The reconstruction of the Winnipeg Goldeyes roster has hit the midway point -- 11 players inked to contracts, 11 more to go. Thanks to a pair of signings announced yesterday, the Goldeyes starting rotation is nearly full, and a veteran newcomer is joining the fold.
Reliable right-handed pitcher Brad Purcell is coming back for a third season in the Northern League, while infielder Rusty McNamara is about to make his debut after helping the Long Island Ducks win the independent Atlantic League title last season.
Purcell, 24, is a fierce competitor who eats up innings and racks up strike outs.
The affable Australian was 10-5 last season with a 3.33 ERA and a team-best 119 strike outs in 127 innings pitched during 19 starts.
Purcell played winter ball this year in Colombia, where Sincelejo lost in Game 7 of the Colombian championship series. Purcell, who had two no-decisions in the finals, enjoyed his time in Colombia.
"I threw about 40 innings and I really worked on my fastball," Purcell said yesterday from Hermosa, Calif., where he is spending a couple of weeks before returning home. "I changed my approach a bit and was pretty effective doing it."
Purcell, one of five Goldeyes in the Northern League all-star game last season, joins an imposing starting rotation that includes southpaws Roger Luque and Steve Murray and right-hander Adam Thomas.
McNamara, 30, was drafted in the 21st round of the 1997 amateur draft by the Philadelphia Phillies and spent six seasons in their system, reaching Triple-A Scranton for a five-game stint in 2001.
He is a .291 career hitter who doesn't strike out a lot and consistently plays good defence (29 errors in 800 chances at second base for a .966 fielding percentage).
"I've spent a lot of time hitting in the two-hole because I can handle the bat and move runners around, but I can also drive in runs," McNamara said yesterday from Huntington Beach, Calif. "I know it's a good independent league. I've got a lot of good buddies who have played there."
TEAMMATES
Those friends include former Fish Pete Rose Jr., Andy Stewart and Carmine Cappuccio, who were teammates in the Phillies system.
Of the 11 players under contract for the 2005 season, only five of them -- four pitchers -- were on the 2004 squad that missed the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
Lanier is happy to see the 22-man roster taking shape, but he likes to have some flexibility to sign players who are released during spring training.
The signing of McNamara means Ralph Santana will move to one of the corner spots in the outfield.
Lanier still has some important decisions to make, but he's expected to announce the signing of veteran Harry Berrios in the near future.
Berrios saw his power numbers dip last season, but he still hit .327 with nine homers and a team-high 71 RBI in 94 games.
Once the Berrios deal is done, Lanier will look to fill the void at catcher, third base, closer and attempt to re-sign shortstop Max Poulin, who also played winter ball in Colombia.
