The Home Plate Press

Because of anticipated growing pains, I have decided to make 31 March the due date for the stats from series 1-6. Those of you playing Steve Sargent on the road this month should also be aware that he will be moving during the middle of the month and therefore would appreciate early automanagers so he can meet the deadline. If you have technical problems in transmitting automanagers or series results, contact David Conner.

Waivers
We will have two waiver claim periods this month. The first period's priority claim deadline is 12:01 AM Eastern on Saturday, March 8. Players claimed in the first waiver period will be eligible for league games beginning in the fourth series. Violations of this rule will carry a financial penalty. The second period's priority claim deadline will be 12:01 AM Eastern on Saturday, March 22. Players claimed during the second period are eligible for league appearances in the seventh series and beyond. The first and second claiming periods will end at 12:01 AM Eastern Thursday 13 March and Thursday 27 March, respectively. Claims must be made by phone or in writing to David Conner.

Naming Series
By now you should have a copy of the league schedule. When naming series, remember to use the ##hhaa format. For example, the Mariners play at the Dodgers in the sixth series of the year (6LASE) and the Padres play at the Astros in the seventeenth series of the year (17HOSD). It is essential that this format be followed when setting up your series for league play.

Relocation
Six owners will be changing their franchise association next offseason. These owners lose all rights to their current minor leaguers and acquire rights to their new systems on 1 March.

Transactions

Draft-Day Trades

KC trades Brian McRae to CHI for Norm Charlton + $1,000,000.
CHI releases Mike Devereaux and Rey Sanchez.
SD trades Otis Nixon to NYY for Reggie Jefferson.
SF sells 10th round pick to LA for $50,000.
SF sells 9th round pick to WAS for $75,000.
ANA trades Darren Holmes to KC for Don Slaught.
NYY sells two 7th round and one 8th round pick to OAK for $250,000.
HOU sells 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th round picks to SF for $200,000.
NYY sells 6th round pick to TOR for $400,000.
BAL sells 4th through 10th round picks to ANA for $1,500,000.
BAL sells 2nd round pick to NYY for $2,000,000.
SD trades 1st round pick to TOR for TOR's 1st round pick + $2,500,000.

Post-Draft cuts and adjustments

ANAHEIM
CUTS: Blowers, Gil Heredia, Tony Pena, Strange

ATLANTA
CUTS: Herb Perry

BALTIMORE
CUTS: None
 
CHICAGO
CUTS: Devereaux, Rey Sanchez

HOUSTON
CUTS: Leo Gomez, Hartgraves, Sodowsky, Paul Wagner

KANSAS CITY
CUTS: Encarnacion, T. Green, Magnante, Pichardo, D. Torres

LOS ANGELES
CUTS: Ashley, Bartee, Embree, Hansell, Mejia, Pendleton, M. Valdes, T. 
Williams
RETURNED TO MINOR LEAGUE SYSTEM: Karim Garcia

MILWAUKEE
CUTS: R. Bailey, Belinda, Derrick May

MINNESOTA
CUTS: Arocha, Barton, Brito, Hocking, Manto, Merullo, Jeff Reed, 
Stahoviak
MINOR LEAGUE SYSTEM PROTECTS: Jason Bell, M. Redman, 
	Jose "the minor league catcher, not the shortstop" Valentin

MONTREAL
CUTS: Cangelosi, F. Cruz, R. Robertson, VanderWal

NY METS
CUTS: Aguilera, Bertotti, Keyser, T. Mathews, Wickander, Mike Williams

NY YANKEES
CUTS: Jarvis, P. Kelly, Kingery, Mike Morgan, Sojo

OAKLAND
CUTS: Acre, Bordick, Groom, Kirby, Miceli, Tettleton, Wojciechowski

PHILADELPHIA
CUTS: Randy Veres

SAN DIEGO
CUTS: Berumen, Jerry Browne, Dykstra
RETURNED TO MINOR LEAGUE SYSTEM: G. Alvarez, H. Bush, B. Davis,
	H. Irabu, M. Kroon, Derek Lee, Heath Murray

SAN FRANCISCO
CUTS: Christiansen, Decker, R. McDowell, Swift

SEATTLE
CUTS: Amaral, Corsi, Cummings, Gagne, Dave Hansen, Leskanic, Mike Maddux,
	Raines, Sparks

ST. LOUIS
CUTS: Danny Jackson, Danny Sheaffer

TORONTO
CUTS: Bowers, Carrara, D. Cedeno, L. Frazier, Lee Hancock, Hurtado, 
	Menhart, Stillwell

WASHINGTON
CUTS: Blauser,Nichting, Scarsone, Dan Smith, Lee Smith, David West

Post-Salary Bank Accounts

           Account balance  Team Salary       Remaining Bank Account
           as of 2/17/97    for cardyear '96  as of 2/18/97
  ANA           $41,628,341       $37,176,288      $4,452,053
  ATL           $41,193,497       $40,338,400        $855,097
  BAL           $50,280,866       $43,905,344      $6,375,522
  CHI           $40,601,611       $38,710,912      $1,890,699
  HOU           $42,453,525       $42,072,384        $381,141
  KC            $42,700,000       $39,174,784      $3,525,216
  LA            $45,661,837       $45,040,256        $621,581
  MIL           $41,750,000       $41,645,728        $104,272
  MIN*          $41,850,000       $32,000,000      $9,850,000
  MON           $42,992,615       $42,396,960        $595,655
  NYM           $42,591,250       $36,527,072      $6,064,178
  NYY           $44,327,401       $40,914,208      $3,413,193
  OAK*          $43,891,531       $32,000,000     $11,891,531
  PHI           $41,000,000       $37,835,360      $3,164,640
  SD            $43,251,696       $42,781,984        $469,712
  SF            $40,975,963       $39,453,664      $1,522,299
  SEA           $42,000,000       $32,825,952      $9,174,048
  STL           $41,057,698       $38,251,776      $2,805,922
  TOR           $44,678,999       $37,266,368      $7,412,631
  WAS           $42,298,908       $42,041,632        $257,276

  * MIN player salaries total $31,217,568. OAK player salaries 
	total $30,169,024.
  	Both teams are assessed salary payments of $32,000,000 due to the 
	MBL minimum salary rule.