Dateline Jersey City: There’s dancing in the Skeeter front office today, as Jersey City has filled one of it’s gaping organizational holes by acquiring AAA reliever David Reed from the Pittsburgh organization.

“Man, this is EXACTLY what we need!” said Skeeter assistant GM Oscar Azocar. “A young, right handed reliever who’s clearly good enough for AAA, and can maybe handle the majors this year or next. And all we gave up was our top hitting prospect Albert Guzman and AAA starter Darren Lindo! I mean, so what if Guzman had mastered AA at the tender age of 19, and was just rated the #22 prospect in the game? Guys like Guzman grow on trees, they’re a dime a dozen, I’d give up three of them to acquire a middle reliever!”

Current Nyack Rockland middle relievers Caparros, Williamson and Diaz were despondent when they heard the news. “Jeez, David Reed? We got him?” said Andrew Williamson. “Man, how am I supposed to compete with him? Now I’m, what, 4th in line for a promotion to the majors? I’ll NEVER get out of Nyack now!”

“Hey, I better start calling all the other front offices to see if anyone else wants a top prospect for a middle reliever,” said Azocar. “Maybe I can pawn off Jose Hernandez for a swingman. Or Paul Valles might get me a 2.5 star reliever! I better get busy!”.

At this point in the press conference, assistant GM Oscar Azocar jumped off the podium, and as he was yelling “Reed! Reed! Reed!” , did the famed Skeeter dance as he left the room.

This left Skeeter deputy assistant GM Greg Cadaret to finish announcing the rest of the trade, which also saw AA OF Jesus Yorba come to Jersey City’s organization. The Skeeters also agreed to take on the contract of two-time all-star Donald “Missing” Parson from the Pisces in the deal.

In a classic end-of-Spring Training deal to address pitching needs, Jersey City has traded for SP James Pilla and MR Calvin Washington from Miami. In return, the Masters get prized OF prospect Naizen Sato and Jersey City’s 4th round pick in the next draft.

Acquiring Pilla gives Jersey City a solid 4th starter to go with Valles, Silas and Rosado as well as someone who is under team control for several more years. Washington should fill in the bullpen depth that the Skeeters have been lacking.

Well, I really didn’t expect to sign Pullum, but now I find myself with four starting quality OFs.

I’m quite willing to move one of them. Particularly Gonzalo Fernandez (FA after this year, $4.3M salary, .803 OPS last year) or Paul Caldwell ($5.6M for the next two, .816 OPS last year, second in the league in hitting last year, won the batting title in 2005). I could be convinced to move Brandon Townsend as well.

Looking for? ML starting quality 2B/SS, SP, MR, prospects.

Come make me an offer!

Jersey City shipped swingman Sergio Varela to Cairo today, in exchange for reliever Ernesto Caparros. Caparros is expected to go to triple A Nyack.

When reporters asked why he would trade a pitcher with a 3.91 ERA for one with a 4.78 ERA, Jersey City GM Paul Michael said, “Well, I was getting sick of that Varela guy. He spent all his time in the clubhouse on his laptop, tracking his fantasy baseball team. He kept mumbling on and on about this great closer he had on his team, some Junior Cuomo dude. I mean, who spends all his time tracking players that aren’t even real??? And what kind of stupid name is Junior Cuomo?”

“Or maybe, it could have been Caparros’ option years.”

OK, after this last sim I’me convinced that I need starting pitching help. I’ve got one pitcher performing very well (Guille Alvarado, 6-0), and a bunch of fringy veterans and not-quite-ready prospects that are not getting it done.

So, I’m looking for a proven SP.

What can I offer? Well, I have some depth in OF. Gonzalo Fernandez is playing well this year in CF. Also newly signed Paul Caldwell is hitting .368 and is signed through 2008 at a reasonable price. Brendon Townsend is a having a bit of a down year but is my best OF and is also signed at a reasonable price through 2007. Obviously the above is the order in which I value them as well.

I also have, ironically enough, a glut of SP prospects. Some of them have been up to the majors and haven’t cut it yet, some are at AAA or AA. So there’s Eric Pelham, Mario Funke, James Lineberry, Darren Lindo, Tsuki Tashiro, Jose Alvarez…. even Paul Valles, but he’d be expensive.

I’ll also consider moving 2B Aloisio Morales, and am very willing to take back salary in any deal.

So, take a look, let me know! I’ll be looking through people’s rosters and may be sending out some offers also.

I’m making 5 star SP prospect T Tashiro available in the right deal.
I’m looking for a major league caliber SS or SP in the 3 star or more range, signed beyond this year at least, as the cornerstone.
Also 3 star OF prospect G Marcano is now available with my recent signing of Paul Caldwell.

All offers will be considered! Well, except for Mack’s hookers and blow.

2.5 star veteran catcher Marcos Navarro is available, at a low price of a 2 star (not MR) prospect 23 or younger. I’ve got a catcher at AAA who is burning up the league, and Navarro is too good to be a backup. He’s a career .325 hitter, this year he’s hitting .318 with a .776 OPS. Signed only through the end of the year.

Also, I’d consider moving two of my SPs – Joseph Silas and Steven Pate. Youth and SS help needed.

It may just be me, but I’d like to take the beginning of the FA period a little slower? Have day 2 and 3 be their own sims?

Or if you want to keep the same # of sims…
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3-4
Day 5-6
Day 7-9
and onward as now.

Jersey City has sent veteran starting pitcher Steven Hawn to Seattle in exchange for minor league SP prospect Eric Pellham.

Another multi-player trade pulled off by Jersey City, as, despite his “white flag” posting of several weeks ago, the Skeeters’ GM sends a bunch of prospects and a draft pick to Helena in exchange for two veteran pitchers.

Jersey City sends three of his top seven prospects to Helena, as 20 year old OF Frankie Garnett, 20 year old C Anthony Portugal and 21 year old P Edmund Cronan head out west. In addition, Helena gets MR Marcelo Amaral and the Skeeters’ 1st round pick in next year’s draft.

In exchange for this package, Jersey City gets closer Alfred Wickline and starting pitcher Tomas Folch.

“Wickline should really bolster the bullpen – he’s having an off year, but I’m confident that working with Pitching Coach Raymond Wilhite, that Alfred will turn it around and solidify the pen”, said Jersey City’s GM. “Folch is a top tier starter, and gives us a deeper starting rotation. Plus, both are signed for the next three years.
“We gave up a lot to get these two, but managed to hold on to our two top prospects. Despite earlier indications that we were going to rebuild, after studying the market a bit more, it became clear that the right thing to do was to go for it this year.
“And hey, anybody needing a starting pitcher for the back end of your rotation, I’ve got the arms for you!”