With the June 30th deadline for player acquisitions
looming, speculation surrounded the fate of veteran players Sam Claeson, Ryan
Meehan, and Brandon Warne. Several news
outlets were reporting Thursday that Knights management had been approached by an
unidentified western division team and that the framework of a deal was being
discussed. A source close to the negotiations
indicated that the unidentified team was scouting Warne as an outfielder and
viewed Claeson as a potential fit behind the dish.
The switch-hitting Claeson joined the Knights in 2010 and
has been a valuable utility player, seeing time at every position but first
base. Claeson has several quality
pitching performances to his credit, and has shown steady improvement at the
plate. Meehan, who assumed GM duties
following the 2009 season, has played only sporadically this year as age and a
propensity for accidents have slowed his production. Meehan was acquired from the Madison Rockers on the heels of a .320 / .553 / .400 performance in 2007, which most experts
now agree was a career season. First
baseman Warne, who like Meehan has been with the Knights since their 2008
expansion season, has struggled at the plate this year due in large part to an
unlucky .077 BABIP. Warne starred at
Northwestern College prior to joining the Knights.
Speculation of a possible trade grew Friday night, when both
Claeson and Warne were removed from the Knights game against the Hamel Hawks in
the 4th inning. Warne teased fans by tweeting a cryptic message about brussel sprouts immediately after exiting the game. Manager Frank
Matteson later told reporters that the substitutions were intended to give a
few extra at-bats to other players, and that no trade was forthcoming. As of early Sunday morning, no trades had
been reported.