London Calling!

The Monck's Corner Monks announced today that the team had been sold to a UK businessman. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

At a press conference following the announcement, the new owners revealed that the team's name would be changed to the London Dragons, and that the team would be relocating to London in time for the start of the 2023 season.

"We are chuffed, absolutely chuffed", said new owner Dragon Ash. "Being able to bring a professional baseball team to London has been a life-long dream. London is home to thousands of  baseball fans that up until now have been forced to endure cricket - a sport so boring even the players just give up mid-match for tea and crumpets. The next Babe Ruth, the next Cy Young, might be playing in a backyard somewhere in London right now".

The London Dragons will be playing home games in Wembley Stadium for the foreseeable future. Mr. Ash said that they were in discussions with the city of London on the use of Olympic Park, the 80,000 capacity stadium that recently hosted the London 2012 Olympic Games.

One of the original members of the league when it was formed in 2002, the Monks have a long and storied history. Originally known as the River Cities Paddlewheelers and the River Cities Sternwheelers, the Monks are perhaps best known for meeting the Seattle Monarchs in the Cecil Cup finals four years running. The Monks won the first encounter in 2008, before losing the next three Cup Championships in a row.

Over the past 10 years, the Monks compiled an 852-769 record and made it to the play-offs four times, but insiders whisper that the club has been poorly managed in recent years. In fact, the team hasn't had a winning season since 2017, going 350-460 over the past five years. After attracting 3 million visitors a year for six straight years, attendance has dwindled steadily; last year attendance barely reached 1.5 million, even as the team has one of the highest payrolls in the league.

"Mr. Ash has his work cut out for him", said one scout. "the Monks have always hit, but that's probably the worst pitching staff in the league". The Monks last year were dead last in runs allowed, ERA, WHIP and home runs allowed. "Watching the Monks play last year was like watching the other team taking batting practice for nine innings" the scout said.

Mr. Ash said his first order of business before tackling the pitching staff was to order fish & chips and a pint of Guinness.