Trade shakes up 3 teams

OLD FOREST - Trades between the Merry Fellows, Devils and Raiders has juggled the lineups and pitching staffs of all three teams. In a series of moves before the July 31 trading deadline, Old Forest has engineered deals with Isengard and Dunharrow that strengthen their already powerful pitching rotation, while giving both the Devils and Raiders some help in critical areas.

The deal with Isengard sends All-Star pitcher Fabur "The Apostle" Beardcutter to the Raiders in exchange for Foisil "Eye" Belöl, Perauman Merumli and Marcos Ibañez. Beardcutter, 32, is a potential Hall of Famer with a 122-85 career record and a 3.09 lifetime ERA (2nd all-time). He also has 2,179 strikeouts (also 2nd on the career leaderboard). It is believed that Beardcutter's $23 million salary, which runs out at the end of this season, was the main motivator for the Merry Fellows moving him. Meanwhile, Old Forest gets the rock-solid third baseman, Merumli, a 2-time winner of the Legolas Fielder Award.

After the Raider trade, Old Forest sent Belöl to Dunharrow along with Minto Gamgee-Took, Elrildur "Elroy" Elriamli, Effi Frodi, Gikor Elrüldor, Michael Fusco and their 2nd round draft pick in 2014 in exchange for Robert Lauzon, Rulina Veslay, Isiawyn "Eyes" Imrialob and the Devils' next two 3rd round picks.

Gamgee-Took, 33 is a solid outfielder with a .270 lifetime average. He was a longtime member of the Numenor Kings before being signed as a free agent by Old Forest this spring. Elriamli, 29, is another all-around outfielder with great defensive skills and a Legolas award at CF. Frodi, 23, is a hot young prospect, the 2nd pick for Minas Morgul in 2007. Elrüldor, 20, was Old Forest's 3rd draft choice this spring, and Fusco, a 23-year-old shortstop, was their 4th pick in 2007.

Old Forest gets Lauzon, 28, a somewhat injury prone but solid defensive outfielder, along with two solid additions to their rotaion in Veslay and Imrialob. Veslay, 27, is 6-6 with a 3.24 ERA and 119 strikeouts this season. Imrialob, 34, is a veteran with 3 Return of the King trophies on his mantle from his days with Mirkwood. So far this season, he is 7-5 with a 3.57 ERA.

Posted at August 5, 2006 09:08 PM | more from Dunharrow, more from Isengard, more from Old Forest, more from Old Forest