger now with the maturation of our
young pitchers. Some of our position players have matured as well. Reggie
Jefferson has added 10 pounds of muscle. We expect to see some balls flying
out of Hamster stadium (on Hamster bats!!)
Peck says that the Glavine trade does not reflect the last deal the
Hamsters will make this offseason. Indeed, the Hamsters intend to make at
least one other deal. Among those on the trading block is former Hamsters
starting catcher Rick Wilkins and vetern relief pitcher Paul Kilgus.
