Angel Zalapa is a 5 time Golden Bat Winner.
He is a 7 time All Star.
He is a stellar fielder.
He is well on his way to the Hall of Fame.
He is many things.
What he is not, or rather is no longer, is a Valencia Star.
Zalapa was traded this week for 4 players in a move insiders say was driven by the club's dire financial situation. Plans to mount a campaign to build a new stadium next year have been shelved, amid an eerily quiet front office over the past few months. League sources say those missed opportunities left the club with a little choice to cut payroll as soon as possible.
From all indications, the trade developed very quickly to beat the trade deadline. Most of the trade talk had centered around Aaron Haney and apparently he too was nearly traded, with talks advancing to the final stages with 2 different organizations. It is believed that the club will shop Haney again in the offseason, hoping that having more clubs with the financial freedom to make an offer will offset the decreased value of having just 1 year of control.