The Lake Erie Crushers have already begun the process of rebuilding their roster in hopes of defending their Frontier League championship.

In early November, the team exercised the contract options of 22 of its 25 players for the 2010 season. The Crushers also signed rookie pitcher Michael Raymond, who pitched for Belmont Abbey College located in Gaston, N.C., but was not selected in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft.

The players who had their options picked up were catchers Todd Balduf, Brad Griffiths and Nick Maragas; outfielders Tim Binkoski, Wayne Bond, Arden McWilliams and Tyler Johnson; infielders Andrew Davis, Gordon Gronkowski, Jodam Rivera, Drew Saylor and Eddie Tisdale; and pitchers Paul Fagan, Josh Faiola, Jacinto Gonell, Brett Lysander, Cristobal Mata, Ronnie Morales, JJ Pacella, Westlake native Chris Rigo, Alberto Rolon and Cardoza Tucker.

The team is also expected to announce the retirement of Faiola, who was the subject of a documentary piece that aired on ESPN’s investigative journalism show, E:60, last month, in the near future.

Crushers Manager and Director of Baseball Operations John Massarelli hinted that, just because players have their options picked up, doesn’t mean they will be back with the team when it breaks training camp in May.

“The main thing I want our fans to understand is that the league is catered to younger players,” said Massarelli via
e-mail. “We have five vets now, and we can only keep three of them so some of their favorite players have to be moved during the offseason. That’s just how our league operates.”

According to the Frontier League’s by-laws, “each club must carry a minimum (combination of Rookie-1 and Rookie-2 players) of nine rookies (22-man roster), 10 rookies (23-man roster) and 11 rookies (24-man roster). A club may carry a maximum of seven players with one year (L1) of professional experience, three players with two years (L2) of professional experience, two players with three or more years (V1) playing experience, and/or one player with three or more years (V2) playing experience but can surpass the age of 27 but not exceed 30 years of age prior to January 1 of that playing season.”

Also, the Frontier League announced that two franchises have moved, and, as a result, the East and West Divisions will be realigned.

The Rockford RiverHawks have moved to Normal, Ill. and are now the Normal CornBelters. Also, the Midwest Sliders of Ypsilanti, Mich., have moved into a new stadium in Waterford, Mich., and are now known as the Oakland County Cruisers.

The Frontier League also flip-flopped the Florence Freedom and the Windy City Thunderbolts from the East Division to the West Division.

Wellington native Dan Horvath, who pitched for the Midwest Sliders last season, did not have his option renewed by the team. Horvath, who resides in Elyria during the offseason, is a free agent and is free to sign with any team in any league.

Contact Dan Gilles at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

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