Aristocrats Move Franchise to Nashville, Following

The Aristocrats announced their second move in Franchise History, making the move from Las Vegas to Nashville effective Friday as President of Baseball Operations Nick Holz embarks on a new business venture in Tennessee.

While the club will maintain their bold "A" logo that has been with the Franchise since 2013, it is now placed over a guitar pick for their move to the Music City.

Originally named the Danville Aristocrats, the Franchise made the move to Las Vegas officially in 2020. The Aristocrats enter 2024 ranked sixth in lifetime RDBL earnings with $2,025 with a pair of Division Titles, five cash finishes and the inaugural 2013 RDBL Championship.

Holz enters 2024 with the league's only three person Front Office, joined by Assistant GM's Nick Kusanovich and Russ Colburn.

The new look Nashville Aristocrats hold the 2nd and 3rd Overall Selections in the RDBL Reserve Draft while also holding two of the best prospects in baseball in Jackson Holliday and Jackson Chourio.

2024 MLB Pipeline Top 100 Prospects

The third of four Top 100 Prospects Lists was released last week as MLB Pipeline named Las Vegas Aristocrats duo Jackson Holliday and and Jackson Chourio as the top two prospects in baseball. Both expected to hit the big leagues in 2024, Holliday and Chourio are among five 'Crats prospects ranked in the Top 100.

The Asti Grape Stompers paced all RDBL Franchises with 10 prospects ranked, led by shortstop Jordan Lawlar (11) and outfielder Colton Cowser (19).

The Alamo Short Stacks followed closely behind with nine prospects ranked, including five of the Top 15 led by Junior Caminero (4), Evan Carter (5) and Colson Montgomery (9).

Samuel Basallo (17) ranked as the top available Free Agent with the Meinert Hops currently holding the top overall pick in the 2024 Reserve Draft. Basallo was among 43 Prospects that are currently Free Agents and available in this year's Draft.

2024 MLB Pipeline Top 100 Prospects

1. SS Jackson Holliday, Las Vegas Aristocrats

2. OF Jackson Chourio, Las Vegas Aristocrats

3. RHP Paul Skenes, Burlingame Blue Ducks

4. 3B Junior Caminero, Alamo Short Stacks

5. OF Evan Carter, Alamo Short Stacks

6. OF Wyatt Langford, Burlingame Blue Ducks

7. OF Dylan Crews, Burlingame Blue Ducks

8. C Ethan Salas, Asti Grape Stompers

9. SS Colson Montgomery, Alamo Short Stacks

10. OF Walker Jenkins, San Mateo Oppo Tacos

11. SS Jordan Lawlar, Asti Grape Stompers

12. SS Jackson Merrill, Lunatic Fringe

13. OF Max Clark, Alamo Short Stacks

14. OF James Wood, Maltese Falcons

15. SS Marcelo Mayer, Alamo Short Stacks

16. OF Pete Crow-Armstrong, Asti Grape Stompers

17. C/1B Samuel Basallo, Free Agent

18. SS Brooks Lee, Mission Viejo Maulers

19. OF Colton Cowser, Asti Grape Stompers

20. SS Carson Williams, Lunatic Fringe

21. 3B Noelvi Marte, Lunatic Fringe

22. 2B Colt Keith, Free Agent

23. LHP Kyle Harrison, Asti Grape Stompers

24. OF Roman Anthony, Free Agent

25. RHP Jackson Jobe, Las Vegas Aristocrats

26. RHP Cade Horton, Free Agent

27. RHP Andrew Painter, Cloverdale Clovers

28. SS Adael Amador, Alamo Short Stacks

29. LHP Ricky Tiedemann, Cloverdale Clovers

30. 3B/1B Coby Mayo, Maltese Falcons

31. OF Chase DeLauter, Meinert Hops

32. OF/1B Heston Kjerstad, Spokane Fightin' Fish

33. RHP Jacob Misiorowski, Free Agent

34. RHP Rhett Lowder, Burlingame Blue Ducks

35. C Jeferson Quero, Free Agent

36. LHP Robby Snelling, Free Agent

37. SS Cole Young, Free Agent

38. C Harry Ford, Lunatic Fringe

39. SS Marco Luciano, Cloverdale Clovers

40. C Kyle Teel, Free Agent

41. OF Jasson Dominguez, Mission Viejo Maulers

42. OF Emmanuel Rodriguez, Asti Grape Stompers

43. SS Masyn Winn, Alamo Short Stacks

44. 2B Termarr Johnson, Spokane Fightin' Fish

45. SS Jett Williams, Free Agent

46. 3B Tyler Black, Free Agent

47. OF Owen Caissie, Free Agent

48. 3B Brady House, Mt. Diablo Devils

49. RHP Mick Abel, Asti Grape Stompers

50. LHP Noah Schultz, Free Agent

51. 2B/1B Michael Busch, Mt. Diablo Devils

52. RHP Chase Dollander, Meinert Hops

53. OF Drew Gilbert, Free Agent

54. 2B Matt Shaw, Free Agent

55. 2B Curtis Mead, Asti Grape Stompers

56. RHP Dylan Lesko, Asti Grape Stompers

57. RHP Noble Meyer, Free Agent

58. 1B Xavier Isaac, Free Agent

59. 1B Kyle Manzardo, Burlingame Blue Ducks

60. 2B Jace Jung, Burlingame Blue Ducks

61. SS Aidan Miller, Free Agent

62. RHP Jared Jones, Free Agent

63. 2B Joey Ortiz, Free Agent

64. RHP Tink Hence, Las Vegas Aristocrats

65. OF Kevin Alcantara, Lake Merced Goutfish

66. IF Luisangel Acuña, Free Agent

67. SS Edwin Arroyo, Lake Merced Goutfish

68. 3B Jacob Wilson, Alamo Short Stacks

69. RHP AJ Smith-Shawver, Free Agent

70. RHP Connor Phillips, Free Agent

71. SS Sebastian Walcott, Free Agent

72. OF Yanquiel Fernandez, Free Agent

73. 2B James Triantos, Free Agent

74. SS Tommy Troy, Free Agent

75. C Dalton Rushing, Cloverdale Clovers

76. OF/SS Ceddanne Rafaela, Cloverdale Clovers

77. OF Justin Crawford, Free Agent

78. OF Druw Jones, Maltese Falcons

79. OF Gabriel Gonzalez, Alamo Short Stacks

80. RHP Nick Frasso, Free Agent

81. OF Jordan Beck, Free Agent

82. LHP Anthony Solometo, Free Agent

83. LHP Carson Whisenhunt, Asti Grape Stompers

84. OF Spencer Jones, San Mateo Oppo Tacos

85. RHP Drew Thorpe, Free Agent

86. SS Roderick Arias, Free Agent

87. SS Colt Emerson, Free Agent

88. RHP Brock Porter, Free Agent

89. 3B Orelvis Martinez, Mission Viejo Maulers

90. RHP Hurston Waldrep, Las Vegas Aristocrats

91. IF Brayan Rocchio, Lunatic Fringe

92. RHP Chase Hampton, Free Agent

93. RHP Bubba Chandler, Free Agent

94. C Blake Mitchell, Free Agent

95. 1B Nolan Schanuel, Free Agent

96. 1B Bryce Eldridge, Free Agent

97. OF/1B Ryan Clifford, Free Agent

98. RHP Chase Petty, Free Agent

99. RHP Tekoah Roby, Free Agent

100. RHP Daniel Espino, Maltese Falcons

Free Agents (43)

17. C/1B Samuel Basallo, Free Agent

22. 2B Colt Keith, Free Agent

24. OF Roman Anthony, Free Agent

26. RHP Cade Horton, Free Agent

33. RHP Jacob Misiorowski, Free Agent

35. C Jeferson Quero, Free Agent

36. LHP Robby Snelling, Free Agent

37. SS Cole Young, Free Agent

40. C Kyle Teel, Free Agent

45. SS Jett Williams, Free Agent

46. 3B Tyler Black, Free Agent

47. OF Owen Caissie, Free Agent

50. LHP Noah Schultz, Free Agent

53. OF Drew Gilbert, Free Agent

54. 2B Matt Shaw, Free Agent

57. RHP Noble Meyer, Free Agent

58. 1B Xavier Isaac, Free Agent

61. SS Aidan Miller, Free Agent

62. RHP Jared Jones, Free Agent

63. 2B Joey Ortiz, Free Agent

66. IF Luisangel Acuña, Free Agent

69. RHP AJ Smith-Shawver, Free Agent

70. RHP Connor Phillips, Free Agent

71. SS Sebastian Walcott, Free Agent

72. OF Yanquiel Fernandez, Free Agent

73. 2B James Triantos, Free Agent

74. SS Tommy Troy, Free Agent

77. OF Justin Crawford, Free Agent

80. RHP Nick Frasso, Free Agent

81. OF Jordan Beck, Free Agent

82. LHP Anthony Solometo, Free Agent

85. RHP Drew Thorpe, Free Agent

86. SS Roderick Arias, Free Agent

87. SS Colt Emerson, Free Agent

88. RHP Brock Porter, Free Agent

92. RHP Chase Hampton, Free Agent

93. RHP Bubba Chandler, Free Agent

94. C Blake Mitchell, Free Agent

95. 1B Nolan Schanuel, Free Agent

96. 1B Bryce Eldridge, Free Agent

97. OF/1B Ryan Clifford, Free Agent

98. RHP Chase Petty, Free Agent

99. RHP Tekoah Roby, Free Agent

Asti Grape Stompers (10)

8. C Ethan Salas, Asti Grape Stompers

11. SS Jordan Lawlar, Asti Grape Stompers

16. OF Pete Crow-Armstrong, Asti Grape Stompers

19. OF Colton Cowser, Asti Grape Stompers

23. LHP Kyle Harrison, Asti Grape Stompers

42. OF Emmanuel Rodriguez, Asti Grape Stompers

49. RHP Mick Abel, Asti Grape Stompers

55. 2B Curtis Mead, Asti Grape Stompers

56. RHP Dylan Lesko, Asti Grape Stompers

83. LHP Carson Whisenhunt, Asti Grape Stompers

Alamo Short Stacks (9)

4. 3B Junior Caminero, Alamo Short Stacks

5. OF Evan Carter, Alamo Short Stacks

9. SS Colson Montgomery, Alamo Short Stacks

13. OF Max Clark, Alamo Short Stacks

15. SS Marcelo Mayer, Alamo Short Stacks

28. SS Adael Amador, Alamo Short Stacks

43. SS Masyn Winn, Alamo Short Stacks

68. 3B Jacob Wilson, Alamo Short Stacks

79. OF Gabriel Gonzalez, Alamo Short Stacks

Burlingame Blue Ducks (6)

3. RHP Paul Skenes, Burlingame Blue Ducks

6. OF Wyatt Langford, Burlingame Blue Ducks

7. OF Dylan Crews, Burlingame Blue Ducks

34. RHP Rhett Lowder, Burlingame Blue Ducks

59. 1B Kyle Manzardo, Burlingame Blue Ducks

60. 2B Jace Jung, Burlingame Blue Ducks

Cloverdale Clovers (5)

27. RHP Andrew Painter, Cloverdale Clovers

29. LHP Ricky Tiedemann, Cloverdale Clovers

39. SS Marco Luciano, Cloverdale Clovers

75. C Dalton Rushing, Cloverdale Clovers

76. OF/SS Ceddanne Rafaela, Cloverdale Clovers

Las Vegas Aristocrats (5)

1. SS Jackson Holliday, Las Vegas Aristocrats

2. OF Jackson Chourio, Las Vegas Aristocrats

25. RHP Jackson Jobe, Las Vegas Aristocrats

64. RHP Tink Hence, Las Vegas Aristocrats

90. RHP Hurston Waldrep, Las Vegas Aristocrats

Lunatic Fringe (5)

12. SS Jackson Merrill, Lunatic Fringe

20. SS Carson Williams, Lunatic Fringe

21. 3B Noelvi Marte, Lunatic Fringe

38. C Harry Ford, Lunatic Fringe

91. IF Brayan Rocchio, Lunatic Fringe

Maltese Falcons (4)

14. OF James Wood, Maltese Falcons

30. 3B/1B Coby Mayo, Maltese Falcons

78. OF Druw Jones, Maltese Falcons

100. RHP Daniel Espino, Maltese Falcons

Mission Viejo Maulers (3)

18. SS Brooks Lee, Mission Viejo Maulers

41. OF Jasson Dominguez, Mission Viejo Maulers

89. 3B Orelvis Martinez, Mission Viejo Maulers

Lake Merced Goutfish (2)

65. OF Kevin Alcantara, Lake Merced Goutfish

67. SS Edwin Arroyo, Lake Merced Goutfish

Meinert Hops (2)

31. OF Chase DeLauter, Meinert Hops

52. RHP Chase Dollander, Meinert Hops

Mt. Diablo Devils (2)

48. 3B Brady House, Mt. Diablo Devils

51. 2B/1B Michael Busch, Mt. Diablo Devils

Spokane Fightin' Fish (2)

32. OF/1B Heston Kjerstad, Spokane Fightin' Fish

44. 2B Termarr Johnson, Spokane Fightin' Fish

San Mateo Oppo Tacos (2)

10. OF Walker Jenkins, San Mateo Oppo Tacos

84. OF Spencer Jones, San Mateo Oppo Tacos

TRADE: Jokers Add Fourth Starter of Winter, Deal for Civale

The St. Joseph Jokers are anxious to put the shaky performances in 2022 and 2023 behind them from their pitching staff as GM Rick Steen added his fourth starting pitcher on the Winter on Friday. The Jokers will acquire right-hander Aaron Civale (2FA/$5) from the San Mateo Oppo Tacos in exchange for a 2024 5th Round Pick (69th Overall).

Civale was traded from Cleveland to Tampa Bay for first base prospect Kyle Manzardo straight up at the deadline. His strikeout rate jumped from 19 percent to 29.3 percent and his walk rate dropped from 7.2 percent to 5.6 percent after the trade. While the results after the deal were shaky (5.36 ERA in 10 starts with the Rays), a deeper look reveals brighter days could be ahead.

He had a 3.26 xFIP over that unlucky stretch and his 23.7 K-BB% in 45.1 innings after the trade was an elite mark. In fact it was similar to his new teammate Zach Eflin's 23.0 K-BB% on the season, and Civale happens to have almost an identical repertoire to Eflin. Perhaps that's why the Rays targeted him. Civale missed almost two months early in the season with an oblique strain and still tallied 133.1 innings, including his rehab assignment. He shouldn't have any notable workload restrictions in 2024 with a secured spot in the Rays rotation.

Civale carries an impressive 389.0 point projection by CBS, marking 1,537 projected points acquired with the four starters the club has added this off-season (Sonny Gray, Michael Wacha, Kodai Senga).

The deal marks the first official move by the San Mateo Oppo Tacos and GM Erik Nielsen who appears far from done this Winter. The club is still looking to move outfielder Juan Soto (2/$65) among others with Nielsen looking to rebuild a Farm System that was depleted by previous Ownership in 2023.