[mikev]

Crusaders Aquire Another Arm, Bryant Heads Back To Manhattan

In a just-announced deal, we have learned that the Crusaders have come to an agreement with the Manhattan Myst in an exchange of several players and picks.

Coming to California is lefty starting pitcher Ken McKain, a 26 year old who had gotten off to a fairly slow start with Manhattan and ultimately resulted in his demotion to Triple-A Syracuse. McKain will be expected to bolster the California rotation, taking the fifth starter role.

Speaking of the fifth starter, Chadili Tengelei, he's the player that will be sent to Manhattan along with Triple-A pitcher Yasuhide Ito and reserve catcher Jack Bryant. Bryant, who began the season penciled in as the starter for the Crusaders, has been downright awful and was benched in favor of Carlos Becerra less than a month into 2010.

Manhattan catcher Chih-tui Pai, a 25 year old Taiwan native, will also be traded to California, as well as Manhattan's second round pick (#43) in the 2010 amateur draft.

"Essentially, I saw this as a chance to move some salary and pick up another arm," GM Mike Voelker told a local sports talk radio show after the announcement. "I think Kenny just needed a change of scenery, and he's somebody that we've had our eye on for some time. When the opportunity to aquire him came up, we sent out some feelers and were able to come up with something that everybody felt worked for them."

There has been no word from the organization on whether extension talks with Becerra have started, or whether the team plans to go a different direction.