Perhaps Mildenhall has finally finished cleaning house.  At least it better have because there’s not a whole lot of furnishing left.  In yet another financially inspired move the club has dealt another one of it’s all-time greats, trading second baseman and fan favorite Michael Saffold to New Jersey for minor leaguer Roberto Lucero.

In the most obvious respect dealing Saffold makes perfect cents, dollars and cents that is.  Saffold recently renewed a personal option for 2027 believed to come in at $16M.  That move, combined with the trade of Daniel Royster to New England yesterday means the team saved almost $20M.  Indeed, Mildenhall’s fiscal makeover is staggering.  The club had a payroll of some $92M last year, it is believed they are now down to under $35M, probably the lowest payroll in club history.

Saffold is a big fan favorite and one of the club’s all-time greats.  At 34 he still managed to lead the team in batting last year at .302.  Saffold is a career .299 batter with a career OPS of .800.  He’s also a five-time all-star, a gold glove winner, a World Series ring winner with the club, and many R-Jay fans felt he was robbed of the 2021 MVP award.  Saffold himself seemed phlegmatic.  “It’s a business.  I’m going to a team in a situation much like Mildenhall.  They are a young, rebuilding team, but a franchise with a proud history.  Hopefully I can be a leader for them like I was here.  It’s never easy when you’ve spent your whole career with a team.  But I can look back proudly at the great things we accomplished here.  Mildenhall will always be in my heart,” said the classy veteran.

GM Kurt Bevacqua defended the moves.  “We have a lot of talent down on the farm that needs to get a shot.  Pedro Lujan, Ivan Lopez, and Miguel Ventura all need a shot at the middle infield.  And I won’t deny the financial aspect of all this.  But the fans shouldn’t be too worried.  We now have plenty of money to go shopping with.  There are some quality free agents out there and we intend to be a player.  I think the fans will be happy with the direction this is heading.  I’ve done two rebuilding jobs for this franchise before, and both times we emerged after just two bad seasons and eventually won world titles.  I believe we are on track for the same plan again.  I don’t thik we’ll be all that terrible this season either.  But have some faith in us.  We had a great draft last year and we are restocking very nicely.  We’ll be back, that’s a promise.”

Reliever Roberto Lucero, the young man obtained in the Saffold deal, has had excellent results in the minors.  Last season he saved 19 games between A and AA ball.

Reliever Jorge Martinez was picked up in the Royster deal.  Club officials are very excited about the left handed 25-year old Martinez.  He saved 31 games with a 1.71 ERA in AA last season and some feel he may be big league ready now.