American Association Daily provides insights and features on the American Association of Professional Baseball League, as well as player and coaching profiles and transactions going on with teams around the league. In today’s edition. we examine which team won the Tyler Alexander Revisionary Rights Swap – the Lincoln Saltdogs or the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.

The Tyler Alexander Sweepstakes

It isn’t often that you see a pitcher who is one of the top two or three in any league traded, but to see that same player dealt in the span of just a couple of days is truly remarkable. However, that has been the plight of Tyler Alexander, as his rights were traded from the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks to the Lincoln Saltdogs on Tuesday, only to see Lincoln deal the left-hander to Sussex County (Can-Am League) two days later.

A Truly Remarkable Commodity

There is no doubt that Alexander has a great deal of talent. If it were not for a suspension hanging over his head, the left-hander would have been back in affiliate ball a long time ago. Last season, his third with the RedHawks, Alexander set an American Association single-season record with 167 strikeouts while going 8-6 with a 2.07 ERA.

In the off-season, the lefty signed to play in the Mexican League, so he would not have been back in the American Association until August. However, it appears the deal to play south of the border has been terminated, likely bringing Alexander back to play for Sussex County. That should make the Can-Am League team one of the favorites in the league.

Both Fargo-Moorhead, Lincoln Made Off Well

While no one doubts that Tyler Alexander is a top talent, the truth is that five players were acquired for the lefty to wind up in Sussex  County. Alexander was dealt from the RedHawks to the Saltdogs for OFs Tim Colwell and Randolph Oduber, and RHP Tyler Herr. He was then dealt to Sussex County for RHP Michael Tamburino and Michael Wagner, as well as future considerations. So which team actually made the most of the trade?

For RedHawks Manager Michael Schlact, he brought in three players that should easily fit into what he is looking for in his team. Oduber played in 94 games for Lincoln last season, hitting .286 with 17 homers and 60 RBI. He will easily slip into the No. 4 or No. 5 spot in the Fargo-Moorhead lineup. Colwell has been in the American Association for four seasons, and has a solid bat, great speed, and is a greater defender. He hit .281 with the St. Paul Saints last season, stealing 22 bases while only being caught once. Colwell scored 50 runs in 68 games. Herr was the closer for the Salina Stockade last season where he was 1-2 with 6 saves in 32 appearances. The right-hander finished with a 3.46 ERA, striking out 55 in 41.2 innings pitched.

These three should have a huge impact on the RedHawks. Herr could likely be the closer for Fargo next season, and the addition of Oduber and Colwell not only add speed and power, but they also make this one of the better defensive outfields in the league.

The Saltdogs acquired two right-handers as part of the transaction, but Wagner has already been dealt to the Chicago Dogs for a player to be named later. Tamburino made 19 starts for Sussex County last season, posting a 6-5 record with a 5.09 ERA. The righty struck out 115 in 116.2 innings, giving up 116 hits and only 37 walks.

And the Winner Is…

At the point, the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks look like the clear winners in the Great Tyler Alexander Revisionary Rights Swap. They have three players who will all make considerable contributions for Michael Schlact or, at the very least, allow him to have some valuable assets to deal to improve his team even further.

For Lincoln Manager Bobby Brown, he is earning an incomplete at this point. The addition of Tamburino gives him a serviceable arm that could be a No. 3 or 4 starter on this team. However, he has potentially two players coming back his way and, until we know who or even if there truly are players returning, it looks like he walked away with the least of the deal, especially considering the Oduber was a big part of last season’s Central Division winning team.

Featured Image Courtesy of the Lincoln Journal-Star/Francis Gardler

American Association Daily Notes

The Kansas City T-Bones signed infielders Jordan Edgerton and Jason Rogers, and RHP Lucas Irvine. Edgerton was with the T-Bones last season, where he hit .255 in 70 games with 7 homers and 33 RBI. Irvine was with Somerset in the Atlantic League last year, where he had a solid campaign, going 9-4 in 25 starts with a 4.26 ERA. Rogers has reached the Majors three times, including appearing in 86 games for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2015. Last season, the infielder played in 69 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates AAA-Indianapolis team, and also played in 40 games for Hanshin in the Japanese Central League…The Texas AirHogs acquired infielder Jordan Caillouet and then dealt him to Ottawa (Can-Am League) a day later…The Chicago Dogs acquired Michael Wagner from Lincoln as well as signed two infielders, Michael Baca and Craig Maddox. Wagner was 3-3 with a 2.84 ERA for Lincoln last season. Maddox was with New Britain (Atlantic League) last year, where he hit .274 in 133 games with 12 homers and 83 RBI. Maddox is not new to the American Association, as he played for the Gary Southshore RailCats for four seasons (2011-2014), helping the team win the American Association title in 2013. Baca was also with New Britain last season, where he hit .208 in 104 games…The Cleburne Railroaders signed a pair of right-handers, Conner Camacho and Scott Plaza. Plaza was with Sonoma in the Pacific Coast League last year, where the righty was 5-2 with a 4.52 ERA in 13 starts…The St. Paul Saints signed infielder Jayce Boyd. Boyd has been with the New York Mets organization since being drafted in the sixth round in 2012. Last year, he was at AAA-Las Vegas, where he hit .297 with 11 homers in 92 games.

Listen to Top Dog with Chicago Dogs Manager Butch Hobson

By Robert Pannier
Member of the IBWAA