Scorpions sign affiliation deal with Venezuelan league

Last year, it was a last-minute arrangement with the Colombian Professional Baseball League.

This year, the Yuma Scorpions have an arrangement with a South American federation. Just not the one they expected.

Golden Baseball League commissioner Kevin Outcalt announced Friday the Venezuelan Baseball Federation signed a three-year arrangement with the GBL to provide players to the Scorpions.

"Colombia has some good baseball players," Outcalt said. "But Venezuela, outside the Dominican and the U.S., has produced more major leaguers than any other country. They're excited to be in Yuma."

The Colombian deal was for two years, but the second year was based on a mutual option. Last summer, Outcalt said he'd know by November if the Colombians would agree to a second year. As the start of the season grew closer, Outcalt said he and CEO Dave Kaval decided they needed to act.

"If they were eager to be back we probably would have heard something by now," Outcalt said. "But you never know. It's not like they were eager to come back and we said 'No. Go away.'"

Venezuela has produced plenty of notable major leaguers, including Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera, Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio, Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen and Angels outfielder Bobby Abreu.

Outcalt said the team will be made up of players with major league and high-minor league experience. He said there would be a few younger players as well.

"I think this is a much better opportunity to bring a higher level of play and be connected with a country that has even more baseball-talented resources," Outcalt said. "We hadn't got a lot of response from the Colombians yet on the next season, so I think they might have been lukewarm as well. This just makes sense to pursue."

The Scorpions will be managed by Darryl Brinkley, who spent time in the Venezuelan League and was a player in the GBL last year with Edmonton and the year before with Calgary.

"For the last five years I've wanted to get into managing," Brinkley said. "I'm finally getting my opportunity and I'm excited. I'm looking forward to it."

Despite being in the GBL, Brinkley said he wasn't too familiar with the Scorpions' situation last year. He said that he thinks the team will be competitive.

"I'm familiar with the league and I'm also familiar with the Venezuelan players," Brinkley said. "It shouldn't be that bad. It shouldn't take me to long to get used to it."

Last year's deal with the Colombians was announced two days before the season began. The Scorpions had to cut the players on their roster, though many caught on with other independent teams. The team finished 29-47, worst in the league. They started 3-13, but had a seven-game winning streak late in the year and closed the season winning 13 of 20.

"The timing last year was so difficult because it was dependent on the ballot measure," said Outcalt, referring to a tax that would continue to fund, among other local parks, Desert Sun Stadium. "That was a situation we'd never want to repeat. But No. 2 was I think the Colombians underestimated the level of play in the league. They sent a lot of minor experienced guys, but also half the team was guys who hadn't played affiliated before. ... I think they got off to that slow start and boosted it and ended up playing almost .500 in the second half. I think the Venezuelans will be one of the powerhouses in the GBL if they put together a roster of available players that reflects the type of players they have in that country."

Outcalt said the three-year deal is guaranteed, with an option after the three years are up. He said that while keeping the team in Yuma isn't dependent on an affiliation deal, he said it helps tremendously given the current state of the economy.

"Something like this certainly helps the Scorpions weather that downturn in the economy that's been affecting them," Outcalt said. "With something like this, along with the Arizona Winter League and the Arizona Summer League, it gives the ability for a strong business to be run out at Desert Sun Stadium. Without an affiliation, it certainly would be tougher."

He said this deal will make the Scorpions, the only original GBL team to not make the playoffs, a league power.

"With Venezuela, we're brining in a tremendously skilled player base as well," Outcalt said. "Like the fans in Yuma, we want to see the Scorpions have a successful winning season and in the playoffs and bring a championship to the town."