Mar 2, 2018 3 min read

Wild Things

trade for Havrilak

The Washington Wild Things have signed a catcher, suspended a catcher and acquired the rights to a former Trinity High School standout.

Washington announced that it has signed catcher Babe Thomas, a rookie out of Winthrop University, and suspended rookie catcher Carson Waln, who was signed by the Frontier League team this offseason.

The Gary SouthShore RailCats of the American Association traded the rights to outfielder Joey Havrilak to the Wild Things. Havrilak, a Washington native, played at Trinity and Akron University and spent two years in the Detroit Tigers’ farm system before signing last summer with Gary.

The trade was listed on the American Association website, though the Wild Things and Frontier League have not announced the trade.

Thomas played four seasons at Winthrop prior to graduating in 2017. He hit 20 career home runs and his best season came last year when he hit .287 with a .386 on-base percentage in 58 games. He had 21 extra-base hits a career-best 46 RBI.

“We have been following Babe’s journey since last summer. His family has strong ties to the Wheeling area and his father played collegiately at West Liberty in the late 1980s,” said assistant general manager Tony Buccilli. “Being the son of a successful coach, Babe carries strong baseball IQ and a great feel for the game. Babe was quite disruptive offensively in his senior season at Winthrop and we look forward to seeing how his style of play will translate professionally.”

Waln, a rookie from Elon University, has been placed on the suspended list.

“Carson made us aware of some changes to his situation, which ultimately makes him unavailable to play in 2018,” Buccilli said.

Havrilak batted .250 with a stolen base and five RBI in 13 games for Gary.

Dolphins agree to acquire Quinn

The Miami Dolphins can’t wait to improve their pass rush.

Miami agreed to acquire Los Angeles Rams edge rusher Robert Quinn for a mid-round draft pick, a person familiar with the deal said Friday. The person confirmed the agreement to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because under NFL rules, no 2018 trades can be completed until March 14.

Quinn has 62½ career sacks, including 8½ last year, when he started 14 games. He spent his first six NFL seasons with the Rams at end but played outside linebacker last season.

Quinn is expected to bolster a Dolphins pass rush that was disappointing in 2017. They had 30 sacks, tied for sixth fewest, and ranked fifth worst in opposing passer rating, which helped explain their 6-10 record.

Miami’s other defensive ends include 36-year-old Cameron Wake, Andre Branch and 201 first-round draft pick Charles Harris.

In the NHL

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says the Calgary Flames’ financial situation “continues to deteriorate” as the team remains at the aging Scotiabank Saddledome.

“This building, in its time, was a work of art. Its time is long past,” Bettman said Friday in Calgary as part of his Western Canadian tour. “They don’t build buildings like this anymore.”

Bettman listed a lack of amenities for fans and players as well as opportunities for ownership to generate revenue among the many shortcomings of the building that opened in 1983.

He said it simply doesn’t compare in any way to Rogers Place, the new home of the Edmonton Oilers.

“Have you been up the road to Edmonton?” Bettman said. “Do you see a difference between the two buildings? You know the answer to the question.”