The Calgary Marauders have traded star centerfielder Roland Carroll to the Madison Wolves in a blockbuster 15 player deal. Carroll, who had played his entire 8 year career in Calgary, had signed a 10 year, $100 million dollar deal last year. It was rumored that Carroll might be heading elsewhere but many chalked it up to trade deadline talk and expected rightfielder Johnnie Iraq or pitcher Johnny Madorin to be more likely trade targets.
"We couldn't pass up what Madison offered," said new GM Kevin Dickson. "This deal brought us three prime prospects and an proven outfielder in Casey Martin. We expect Martin to come to camp healthy next season and be a big contributor. I was hoping I could get Madison to go for two number ones, but when they offered the third it was a no brainer. Wilson (Madison GM Chris Wilson) was a great guy to deal with by the way. We wish Roland Carroll all the best. He was a great player for us and this deal gives him the chance to compete for a championship."
Injured right fielder Casey Martin was the biggest name the Marauders got in the deal. However, the key to the deal was the three top minor league prospects Calgary got, CF Ramon Gutierrez, 1B Don Goodman, and P Steve Black. Dickson said that he thinks all three will be starting for the Marauders within 2 years.
Gutierrez was a 1st round selection of the Wolves in the 2003 Draft. A great fielding outfielder with speed, Gutierrez projects to be Carroll's eventual replacement. After batting .360 at A ball this season he was recently promoted to AA and is hitting .338. Goodman a 1st rounder in 2002 is expected to be the Marauders power hitting first baseman of the future. Goodman was hitting .367 at Class A Laramie before his recent promotion to AA. Black, the 24th pick in this year's draft, was a college standout at Office Depot. In 7 minor league starts he is 3-3 with a 1.18 ERA at Laramie. The team thinks he can be in the rotation by the 2006 season.
In addition to Martin, Gutierrez, Goodman and Black, the Marauders got major leaguers P Ben Dover, OF Pio Vallejo, and OF Tom Mohler. While these three might play for Calgary this season, they were mainly included in the deal to keep Madison below the league salary cap. The Marauders also add promising catching prospect Tom Westand an interesting project in OF Orlando Mercado. Joining Martin and the bus plane to Madison are several minor leaguers that didn't figure prominently into the Marauders future plans.
