10 former Scorpions sign with new teams
When Mike Marshall found out about the Yuma Scorpions affiliation deal with the Colombian Professional Baseball League, the general manager wanted to make sure the 22 players about to lose their jobs would be able to catch on with another team.
He had immediate success finding six players home, signing with Golden Baseball League foe Chico. In all, he's found 10 players guaranteed contracts with other teams, and is working on deals for the other players not signed.
Marshall said finding the high-profile players homes was easy. But the team's former GM and manager (he's still president of the club) said it's the lesser-known guys he really hopes catch on with other team.
"I feel like I have a good eye for talent, and at a tryout camp or something there are some guys that wouldn't wow you," Marshall said. "Take a Corey Morales, a kid from northern Colorado, he may have been my starting shortstop. ... Here's kids that never played pro ball, and I saw something in them. So trying to sell those guys is very difficult, especially at such a late time."
The United League and Continental League each starts early next month, and many of the unsigned players are trying out there.
"They should do really well; they shouldn't really have to try out," Marshall said. "Any player that got down to the final 25 ... I feel that our team would have been really good. I have another six or seven guys that should step right into the United League or Continental League."
Marshall said he feels an obligation to get as many players signed as possible.
"A lot of the guys signed with me instead of somewhere else," Marshall said. "So to have them kind of up in the air with only a few days to place them, it's a big priority for me to get all the guys placed."
Johnny Ash, Derrick Hale, Blake Galin, Truan Mehl, Donald Brant and Jo Matumoto signed with the Outlaws, who have started the year 3-1. Austin Bibens-Dirx signed with Victoria of the GBL. Justin Nelson (Sioux City) and Tyler Pearson (Ft. Worth) signed on with teams outside the Golden Baseball League.
Marshall said there were still many more players he expected would be signed, including Isreal Chirino - Marshall said he was scouted heavily by the Boston Red Sox and, at the very least, will end up in an independent league. He also said Sean Dovel, Jet Ruiz, Mario Guilen and Andrew Romo - brother of former AWC pitcher Sergio Romo - should be singed soon.
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Edward Carifio can be reached at ecarifio@yumasun.com or 539-6882.
