Deal Sends Webster to Monterrey for Moraga

With the emergence of both Quinn Stevenson and Benny Aybar, a AAA call-up, the Philadelphia Flash were very deep at the starting pitching position. Having such a luxury enabled them to hit the trade market, looking for a young, big-league ready 3B who could help platoon with Richard McMasters and Ramon Martin at the corners. After the Flash let Wallace McIntyre, a very big contributor to last year's success, leave via free agency, a move was all but certain to follow.

So, the Flash packaged SP Chief Webster and cash to the Monterrey Sand Dawgs in exchange for 3B Tony Moraga. Moraga is 26-years-old and coming off a disappointing season in which he hit .258 and drove in only 50 runs. Moraga is not as much of a power threat as the departing McIntyre, but the Flash do hope he can hit for average for them against left-handed pitching. He has always fared better against south paws in his career, and the Flash are looking to take advantage of that.

The lone sticking point for the Flash was the fact that Moraga had already been signed to a 5-year, $25 million contract. However, since he is only 26-years-old, Philly's management felt they would certainly get value out of him throughout the duration of his contract.

As for the other half of the deal, Chief Webster went 28-18 in 2 year's as a part of the Flash rotation. His ERA over that span was 4.02, very serviceable given the amount of home runs hit in Citizens Bank Park. Before leaving the organization he was quoted as saying, "I understand this is a business and management has to make the decisions they feel are best for the franchise. That doesn't mean I won't miss the guys, though. My teammates, the coaches. I felt very lucky to be a part of the success the past 2 seasons here in Philly."