WHIV 2022.7- Hustlers blockbuster trade means win it all

[recte44]

There's only one way a Hustlers fan can look at the deal they made with Buffalo this week- the Hustlers are all in for this season and they must win it all or it's a failing season.

Knowing they didn't have the available funds or future salary flexibility to extend him, the Hustlers threw caution to the wind and targeted the best pitcher in baseball anyway. After nearly a week, Las Vegas and the Bison reached agreement on a major blockbuster trade.

To Las Vegas:
SP Mike Swanson (10/8/10 Ratings, 131 - 71, 2.72 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 2140 K)
SP Steve Hoffman (9/8/7 Ratings, 146 - 76, 3.13 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 1953 K)
SS Fred Hernandez (7/7/6/6/7 Ratings, .244/.307/.382, 42 HR, 190 RBI)

To Buffalo:
SP Ignacio Rodriguez (9/6/8 Ratings, 4 - 3, 4.27 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 60 K)
SP Dieter Hartinger (8/7/8 Ratings, 115 - 98, 4.09 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 1568 K)
2B Ernie Stauffer (7/6/6/5/6 Ratings, .302/.337/.449, 233 HR, 1103 RBI)
LF Edgar Ordonez (7/7/8/4/7 Talents, .271/.291/.458, 3 HR, 16 RBI)
SP Juan Hernandez (7/7/8 Talents)
SP Anastasio Vazquez (7/6/8 Talents)

Clearly, this deal was about one thing: getting Swanson. The vaunted Hustlers rotation wasn't living up to the hype this year, and given their offensive success, Las Vegas needed to shore up their rotation. At the end of the day, it meant giving up the #1 prospect in the game in Rodriguez, and a really good young outfielder who is ready for the show in Ordonez. They also acquired Hoffman. Once upon a time Hoffman was right there in the conversation with Swanson, after several injuries he's still a really good, but not great, pitcher. He also carries a hefty price tag for the next few seasons. Hartinger, who has struggled all year; and Stauffer, who's been injured all year, were jettisoned in order to make the salaries work with this deal. The salary relief from losing them is effectively negated by acquiring Hoffman, however.

The Hustlers also included a couple of decent pitching prospects in Hernandez and Vazquez, but at the end of the day they held firm that SS Hernandez be included in the deal. He gives the Hustlers a younger, cheaper, better fielding version of Edward Allen for the future of shortstop, but for now he'll play second base everyday.

This is a massive haul to give up for two months of Swanson, but the Hustlers feel like they now have the best rotation in the game and it's not even close. Is that enough to get them back to another LMS title? It'd better be, or this trade is an epic fail and Hustlers fans will forever watch the career of I. Rodriguez unfold with the Bison.

[aaronweiner]

It's clear that Vegas is going for it all, but I don't know why there's such a negative uproar about this deal. I think it makes PERFECT sense.

[Ted]

It's clear that Vegas is going for it all, but I don't know why there's such a negative uproar about this deal. I think it makes PERFECT sense.

Yay, we agree!!! Lost of perfect sensing in a super awesome trade review I just wrote.

[7teen]

I don't mind the trade either. Was just refraining from saying anything about it during the heat of the moment. Vegas clearly got a lot of ready made talent to make a run at a title. They gave up their top prospect, something a lot of owners refuse to do in this league even when top players are involved.

Recte is going all in for a championship. Something Im a fan of. Just wish my team was structured differently heading into this season. Maybe I could have done the same.