1958 Free Agency and Transactions
Sit back everyone this is a long one…
The big question entering the free agency period was OL Magnus Gunnersson. The Athletics would be unable to find a team willing to take the chance on trade to sign him before the deadline, so Gunnersson entered the open market. 8 of the 10 teams (Buffalo and Worcester did not offer a deal) would end up offering Gunnersson a contract. Gunnersson quickly would narrow it down to 3 teams he was seriously considering. The offers came from Boston, London, and surprisingly Montreal. All teams that had bright futures, but by the end of the process one team had something the other two didn’t and that was a friend in QB Riley Kiernan. Gunnersson would join the Tigers on a 5-year contract worth a total of $97,500 ($19,500 a season). The Tigers look even scarier heading into the season.
After Gunnersson, there wasn’t too much available and the players would quickly find homes with fewer offers. OL Randy McFadden would return home to Boston after 3 seasons with the Athletics, despite having a little bit of a sour departure from Boston originally. DL Matis Baril would also head home to the Big Apple signing with the Raiders for 2 seasons. DL Robert Garrison would also find a home with the Royals after some expected he would return to the Tigers where he spent most of his career.
With the top signings out of the way, the biggest improvement would end up coming in the form of trades. The teams would get down to business with a record of 9 trades during the period.
The first was a minor player-for-player deal between the Worcester Athletics and the Ottawa Royals. Worcester would send DL Charles Hoover to the Royals for DL Maxime Rivard. The deal was ultimately for Worcester to get rid of the $12,000 salary of Hoover for the cheaper Rivard, however, Hoover is a better DL which Ottawa will gladly add.
Following the first trade, Long Island and Providence would swap prospects with WR Ronald Macquire headed to Long Island for RB Bernard Alston. Macquire was a 4th round pick in 1955 and Alston was a 3rd round pick in 1956. Alston will fill in as Providence’s 3rd RB and Macquire will be Long Island’s 3rd WR.
After the minor deals, Boston would make their presence with a pair of big deals. The first would be a trade with the Tigers. The Independents would acquire 1956’s 11th overall pick S Drew Porter and backup RB Ovien Noel in exchange for a pair of former 4th round picks in RB Don Gregson and S Marc-Antoine Marchand. Boston needed a Safety for the future and the Tigers already have Neil Graham who was drafted the year after Porter. The Tigers get a solid RB prospect in Gregson who has grown a lot and should be a strong backup.
GM George Hanson was not done there as he would then bring DB Lester Murphy back to Boston in a trade with Indiana. Murphy was traded out of Boston two years ago and is now going to make a comeback as the team’s top DB. They also would grab veteran WR Joseph Barry. Of course, there was a price for the two veterans: a 1960 2nd Round Pick, QB Caldwell Higgins III, WR David Burrows, and DB Kenneth Wade. Higgins or Bart Swayze were expected to be on the way out with QB Nathaniel Braddock and QB Terry Bourbon being on the roster this season. Higgins might get some opportunities if Duane Logan is hurt or struggles this season.
Boston wasn’t the only team looking to bring back familiar faces as the Ottawa Royals would acquire S Lester Greer from the Thunder. Greer had a strong year last year in Louisville while S Neari Charles wasn’t quite as consistent for the Royals. The Royals would give up their ‘59 2nd Round Pick, S prospect Reginald Barnaby, and LB Leo Davenport. Ottawa would also get Louisville’s 4th rounder as well. After getting rid of Davenport, the Royals would be able to bring back former Royal LB Mickaël Beaumont after one year in Indiana.
The Rouge would be continuing to make improvements in the WR core. Surprisingly, in order to acquire WR Nathan Green from Buffalo, the Rouge would send WR Toni Radovanovic over after only acquiring him from Ottawa at the draft. Green, in the end, is more proven than Radovanovic and should be a great #3 WR for Montreal. Buffalo would also get a 3rd rounder with Radovanovic.
Following the first trade, Long Island and Providence would swap prospects with WR Ronald Macquire headed to Long Island for RB Bernard Alston. Macquire was a 4th round pick in 1955 and Alston was a 3rd round pick in 1956. Alston will fill in as Providence’s 3rd RB and Macquire will be Long Island’s 3rd WR.
After the minor deals, Boston would make their presence with a pair of big deals. The first would be a trade with the Tigers. The Independents would acquire 1956’s 11th overall pick S Drew Porter and backup RB Ovien Noel in exchange for a pair of former 4th round picks in RB Don Gregson and S Marc-Antoine Marchand. Boston needed a Safety for the future and the Tigers already have Neil Graham who was drafted the year after Porter. The Tigers get a solid RB prospect in Gregson who has grown a lot and should be a strong backup.
GM George Hanson was not done there as he would then bring DB Lester Murphy back to Boston in a trade with Indiana. Murphy was traded out of Boston two years ago and is now going to make a comeback as the team’s top DB. They also would grab veteran WR Joseph Barry. Of course, there was a price for the two veterans: a 1960 2nd Round Pick, QB Caldwell Higgins III, WR David Burrows, and DB Kenneth Wade. Higgins or Bart Swayze were expected to be on the way out with QB Nathaniel Braddock and QB Terry Bourbon being on the roster this season. Higgins might get some opportunities if Duane Logan is hurt or struggles this season.
Another big name that was circling the rumour mill was LB Silas O’Brien. O’Brien was traded to Worcester in 1956 but after conflicts over contract negotiations last offseason and the team wanting to rid some salary, they felt that it would be best to trade him again. 4 teams were heavily involved in talks for the 26-year-old. Ottawa, Providence, Montreal, and Louisville were involved. Most of the deals involved a 2nd round pick and a cheap depth player or prospect. Ottawa and Providence would be the front runners early, but after Ottawa got Greer from Louisville, their deal became a little weaker, and with GM Jack McKinnon’s poor relationship with Providence they would be pushed out as well. Montreal and Louisville would be the remaining deals, but with the Greer trade, Louisville was able to offer a bit more and would ultimately win out the deal. They would acquire LB Silas O’Brien and a conditional 1960 3rd Round Pick in exchange for Ottawa’s 2nd Round Pick, LB Jim Daniels with $3,000 retained on his $8,000 salary, and DB Marshall Allen. The conditions on the pick are dependent on O’Brien re-signing with Louisville and it would become a 2nd if the LB does not re-sign.
The final two trades were fairly minor with the Athletics picking up OL Christopher Søndergaard from the Tigers for a 4th Round Pick as they look to add depth in the weaker OL and the Tigers needing to dump a lineman after signing Magnus Gunnersson.
Finally, Ottawa would acquire former 2nd round pick RB Corey King and a 4th Round Pick from the Gold Stars for DB prospect Vince Jungen. King helps bring depth for the Royals while his departure opens up a spot for RB Bernard Alston.
Top Signings
OL Magnus Gunnersson WOR > LDN - 5Y, $19,500
OL Randy McFadden - WOR > BOS - 1Y, $15,000
DL Matis Baril - OTT > LI - 2Y, $14,000
QB Brian Meadows - IND > OTT - 2Y, $10,000
DL Robert Garrison - IND > OTT - 2Y, $14,500 ($10,500 2nd year player option)
DL Garrett Mason - BUF > BUF - 1Y, $8,000
LB Mickaël Beaumont - IND > OTT - 1Y, $10,000
OL Samuel Weston - IND > LI - 1Y, $7,500
LB Clifton Fields - BUF > IND - 1Y, $7,500
DL Jessie Sellers - LI > PRO - 1Y, $8,500
*Holy crap this was one heck of an offseason, sorry for the long description, I’m sure if this becomes more consistent then I will focus in on the most important moves, but I do love talking about the moves and trying to explain the rationale behind the moves. I hope there's still lots of interest for the depth on this level as the league grows.
OL Magnus Gunnersson WOR > LDN - 5Y, $19,500
OL Randy McFadden - WOR > BOS - 1Y, $15,000
DL Matis Baril - OTT > LI - 2Y, $14,000
QB Brian Meadows - IND > OTT - 2Y, $10,000
DL Robert Garrison - IND > OTT - 2Y, $14,500 ($10,500 2nd year player option)
DL Garrett Mason - BUF > BUF - 1Y, $8,000
LB Mickaël Beaumont - IND > OTT - 1Y, $10,000
OL Samuel Weston - IND > LI - 1Y, $7,500
LB Clifton Fields - BUF > IND - 1Y, $7,500
DL Jessie Sellers - LI > PRO - 1Y, $8,500
*Holy crap this was one heck of an offseason, sorry for the long description, I’m sure if this becomes more consistent then I will focus in on the most important moves, but I do love talking about the moves and trying to explain the rationale behind the moves. I hope there's still lots of interest for the depth on this level as the league grows.
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