Russellville, AR (AP)--Southern League Baseball was
shaken up at the trading deadline by a seven-player deal centering on MLB's
home run leader.
Arkansas Contenders and FletchHawks exchanged
players at the deadline, with the Contenders sending Bonds, Gary Sheffield,
Aaron Sele and Troy Percival to the Hawks for Al Leiter, Ken Griffey and Raul
Mondesi.
"Our team really needed some firepower,"
owner David Fletcher was quoted as saying.
"Bonds definitely brings that to the table. Plus, he's under contract, so I won't have
to worry about a salary jump due to his great season. It was definitely a quality-for-quality move."
Owner Daniel Shoptaw was pleased as well. "Griffey hopefully will step up and
help us replace Bonds. But what I
really needed was another front-line starter, and I think Leiter brings that to
the table."
This deal was cooked up when attempts by Shoptaw to get
Randy Johnson failed.
"The Unit is too intregal to our pitching to trade, at least at this time. Perhaps in the offseason someone will make an interesting bid, but I doubt it" said Fletcher.