Signings Fan Flames of Rivalries for 2022 American Association Season
American Association Daily provides insights, features, and recaps of the action from around the American Association of Professional Baseball League, as well as player and coaching profiles and transactions. In today’s edition, Robert Pannier looks at the two big signings in the American Association as two teams jab right at the heart of their rivals.
Revenge Is a Dish Best Served…
It is about 100 days until the 2022 American Association season gets underway, but two teams have recently taken shots at division rivals that should fuel passions. The Milwaukee Milkmen signed former Chicago Dogs first baseman Keon Barnum a little over a week ago and the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks took a shot at the Winnipeg Goldeyes with the signing of left-handed pitcher Mitch Lambson.
They are smart moves to say the least, reminiscent of Johnny Damon moving from the Red Sox to the Yankees or Jason Schmidt heading South, leaving San Francisco to join the Dodgers. They are moves that make sense as well, as there is nothing better than hurting your rivals while improving yourself at the same time.
Keon Barnum Joins the Milwaukee Milkmen
On January 24, Milwaukee made the first big signing of the off-season. The team was already involved in a blockbuster deal before the end of 2021, bringing catcher Dylan Kelly and 1B/OF Correlle Prime from Fargo-Moorhead. However, the addition of Keon Barnum was a seismic one by American Association standards.
The Milkmen had to deal with the loss of two-time MVP Adam Brett Walker, who signed in Japan. That opened up a vet spot while also creating a need for a premium power hitter. Barnum was the answer.
The former Dogs player had an incredible 2019 in Chicago. He set an American Association record with 31 home runs that year, a mark broken by Walker this past season. Barnum hit .311 with 67 runs scored, 58 extra-base hits, and 90 RBI. That earned him the league MVP. Now Milwaukee can say that the last three American Association MVPs have played for the Milkmen.
Barnum is the ideal addition to this lineup. Prime will likely now moved to the outfield to replace Walker with Barnum sliding into first. Prime will also likely hit directly in front of the new first baseman, giving Barnum plenty of opportunities to drive in runs in 2022.
Barnum did not play in 2020, but was exceptional for Lexington (Atlantic League) in 2021, hitting .291 with 24 homers and 74 runs driven in in 76 games.
Mitch Lambson Leads Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks Rotation
The off-season got a lot more exciting when it was announced on January 26 that LHP Mitch Lambson signed with the RedHawks. Lambson was nothing short of brilliant for four seasons in Winnipeg, winning the top pitcher award in 2019 when he went 13-4 with a 3.11 ERA. In his five seasons of independent ball, Lambson has a 35-18 record with a 3.82 ERA and three shutouts.
He had been the ace of the Goldeyes rotation for three seasons, but opted to not play in 2021. He is returning this season, but did not make Winnipeg his home. Instead, he goes to division rival Fargo-Moorhead, which should fuel an already heated rivalry.
The addition of Lambson is another big addition by the RedHawks. They had already re-signed Kevin McGovern, who had also been a key part of the Winnipeg rotation for five seasons (2016-2020) before being released and signing with the RedHawks in 2020. Last year, McGovern got off to a fast start, going 4-0 with a 1.41 ERA before his contract was purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals, giving him his first opportunity in affiliate ball.
The irony of the Lambson signing is that the top three pitchers in the RedHawks rotation are all now former Goldeyes hurlers. Ryan Flores, named the PURE Performance Pitcher of the Year in 2021, will be returning as well. This should give Fargo-Moorhead three guys who could easily win 40 games combined and who should throw for nearly 400 innings.
While we are still more than three months away from the 2022 American Association season getting underway, no doubt that the off-season is turning into one of the most exciting in league history.
By Robert Pannier