First year manager Chris Paterson has been busy completing his roster, looking to take his team to the top of the American Association. The Sioux Falls Canaries have been busy in May, making a host of deals with other clubs, as well as signing some key players who should make the team a force in the North Division this season.

Key Transactions

On April 10 the club began their wheeling and dealing, trading OF Chris Valencia and LHP Hector Cedano to Sussex County of the Can-Am League, as well as signing OF Brian Humphries. Humphries enters his fifth season of professional baseball. His first four were in the Colorado Rockies organization. Last season he reached AA-Tulsa, where he hit .276 with 4 homers and 45 RBI in 112 games. He is a career .285 hitter who will be a quality bat for the Canaries.

On the 14th of April Sioux Falls signed three players to deals. OF Steven Tinoco was re-signed by the club. Last season, his fifth in professional baseball and first in Sioux Falls, he hit .282 in 91 games with 7 home runs and 41 RBI. He has also scored 53 runs.

LHP Miguel Pena was added to the club’s pitching staff. The lefty has spent his first four seasons of professional baseball with the Boston Red Sox organization. Last year he pitched at AA-Portland, where he was 2-2 with a 6.41 ERA.

Catcher Tyler Tewell played his first three seasons in the Atlanta Braves organization. Last season he played at High-A Lynchburg, where he hit .251 with 8 home runs and 45 RBI in 80 games. Tewell is an outstanding defensive catcher who calls a good game.

On April 19, the Canaries acquired C Joe Staley from River City of the Frontier League. His stay in Sioux Falls did not last long, as he was dealt to Sioux City two days later.

Two days later the Canaries acquired RHP Chase Johnson from the Wichita Wingnuts for a player to be named later. Johnson split time between Winnipeg, Wichita, and Fort Worth (United League) last year. He struggled in Winnipeg, but was absolutely dominate at Fort Worth (3-3, 0.59 ERA). That continued when he came to Wichita. Johnson posted a 1-0 record and a 1.12 ERA in eight appearances. During the Wingnuts’ post-season run he was lights out, going scoreless in all five appearances he made.

On April 23, RHP Josh Strawn was released. Strawn was part of a huge eight-player deal with Laredo that brought both Strawn brothers (Jeremy and Josh) to Sioux Falls.

By Robert Pannier