The Future Of The Catching Joe Mauer, The White Sox Selling Low After Buying High, and Melvin Mora Potentially On The Move

Moving Mauer

Recently, I read in a article by Jim Souhan advocating a move of Joe Mauer to third base.

I’m not going to post the article, it’s available there if you want to find it, but the gist of it stated that Mauer needs to be moved to third in order to keep his bat in the lineup, plus that he is too injury prone to remain behind the bag.

While Mauer clearly could be the best young catcher in the American League, he hasn't been able to stay on the field.  A four year vet, Mauer has only one complete season under his belt.  His other three, including this one, Mauer has missed time with one ailment or another and has suffered a hit in the clubhouse, where numerous veterens such as Justin Morneau, Mike Redmond, and Torii Hunter have played through one ailment or another.

Compounding all of this is Mauer's size.  Now 6-5, tall for a catcher, Mauer likely won't be able to stand up to the everyday wear and tear of being a catcher. 

This year has made it painfully evident that Mauer's bat is an integral part of the offense, as the entire Twins lineup was much more lackluster without it.  The departure of Mauer (as well as the decision to keep Matt Garza and company down in the minors while keeping Sidney Ponson and other retreads simply to keep the cost down in the future for the rookies) can be held directly responsible for the collapse of the Twins.

Twins lineups have become rather punchless in recent years, both a product of management's reluctance to splurge on a average bat in terms of trade or free agency as it is a testament to the failure of the Twins' farm system to develop any sort of power hitting prospect.  Morneau and Mauer aside, the Twins have been lacking in any sort of power presence and, while they have some pitching prospects to spare, they aren't interested in using some of their blocked prospects to trade for blocked positional players on other teams in hopes of possibly upgrading spots on their roster that scream for help (such as third base, where the Nick Punto experience has become a nightmare.)

Mauer would provide an excellent upgrade at third base, assuming he can play the position (which I think he can) and can split time at first base with Justin Morneau, who could use some time off at DH.  In fact, both players could use time at DH, where the Twins are even more enemic in terms of production.

Rumor has it that Mauer could be seeing time at all four positions coming into the year, where he would be able to catch, play first, third, and DH in order to allow the Twins to not only keep his bat in the lineup, but to preserve his health. 

This may turn out the best for Mauer, who is a fan favorite and more importantly, one of the parts that make the Twins go.

And if you need a example to see how moving from behind the plate can extend a career, consider the case of Craig Biggio, a former catcher who was also deemed to be unable to last through the rigors of catching.

Since the move, Biggio is now looking at a future at Cooperstown.

All in all, I'd say that this type of decision can pay off.

Selling Low On A Trio Of Sox

One year after making a series of deals that Kenny Williams said would keep the White Sox competitive and protect them from the inflating price of starting pitching, Williams is now looking on dumping three of the players he once held up as a sign of the future.

Right handers Nick Masset, David Aardsma and lefty Andy Sisco have all disappointed in some capacity or another and are a big reason for the bullpen's decline.  Only Aardsma has had any sort of success, mostly in April  and none of them merited September callups.  The reason for the trades is because of the fact that both Aardsma and Masset are out of options, so the Sox will lose them if they fail to earn spots with the big club next spring and Sisco has become such a disappointment that he likely won't even be kept as a situational lefty.  Masset and Sisco have since returned to starting, but neither has been stellar.

Of the three, Aardsma is likely the most attractive candidate, as he has closer's stuff and if placed in the right environment, he could flourish.  Masset was largely regarded in his time in Texas as a underachiever who has good stuff but can't put it together.  As for Sisco, a big part of his problem is that his command is so off, possibly because he was rushed by the Royals.  

Kenny Williams is hoping to get two relievers, one of them proven, in exchange for a pair of the trio.  I'd imagine that a system with an excess of relievers and a solid pitching coach could do well.  San Diego could be a decent fit to Masset, as would St. Louis.  Were I Washington or Florida, teams that could need a closer this off-season, I would also give a call for Aardsma.  Sisco is harder to nail down, as it's hard to nail down a fit.  Maybe a trade to the Pirates to convert him to starting could help, possibly in exchange for Jack Wilson's contract?

Mora May Be Pushed Out Of Baltimore

The acquistion of Steve Traschel may not only have given the Orioles someone to keep the rotation somewhat respectable, but also to maybe begin the process of Melvin Mora leaving the Orioles.

Moore is a slugging third baseman/left fielder that could provide roughly Mora's production at a fraction of the price.  Mora, despite still being productive, is an expensive player that will be entering his decline phase soon.  He is a luxery the Orioles really don't need.

The question is, would they deal him?

Mora, I think, could bring in a couple of prospects to potentially build around, hopefully outfielders or other positional players.  As long as Baltimore swallowed some money, people could inquire.  Philadelphia may be interested, as Mora would be a upgrade over their current situation and the Yankees, should they lose Alex Rodriguez, may be interested in a short term fix should they feel Wilson Betemit isn't the long term answer.  The Dodgers and Angels, two teams that also may want to upgrade their third base over the winter and have prospects to do so.

Actually, I should probably rephrase that.  The real question is, would Peter Angelos let it happen.

Angelos famously killed a deal for Miguel Tejada that would have netted him Erick Aybar and Ervin Santana and may have been responsible for killing a deal that may have sent Astros Ace Roy Oswalt to the Texas Rangers (and if he was, I hate Peter Angelos even more than I already do.)

Really, I think that the Traschel Deal should serve as a potentially rebuilding stage of the Orioles that could net cheap talent that could, long term, help the Orioles not only get more cost efficient and flexible, but potentially become a winning team and could return them to being a crown jewel of baseball once more.

That's all for now.  Let's hope the week goes well...