Boston Signs A Pair
by Shawn Martin
BOSTON (Feb. 6) -- The Boston Federals’ GM Shawn Martin announced today that they signed a pair of pitchers during the first round of free agency which concluded this week.  Starting pitcher Mickey McDermott was the first one to put his name on a Federals contract, signing a 3-year (2 guaranteed years, 1 team option) incentive-laden contract worth a total of $9.7M, just hours after division rival Washington signed former Fed John Antonelli to a massive multi-year deal.  Before the night was over though, Boston had their closer in hand, as Monuments reliever Bob “Boom” Chakales was signed to a 4-year contract, of which terms were not released.
   The 34-year old “Maury” McDermott, who was Louisville’s 1^st round selection in 1951, will be starting his 13^th season in the UL.  He played for Detroit in 1963, splitting the year in the rotation and bullpen for the Griffs.  He started 19 games for Detroit (appearing in 50 games overall) posting a 5-18 record with a 4.52 ERA in 213 innings pitched.  McDermott has been referred to as a underachiever, never posting better than a 4.5 ERA in his years of starting, primarily due to his occasional lack of control.  Known as a groundball-inducing pitcher, “Maury” should fit in well with the solid infield defense that the Feds put out on the dirt, as long as he can keep his walk totals down.
   Initial draftee Bob Chakales (taken in the 29^th round by Washington) a 10-year veteran, has been the Monuments’ closer for the past 5 seasons, after toiling in the bullpen as a setup man.  The 35-year old is coming off of two-straight dominant years as closer, posting a 2.06 ERA with 32 saves in 1962, and a 2.64 ERA with 21 saves in ’63.  A power arm, Chakales has consistently posted a better than 1:1 K/IP ratio, while keeping his walks to a minimum.  Whether he can hack it in the bandbox known as Fenway Park or not is yet to be seen.

News and Notes:  We were with GM Martin as he listened to the RKO broadcast of Johnny Antonelli’s signing with Washington.  When asked if Boston had made an offer, he replied, “His agents wouldn’t even talk to us.  They refused to deal with us after the trade, then they refused to speak to us after he was an (free) agent.  He was a model citizen and player during the short time he was with us, we wish he would have listened to our offers.  We wish he had a different agent.”  Antonelli’s agent Mott Boras Sr. had no comment.

Cleveland, Louisville Ink Deal
Cleveland gets:  2B Bernie Allen (1000)
Louisville gets: CLE 1st Rd pick, MR Dave Morehead (0) , MR Jim Roland (300)

Chicago-Cleveland Trade
Chicago gets:  2B Chuck Schilling (500), CLE '64 4th Rd rookie pick
Cleveland gets:  C Johnny Roseboro (2400), RF Gus Bell (906), $2 million

Brooklyn-Manhattan Trade
Brooklyn gets:  MR Bo Belinsky (0)
Manhattan gets:  SP Don Cardwell (1510)

Brooklyn-Detroit Trade
Brooklyn gets:  LF Gino Cimoli (500)
Detroit gets:  MR Bill Fischer (1667)

Detroit-Manhattan Trade
Detroit gets:  1B Ed Bouchee (750), MR Wes Stock (500), RF Willie Kirkland (960)
Manhattan gets:  LF Don Buford (1500)