Prologue | Chapter 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

Chapter Eight: Rounding Into Place

“We’ve already got Grissom,” argues Big Daddy, spewing shards of stuffing and potatoes as he speaks. “What do we need Bradley for?”

“Because Bradley is a friggin’ nuclear weapon against lefties,” answers Glander, with the focused look of concentration that has become so familiar in this room.

“Yeah, but if we do this deal, we’re creating holes in two spots, and we’re losing $1.5 million,” Reuschel continues. “And for what? We’ve already got Grissom, and our lineup against lefties looks pretty good already.”

“I just don’t think the opportunity to acquire a hitter like Bradley comes along every day,” says Glander. “Think about it. Think about Bradley batting #2 or #3 in that lineup against lefties. I just can’t see how we can pass this up.”

“I don’t know,” Reuschel says, scratching his head beneath his worn-out spotted Cowtippers cap. “How are we going to replace Brad Lidge? It’s gonna cost us $6 million to get a pitcher of his caliber in the auction. Then, we know damn well there ain’t any shortstops out there that can hit, and Ginter’s supposed to be our platoon shortstop. It’ll cost us another $4 million to replace his bat – and that’s only if we can find an adequate replacement. Where are we gonna find another $10 million at this point? And that doesn’t even count the $1.5 million it’ll take just to get this deal done in the first place. That’s, what, $11.5 million total? That’s a heckuva lot of money to spend just to have a good lineup against lefties.”

Glander pauses for a moment, pacing back and forth, staring at the Big Board that displays the contracts and salaries of every player on the Salem roster. There has to be a way to squeeze Bradley into the picture…but how?

“What if we get Great Lakes to take Jeff Weaver?,” Glander says, at long last. “That will recoup our $1.5 million.”

“Okay,” says Reuschel. “But where are we gonna find the $10 million it’ll cost to replace Lidge and Ginter?”

“How about this?,” Glander says, grabbing a marker and heading toward the diagram of the baseball diamond. “How about we shift Grissom to right field? We’ve budgeted $5m for a right fielder anyway, right? So that’ll give us $5m toward a replacement for Lidge or Ginter.”

Reuschel considers this for a moment, once again awed by Glander’s genius. “Not a bad idea. Or, we could turn around and trade Grissom for a second baseman, shortstop or reliever. Same difference, right?”

“Now you’re thinkin’!,” says Glander, pounding his first on the table. “Listen, there’s still plenty of time left in Trading Season, Big Daddy. You never know what might come our way down the road. I just don’t think we should let this one get by us, or we’ll be kicking ourselves later.”

Reuschel stares up at the Big Board, then thumbs through his grease-stained copy of the Bill James Handbook, his plump finger landing on the name of Milton Bradley. The same wild-eyed look that Glander has been sporting since the phone call suddenly emerges on Big Daddy’s face as well.

“Boy, he would look awful nice in a spotted cap,” says Reuschel, as Glander lunges for the phone, grinning like a madman.

Despite the late hour on a holiday, Glander orders his entire staff back to the office. Once all have arrived, he announces that the club has just acquired Milton Bradley. The primary objective of the Salem staff, Glander declares, is to see if there is any interest on the open market for Marquis Grissom.

“But didn’t we just pick him up less than 24 hours ago?,” asks a fresh-faced intern, as the staff gasps and cringes.

“You must be new here,” Glander quips. “Now, everyone, let’s get to work!”

More than half a dozen e-mails are dispatched that night in search of a buyer for Grissom’s services. After a few votes of “no interest” trickle in, Jim Doyle of the Manchester Irish Rebels is the first to step forward with an offer. He offers Adam Kennedy, an expensive ($5.5m) platoon second baseman. Glander counters by asking for reliever Francisco Cordero, and within minutes, Doyle agrees to the deal. It was the fastest trade negotiation Glander can remember – certainly his least painful negotiation with the Irish Rebels organization.

At 2:00am, the staffers once again head home to catch some sleep before the next work day begins at 7:00am sharp. Glander and Reuschel stay behind, sharing more leftover turkey sandwiches while staring up at the Big Board. In less than 48 hours, the Salem front office has managed to upgrade from Ray Durham to Marquis Grissom to Milton Bradley, and from Brad Lidge to Francisco Cordero, while saving $3.2 million in the process.

Glander takes a big swig of Sam Adams Cranberry Lambic, turns to Reuschel and says, “I think we’re done trading until the start of the new season.”

“Yeah, right,” Reuschel replies with a hearty chuckle.

Next up:
Chapter Nine: The Deadline Approaches