Season 10 Sea Monkey preview

Murray O'Neil Salt Lake City Sea Monkeys Age: 28 B/T: L/L Born: Pryor, MT Position(s): P (SP2) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

John Cho Salt Lake City Sea Monkeys Age: 33 B/T: R/R Born: Sendai City, JP Position(s): P (SP3) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

SALT LAKE CITY _ The future is now in Salt Lake.

The league's most downtrodden franchise is is opening up the checkbook to two free-agent pitchers, with an eye toward its first .500 season and a possible playoff drive.

General manager psanders84 signed Murray O'Neil and John Cho, promising $68 million over the next five years. Added to young phenom Rafael Morales, management hopes the trio will anchor the Sea Monkey pitching staff.

"It's a huge gamble," psanders84 said. "Signing Murray and John will cost us two draft choices, and we'll have to dip into the prospect salary pool and forget about signing internationals. But our fans deserve a winning season now, so we're taking our shot."

O'Neil, 28, a seven-year veteran, has a career reocrd of 77-73 and ERA of 4.95, but possesses outstanding control and a sharp slider. Cho, 33, has an outstanding fastball and curveball, and has a career record of 96-68 and 4.28 ERA.

On offense, the Sea Monkeys will continue to count on star right fielder Louis McCartin and first baseman Al Tavarez for offense. Hotshot rookie center fielder Sean Pulsipher may be a rookie of the year candidate, and Deivi Tapies, the first overall draft pick in Season 8, won't be in the minors for long.

After nine seasons of futility, will Sea Monkey fans finally have reason to cheer? Only time will tell.