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Trail Droppings 2045-16 Calgary Adds a Pitcher

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 6:27 pm
by indiansfan
Calgary Adds a Pitcher

The Pioneers completed a trade to bring pitcher Juan Garcia to the team from the Des Moines Kernels. Heading back to Des Moines is minor league third baseman Russ Sandhoff. Garcia can start and relieve and is expected to do both for Calgary.

“I never pass up the chance to add a good arm,” GM Kevin Dickson said. “We think Juan gives us some flexibility and depth. He keeps the ball in the park and has a future in our rotation.”

Garcia, while a reliever for Des Moines this year, has started 114 games in his time with the Kernels. His best pitch is his changeup, with a good slider and acceptable fastball. The past two seasons his control has faltered, but the Pioneer’s pitching coach thinks it is correctable. Des Moines was probably not going to sign him to an extension, so this way they get something for him before he walks at the end of the year.

Sandhoff is a promising third baseman that has been stuck in the Calgary system with no chance of making it to the big league club any time soon. He has the potential to be a solid all around hitter with a decent glove if given the opportunity for promotion. In the Kernel’s system he will get that chance and his intangibles will make him a great guy to have in the clubhouse.

Update - One of the first things that Calgary did was to sign Garcia to an 4yr/$26 million extension. The size of the deal guarantees Garcia will get time in the rotation and that is exactly what has happened. After making a couple of appearances in relief, Garcia has started 6 games going 3-2 with a 5.45 ERA.