MLIB II News: Spring Training Begins
Saturday, March 6th, 2010: Baseball is back and BNN will be there through it all, keeping tabs on the workouts and the practices, the cuts and the promotions. The regular season is just around the corner for Major League Internet Baseball organizations!

García and Heeffer Dealt
Monday, March 1st, 2010: Boston and Milan announced some roster changes today as the Red Soxs acquired 34-year-old starting pitcher Edolf Heeffer from the Mud Sharks in exchange for 22-year-old minor league starting pitcher Rodion Sanotsky, 23-year-old minor league first baseman Jesús Sánchez, 23-year-old minor league center fielder Ernesto García and 22-year-old minor league center fielder Gellu Dimir. Representatives from both teams say they are pleased with the deal.

Trade: Munger for Kobayashi
Monday, March 1st, 2010: The Baseball News Network is reporting that Toronto and Glasgow have agreed in principle to a swap that will send 27-year-old minor league reliever Madison Howard, 25-year-old minor league shortstop Paul Washington, 25-year-old minor league center fielder Tokutomi Sugiyama, 25-year-old minor league center fielder Bill Baker, 24-year-old minor league first baseman Juan Núñez, 24-year-old minor league reliever Pablo Marino, 23-year-old minor league reliever Min-zhong Zheng, 19-year-old minor league starting pitcher Elliott Munger and $5,000,000 in cash to the Patriots with 23-year-old third baseman Yakamochi Kobayashi, 18-year-old minor league first baseman Valentin Rosu, 22-year-old minor league second baseman Derek Gabb and 25-year-old minor league starting pitcher Vic Wright joining the Tornados.

Toronto's general manager would not confirm the trade, but a team representative close to the negotiations said the deal is official and is now only awaiting approval from the league.

Tornados Swap Martínez to Mud Sharks for Navashin
Monday, March 1st, 2010: Officials for Toronto confirmed that they have traded 27-year-old minor league right fielder Mario Martínez, 27-year-old minor league second baseman Miguel López, 25-year-old minor league starting pitcher Erek Ptaszynski, 25-year-old minor league catcher Fraser Aitken, 27-year-old minor league closer Martín González, 23-year-old minor league left fielder Gin-fan Qu, 26-year-old minor league second baseman Jorge Navarro, 23-year-old minor league right fielder Arnie Hatcher and $2,000,000 in cash to the Milan Mud Sharks. In return, the Tornados will receive 28-year-old catcher Petya Navashin.

Toronto Ships Barberi to Munich
Monday, March 1st, 2010: BNN has learned the Toronto Tornados have reportedly worked out a deal with the Munich Border Cats. Sources close to the Tornados indicated that a trade has been reached in principle where 20-year-old right fielder Vanni Cedronelli will be swapped to Toronto with 22-year-old minor league center fielder Regis Barberi and 26-year-old minor league starting pitcher Ramón Caballero heading to Munich. Neither organization would comment on the report, saying it was club policy not to speak about a trade until it was finalized.

MLIB II News: Draft Pool Revealed
Saturday, February 13th, 2010: Major League Internet Baseball today released the final list of all players eligible for next month's rookie draft. Now that the list has been made official, close scrutiny of these players can be expected as scouts begin to review this year's up and coming talent.

BNN has added to its Transactions page a section dedicated to the draft pool, which will be available 30 days prior to draft day.

The top players available (in no particular order) seem to be:
1. Toyoharu Nakamura, 21 year-old starting pitcher out of college.
2. Júlio Archuleta, 21 year-old catcher out of college.
3. Kelvin Hagerty, 22 year-old catcher out of college.
4. Roberto Guerrero, 22 year-old right fielder out of college.
5. Juan Quintanilla, 22 year-old starting pitcher out of college.
6. Masanori Kondo, 22 year-old starting pitcher out of college.
7. Joe Smith, 21 year-old center fielder out of college.
8. David Torres, 21 year-old first baseman out of college.
9. Jason Harden, 22 year-old starting pitcher out of college.
10. Álex Pérez, 21 year-old right fielder out of college.

You can find the draft pool in the league transactions screen (league menu).

Victoria Wins MR Pérez Sweepstakes
Thursday, February 11th, 2010: Victoria officials presented their new reliever Rafael Pérez today before a packed clubhouse of media representatives, agents and baseball officials.

The deal is worth an estimated $59,781,975, and runs for 3 years.

Pérez has appeared in 52 games and captured 2 saves over his career. He has 5 wins and 7 losses and a 4.65 ERA with 79 strikeouts in 137.1 innings.

Veteran Bellars Agrees to 5-Year Deal
Sunday, February 7th, 2010: Fans in Philadelphia ushered in Rio Bellars today as their new starting pitcher. The 34-year-old came to terms with the Admirals and will be hauling in $35,000,000 a year over 5 years.

Bellars has a lifetime record of 6 wins and 11 losses and a 4.28 ERA.

Cleveland Makes Big Splash in Free Agency: Signs CL
Thursday, February 4th, 2010: As speculation mounted into the morning, rumors over a final agreement between José Esparza and Cleveland became a reality, with the star opting for a $94,950,000 deal over 5 years.

Esparza has accounted for 30 saves in his career.

MLIB II News: Pre-Season Begins
Thursday, February 4th, 2010: What will 2010 hold in store? We will soon find out as the preseason begins today. Fans are still buzzing about their favorite team's offseason moves. Coaches are perusing the newly unveiled season schedule and players around the Major League Internet Baseball are starting to get their minds set on the long grind ahead. It might just be the preseason, but baseball is in the air!

Windsor, Glasgow Deal Made
Monday, February 1st, 2010: The Windsor Wolfpack have finalized a deal that will send 27-year-old first baseman Jim Ramsey, 25-year-old minor league reliever Luis Solís, 24-year-old minor league reliever Santiago Campos, 29-year-old minor league starting pitcher Humphrey Kamerman, 29-year-old minor league reliever Jesús Franco, 27-year-old minor league reliever Yvon Pierleoni, 26-year-old minor league reliever Héctor Machado, 27-year-old minor league second baseman Bernardo Orosco, 27-year-old minor league left fielder Tetsuo Arai and 32-year-old minor league second baseman Dave Ash to Glasgow for 29-year-old starting pitcher Simon-Pier Lavallée and 28-year-old reliever Alexander Hoath. Minor details still need to be worked out before the trade becomes official, but the players involved are expected to be with their new clubs
soon.

In his career Lavallée has 14 victories and 14 defeats with a 4.56 ERA.

Wolfpack-Warlocks Trade Announced
Monday, February 1st, 2010: It is being reported in Galway that the Warlocks and Windsor Wolfpack have agreed on a trade. According to anonymous sources 29-year-old reliever Jack Gale, 21-year-old closer César Bonilla and 29-year-old third baseman Marvin Roose will be dealt to the Wolfpack in return for 24-year-old right fielder Paul Waner, 21-year-old first baseman Daniel Ryall and $5,000,000 in cash.

In his 120-game career Ryall has hit .266 with 55 hits, 8 home runs, and 33 RBIs and has scored 24 runs.

Wolfpack Deal Romero to Kings for Burrell
Monday, February 1st, 2010: It came down to the last hour of a self-imposed trade deadline, but the Windsor Wolfpack and Edinburgh Kings finally came to an agreement on a trade that had been rumored for weeks. The trade sends Windsor's 24-year-old center fielder José Romero to Edinburgh in a swap for 29-year-old second baseman David Burrell. Both GMs seemed relieved that the deal had been completed with one stating, "We had to set a deadline to get it done." The players are expected to report to their new teams by tomorrow.

Wolfpack-T-Birds Deal: Cuyler for Pérez
Monday, February 1st, 2010: It took some time to iron out the details, but the Wolfpack and T-Birds have agreed to a swap. Dublin will get 30-year-old minor league catcher José Amaya, 28-year-old minor league left fielder Juan Freitas, 27-year-old minor league right fielder Frederik van Straaten, 27-year-old right fielder Kiki Cuyler and 23-year-old shortstop Philip Smythe with Windsor receiving 25-year-old right fielder Gustavo Pérez and 25-year-old reliever Max Kingsley in return. A source close to the trade talks said the two clubs were initially looking to make a bigger deal, but discussions broke off late last night. The two sides reconvened early today and eventually settled on this deal.

Cuyler has compiled a career batting average of .223 with 61 hits, 6 homers and 28 RBIs.

Windsor, Blackburn Confirm Deal
Monday, February 1st, 2010: Signed... Sealed... and Delivered.
Windsor has worked out terms of a deal to send 23-year-old minor league reliever Shiba Ikarashi and 19-year-old minor league starting pitcher John Goldsmith to Blackburn for 26-year-old right fielder Beckan Barclet. Both teams expect to introduce their new players at press conferences later in the week.

Since joining the league, Goldsmith has compiled an ERA of 6.59 with a career record of 9-12. He has 96 strikeouts in 168 innings and has held opponents to a .298 batting average.

Wolfpack, Barbarians Confirm Swap
Monday, February 1st, 2010: BNN has learned the Windsor Wolfpack have reportedly worked out a deal with the Aberdeen Barbarians. Sources close to the Wolfpack indicated that a trade has been reached in principle where 28-year-old starting pitcher Manuel Gómez and 28-year-old closer Alberto Rodríguez will be swapped to Windsor with 28-year-old reliever Luis Tiant, 24-year-old second baseman Alejandro Ledesma, 30-year-old minor league right fielder Shusaku Miyamoto, 29-year-old minor league second baseman Wing-chiu Fu, 27-year-old minor league left fielder Yoshihito Takahashi, 29-year-old minor league catcher Akihisa Yamasaki, 28-year-old minor league catcher Wilson Flores, 22-year-old third baseman Kevin Fréchette and $5,000,000 in cash heading to Aberdeen. Neither organization would comment on the report, saying it was club policy not to spea
k about a trade until it was finalized.

Tiant has logged a 0-6 record in his career, appearing in 28 games with 60 strikeouts and 48 walks in 100 innings. He has been credited with no saves and has a 7.47 ERA.

Gómez has collected no wins and 7 losses over his career with a 8.05 ERA. The 28-year-old hurler also has struck out 41 batters in 57 innings and allowed 83 hits.

Esparza, Indians in Secret Talks?
Monday, February 1st, 2010: Speculation has it that Cleveland and José Esparza are trying to flesh out a contract agreement that would bring the 27-year-old closer into the fold.

Esparza is reportedly going to pocket $94,950,000 over 5 years if things pan out.

New Direction for Gamblers as Tygart Named GM
Monday, January 25th, 2010: Las Vegas's newly signed GM, Michael "Tiger" Tygart took time out of his busy schedule to visit a local children's hospital. Tygart offered a rare glimpse into his personal side when the media caught up with him.

"These kids put things in perspective. Sometimes you get caught up in the details, take things for granted. You really need to take a step back and give back to the fans, especially those who are less fortunate. I have a lot of work ahead of me in Las Vegas, but it's nothing compared to what these kids go through every day. My job is easy."

Pilots León Ends Career Because of Injury
Monday, January 25th, 2010: "Baseball was my dream. I just wish it could have lasted longer." Those were the sad words of Gander reliever Álex León at his press conference announcing his retirement from baseball. León suffered a career-ending injury. He was forced to retire because of a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament. "Once this year goes by, it will be a lot easier to deal with. This is going to be a tough year, just sitting around and not being able to go out there and do what I love." All the news is not bad though. The 18-year-old León has accepted an administrative position with the Pilots.

Yu Agrees to 3-Year Pact with New York Bad Boyz
Sunday, January 24th, 2010: The New York Bad Boyz have called a press conference later today to announce the signing of closer Hyung-oo Yu to a 3-year, $16,590,000 contract.

Both Yu and the Bad Boyz are said to be very pleased to come to this agreement.

Gamblers, Pit Vipers Make Deal
Monday, January 11th, 2010: Las Vegas and Barcelona made a trade today. In this move, the Gamblers shipped 25-year-old minor league starting pitcher Raúl Sepúlveda, 26-year-old minor league closer Hiroshige Ikeda, 25-year-old minor league third baseman Preston Dixon and 28-year-old minor league first baseman Javier Martínez to the Pit Vipers for 28-year-old closer Bruno Bertin. The Las Vegas GM told reporters, "I think this trade is beneficial to everyone involved, including the players."

Veteran SP Santos Settles on Indians
Friday, January 8th, 2010: Word of a huge deal between Pedro Santos and Cleveland broke on BNN minutes before a deal was officially announced.

The premiere starting pitcher will play for an estimated $25,690,000 per year. He is definitely capable of putting together big money campaigns, which is exactly what the Cleveland owners needed to enhance their portfolio.

The 33-year-old Santos has sat down 173 batters on strikes, walked 89 and put up a 4.36 ERA. His career won-lost record is 15-11.

MLIB II News: Winter Meetings End
Thursday, December 24th, 2009: The Winter Meetings end today, so this is the last chance for GMs league-wide to get instant feedback on trading offers or player contract offers!

Teddy Bears, 3B Busoni Have Talks
Sunday, December 20th, 2009: A new era might be dawning in Tucson as the Teddy Bears are reportedly hammering out the details of a $50,040,000, 4-year deal to bring third baseman Guibert Busoni to town.

When pressed by reporters today Busoni refused to speculate, saying that all contract matters were being handled by his agent.

BNN was unable to reach Busoni's agent before press time.

Chuck "Hammerin" Hill Named GM, Takes Control of Giants