Roadrunners and Isotopes Agree on Four-Player Deal

The California Roadrunners and Springfield Isotopes agreed on a four-player deal. The Roadrunners have acquired top prospects Gerrit Cole and Christian Friedrich, along with reliever Trevor Bell in exchange for reliever Sean Marshall and the Roadrunners' first-round draft pick (twelfth overall) in 2011.

The Roadrunners' front office is very excited about the deal after following Cole's career at UCLA, and the speculation as being the first or second pitcher drafted in the upcoming 2011 MLB Draft.

After analyzing the players available in the middle of round one of the 2011 BRASSball draft, it was clear that a pitcher of Cole's caliber and progression would not be there. We needed to make a move to strengthen our farm system, and add some pitching depth for the future.

On February 18, 2011, UCLA's first game of 2011, the Bruins beat the University of San Francisco 1-0. Cole went the distance, shutting out USF while allowing only four hits. He also struck out 11 while walking only one. It's a great start to his final college season at UCLA before he joins the Roadrunners amateur system in 2012.

Cole will be joined in the California Amateur System by left-hander Christian Friedrich. Friedrich is a former first-round draft pick of the Colorado Rockies in the 2008 MLB draft. Despite recent injury troubles, he is on a slightly faster track than Cole, and hopes to contribute to the Roadrunners as early as next season.

Bell will replace Marshall in the bullpen in 2011, and he has some pretty large reliever shoes to fill. Marshall was prepared to be one of Brandon Lyon's setup men, but Bell won't be asked to fill that role. We're considering Bell for a long relief position, and potentially a start or two in the second half of the season.