The first big-name newcomer to the Atlantic League for the 2008 season has signed, and the real news here is that the contract is not with the Long Island Ducks.
Former Minnesota Twin Matt LeCroy has joined the Barnstormers, a franchise that is notorious for not paying players the league maximum $3,000 per month.
It's very interesting -- and good for the league -- to see LeCroy pick Lancaster instead of a big city market such as Long Island or Newark.
Here is the press release with the relevant information on LeCroy, who, not too long ago, was considered a decent option at catcher on your fantasy baseball team.
LANCASTER, Pa.—The Lancaster Barnstormers have signed one of the most experienced Major League players in club history. Former Minnesota Twins catcher-first baseman Matt LeCroy has signed a 2008 contract, club vice president of baseball operations Keith Lupton announced today.
LeCroy, 32, made his debut with Minnesota in 2000 and has spent at least a portion of the last eight seasons in the Major Leagues with either the Twins or Washington Nationals. The Belton, S.C., native owns a .260 career batting average at the Major League level with 60 homers and 218 RBIs in 476 games. He clubbed 17 homers for Minnesota in both the 2003 and 2005 seasons.
“Matt is a bona fide number four hitter,” Lupton said. “That’s going to give the guys ahead of him, and probably the guy batting after him, some pretty good pitches to hit.”
He has also gathered experience on the national stage, playing in the post-season with the Twins for three consecutive years (2002-04) and posting a career .269 batting average in the playoffs.
The New York Mets drafted LeCroy in the second round of the 1994 June draft, but he chose instead to play collegiate baseball at Clemson University. After three big years with the Tigers that included two trips to the NCAA World Series in Omaha, Neb., a stint with Team USA in 1996, and All-American honors in 1997, he was a first round sandwich pick for the Twins in 1997.
LeCroy joins Lancaster after being released from the Major League spring training camp of the Oakland Athletics.
“We’re tremendously pleased to have a seven-year veteran like Matt,” Lupton said. “He’ll be a valuable asset to the club on and off the field.”
LeCroy’s signing brings the total number of players under contract with the 2008 Barnstormers to 21. The club will head to Lakeland, Fla., for spring training on April 14 and will return to open the 2008 season at home against the Bridgeport Bluefish on Friday, April 25.
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5 comments:
Great news for Lancaster! Will Somerset fill out the roster this week and will there be any surprises?
Somerset will fill out its roster (and then some) this week. Expect about 26-27 guys to be invited to spring training for competition on the 25-man roster. I know most of the roster and while there were a few names that are "surprises" to me, there are no "big names." I was surprised to see a few names of past players who are returning, that's all.
Do the league teams still chip in on big name players or are we beyond that now?
What's the Spring Training schedule for Somerset??
Over the last few years, I have had the feeling the Patriots try to hold the payroll down and only dig deep if they do not win the first half. We need more players like past members such as Rob Lukachek, the late Brian Traxler, Lipso Nava, Ray Davis, Carlos Pagan, etc. to get people excited about the team again. Of late, they are an afterthought to most local folks.
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