[Syd Thrift]

Winter Meetings

Cardinals, Browns Make Blockbuster Deal

The Browns were really up against the wall but the ownership decided to give a gift to the fans and let their top two players stay in the city. The Browns traded away SP Tim Maloy (12-16, 4.60), who had just won a hefty amount in arbitration and reigning AL MVP Lester Archie (.385, 17, 114) to the Cardinals for four players including SS Danny Manning (293, 4, 50). Also included on the Cards' side of the ledger are 26 year old SP Carl Roe (4-5, 5.64), CF Kyle Roe (the #7 prospect in all of baseball and #1 pick in the 1931 draft), and minor league reliever Eddie Gallagher. There was also an undisclosed amount of cash that passed hands in this trade.

Yankees Move Rookie of the Year Race

Everybody knew that Earl Race (.324, 2, 73) was moving this offseason but nobody knew where. Blame the impulsive nature of the Yankees front office. Race gave them 150 good games during the regular season and for that matter 6 solid World Series appearances but all they remembered in the end was that fateful final inning. Also, New York had to do something about the Mike Kennedy situation. In the end they chose to go with the local boy who didn't have the ROY season in Michael Taylor.

The Red Sox paid a fairly dear price for Race. They gave up RF Ken Flake (.247, 26, 93), who seems a perfect fit for the short porch in Yankee Stadium's right field and who will be much needed as star OF Carter Keeton won't be back until mid-May at the earliest. In addition, the Yankees extracted SS Arlen Bopp (.322, 2, 50). Bopp provides the Yanks with much-needed defense and a clutch bat at the bottom of the lineup.

White Sox, Phillies Exchange Players

Not to be outdone, the Chicago White Sox pulled off a move with the Philadelphia Phillies that ought to increase their lot in the American League, at least if everything breaks right. They traded 3B Mike Sheridan (.312, 10, 84), C Steve Akins (.313, 4, 70), and catching prospect George Forest to the Philadelphia Phillies for C Al Thiele (.310, 11, 90) and 3B Dale van Tassel (.333, 0, 13).

Van Tassel missed most of last season and the Phillies are satisfied with Benedict Henderson, whom they acquired from the Tigers last year to fill the hole. He's the wild card in this trade. Otherwise, Al Thiele was a definite move up for the Chisox but he has a very high salary that the Phillies were looking to dump. Mike Sheridan projects as a pinch-hitter and backup for Remi Parent at first base for his new club.