Merchantmen Make Quick Trades Just Before Pre-Season
The management worked around the clock, but in the end it paid off. The Maassluis Merchantmen had to release or trade five players before the first pre-season game and with four deals they made that happen. Leaving town are Eric Dietrich, Stanley Jacke, Bubba Kearney, Darnell Majors, Cedric Rubio and the earlier announced departing Danny Person. Coming in is Christian Reichel.
First of all, Person was traded to Anaheim, but with salary cap issues, the Matterhorns couldn't acquire Person immediately. Just before the first exhibition game of both teams, Person got traded from Maassluis to Anaheim for a fourth and sixth round pick in future drafts.
Second trade was Cedric Rubio to the Conyers Condors. The Condors give up a sixth round pick in 2008 and get good value for it. Rubio joint Maassluis in the 2006 off-season for a fourth rounder from the Bordeaux Vineyards, but never got out of being the #3 back. And with the drafting of Tyrell Mahoney and Henry Poston, Rubio's role would be more limited.
Next was a trade where Bubba Kearney left the Merchantmen for the Georgia Gridlock, where he has a better shot at a starting role. In return, the Merchantmen get a new backup in Christian Reichel, who is also an expert long snapper. In 2006 it showed that during the absence of the usual long snapper, Charlie Martins, the kicking units struggle. The Merchantmen also get a third round pick for a fifth and a seventh in the trade.
The three other players, Dietrich, Jacke and Majors, were traded to the Paris Musketeers for a seventh round pick in 2010. The Merchantmen were readyto release the three players, but the Musketeers had only 57 players signed and the Merchantmen management offered the three for the low pick. All three could have a shot at making Paris' 53-men regular season roster, but they have to show their best effort in pre-season.
With these moves, the Merchantmen can go to the next level, being the pre-season games. The Merchantmen haven't announced their lineup for the first game at home against the Frederick Red Menace, but tradition says they will start most, if not all of their starters. The most interesting things to watch will be the return of Tai Wayne, the first passes from Louie Flannery towards Jerry Beyer, the first snaps of Ivan Jacques at left tackle and the revival of the fearsome pass rush from the defensive line. At least the Merchantmen players, coaching staff and management is thrilled to see how things will go...
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* 2005 Golden Scribe winner for best FOF Dynasty about IHOF's Maassluis Merchantmen
* Former GM of GEFL's Houston Oilers and WOOF's Curacao Cocktail
Last edited by MIJB#19 : 01-20-2005 at 04:13 AM.
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