by Patrick Bailey, Charleston Gazette

12-9-2011: CHARLESTON, WV – Though 2011 saw the first Coal Sox team to make the playoffs, don’t expect West Virginia to send the same 25 men out in 2012 as the team attempts to make another run for the postseason.  With several departing free agents at key positions and an estimated $40 million in free payroll space, the Coal Sox are expected to be one of the most active teams in both the trade and free agency markets this offseason.

Gone are Jeff Patterson, Bernardo Marín, Anthony Cox and Jack Cobb.  That leaves the Coal Sox with openings in the rotation and in the lineup at CF and DH.  None of the team’s outfield prospects distinguished themselves enough this past year to earn a starting role next season, and it’s widely believed that the Sox are also looking to upgrade several existing spots in the lineup, particularly RF.

Last Thursday’s Rule 5 draft served as an opening act for the team’s offseason show.  The Coal Sox selected infielder Bob Berry from the New Jersey Hitmen.  Berry, 27, spent 2011 in AAA, where he posted an impressive .859 OPS in 135 games.  Berry is expected to fill the defensively-minded utility infield role previously held by departing fan-favorite Pancho Martínez.

The obvious offensive free agent matches for the team include Jon Wood, Cipriano López and Donnie Sutton.  Several sources have also placed the Coal Sox in connection with Anthony Pace, who sat out the 2011 season.

On the pitching side of things, Jon Mitchell and Norberto Pacheco have reportedly met with representatives from the Coal Sox.  Pacheco missed almost all of 2011 after reconstructive surgery on his elbow, though the lack of premium pitching talent on the market could drive his contract demands up despite the medical concerns surrounding him.

Most pundits rate the overall depth of the free agent class this season as unusually weak.  Given the team’s budget flexibility, West Virginia is likely to be aggressive in the trade market as well.  Several crazy rumors have already surfaced linking the team to Coal Sox from the past, such as Yong-zhan Hu and Rocky Reed.  Though many sources around the league have confirmed that the Statesmen are indeed shopping Hu, the odds that Charleston would trade him within the division, despite past precedent, are slim.  Reed’s disastrous peripherals last year are a big red flag for the Duluth ace and will make him a hard sell in trade talks.

Coal Sox fans should bookmark the Gazette homepage this winter.  It’s going to be a busy season.