Hartford, CT (AP)- The Hartford Whalers have finally found a taker in the Cal
Eldred shopping spree. Soon after the rosters opened, Hartford traded the
veteran pitcher and CF Brian McRae to Houston for sluggers Henry Rodriguez and
Fred McGriff. McRae was "in shock" at the announcement and couldn't understand
why they would deal him after a solid season as a starter in Hartford. Eldred,
meanwhile, had been begging to be traded all season long as he was mired by
inconsistency and flip-flopped from the rotation to the pen almost daily (it
seemed). "I'm glad to be getting out of here. This team is going nowhere
fast. I'm going to take my (championship) ring from 2 seasons ago and run. I
hope to retire in Houston," said Eldred following the announcement. Whalers GM
Peter Gammons was pleased with the deal, saying, "With our pitching in question
we knew we needed more 'punch.' With O'Henry and McGriff, we got plenty."
Indeed. The Whalers now have 6 potential starters with PH of 80 or better in
Berroa, Williams, Abbott, Sanders, Hoiles and Rodriguez (and McGriff is at 79).
Even youngsters Adam Riggs and Socks Byrne have power ratings of 64 and 59,
respectively (Riggs' backup at 2B, Tilson Brito, even has 59 PH now). The
average PH of the Hartford Whalers major league roster now is 75.8 Simply
outstanding. And the average CH is in the mid 50's. If The WHale's young
pitching doesn't do its job, the offense still may be able to pick up the
slack.
In Other News...
The Whalers are looking to possibly deal some of that power in return for a
legitimate pitching ace/staff anchor. Hartford apparently isn't sure if Tom
Gordon, Aaron Sele or Tony Saunders would be up to the task of being #1.
However, although they are listening to any offer, they are apparently not
making ANY more moves until after the Free Agent Draft.
The Whalers released CF Dan Taylor, 1B Red Cieslak, SS Hal Bocek, CF Bob
Miller, P Billy Dietzel, P Mike Mohler and P Robinson Checo.
