The transfer market in Germany is heating up at the beginning of the first week of the new year. Three clubs from the north announced transactions on Monday and Tuesday.
Bonn Capitals
After Nick Shay, Michael Kratz and Philipp Spade the Bonn Capitals have added fourth new player for the upcoming season in the German Baseball-Bundesliga. They have signed the 31-year-old utility man Florian Nehring from the relegated Cologne Cardinals. He batted .370 (OBP .439/SLG .398) with three doubles, 19 runs and 18 RBI in 28 games for the Cards in the 2010 season. It was his ninth year in the top division in German Baseball.
Cologne Cardinals
The Cologne Cardinals might have lost an important player with Florian Nehring, but still try to build a strong team to get back into the 1st Baseball-Bundesliga. Player coach Joe Slater is returning for a second season in Cologne. On Tuesday the Cards also announced that they have signed Arizona native Austin Weymouth to take over at short. The 24-year-old attended the University of Massachusetts, Scottsdale Community College and Arizona State University. He is expected to arrive in mid-March.
Pulheim Gophers
After bringing back Daniel Lamb-Hunt and Markus Solbach, the Pulheim Gophers are also extending the contracts with outfielders Merlin Mendel and Chris Gentles. Mendel batted .157 (OBP .314/SLG .157) in 24 games, Gentles .142 (OBP .260/SLG .151) in 28 games for Pulheim. The Gophers nearly made the playoffs before falling to seventh in the playdowns. They needed to win the relegation/promotion series against the Berlin Challengers to remain in the Baseball-Bundesliga.