Big trade for the Jokers

Juan Ramirez

A new season and already a big trade for the Jokers. Las Vegas obtain slugger Juan Ramirez from Texas gunners for prospect Alfredo Villalobos and journeyman Victor Bailey. This trade add one more vets to the lineup who join the new acquisitions of Charles O'Connor and Pedro Lopez. On short term, theses moves will make Las vegas a better team but what will happen in the long term? Catcher Villalobos have a tremendous upside and could become a superstar but GM Neveu said that with the young Phillip Smith behind the plate, Villalobos was a prospect who could be move. It seem that the management don't want to be out of contention like last year when the injury of Colin St.John ruined the playoff hope.

Of course, GM Neveu is aware that the heart of his attack are not youngsters. St.John, Ramirez and Thornton are all at 32 and Tracy at 31. So it's logic to think that the team need to win in the next two years because after that, it could be the time to rebuilt all the attack. If that scenary happen, Maurice Gould could ask to be trade and force the Jokers to rebuild the entire team. It's a real possibility said GM Neveu but when our first selection didn't sign this spring, we decide to go all in right now and if we have to rebuilt in 2 or 3 years, we will do so.

The good start of the Jokers seems to prove that last year was just a bad one and the team can quickly overcome that and became a real contender again to win it all. It's clear that the acquisition of Ramirez will help. But many fans are still skeptical when they see the mean age and the salary structure of the team going up!