conversation is still ongoing with Mister Delorian.”
I let out an angry noise. “He’s still not committed to improving the team? Unbelievable. We’re so close, so close to being a great team. We just need a little push. Delorian has a damn Lamborghini and refuses to pay for the headlights!”
“Preaching to the choir.”
“All I want is another starting pitcher. I’m begging you, Theo. Get me a solid number-two to pitch behind Rafa. Do whatever it takes. Do anything.”
“I’ll do my best.”
I rose from the chair. “If Rafa gets traded away, I’m quitting.”
Theo rolled his eyes. “Come on, Natalie. Don’t be dramatic. Trades aren’t within your purview.”
“Pitching is within my purview. And if Rafa is gone by three o’clock today, then we’ll barely have a pitching staff left for me to coach.”
I stormed out of the office.
The few hours leading up to the one o’clock game were torturous. I spent most of it with Carter, the back-end starting pitcher who was on the mound today. Rafael arrived around noon. He wore headphones and quietly listened to music while going through his normal stretches, even though he wasn’t pitching today. There was a feeling of anxiousness among the entire team.
The game itself helped distract me. Carter struggled on the mound so I had plenty of notes to take and things for him to work on. Mainly the way he was locating his curveball. Despite all of that, I still refreshed the baseball rumors webpage on my phone every few minutes. Other players did the same, even though they weren’t allowed to use their phones in the dugout.
With ten minutes to go before the trade deadline, one of Theo’s assistants came walking out of the clubhouse tunnel. “Rivera? They need you up in the clubhouse.”
Everyone in the dugout went silent. Rafa stood up and followed them silently back up into the clubhouse like a condemned man going to the gallows.
“God damn it,” I cursed. “I can’t believe it. After the winning streak we’ve had, they’re still trading Rafa away?”
“It’s Delorian,” someone shouted. “Asshole won’t spend any money to improve the team. Only cares about increasing his own bank account!”
Ramirez and the third baseman began speaking angrily in Spanish. The only words I caught were Delorian and puta.
Darryl struck out at the plate to end the sixth inning. He came walking back into the dugout. “What’s the news?”
The shortstop held up his phone. “Reporting is trickling in. No players listed yet, but it’s a blockbuster trade. At least six players involved.”
Darryl gripped his bat and swung it at the water cooler, knocking it onto the ground and spilling ice across the ground. “Mother fucker!”
“Can’t believe it,” the team manager grumbled. “Rafa’s gone.”
“So are our playoff chances,” Darryl said. He balled his hands into fists and his tattooed arms quivered with rage.
As the players grabbed their gloves and jogged out to take the field for the top of the seventh inning, the bullpen door in the outfield opened. “What’re they doing? I’m leaving Carter on the mound.”
“That’s Joel,” I said, squinting. “Why would he think he’s pitching in the seventh?”
The manager grabbed the bullpen phone and started shouting into it. “What? What do you mean…”
One of the bench players jumped up excitedly. “Oh shit! We got Gallaraga!”
I gave a start. “The Dodgers pitcher?”
“Yeah! He’s the biggest piece coming over.”
I shared a look with the manager. “That means we’re improving the team. We’re deadline buyers, not sellers!”
“Then why did Rafa…”
Rafael emerged from the tunnel. I grabbed him and asked, “What happened? Are you going to Los Angeles?”
There was a dazed look in his eyes. Like he had just walked away from a car accident unscathed. “My agent was on the phone. I got a contract extension with the rangers.”
“You weren’t traded away?”
“I guess not. And I heard we got Gallaraga!”
“Sure, but what’d we have to give up for him?” the manager asked.
In spite of myself, I hugged Rafael. My heart soared with happiness. But only for a moment.
Joel exited the field and walked down the steps into the dugout. “The hell are you doing?” the manager asked.
“Packing my things,” Joel said in a surprised voice. “I’ve been traded to the Dodgers.”
26
Joel
Baseball players got moved around a lot. It was just how things were. From the moment I was drafted by the Rangers I knew it might happen to me. Hell, I knew it probably would happen. Especially when it became clear I wouldn’t make it as a starting pitcher. Relief pitchers got traded and reassigned more than