Two rounds. 9 picks. An all-star middle infielder.
Look out, PVBL, here come the Larimer Knights, and they're ready to do
more rebuilding than the Denver Nuggets. Shortly after midnight, team
owner John Dybala gave himself a present for his 24th birthday: middle
infielder Jay Bell. He also gave his upstart young catcher, Curry Powell,
a gift: he traded Chris Hoiles. Powell, who utterly defied his ratings and
hit .299 last season, is the team's everyday catcher.
As part of the deal, Dybala gave up the #15 pick of the first round.
However, he got 7 in return. Larimer now has the #21, #24, and #25 picks
of the first round, and the #5, #13, #14, #15, and #25 picks of the second
round. 8 of the first 53 draftees will be moving to Colorado.
This will be a very different team at this time next week. First of all,
clearly you have to release 8 players if you intend to sign 8 players.
There was no word this morning as to who might be released, as there is
still plenty of time between now and Sunday night, and the Knights
reportedly would like to trade their way back into the top 15. The trade
for Bell has reportedly reduced the amount of job security of at least one
of the following players: Jose Offerman, Mark Lewis, Miguel Friantague,
and Jeff Branson. Word is that one or more of these players could be
wearing different uniforms if the right deal, with the right draft number,
comes along.
