Improve Defense and Add a Starter at Winter Meetings

12/16/14: Omaha, NE – The Omaha Cyclones were clear in their desire to upgrade their starting shortstop this winter in preparations for the 2015 season. They publically voiced their desire to bring in a younger, more defensive-minded middle infielder that would also be able to provide some pop on offense.

Last season, the Clones relied heavily on veteran second baseman Steve Harris to fill the void at short. Harris was able to handle routine plays with reasonable efficiency. The problem is that his feet were rooted in cement and he often was unable to get to many ground balls that even average shortstops could grab.

Offensively, Harris was fantastic. In 126 games, Harris batted .287, knocking out 24 home runs and driving in 69. His plate discipline was also much improved over previous seasons, walking eight more times in nearly one hundred less at bats versus 2013.

All that said, the organization has made it clear that they wanted to improve their defense in the infield. Rumors swirled in Cyclone land that the team was in fierce negotiations with their division rival, the Canton Longshoreman, for up-and-coming shortstop Carlos Rodríguez. It’s reported that Omaha offered Canton several top draft picks as well as several prospects for the multi-faceted young infielder. However, after weeks of negotiations, a deal fell through.

Perhaps that was a blessing in disguise, as many scouts have questioned Rodríguez’s durability. It should also be noted that while C-Rod has proven himself at all levels of the minors, he has yet to make a major league appearance. It would be a giant leap of faith for the Cyclones to acquire such a prospect in hopes he can make an immediate adjustment to the big leagues.

It was also rumored that the Clones had interest in Eric Petersen, a former Omaha Cyclones draftee that was shipped off to the West Virginia Alleghenies a few short seasons ago. Petersen, who is less versatile then Rodríguez, has had some success with West Virginia. He also brings a bit of power to the table, an attribute that we all know General Manager Jason Warnke covets dearly. As far as we know, any potential deal with West Virginia is currently on hold.

While the Cyclones may have struck out on their first two shortstop targets, they would not go down swinging. During the Winter Meetings, the team agreed to a deal that sends the Cyclones first, second, and third round picks in the 2015 Amateur Draft to the Florida Featherheads in exchange for 27-year-old shortstop Ben “Jackrabbit” McGinnity and veteran former Omaha pitcher António “Crayon” Rivera. The Featherheads also included their fifth round pick in the deal.

McGinnity, who only has one year left on his contract, was slightly older then what the Clones were hoping for, but still just entering his prime. “We are very excited to bring Ben to Omaha,” said Warnke. “His defense is phenomenal, and he finally proved that he should be a full time player when Florida suffered injuries last season. We also like the flexibility that he brings to the table. Jackrabbit can play all the infield positions well, which will make our lives easier should anyone go down to injury this season.”

In 2014, McGinnity hit .294 in 125 games. He also smacked 42 doubles, 5 triples, and swiped 38 bases in 44 attempts. He has a great eye at the plate and will likely bat first or second in the Cyclones order this season.

The deal leaves a big question mark over Harris’s future with the team. Harris still has five years on his contract, and while it is a relatively inexpensive obligation, Omaha may shop him around sooner rather than later.

“As of right now, Steve is still a critical part of our team,” commented Manager Rafael Navarro. “While he may not have the range of Ben, he can also play multiple infield positions. We expect that he will get numerous starts throughout the infield and even in the DH slot. His bat has been fantastic for us.”

Harris was reached for comment after news of the deal broke. “Screw it!” said Harris. “I could care less what the team wants to do with me. I know I should be starting. If it is not in Omaha, I better have a chance to start somewhere. They know I can play.”

Perhaps the Cyclones will hang onto Harris as an inexpensive insurance policy. Injuries may be one reason. However, the fact that Ben McGinnity only has one year left on his current contract makes this recent deal a little speculative for Omaha. McGinnity gave no assurances that he was willing to extend his contract as opposed to testing the free agent market for 2016.

“We will have to play it by ear,” McGinnity commented. “I am just excited that I will be coming into spring training with a starting job for once, so let’s see how it goes. I can’t make any promises; my agent and I are unsure what our next move is. For now, let’s try to bring some wins to Omaha!”

McGinnity has already planned some pre-season hunting trips with a few Cyclones teammates. Perhaps spending quality time with some of the guys “off the field” will help him with his decision-making process. Omaha management has made it clear they would like to ink a deal.

“We would not have made this deal and sent three future picks to Florida if we did not have the intention of extending Ben’s contract,” stated Warnke. “We are nowhere near a deal, but our hope is that after he experiences what Omaha has to offer, he will be comfortable with working with our franchise.”

The other piece of the deal brought “Crayon” Rivera back to the city of Omaha. Rivera, who was drafted with the 54^th pick in the inaugural draft, pitched for two-plus seasons for the Clones. In 2009, he was traded to the Featherheads. With the exception of last season, Rivera has been a reliable starting pitcher, averaging close to 200 innings pitched per season from 2009-2013.

The Cyclones are hoping that Crayon can return from his injury and be just as productive as in past years. He boasts a career ERA of 3.57 and a 105-55 record. Assuming he remains healthy, he will likely be positioned as the ace of the staff.

Overall, this deal was relatively low risk for the Cyclones. Sure, they gave up some potential with their first three rounds of draft choices. However, nothing of current value was lost, and flexibility was gained. The question as to whether or not these two new additions add wins to the bottom line remains to be seen. After coming off a franchise-record 91 wins, perhaps these two lads will help propel the team to their first playoff berth. We will have answers in just a few short months.