Former AAA Player Manning In CPBL

32 year old right hander David Manning has signed with the La New Bears of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. He spent a full season in the Milwaukee Brewers' organization with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians in 2003, going 6-8 with a 4.91 ERA in 23 GP, 17 GS (99.0 IP). He walked 60 and struck out 76 batters over that span. Manning will join Christopher Wright (1-2-0, 2.93 ERA in 5 GP, 5 GS) and Cory Bailey (8-10-0, 2.44 ERA in 22 GP, 20 GS) as the other foreigners on the Bears' roster. Manning has spent 2004 with the Mexican Diablos Rojos, posting a 1-0 record with a 5.40 ERA in 6 GP (5.0 IP).

Claudio Galva was removed from the active 25-man roster to make room for Manning, who has no Major League experience. Galva was 0-2-0 with 7 saves in 20 GP (32.2 IP) with a 4.68 ERA. In two games, Manning has a 7.71 ERA so far (2.1 IP).

In other transactions, the China Trust Whales have also made a move. To improve their pitching staff, the Whales have added 33 year old right hander Emiliano Giron. He was 7-5 with a 4.27 ERA in 38 GP (6 GS, 65.1 IP) this season with Vaqueros Alguna of the Mexican League. Giron walked 26 and fanned 59 during that stretch. He'll join Dario Veras (6-1-4, 9 SVs, 0.61 ERA in 27 GP) and Danny Harriger (2-3, 4.22 ERA in 9 GP, 8 GS) as the other foreigners on the Whales. Maybe the Whales shouldn't have released Rusty Meacham when he had a 2.34 ERA.