Moonshiners Monitor, Vol. 1.11: Two hitters sign

[lchronister]

Not completely happy with how the team's bench looked going into the 1997 season, the Greenville front office picked up two more bench players late in the free agency period.

Jim Weaver signed a 1-year, $1.9 million deal to be the team's backup corner outfielder, coming over from Las Vegas, where he hit .254/.322/.432 with 22 homers and 20 stolen bases last season. He will backup Dan Manville in left and Reddie Ray in right and likely serve as the team's top pinch-hitter.

"Jim was hoping to get a starting job in the MBBA," Moonshiners general manager Levi Chronister said, "but there just aren't many teams looking for 37-year-olds to man the corner spots. We think he'll end up adjusting to a bench spot, though, and we'll probably throw him a couple starts a month just to keep the other guys rested."

Greenville also signed infielder Delmontico Anderson to a 1-year deal, this one for just $800k. The 33-year-old Anderson can play all four infield spots and even is tolerable in rightfield. He hasn't played in the majors since 1994, when he hit .184/.218/.262 in 103 at-bats with Buffalo. Last year in AAA, though, he hit .282/.354/.389 with 28 doubles, 6 homers, 41 RBI, 68 runs, 53 walks and 70 strikeouts in 483 at-bats.

"Delmontico won't scare too many pitchers," Chronister said, "but we think he will be a very useful backup infielder and occasional defensive substitution. He was a cheap addition to the bench, and we're glad to welcome him to Greenville."

[recte44]

Weaver played semi-full time with me last year and became unhappy with his role. Hope it works out for you, but I was just ready to move on.

[lchronister]

Weaver played semi-full time with me last year and became unhappy with his role. Hope it works out for you, but I was just ready to move on.

He probably will for me, too, but I figured for a one-year rental it was worth the risk.