Another deal with Arizona

The Frostbite Falls Flying Squirrels and Arizona D-Backs have completed another deal, but this one is quite a bit smaller than the blockbuster including Johan Santana and Magglio Ordonez. In the third deal of the month for both teams, the Squirrels sent RHP Matt Garza and their 3rd round pick in the upcoming draft to the desert for OF Delmon Young.

"We're quite happy with this trade," said Frostbite GM Jack Zduriencik. "We picked up yet another top young (pun intended) outfielder. I challenge anyone to have a minor league team with an outfield as talented as ours. Jay Bruce in center, Justin Upton and Delmon Young at the corners. Watch out for our major league team the next few years."

The Flying Squirrels were clearly disappointed to lose a starting pitcher as promising as Garza, but they had a full rotation and they still have a few top unestablished pitchers in Tim Lincecum, Andrew Miller and Rich Hill.

Said Zduriencik, "And we might have a surprise up our sleeve to get another guy."

The Squirrels are also wondering how the water from Arizona got to northern Minnesota and made them max out on trades for the month.

Bay to Brooklyn

In their second deal of the new season, the Frostbite Falls Flying Squirrels have sent OF Jason Bay to longtime rival Brooklyn for SS Edgar Renteria.

The MOABS had been looking to move the high-priced veteran because of his salary and the plethora of talent they already had at the position.

Some were questioning the motives of the Squirrels, though. They traded a player with above-average speed and power who is a very good defender, and now they are left with a gaping hole in left field (Frostbite management has confirmed they will not be bringing Barry Bonds back for 2008).

But the chance to get such an accomplished shortstop couldn't be passed up, said Flying Squirrels Assistant GM Andrew Friedman.

"We felt Edgar was the best available option out there among all of the second basemen and shortstops. This will allow us to move Michael Young to second and makes the infield more talented overall than what we had at the beginning of the week (before projected starting second baseman Luis Castillo was traded to Arizona). And as for Bay, well, as the Commissioner said when describing another deal, there's no shortage of left fielders who can hit 30 homers a season. We will probably lose a bit of speed and defense with whomever the new guy is, but as a team we will be more well-rounded."

Although this deal didn't go along the lines of GM Jack Zduriencik's pledge to make the team younger (as the Johan Santana trade did), more trades to bring in young talent could come soon.

Monumental deal with Arizona

All good things must come to an end. Johan Santana was a very good thing for the Frostbite Falls Flying Squirrels. In his five years with the franchise, the hard-throwing lefty won 74 games, including a league-record 20 and a Cy Young in 2005, and helped the Squirrels to three B.A.R.B. championships.

But new Squirrels GM Jack Zduriencik decided the team would be better with Santana out of the Frozen Tundra.

"It's not that he's a bad teammate; in fact, he's great around the clubhouse. He's just so expensive and has already reached his peak. Because he's still one of the best, we were able to get a ton of talent for him."

The Squirrels have agreed to send Santana along with 2B Luis Castillo to the Arizona D-Backs for five players and a draft pick. The players coming to northern Minnesota are OF Magglio Ordonez (who played for Santa Barbara in 2003 and Frostbite Falls in 2004), RHP Felix Hernandez, 1B Conor Jackson, OF Justin Upton and LHP Andrew Miller. The Flying Squirrels also got Arizona's first round pick, number seven overall.

"We feel very good about this season and beyond," said Zduriencik. "Yes, we gave up the best pitcher in the league, but we filled a vacancy in the outfield, filled Santana's rotation spot with an outstanding youngster, got a very talented backup first baseman, and picked up two amazing prospects who could both help the big league team this year. Not to mention, we got that 7th pick. I think we got better with this deal."

Santana wasn't shocked to hear that he was dealt.

"I know I will be making lots of money the next few years, and they did the best thing for their team. I'll tell you this, I'm going to go into the Hall of Fame wearing a Frostbite Falls hat. In fact, I don't plan to be in Arizona very long. I'm going to have a month-to-month apartment. That Melkonian guy might trade me at any time."

During his 5-year stint in Santa Barbara and Frostbite Falls, Santana was 74-40 with a 3.29 ERA. He completed 24 of his 143 starts, six of which were shutouts. The ace struck out 1012 batters in 1038 1/3 innings and had a 1.15 WHIP.

The Squirrels are rumored to have another few deals done or nearing completion that include the pick from Arizona and Jason Bay, and earlier today an official who chose anonymity said there could be a bit of division re-alignment in the cards.