Free Agency Day 3

The Big ones started to fall today as Top Hitting Gem Arias and top Pitching gem Wang both found new homes for Season 17.

RF Vincente Arias- News out of Texas is the Tornadoes made a big splash in Free Agency, picking up perennial 20/20 guy Vincente Arias in a 3 year 36 Million dollar deal. Arias will be a huge upgrade over Trevor Jackson who left during free agency. Arias should more than make up for jackson's lost speed and add a lot more pop in his bat.

SS Roosevelt Murphy- After a few tense days in Salem, negotiations have finally concluded. Murphy briefly considered moving to another team, but ultimately decided his home was in Salem. " Salem is building for the near future, I want to be part of this" stated Murphy at the team press conference. Details of the contract as follows a 5 year 34.8 Million dollar deal.

Salt Lake City Prospectors continue to reload adding P Hugh Aldridge and C Chad Riley to Mullti year deals. Aldridge spent the last season and half in New York (now Fargo) going 11-6 in his role as a long reliever. " I'm ready for what ever role the team sees fit for me, I just want a shot at a ring" explained Aldridge after inking his 2 year 7.8 million dollar contract. 30 year old Riley solidifies a weak area for Salt Lake and hopes to prove himself as the starter in SLC. His 13.6 million dollar contract says Salt Lake sees him as the starter something he has not gone into any season being. His last season in Houston showed career highs in ABs and his first as a starter.

SP Alex Wang-Taking a page out of old friend and Hall of Famer Tim Garcia's playbook Wang reportedly turned down more money to sign a longer deal.Wang's new deal has him in a Baltimore uniform through his 41st birthday. His 5 year 57.5 million dollar deal is less money than experts predicted and might be the sign of a down market or an indicator of teams caution of a pitcher who looked in hittable in S15 and came out of S16 with an ERA almost a full run higher than his season average.

SP Jesus Melendez-Mexico City is the next stop for journeyman starter Melendez. Melendez was an up and coming 26 year will a promising future in the league until a S14 elbow injury robbed Melendez of his future. Team Doctors looked over Melendez's elbow and medically cleared him. Last season was a rough year for him as he suffered through a 6-22 season in Pittsburgh. Melendez is signed from S20 for 10.5 Million.

SS Gene Ward- Fargo made a commitment to Defense by bringing in defensive specialist ward. Last season Ward batted .239 with 48RBI. His .975 Fielding average and 11 plus plays will be more welcome. Sports Talk radio sounded disappointed in the contract a 2 year 8 Million dollar deal. There is wide concern over his horrible strike out to walk ratio.

SP Louis Gutierrez- "I still have a lot of innings to give a team and I'm glad the Metros seen that" commented Louis on his Twitter. The Metros are on the hook for a 4 year 34 Million dollar contract. Fan blogs are mixed on the acquisition of a pitcher who at 32 has struggled the past 2 seasons in Texas to find a groove and seem disappointed that for another 3.3 million they could have landed prize ace Alex Wang.