THE Winnipeg Goldeyes announced the re-signing of shortstop Max Poulin on Wednesday and while everyone involved was saying the right things, no one was admitting the cold, hard truth of doing business in today's Northern League.
Once the best place among independent baseball leagues for players to earn a paycheque, the ever shrinking league is now considered way down the list.
One NL manager told us this week he contacted a player and was told, "I'm not coming to your league to ride the bus all summer. No thanks."
Now bus travel is part of life in minor league baseball but with just six teams playing a 96-game schedule stretched out from Winnipeg to Kansas City to Chicago, the Northern League takes it to a new level.
The Northern League has fumbled itself into a state where players with limited options are putting managers on hold with a collective, "Thanks for calling, I'll get back to you."
Goldeyes GM Andrew Collier disagreed, saying Poulin's signing was good baseball business and the league.
"I think the signing is a reflection of what Max did on the field last year. Coming out of the 2006 season he had a lot to prove. I don't know what he hit, .220 or whatever. But at .220 you're not going to get a veteran spot," said Collier (Poulin is a career .265 hitter).
"But last year he put up some power numbers and some RBI and he deserves to come back this year. I don't think it's an indication of where we're at. If we're talking in two months and we only have one veteran signed and it's Max Poulin, you might have a point."
The bottom line -- while Poulin is a nice player and deserving of a new contract -- is he's not the calibre of player to draw a manager's attention in early January. Not in the past anyway but it's a new day in the NL. And business is far more difficult to do in the current climate.
Career numbers
Poulin had career numbers in 2007 and we've never seen a better defensive shortstop in the Northern League. Any team would love to have him in the middle of its defence and hitting in a supporting role. But the first veteran signing of the season? There's only so much salary cap room for veteran players and managers prefer to ink the heart of their lineup before spending money on the bottom third.
No doubt the Goldeyes were forced into signing Poulin this early for a number of reasons. The Quebecer played out his option last season and entered the winter as a free agent.
Winnipeg was his first choice. He owns a home here and has played his entire pro career with the Goldeyes, but there were other offers. Poulin said Wednesday he came close to signing a deal with Ottawa of the CanAm League.
Manager Rick Forney had to act and he had to act immediately. Like a lost tourist with a gun to his head, Forney handed over his wallet. Not exactly the picture of confidence a negotiator would like to present.
Players like Poulin aren't readily available to NL managers as they once were, and waiting around could have cost Forney a superior defensive player who has learned to contribute from the No. 9 hole.
This new order won't matter in a number of markets but in Winnipeg, where the Goldeyes have sold themselves not only as a night out at the ballpark but also as a team with title aspirations, it's an issue.
So be thankful Max is back. He's a treat to watch and will no doubt live up to the club's faith. Just who he jogs on to the field with come May, that's another matter altogether.
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