Thoroughbreds Winter Meeting Frenzy
by Rusty Nobbs, Bluegrass Roundup

December 13, 2007: Lexington, KY – The fist annual Winter Meetings were held in nearby Louisville, Kentucky this past weekend, just two blocks away from Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.  The meetings went off without a hitch and at one point there were seventeen teams represented.  Most teams in some way got into the excitement by making some type of move – reserves, rookies, studs, and picks were trading hands at an incredible pace.  Our beloved Kentucky Thoroughbreds set the pace out of the gate by announcing the first trade of the Winter Meetings – a mega move obviously designed to cut the deficit.

Kentucky Thoroughbreds announce trade with the San Antonio Calzones of Laredo: LF Daron Little, 2B Naizen Nakayama, SP Gary Fisher, and SP Sixto Núñez are moved to the Calzones in what is being viewed as purely a salary dump.

• 37-year-old Daron Little was making $2.2 million and in the last year of his contract – probably would not receive much playing time with Molina, Dawson and Martínez set to patrol the outfield … Little has not been hiding his frustration though 2007 by asking for and then demanding a trade … looks like he got his wish.
• 30-year-old Naizen Nakayama could not nail down a starting job in 2007, and with the arrival of both Ignacio Lópes (SS) and Sánchez (2B) his $1.9 million salary became completely expendable.  Naizen took the news without emotion as he had seen the writing on the wall for some time.
• 28-year-old SP Gary Fisher was shocked to learn of the news.  He appeared to have the 4 spot in the rotation nailed down and had a very reasonable salary of $2.2 million.  Gary was not happy as he was packing up his locker, and had this to say: “I guarantee that this will haunt Kentucky and GM Rudis for the next several seasons.  I may not have had the best numbers in 2007 but I know I can pitch and now I will do so for a contender.”
• 17-year-old Single-A SP Sixto Núñez was included in the deal to soften the blow to the San Antonio budget.  Sixto could not be reached for comment since he was training to jockey Big Brown in next year’s Derby.  Sixto is a highly touted prospect and will no doubt be making an impact down the road for his new team.

It wasn’t all give for Kentucky as they picked up Cardenas, Alvarez, Parker, and Garcia in return.

• 28-year-old SS Iván Cardenas (Rule V pick) has tremendous upside and with the small market Thoroughbreds he will bide his time learning from the pros as he backs up the infield for Kentucky in 2008.
• 20-year-old AAA closer José Álvarez assures Kentucky of a non-stop influx of middle-relief talent.  Álvarez has the stuff to succeed in the ML, maybe a year at AAA away.
• 21-year-old AA SS Darby Parker gives Kentucky some depth at middle infield and potentially can be a reserve down the road.
• 18-year-old Single-A SP Cristián García looks to be a gem in the making.  GM Rudis says he was targeted at last year’s amateur draft, and he will have a bright future here in Kentucky.

Kentucky makes deal with Bakersfield Bears: After softening the budget woes, GM Rudis deals OF Iván Castillo and Joe Davis along with an 8^th round pick to Bakersfield for Mike Brown ($1.8 million).

• 27-year-old AAA LF Iván Castillo was viewed as potential reserve OF depth.
• 27-year-old AA LF Joe Davis was rumored to be heading out of town this winter since there did not seem to be any future for him in Kentucky and he was crowding up the path of future stars.
• Kentucky receives 24-year-old SS Mike Brown in return – now don’t go into panic mode folks, he is not to replace Barry Murdock.  Brown gives skipper Rod Carver multiple options in the infield this season and all members play various positions.  “Brown may not be the savior but our scouts think he has a bright future and should be developing some power that has been lacking in Kentucky,” says GM Rudis.

Kentucky has minor exchange with Arlington Bureaucrats: Paul Martin and Fernando Garza are moved for a fifth round draft pick.

• Martin, a 25-year-old AAA SP really had no chance of making the jump to the majors in Kentucky.  Martin wanted a chance and this was the best way for him to get it.
• Garza was nothing more than a 28-year-old career minor leaguer who can hit a double or two if given enough chances at the plate.  Garza was recently acquired by Kentucky for a tenth round pick.
• Receiving a 5^th round pick for a 10^th round investment seems like good business to us here in sports central.

Kentucky makes second trade with Bakersfield Bears: César Leal is moved for Breedveld and Vargas.

• Leal was a complete disappointment since coming over from Crystal Lake earlier in 2007.  He was demoted level by level and was on his way out but was forgotten at arbitration time and snuck in receiving a $380k award.  Kentucky has finally rid themselves of him.
• Dustin Breedveld is a 26-year-old SP in AAA.  GM Rudis sees Dustin as a potential 5^th starter replacing the recently traded Gary Fisher, or at least the 6^th man who is called upon when injury strikes Kentucky.
• 26-year-old MR José Vargas is another solid reliever who will no doubt be in the ML sooner rather than later.

That’s a lot to digest all at once, and the way we see it, Kentucky was able to cut $6.6 million while adding only $2.5 million in the form of talented young players.  That’s a net reduction of $4.1 million off the $5.5 million deficit GM Rudis is working with.  And with the expected $1 million influx of cash it appears that a $400,000 deficit is all that remains to be dealt with.  Expect a few minor moves to be forthcoming in the near future as GM Rudis sets the table for an exciting 2008 with a much improved team on the field.  Tickets for home games will go on sale shortly after the new publicity campaign announcing the new additions to the stable, and are expected to be on average $15 per seat.