Alaska Snowsox "All In" for 2013

The Snowsox made a series of trades today that will substantially upgrade their team defense for 2013.  With a great young pitching staff, Alaska decided that keeping with the status quo was not an option.  With two trades, the Snowsox were able to upgrade their team defense by 5 defensive rating points as compared to their 2012 squad.

The first trade involved a trade between the Springfield Isotopes.  The Snoxsox sent 3B Nick McKellar to the Homers for CF Cristobal Guillen.  McKellar will start for the 'Topes and represents a better 3B than what could have been found on the free agent market.  Guillen will play in centerfield and is a 3 defender, an upgrade over Alaska's incumbent CF.

The second trade was a blockbuster.  The Snoxsox sent 1B Dionysus Bernsen, 1B prospect (and jawa) Johnny Lewis, and C George Frog to the Toledo Mudhens for 1B Tino Erstad, 3B Justin Headley, and OF Quentin Vance.  With this trade, the Snoxsox free up the catching position for Jeff Bowman (one of the best defenders in the game), upgrade their 1B defense from a 3 to a 4, and upgrade their 3B defense from a 4 to a 5.  Since Erstad has a few years left at a reasonable deal, the Snowsox had to include 1B prospect Johnny Lewis.  Lewis became a man without a position, and will continue to back up Bernsen until he takes over the starting 1B job for Toledo in 2014.  Toledo was looking to free up a regular starting role for young 3B Pancho Sandoval since he was stuck behind Headley, and actually DH'd last year (despite being an adequate glove).  They also were able to add Frog, who has the potential to be one of the best all around catchers in the game.  After a few years in the league, it was clear Frog needed a change of scenery.