Edmonton, November 13, 2046 -- As the Jackrabbits faithful gear up for Spring Training and the start of the '47 season, Rabbit Stew brings you some odds-n-ends gathered around the camp.
ROTATION HELP: New Edmonton GM Mike Dunn has been relatively quiet in the free agent sweepstakes, but his one signing has thrilled fans: he landed SP Stan Palacios on a team friendly, 3-year, $12.8 million dollar contract. Palacios is entering his seventh major league season but it only 27 years old. Palacios spent six seasons in Louisville before being traded before last season to Seattle. He boasts a 85-56 won-lost mark, and most importantly, he's a leftie, which is a huge advantage for a hurler in the Jackrabbits home park.
Stan is the man
FILLING OTHER HOLES: Dunn is rumored to be making other free agent bids in hopes of boosting the bullpen, but--like other GMs--is finding that the demads of other free agents remain high. The Jackrabbits have only about $6 million in cap space remaining, so it is entirely possible that Dunn is done in terms of new signings.
The rumor mill churneth, however, and Rabbit Stew has received lots of tips about conversations between the Jackrabbits front office and other teams that are in cap space trouble. "He's a vulture," said one source, referring to GM Dunn. "He's looking for teams desperate to clear space." Reportedly the 'rabbits main interest are upgrades up the middle, at SS and CF, but no clear trade partners have emerged.
THE FINAL FRONTIER?: Dunn is one of four new GMs in the Frontier Division, along with Ryan Hetzer in San Antonio, John Momberg in El Paso and Woody Donahue in Boise. Are further front office shake-ups afoot? The rumor mill is full of the usual crazy talk, including one wayward tweet that had Las Vegas GM Matt Rectenwald stepping down. We are happy to say that has proven unfounded. The rumor is likely the result of anger among some fans at Las Vegas oddsmakers, who favored the Hustlers to repeat as Frontier Division champions. Rabbits fans apparently beg to differ.
More to come!