Monarchs Make First Trade of 2014-15 Offseason

Making the first trade of the offseason, the Seattle Monarchs struck quickly to address the looming hole at first base created by the impending departure of star slugger Dong Lutz. Seattle acquired from the Danville organization AAA first baseman Stephen Jackson. In exchange, Seattle sent two young arms from its minor leagues, AAA starting pitcher Salomon Candelas and AA starting pitcher Frank Ogrady. As part of the deal, Seattle and Danville also agreed to swap places in the first round of the next amateur draft.

Candelas is rated by Baseball America as the second-best prospect in the Seattle organization. Pitching in AAA Tacoma last year at the tender age of 22, Candelas posted a 3.97 ERA and won 11 games. "He's a live arm who is probably ready for the majors right now," said Seattle Owner/GM Mack Shultz. "But it's a crowded rotation ahead of him, so we thought we needed to send him somewhere he could progress."

Ogrady bounced back from a serious injury in 2013 to post a 2.86 ERA in 14 starts in class-A Kent last year. "We've always liked Frank's upside," explained Shultz, "but you have to give up something to get something."

The something Seattle got was a soon-to-be 27-year-old minor league first baseman in Stephen Jackson. Jackson has posted OPSs of .885 and .878 in AAA the last two years, but was trapped in the organization behind Juan Guzman.

Shultz was enthused about his new acquisition. "Like Candelas, we think Jackson is ready for the majors and just needs that opportunity. We're going to give it to him. We don't expect him to replace Dong Lutz, because nobody can replace a Dong that mighty. We just wanted him to come in and do what we think he can do. Whether that's as the everyday starter or in a platoon at first base will be sorted out in spring training."

Jackson was thrilled by the deal. "So let me get this straight, I get to get the hell out of AAA Debois County and go to the five-time champions, where they're going to give me a starting job in the majors? Sweet! Let me go pack before somebody changes their mind!"