Time for another team preview, our third in a series of 30. Time to see who the hat wants to see today…
The last of the Divisions makes their debut.
Atlanta Braves – Team Preview
The Braves, they of the long division winning streak, have finally tasted some humility in recent years, due to the churning of a productive farm system and the result of the increasingly tight restrictions of their budget, which once allowed them to spend freely.
However, the Braves still have some talent on the team, also thanks to the farm system, but many of the pieces that make up the Braves are aging and might not hold up for much longer. You'll see what I mean in a moment.
Starting Rotation
John Smoltz (RHP) – Still dominant at his age, Smoltz’s stuff hasn’t dimmed much, but he has begun to break down a bit, missing time last season due to injury. Still, he’s a quality staff ace and one who will serve as a stopper when needed.
Tom Glavine (LHP) – Glavine returns for a farewell tour with the Braves this season. While he has proven that he can at least be an innings sponge, I’m not sure how much he has left. It may have been better for him to just retire.
Tim Hudson (RHP) – Hudson remains a potential top of the rotation starter and will likely rise to the role of staff ace once Smoltz finally retires. Though Hudson should be the Number two man, expect the Braves to separate him and Smoltz with Glavine.
Chuck James (LHP) – James too is another player I’m not high on. He’s got enough stuff to be a middle of the rotation starter, but he has faded badly during the last month of season. He’s very homer prone and his control isn’t great. I’m also not sure he can last a whole season. So call me skeptical when it comes to how successful I think James will be.
Mike Hampton (LHP) – On the other hand, I’m a lot more confident in James than I am in the one time ace of the Houston Astros, who has been an out and out disaster for the Braves. This is supposed to be the season Hampton will actually contribute. As a fifth starter, the Braves aren’t risking much, as they have an assortment of young starters they can plug in here if Hampton fails or gets hurt.
Bullpen
Rafael Soriano (Closer) – Soriano is one of the biggest steals that the Braves have made in recent memory. A lights out reliever that should succeed in the closer’s role, he was acquired for Horatio Ramirez, who has been disastrous for the Mariners. He should take the next step to eliteness this season.
Mike Gonzalez (Setup Man) – A solid reliever who could also close if necessary, Gonzalez will likely setup Soriano, depending on whether or not he’s ready. I’m assuming he is.
Peter Moylan (RHP) – A dependable reliever, this Aussie is an amazing story, having been virtually signed off of the Australian World Baseball Classic team last March. He’s since made good on the opportunity.
Will Ohman (LHP) – Ohman is a more than adequate replacement for Ron Mahay, as he’s an effective lefty specialist.
Royce Ring (LHP) – Ring finally got his shot in the majors with San Diego, but was dealt to the Braves in the Wil Ledezma deal. Ring has decent stuff, enough to be a solid middle reliever, but his big issue has been control.
Manny Acosta (RHP) - Called up late in the year, Acosta was rather good and should see time with the Braves this season.
Buddy Carlyle (RHP) – Carlyle was an adequate fifth starter for a bit, but it looks like he’ll be moved back into the swingman role for Atlanta, which may suit him better anyway, as he was figured out late last season.
Starting Lineup
Kelly Johnson (2B) – The only real choice here for a leadoff man, Johnson has the potential to be an All-Star second baseman after the Braves shrewdly moved him back to the infield after playing left. Johnson has decent hands moderate pop for a second baseman, though he isn’t quite as fast of disciplined as your stereotypical leadoff man. Still, he’s a solid bet to improve and I’m willing to be that he’ll break out this year.
Yunel Escobar (SS) – The starting job is all his now after Escobar was impressive filling in for Edgar Renteria last year. I doubt he’ll hit .326 again, but if he lives up to his minor league numbers, what the Braves will be getting is .294/.367/.411 out of the second spot in the lineup, which still isn’t nothing to sneeze at. Still, I wonder if maybe shortstop prospect Brent Lillibridge might be the better bet long term.
Mark Teixeira (1B) – Teixeira offers a lot of power, but also is a disciplined enough hitter to hit for a high average and get on base. He’s a Gold Glove defender at first base and is one of the better players in the game. He adds a major power threat to this Braves lineup, but to be quite honest, he is a mercenary player, as he is likely going to walk after this season for a bank breaking contract. Atlanta has said they would try to extend him, but Teixeira is one of Scott Boras’ most devoted clients. Which means, in the long run, Atlanta will likely only get a pair of draft picks for him.
Chipper Jones (3B) – Still a formidable offensive presence in the middle of the lineup, you do have to start looking for Jones’ replacement if you’re the Braves, as Jones is older and will only be good for able 130 games or so. Still, getting that level of power production for 130 games is nothing to sneeze at and for the most part, he’s still able to handle the hot corner well.
Jeff Francoeur (RF) – Probably a bit overrated, Francoeur is an excellent right fielder that carries a lot of thunder in his bat. He has also been very prone to striking out and needs to improve on his walk total. He has improved a bit in the past few years, so it might not be surprising to see if he takes that next step from a masher to an all around offensive force.
Brian McCann (C) – Possibly the best young backstop in the National League, McCann is a solid defensive player that is respected by his pitchers and calls a good game. He also has excellent power numbers and is a solid fit here in the sixth spot, especially when you consider the heavy hitters ahead of him. While the dip in homers is a concern, McCann does get a bit of a pass because he got hurt, which may have affected him.
Matt Diaz (LF) – Not a bad left fielder, as he has nice pop in his bat, is decent defensively and can be a solid contributor until Brandon Jones is ready. I like him a lot and though Tampa and Kansas City gave up on him too quickly a while back. He’s a bit of a free swinger, but he’ll likely see his walk totals increase this year because of the pitcher and the next guy on the list.
Mark Kotsay (CF) – The Braves are gambling that Kotsay can at least contribute something to the team this year, as Kotsay looked done last year. Really, I’m not sure what the Braves can expect out of him, as his power looks gone, he no longer looks like he’ll handle the rigors of centerfield everyday anymore and there is no guarantee that he’ll be able to stay upright for most of the season. Honestly, the Braves should have just offered arbitration to Andruw Jones, hoped he accepted, and just gutted out the season with a big salary.
Bench
Brayan Pena (C) – A decent backup catcher, Pena doesn’t have much of a bat, but he’s a solid glove that can be relied on in a pinch.
Omar Infante (UTIL) – A solid utilityman, Infante can adequately play nearly every position except catcher. His bat is decent and he'd be a adequate stopgap in case of injury.
Josh Anderson (OF) – Anderson will likely be the main backup for the Braves outfielders and could see time in center if Kotsay is unable to stand up to the rigors of the position. Anderson is merely a fourth outfielder, but he could be a decent one, as he has a decent approach at the plate and a little bit of pop.
Martin Prado (INF) – Prado will likely serve as the other infield backup. He’s okay, but not stellar.
Minor League Notables
Jair Jurrjens (RHP) – Acquired from the Tigers in the Edgar Renteria deal, Jurrjens was solid in his major league debut and works with a low 90's fastball and a decent curve and changeup. However, he's also been overworked in his career, so he could be injury prone later. Still, he wouldn't be bad as a fifth starter for the Braves.
Jojo Reyes (LHP) - Another young lefty, Reyes has enough stuff to become a good 4th starter or so. He could also see time later in the year.
Brandon Jones (LF) - Jones has a lot of power and is eventually going to succeed Matt Diaz in left, sooner rather than later.
Final Analysis
The Braves do have enough talent to keep things interesting in the National League East, but overall I think the aging rotation and the Braves essentially punting away two lineup spots will eventually cost them. Sorry Braves fans, but you won't be winning the division again for a little while.
There is some wisdom in what the Astros did during the off-season, in the trades that brought them Miguel Tejada, Jose Valverde, and Michael Bourn. While Ken Rosenthal can rail against the deals all he wants, there is one thing you need to keep in mind.
None of the players traded was really a superstar. In fact, many weren't really all that good.
Yes, I know, Chad Qualls and Brad Lidge are plenty badass. But Lidge was likely gone in a year and Qualls, while solid, isn't a lights out reliever.
And of the prospects, the only one of real note was Troy Patton, who was sent to the Orioles. Everyone else that was dealt was either a disappointment or wasn't a world beater.
Overall, the Astros likely looked at their system, didn't like what they saw, and decided to spent what little collateral they had to improve their team. So long as they draft the best player available from now on, there is every reason that the Astros can replensih the farm in a short period of time.
That's IF they spend money and IF they draft the best player available, not just who will sign.
Koby Clemens Moving To Catcher
After another year of disappointment, the Astros are moving Koby Clemens back to catcher.
Originally drafted as a catcher, the Astros moved Clemens to third base, feeling that he would his stocky frame would allow him to take the abuse of catching, and his arm would be more than adequate from behind the plate. His bat, which has been disappointing thus far, would also look a lot better from behind the bag as well.
It's clear that there was some pressure on the Astros to draft Koby due to his dad, who was on the staff, but really, the Astros would have been better off spending the six figure bonus on someone else. Anyhow, Clemens could really provide some value from behind the plate if he's able to be a adequate catcher. Catching prospects are currently lacking in the majors and if Clemens can turn into at the very least a Gregg Zaun type of player, he's got a lot of value.
Astros Need To Re-Establish International Presence
Okay, one more, because quite frankly, I've had enough.
The Astros need to figure out why their pipeline to Latin America has dried up.
In the past, the Astros were kings of the Venezuelan Talent Market, with them signing player after player that was a serious talent. Some of the former talent mined from Venezuela: Bobby Abreu, Richard HIdalgo and Freddy Garcia, all of whom have enjoyed solid big league careers.
The talent has dried up.
Part of it has been Drayton McLane's tightening of the purse strings and refusing to pay up for big money talent in the draft or abroad. But the other part is that the Astros didn't evolve They weren't able to adjust for the times and as a result, several other teams now dominate the Venezuelan market and the Domincan, areas where the Astros did relatively well.
Whatever the case, it's time for Houston to re-establish their presence on the International Market.
Because all of the patch jobs, no matter the price, won't keep the franchise stable for much longer.
There have been a lot of rumors recently about the Cubbies wanting to make a trade for Marlon Byrd, ideally to be their centerfielder and to help push Felix Pie. Apparently, the deal would be for Matt Murton and possibly for pitching prospect Sean Gallagher.
This deal likely doesn't have much legs on it, if any.
First of all, as good as the Byrdman's seaosn was last year, I doubt he suddenly had a breakout in his early 30's. More than likely, he'll regress to his usual fourth outfielder status come April.
Second, I wouldn't trade Murton for Byrd straight up if I were the Cubs, but if they are willing to do it, I'd pull the trigger. Hell, I'd even include a pair of relievers in the deal for Murton and Gallagher, likely Scott Feldman and Robinson Tejeda. Not only would that give the Cubs more options to sift through, it opens up space on the 40 Man for someone.
However, as promising as the deal seemed, I doubt it will happen.
Complicating things further are the fact that the Padres want Murton as well, though I'm not sure what they would give up in return. San Diego usually tries to pass off their #### on other teams (as the Rangers would find out during the infamous Chris Young deal) and their GM is a very smart man. It's very much likely that somehow or another, Kevin Towers will find a way to make any trade a three trade deal, and in return would somehow find a way to screw over the Rangers by managing to net Murton himself and leaving the Rangers on the short end of the stick.
Possible Draft Pick Compensation?
The Rangers could also find themselves enjoying a beavy of picks in next years draft if all falls right (unlikely, but it's good to hope.)
While none of the Rangers' one year commitments are going to be Type A Picks, there could be several first round sandwich picks, depending on what happens:
Jason Jennings (RHP) - Recovery from a bad year could result in a Type B pick for Texas if he proves to be healthy.
Milton Bradley (RF) - Staying sane and healthy could get him a job as a DH somewhere.
Ben Broussard (1B) - Could be the next Ryan Kelsko, getting the Rangers a solid pick without doing much.
All in all, that's potentially three picks for the Rangers if the rankings fall right, five if somehow or another Jennings and Bradley are able to rate as Type A's.
The Phillies actually have a few homegrown products on their team, with Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Cole Hammels, Brett Myers, and of course, Ryan Howard, all starting on the big league club and all stars in their own right. Unfortuantely, the Phillies’ farm system has kind of shut down in recent years thanks to a combination of bad drafts, trades, and a series of busts that have cost the organization depth. Pat Gillick has, to a certain extent, tried to remedy the losses and help revitalize the system while trading away some lesser players for parts that can win now, but the fact is that the Phillies won’t be able to count of the kids to come in as the calvary if things start to go wrong.
Phillies Top 15
1 – Carlos Carrasco (RHP)
DOB: 3/21/87
Signed: 2003, Venezuela
2008 Club: Reading Phillies (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-3/180
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: A prized free agent signed out of Venezuela in 2003, Carrasco had everything came together in 2006 and has continued to do well so far. Though the Phillies may have been tempted to promote Carrasco, . Moved up to High-A Clearwater to begin the 2007 campaign, Carrasco has continued to succeed.
The Good: Carrasco has a solid repertoire with a sinking fastball that sits in the mid 90’s and has some solid movement through the zone, which he commands masterfully. He’s got a pair of excellent secondary pitches as well, with a great changeup that’s a swing and a miss pitch and a solid curveball.
The Bad: Carrasco's control of his secondary pitches comes and goes. But the bigger problem is that despite the sinker, Carrasco a flyball pitcher, which could be a concern at Citizens Bank Park.
Projection: Average. Carrasco needs to keep improving his control and improving his curve, but he should be commended for having a pair of plus pitches already that can be used to dominate big league hitters.
What He Can Be: A No. 2 starter.
2008 Course Of Action: The club should continue to take it slow with Carrasco, but if Carrasco keeps up his Sherman-esque march through the minors, he may force the Phillies to give him a shot mid-season.
2 – Joe Savery (LHP) DOB: 11/04/85
Drafted: 1st Round, 2007, Rice
2008 Club: Lakewood BlueClaws (Low A)
Height/Weight: 6-3/215
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Savery looked like a future top 10 selection after a dominant freshman season, recording a 2.43 ERA and 129/37 K/BB ratio in 118 2/3 innings for the Owls while winning the National Freshman of the Year Award. However, in 2006, Savery had some issues with his labrum and surgery was required later that summer. He made a quick recovery from the surgery, but the Owls decided to be cautious and limit his pitch counts early in the season, all the while doubling as the Owl’s regular first baseman. Savery signed too late to make a start, but should begin the season next year with the Phillies’ Low A Affiliate.
The Good: Savery’s stuff is actually quite good, as he’s able to work his fastball well in all parts of the zone. His breaking pitches, a solid curveball and a solid changeup, regarded to be one of the best in the draft, are both sharp and break well in the zone. His control is excellent and his mechanics are solid. He’s also very aggressive on the mound and is a solid defender, partly because of his defensive work at first base.
The Bad: Savery’s fastball is rather flat, meaning that he’ll be a bit homer prone in the majors. Also, as with most Rice talent, Savery’s healthy is somewhat questionable.
Projection: Low. Savery has been money since he came back from his injury and was the ace of the Rice staff. There is some concern about how his health will be long term, but I don’t think it’ll be an issue, as the Rice staff had been very good in making sure he wasn’t rushed back.
What He Can Be: A middle of the rotation starter
2008 Course Of Action: Provided that he’s healthy and that his stuff is all the way back, Savery should be a very good pickup by the Phils, who need pitching depth in their system, as right now they’re surviving with few home grown products and a lot of imports from other organizations, though I don’t know how you would count Adam Eaton.
3 – Adrian Cardenas (SS)
DOB: 10/10/87
Drafted: 1st Round (S), 2006, Florida High School
2008 Club: Clearwater Threashers (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-0/185
Bats/Throws: L/R
The Skinny: The Phillies used their sandwich pick in 2006 on Baseball America's High School Player of the Year, seeing him as a rare, projectable athlete that would move through the system quickly. Whatever the Phillies’ expectations for Cardenas were blown out of the water after he did well in Rookie League Ball and in Low A Ball, making Cardenas one of the fastest risers in the system.
The Good: An excellent hitter with a great bat speed and excellent plate discipline, Cardenas draws a lot of comparisons to Phillies second baseman Chase Utley. Cardenas has good power potential within him, many thinking that he’ll be a 20 homer a year guy in the majors. He’s also got good speed on the bases and excellent base stealing instincts. The Phils love his attitude and work ethic.
The Bad: Many feel that Cardenas won’t stick at shortstop and will wind up moving to either third base or, most likely, second base, making the Utley comparisons even more appropriate.
Projection: High. Cardenas has done nothing but hit since he came in the organization and is rising quicker than expected. However, the bat will play anywhere and he should be able to find a home somewhere in the Phillies’ plans for the future. If not, they have a great trade chip.
What He Can Be: A second baseman that can hit in the 3 hole.
2008 Course Of Action: The Phillies will likely allow Cardenas to head over to High A to begin the season, but Cardenas’ future with the Phillies is uncertain as he’s blocked at both infield positions and would have to likely move over to third if he’s going to remain in the organization. We’ll see where he finishes at the end of the year.
4 – Kyle Drabek (RHP)
DOB: 12/8/87
Drafted: 1st round, 2006, Texas High School
2008 Club: Gulf Coast Phillies (Rookie)
Height/Weight: 6-0/185
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: The son of former Pirate Ace Doug Drabek, Kyle was regarded to be the top prep righthander in the 2006 Draft , but he fell due to makeup concerns, resulting from a DUI and possible substance abuse. He ended up going 18th overall to the Phillies, but his performance was inconsistent until it was finally discovered that Drabek had some elbow issues, which culminated in him undergoing Tommy John Surgery.
The Good: Drabek, who also could have been a high pick as a shortstop, has quality stuff. He throws 94-97 mph, and shows a solid curveball and a hard slider. If that wasn't enough, his changeup also has the potential to be a plus offering.
The Bad: Aside from the makeup concerns, there is some concern if Drabek was genuinely injured all this time or if he just sucked. We’ll see.
Projection: Very high. Drabek has a world of potential ahead of him, but because of his attitude, he's also a very volatile commodity. As a result, he really falls onto both sides of the prospect spectrum in that he’s either going to be a spectacular success or a spectacular failure.
What He Can Be: A major league ace, a la Carlos Zambrano.
2008 Course Of Action: It’s hard to guess exactly where Drabek is or how well he’s doing because of the TJ, but he’ll likely begin back with the Gulf Coast Phillies to begin his rehab.
5 – Travis D'Arnaud (C)
DOB: 2/10/89
Drafted: 1st Round (S), 2007, California High School
The Skinny: Many teams had D’Arnaud as their backup option in the first round, so the Phillies may have gotten a steal by taking him in the sandwich round. D'Arnaud was supposed to join his older brother at Pepperdine this past year, but the Phillies quickly bought him out and assigned him to the Gulf Coast League, where he was okay at best.
The Good: D'Arnaud was considered one of the top prep catchers in the draft thanks to his promise with the bat and his excellent defensive abilities. He looks good behind the plate, has a strong arm and moves well. He also has some raw power potential that could make him a 15-20 Home Run threat in the future.
The Bad: The bat is inconsistent at this point and there have been some criticism over his swing. He also has slow.
Projection: High. D’Arnaud can be a sold starting catcher given time. The bat is usually the last thing to develop on catchers, but the good news is that his defense is already top notch and won’t need much work.
What He Can Be: A average major league regular
2008 Course Of Action: D’Arnaud will likely be heading to Williamsport when the Short Season Leagues begin, after some work in extended on his hitting skills.
6 – Jason Donald (SS)
DOB: 9/04/84
Drafted: 3rd Round, 2006, University of Arizona
2008 Club: Reading Phillies (Double A)
Height/Weight: 5-11/193
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: A 3rd rounder out of the University of Arizona, Donald was regarded to be an underachiever in college, but has begun to blossom into a prospect, much to the surprise and delight of the Phillies. .
The Good: A sound player, Donald has no real weaknesses in his offense, as he can hit for average with gap power and draw a walk. He’s a solid, steady defender, though he does his business with little pomp and circumstance.
The Bad: Really, Donald is just what he is, a workman type of player that can start for you, but you won’t ever expect superstardom out of.
Projection: Low. Donald is rising quickly and when all of his gifts are taken into account, he’s a solid prospect. He’s also blocked, thanks to the presence of both Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, unless he moves.
What He Can Be: An average starting shortstop
2008 Course Of Action: Donald won’t beat out any of the star-studded infield of Utley and Rollins, unless he moves to third. However, he’s quite attractive to an organization in need of a starting shortstop in the future and will likely be mentioned in some potential trades this off-season, possibly for pitching.
7 – Josh Outman (LHP)
DOB: 9/14/84
Drafted: 10th Round, 2005, Central Missouri State
2008 Club: Reading Phillies (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-1/180
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: The Phillies do have some solid lefties remaining on the farm aside from Savery and Outman and Happ look to be the best of them. Outman has the highest upside of the pair and could be good in time, though his disappointing time up in Reading didn’t do much to help his cause.
The Good: Outman has excellent velocity for a lefty. He sits in the low 90’s and can touch 94-95 on occasion. He’s got a solid slider and his changeup has shown signs it can be a usable pitch.
The Bad: Outman's command and control come and go, often times forcing him to use the fastball, limiting himself to being a one trick pony. His two secondary pitches still need some work, especially the changeup.
Projection: Average. Southpaw’s with Outman’s velocity aren’t common, but he still needs to work on a lot of things before he can become a reasonable option for the Phillies to use.
What He Can Be: A Middle Of The Rotation Guy
2008 Course Of Action: Outman is likely going back to Reading, where the Phillies are hoping he’ll take a major step forward.
The Skinny: .Another young projectable athlete in the system, Myers posted some very impressive numbers in limited action with Williamsport, with only a terrible Juiy marring what was a very solid campaign.
The Good: A solid athlete, Myers has proven that he’s got decent baseball instincts and isn’t quite as raw as expected. His hitting skills have begun to manifest themselves and his power potential is expected to be through the roof. He’s got very fast speed already and he’s got a decent arm in center as well.
The Bad: Myers is still quite raw and needs time to develop his baseball skills somemore. He’s also a free swinger that needs to learn some hint of plate discipline. As he gets older, he’s likely going to have to move over to one of the corner outfield spots.
Projection: High. Myers is a personal favorite of mine and should he keep it up, he should be one of the more exciting prospects to watch in the Phillies’ system.
What He Can Be: A starting corner outfielder that can hit for power
2008 Course Of Action: Myers needs another year of seasoning in the short season leagues before I can feel up to assigning him to a Full Season club, as he needs work on many facets of his game. That’s not a knock on him, I just feel that he needs a little more time than most.
9 – J.A. Happ (LHP)
DOB: 10/19/82
Drafted: 3rd round, 2004, Northwestern
2008 Club: Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 6-6/200
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: This big lefty has risen steadily through the system and has gotten results for the most part until this year, where he was rather poor with Triple A Ottawa and was worse during an emergency start this year.
The Good: Happ has gotten a lot of results throughout the years thanks to his solid command and control that allows him to spot his stuff well. His arsenal consists of a high 80’s fastball, a solid slider and a changeup that is said to be the best in the system. He mixes in well to keep hitters off balance.
The Bad: Happ’s stuff is just fringy average and many wonder what will his future role will be for the Phillies.
Projection: Low. Happ is what he is, a finesse lefty that gets by on marginal stuff. Then again, the same can be said of Jamie Moyer and he’s had some success. I think he’d be better than Adam Eaton, but more likely he’ll be talked about as trade bait.
What He Can Be: A 5th Starter
2008 Course Of Action: Happ will likely join Lehigh’s first ever starting rotation, but could be called up to take an emergency start if necessary.
10– Jason Jaramillio (C)
DOB: 10/9/82
Drafted: 2nd Round, 2004, Oklahoma State
2008 Club: Philadelphia Phillies (MLB)
Height/Weight: 6-0/200
Bats/Throws: S/R
The Skinny: The son of Rangers’ hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, Jason had some decent stats in Triple A before going off to compete with Team USA.
The Good: A switch hitter that hits for solid contact, he has the ability to hit for average on both sides of the plate. He’s got some pop and is an above average receiver behind the dish.
The Bad: As afar as home run power is concerned, Jaramillio doesn’t have much. He’s likely going to be the eventual backup to Carlos Ruiz in the future.
Projection: Low. Unless Jaramillio has some sort of power potential that he hasn’t tapped into, he’s ready to start with the big league club as soon as spring training is over.
What He Can Be: A fringe starter/above average backup.
2008 Course Of Action: I think Jaramillio will likely be breaking camp with the big league club, as he’s pretty much ready and would be a solid pairing with Ruiz in terms of a backstop combination.
11 – Scott Mathieson (RHP)
DOB: 2/27/84
Drafted: 17th Round, 2002, Canada High School
2008 Club: Rehab
Height/Weight: 6-3/190
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Mathieson has gone from one of the best pure power arms in the system to one that is currently on the mend. Tommy John surgery cost him much of the year and when he did return in August, he was horrible.
The Good: One of the few pure power pitchers in the system, Mathieson's fastball sits at 92-94 mph and touches 97. He compliments it with a slider and a changeup, with boht pitches having the chance to be quality pitches.
The Bad: His command and control will need to be rebuilt thanks to TJ and it like ly sets him back a year.
Projection: Average. Mathieson would have made the starting rotation this year had he remained healthy. Now, all that matters is getting him back to where he was.
What He Can Be: A middle of the rotation starter.
2008 Course Of Action: Mathieson will likely spend time in extended working with pitching instructors to get his command and control back. I expect for him to likely join Reading sometime in May or early June at the latest.
12 – Greg Golson (CF)
DOB: 9/17/85
Drafted: 1st Round, 2004, Texas High School
2008 Club: Reading Phillies (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-0/190
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: The Phillies had such high hopes for Golson, but frankly, those hopes are beginning to fade as Golson has quite simply been bad and is bordering on becoming a bust after he crapped out in Double A and was poor in the Arizona Fall League. Keith Law described Golson, in no uncertain terms, as “a mess.”
The Good: The best pure athlete in the system, Golson has excellent speed and is a capable defender. He’s an excellent runner on the basepaths and at the plate, he’s got solid bat speed and enough power potential to make you dream of a young Mike Cameron.
The Bad: Golson's swing is a mess and he has no plate discipline at all. He swings at everything and from what I’ve read, his baseball instincts leave a lot to be desired. He’s got a huge problem hitting breaking stuff, which limit shis success.
Projection: Average. There’s still some hope that Golson can be a solid regular, but he’s beginning to look a lot like a bust, which is not what the Phillies were hoping for this season, as it would have given them some addition depth from which to draw from.
What He Can Be: A solid regular
2008 Course Of Action: Golson will likely head back to Reading in what is a make or break season for him.
13 – Fabio Castro (LHP)
DOB: 1/20/85
Signed: 2001, Dominican Republic (White Sox)
2008 Club: Philadelphia Phillies (MLB)
Height/Weight: 5-7/185
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Obtained from the Rangers after they drafted him in the Rule 5 draft, Philly acquired him after the Rangers had no choice but to trade him when the Designated him For Assignment. Castro finished the year well, but problems derailed his sophmore effort.
The Good: Castro is a filthy young lefty that should excell as a setup man. Castro is short, but he’s got a fastball that usually sits at 91-93 mph, plus a changeup with splitter action and a tight curveball.
The Bad: His height doesn’t lend itlsef to durability long term. He also needs to work on his control issues.
Projection: Low. Castro is near ready and if he can get his stuff together, he should be one of the better pieces of a suspect Philly pen.
What He Can Be: A capable setup man
2008 Course Of Action: I expect Castro to leave with the Phillies after Spring Training, where he should get a fair shake in the pen and should be one of their better pieces to build around.
14 – Joe Bisenius (RHP)
DOB: 9/18/82
Drafted: 12th Round, 2004, Oklahoma City University
2008 Club: Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 6-4/205
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: After a breakout season last year, Binsenius was promoted to Ottawa, where it was hoped that he would be able to join the big league pen at some point during the season. However, Bisenius was awful, though he did work two scoreless innings in a brief big league call up.
The Good: Bisenius brings mid 90’s heat regular and compliments it with a slider that is a solid out pitch.
The Bad: Bisenius got a lot more hittable and his command deserted him, resulting in his ugly campaign with the Lynx.
Projection: Low. Bisenius should be near ready and there isn’t much left on him to improve on, other than rediscovering his command.
What He Can Be: A capable setup man, spot closer.
2008 Course Of Action: Bisenius should return to Triple A this year, but should be an option in the middle of the season when the Phillies need the inevitable bullpen re-enforcement.
15 – Jesus Sanchez (C)
DOB: 9/24/87
Signed: 2004, Venezuela (Yankees)
2008 Club: Gulf Coast Phillies (Rookie)
Height/Weight: 5-11/160
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Acquired from the Yankees in the Bobby Abreu deal, Sanchez was signed out of Venezulea by the Yankees and made his US debut last season, hitting for a decent average. He hit a wall this season, hitting just.208/.315/.250, but keeping in mind how old he is, this is only a minor setback.
The Good: Quite athletic for a catcher, Sanchez is a very polished defender that has a soldi glove, and a very strong and accurate arm, making him a possible pitching prospect if this catching thing doesn’t work out for him. He should hit for a decent batting average in time.
The Bad: His biggest drawback is a lack of power, but an even bigger issue is that he’s very inconsistent with the bat, which needs to be worked on.
Projection: High. I think several outlets have judged Sanchez harshly, but keep in mind that he is only 18 and still has a long way to go in terms of development. I still think he can be useful and that he needs to be given time to get himself worked out.
What He Can Be: A capable starter
2008 Course Of Action: People are already labeling Sanchez as a bust, but keep in mind he’s only 18 years old and likely, if he was eligible for the draft, would have been a second or third round pick on the basis of his glove alone. Patience is advised with him.
Final Thoughts
The Phillies system is pretty awful and has been for quite some time. While there are some minor players near ready, they are role players/occasional starters at best and much of the higher talent is farther down in the system and not ready to make any immediate contribution unless it’s as trade bait. Thus, if the Phillies are to supplement their promising infield core, it’s going to have to be out of the Rule 5 Draft (which yielded Shane Victorino) or through free agency by taking chances on some players coming back from injury. Help is definitely not on the way and won’t be for at least another two years, by which time, the Phillies’ window may have closed.
Taking some tiem out from watching the playoffs to update you all on some Ranger thoughts I had. Let's kick it out the new title text:
The Rangers Report – Offseason Edition
Aki May Need Tommy John Surgery
This isn’t good news.
Reports are coming out that Akinori Otsuka, who hasn’t been seen since the All Star break, may need to undergo Tommy John, costing him all of 2009 and the last year of control under Texas before Free Agency.
Sigh.
Aki was likely going to exit Surprise next season as the closer for the Rangers. If he needs to undergo Tommy John, he’s going to get non-tendered and released by Texas, giving a final and craptastic end to one of the worst Rangers trades of all time.
And, just because I like rubbing salt on my wounds, here is how the trade worked out for Texas:
Adam Eaton – Posted a horrific year and didn’t even merit Free Agent Compensation, then bolted for the big bucks in Philly, where he’s been equally craptastic.
Akinori Otsuka – Did a great job as a closer in 2006, was an excellent setup man in 2007, but would be gone if he has to undergo TJ.
Billy Killian - A young catching prospect, Killian was terrible for Spokane and Clinton and was eventually sold to the White Sox for an undisclosed amount of cash and a cash of Milwaukee’s Best.
Bah.
Top Rangers Moments Of 2007
Michael Young’s 200th Hit – It’s great to see Mikie extend his 200 hit season streak to five.
The Return of Rangers Ballpark – The Rangers take back their ballpark by buying out Ameriquest and renaming the ballpark Rangers Ballpark In Arlington.
The 30-3 Game – This asskicking actually was able to help a lot of fans move on from Teixeira. ..well, expect for the Metroplex media (#### you Randy Galloway!)
Hank Blalock’s Return – And how! A Grand Slam against the Angels that helped ice a win on Sunday Night Baseball.
The 2007 Draft – The fact that Texas was able to add so many quality arms, many of which began to preform right away, is making for a potential farm system Bonanza come 2009.
Da Pick! Da Pick! Where Is Da Pick!
The draft standings are more or less finalized, and Texas will make the 11th pick in next June's amateur draft. It’s not a bad place to pick, really. The Rangers won’t get an elite talent unless he falls, but there should be a solid talent there.
Here’s the last five 11th overall picks.
2007 – Philipe Aumont (Mariners) – Love this guy, should be a solid major leaguer.
2006 – Max Scherzer (Diamondbacks) – Solid arm, potential closer.
2005 – Andrew McCutcheon (Pirates) – Tools city, has probably been rushed.
2004 – Neil Walker (Pirates) – Like the bat, not sure where he’ll play though.
2003 – Robert Aubrey (Indians) – Promising career short-circuited by injury.
The only real problem with this year’s draft is that it may be one of the weakest drafts in years. Still, there should be a decent talent around at 11.
Cat On First?
The more I look at the first base market, in terms of trade and free agency, the more I think it’s going to be likely that Frank Catalanotto will likely be the Rangers’ starting first baseman in 2008.
The reason being is that there are no real attractive options out on the open market, with only glove men like Sean Casey and Mike Lamb available. And the only first baseman that I know of that could wind up here, Todd Helton, would be a far too lengthy commitment for the Rangers, plus he would likely require the Rangers picking up an expensive option to come here.
Actually, hold that thought, there is also Adam Dunn, who could play first base and is reasonably comparable to Ryan Howard, but what would the Reds want in terms of prospects? I don’t think that enough of a deal could be reached for the two sides to swing a deal.
Meanwhile, playing Cat at first would allow the Rangers to use different outfielders, improving the overall defense, as Cat is rather bad in left. It would allow the Rangers to play David Murphy regularly in right field, while allowing Jason Botts, who isn’t great, but is better than Cat in left, while allowing the Rangers to concentrate on obtaining help in centerfield and DH.
Keeping An Eye On Felix Pie And David DeJesus
Two options in centerfield to keep an eye on are Cubs prospect Felix Pie and Royals centerfielder David DeJesus.
I think there was more truth than people realize when rumors surrounded Pie and the Cubbies’ apparent willingness to deal him in the right trade. There was a rumored deal of Gerald Laird for Pie, but the deal was quickly killed and the Cubbies announced they had no real intentions of trading him.
I’m not so sure.
Lou Pinella wasn’t a big fan of Pie’s during his time up with the Cubs and wasn’t enthused about playing him every day.
And, with rumors that the Cubs may go hard after a free agent centerfielder, that would all but block Pie from ever making it to Wrigley.
Which would make trading for Pie much more valuable, as it would allow the Rangers to get something for not as painful of a price. Pie is regarded to be a raw, Carlos Beltran type (then again, so is Rangers prospect Engel Beltre), and if he gets PT, he'll be able to blossom into something special.
Here's hoping the Cubs do so.
The other player is Royals centerfielder David DeJesus, who the Royals are supposedly looking into trading for younger, projectable parts, especially since they now feel that Joey Gathright has figured out how to hit. Gathright has leadoff potential and is faster and can cover more ground than DeJesus.
If the Royals are willing, I'd be ready to call if I were GM. I'm not sure what the price would be, but it wouldn't be real expensive, especially when you consider what the Royals got in exchange for Octavio Dotel (the mighty Kyle Davies).
The Royals have tried for years to acquire prospect Joaquin Arias. I'd be willing to deal Arias, especially since I got an Arias clone in Elvis Andrus. If I were making a deal, and DeJesus were available, I'd call up the Royals and dicker, with Arias being in the deal.
Arias is still very attractive, in that he's got loads of tools and is young. It's becoming obvious that a change of scenery may be necessary for him to reach his potential and he could eventually be better than Tony Pena Jr, who is a backup at best or a starter while he's cheap. The only real issue would be if Arias developed, which would potentially bite the Rangers in the way Hafner did, but really Arias is blocked in Texas by Young and Kinsler, so it would be for the best.
What Does The Future Hold For Loe, Laird, and Tejeda
The Rangers' final loss to the Mariners was likely the last for several Rangers, and the end for some of the Rangers’ current career paths.
Kameron Loe expereinced a odd season, where he seemingly found his mojo as a starter again before his old inconsistencies reached back to nab him again. While Loe has developed better off-speed stuff to go with his sinker, he hasn’t been able to sustain his success long. Overall, Loe has been better as a reliever, as he is 13-19 with a 5.08 ERA in 47 career starts and 5-4 with a 4.15 ERA in 46 relief appearances, but with the emergence of several young starters, Loe is likely going to be the long man coming into next year, or could be traded in the offseason to a team that could be able to work on him to be an average 5th starter.
The same has gone for Robinson Tejeda. What started out to be a promising season quickly devolved into disaster as Tejeda was shelled more and more as the seaosn went on, finishing 5-9 with a 6.61 ERA in 19 games before being sent down to Triple A, where he eventually had hsis eaosn ended due to injury. Tejeda’s future with the Rangers is also going to be one of uncertainty, as the rotation appears to be set with Millwood, Padilla, McCarthy, Gabbard and Volquez going into next year. Even worse, Eric Hurley is nearly ready and could challenge for a starting spot next year, leaving Tejeda’s opportunities for a third chance less and less likely.
Gerald Laird is a different story. With his bat going into the ####, Laird’s future as a Ranger likely was doomed once the Mark Teixeira deal brought in Jarrod Saltalamacchia, a natural catcher, over in the deal. While Salty projects to be a average first baseman, behind the plate he could be a perrenial All Star and a capable middle to late in the order presence. Laird was almost dealt at the deadline, but the Teixeira deal was swung too late to try and get a decent offer rolling. With the lack of young catchers in the majors all around, Laird, despite his numbers, could be attractive to several teams needing a young catcher with at least three years of control left on him.
On The Block Manana guys. Now, back to snoozing with the girlfriend and my niece...
Adam Dunn's time is running out, Rowand in DC, Jack Wilson heading to Detroit, More Trouble For Matt Bush, and the end of Gerald Laird's Ranger career, all coming up!
Adam Dunn May Be Done In Cincinnati
Adam Dunn may be in his last season with the Reds. It's not because of the strikeouts, or because of the Reds' woes, or even the fact that the Reds want to cut payroll to help supplement other areas of the staff.
It's because of Jay Bruce and Joey Votto.
Bruce is a talented Reds prospect is nearly ready after jumping several levels in the minor leagues and now holding his own in Triple A. He's got power, a solid eye, a capable defender and a good arm, all things that the Reds could use. As far as who he projects to be, Larry Walker is a common comparison.
Josh Hamilton has already established himself as the Reds' centerfielder, with Griffey holding down right field, which leaves left field as the only place for the uber-talented Bruce to start.
First base isn't an option either, beucase of Votto, a solid hitting first baseman that plays better defense than Dunn at first and blocks him.
Without the DH rule, that would render Dunn a very expensive bench player at $12 million.
However, the Reds won't let him leave without them getting something valuable back. It's possible that the Reds could pick up the option and look to trade Dunn this off-season, hopefully for much less than they asked the Angels when they looked into getting him.
A trade with the Rangers is possible because of the Rangers' needs for a first baseman/outfielder. However, the Rangers won't give up much for a one year rental, unless Dunn consents to an extension, which won't happen with free agent prices skyrocketing. Nor would the Rangers part with valueable prospects in return, in particular Eric Hurley and Taylor Teagarden, two of Texas' top prospects that the Reds would demand in return.
San Francisco may be a fit, as the Giants will need a power source on the team with Bonds not likely to return, however, prospects will be hard to exchange because the Giants have none and they will not consent to trading Jonathan Sanchez, a talented lefty that may be able to start that the Reds would target in return.
Were I to hazard a guess, the best fit for Dunn could be the Yankees, who need a first baseman not named Andy Phillips or god knows what else they've been running out there. They have the prospects to spare for Dunn, as they have several starting pitchers that could succeed in the National League that are of no use to them, and it wouldn't be a long term commitment, as the Yankees would be able to let Dunn go in order to pursue Braves first baseman Mark Teixeira.
Should be an interesting off-season in Cincinnati.
Monroe For Wilson Swap In The Works?
Detroit wants to find an NL club that is willing to take Craig Monroe, who was DFA'd, in parts of keeping him out of the AL.
Pittsburgh has been interested in Monroe in the past and would be willing to trade shortstop Jack Wilson if the Tigers pick up all of the $14.35 million remaining on the final two years of his three-year, $20.2 million contract.
The Tigers inquired about Wilson and nearly had a deal done for him at the deadline before talks fell apart becaue the Pirates asked for...Craig Monroe.
Surely the two clubs could work something out.
Rowand To DC?
Phillies center fielder Aaron Rowand is a free agent after the season, and while he hasn't revealed much on what he's doing after the season, he does like Washington, whom he feels is a up and coming team and will be a contender in a couple of years.
Rowand would be a solid addition to Washington and would be marketed as a face of the franchise and would be a team leader there.
However, I don't see it happening.
Washington is already experiencing a logjam in the outfield, with Wily Mo Pena, Ryan Church, Nook Logan, Austin Kearns and potentially Dmitri Young all vying for playing time.
Furthermore, Rowand will likely recieve more lucrative offers from his three top suitors, the Rangers, the Phillies, and the White Sox (not in that order.)
So as nice an idea it is, it won't happen.
More Trouble For Matt Bush
The Padres have confirmed that Matt Bush,the first overall pick in 2004, will need Tommy John Surgery on his pitching elbow, saying he should be good to go again in a year.
This is only the latest setback for Bush, who has been injury prone and under performed by the Padres, who took him instead of Tigers Ace Justin Verlander (fear of a holdout) and then Florida State shortstop Stephen Drew, who the scouts recommended to take, but were overruled because of cost. Also passed up was Jered Weaver, who fell to the Angels.
Bush was converted in June to pitching and has posted good results until recently, when in his Single-A debut for Fort Wayne, Indana on Thursday, Bush threw a pitch and reportedly ruptured a ligiment in his elbow and left.
It's unfortunate because Bush actually seemed to respond to the change, throwing a upper 90's fastball along with a promising curve.
Oh well.
Gerald Laird Is Available
Gerald Laird, the current Rangers catcher, is likely headed out of Arlington and headed elsewhere.
Laird likely was headed out anyhow, with the Rangers already having highly regarded catching prospect Taylor Teagarden coming on nicely, plus catcher Max Ramirez coming over in the Kenny Lofton deal.
However, with the acquisition of Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Laird's fate was sealed earlier. Salty has a solid bat, but it profiles better at catcher and ultimately, that's where he will remain, as the Rangers have put an emphasis at looking elsewhere for a first baseman. That means that Laird will be out of a job and likely out of Texas.
Laird should be very highly coveted, as there are very few young backstops available on the market. There will likely be interest from several teams, including Detroit, Pittsburgh, the Mets and Yankees, as well as the Cubs, who inquired about Laird shortly after the trade of Teixeira was made.
Okay, time to deal out final grades on the trade deadline for each assignment.
The Pittsburgh Pirates Acquire RHP Matt Morris From The San Francisco Giants For OF Rajai Davis And A Player To Be Named Later
This is probably the most puzzling deal of the deadline. The Pirates really didn’t need Morris, whose production had fallen fast and far as of late and what’s worse is that they’ll be assuming the entire contract remaining on him. Morris adds nothing really to the Pirates rotation except make it a lot more expensive. He’s also going to PNC Park, where he’ll get lit up a lot worse than he did at A####mp;T. As for the Giants, they get a fourth outfielder type in Davis, but the biggest coup is getting Morris’ salary off the books and allowing them to pursue a big bat. So far, the Giants will have a total of $29 million off the books, counting Bonds’ and Morris’ salary. Sexy! The only real criticism is that the Giants could have gotten something of consequence from another team if they had traded him two months earlier…maybe back to the Cardinals for the young Anthony Reyes, who needs to get out of Missouri.
Final Grade: Giants – B, Pirates – D
The Atlanta Braves Acquire LHP Royce Ring From The San Diego Padres For LHP’s Wil Ledezma and Will Startup
The Braves acquire more relief pitching, this time in Ring who may or may not be able to contribute something, but has options available, something Ledezma didn’t. The Padres get a solid lefty reliever in Ledezma, who will benefit from pitching in Petco, and anything from Startup is gravy.
Final Grade: Padres – B, Braves – B-
The Philadelphia Phillies Acquire RHP Julio Mateo From The Mariners For INF Jesus Mechan
What is it with the Phillies and acquiring ####s? Mateo, a known wife beater, should upgrade the pen somewhat. Thank god the Mariners were able to rid themselves of this ####.
Final Grade: Mariners – A+, Phillies – F
The Boston Red Sox Acquire RHP Eric Gagne From The Texas Rangers for LHP Kason Gabbard, OF David Murphy and OF Engel Beltre.
Another upside play here. The Red Sox gain Gagne, who has agreed to setup Jonathan Papelbon. The Rangers gain more parts to possibly rebuild their team from. Murphy can handle center and his bat is okay. He has good plate discipline, but not a lot of power despite his size. We'll see if he's another Rudy Jaramillo reclamation project here. Gabbard is a 4th starter with average stuff, but he does induce ground balls, a plus in Arlington, plus he's left handed. That leaves the Rangers with a lot of starting pitching options, with next year's rotaiton likely consisting of Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla, Brandon McCarthy, Gabbard and Kameron Loe, though Eric Hurley may force someone to promote him. The biggest deal is Engle Beltre, one of the top prospects signed out of the Dominican Republic last season who is another toolsy player. He's got a ncie swing, a great arm, and loads of power potential. All in all, it's a good deal for Texas, who got parts for now and for later and could potential have a superstar in Beltre if they develop him right.
The San Diego Padres Acquire 3B Morgan Ensberg From The Houston Astros For PTBNL Or Cash
And this move was for…what? The Astros get to do good on their guy by flipping him elsewhere for a fringe prospect. And the Padres’ bench gets more and more cluttered.
Grade: Padres – C, Astros – D
The Chicago White Sox Acquire RHP Jon Link From The San Diego Padres For UTIL Rob Mackowiak
What the hell? Mackowiak was worth more than an average reliever in High A. I usually like to give Kenny Williams the benefit of the doubt, as he has done some good deals in the past and usually identifies prospects he feels will turn out well. But they could have gotten something better for Mackowiak, a solid utility guy with some thunder in his bat and his ability to play the infield and outfield corners. Nice job on San Diego getting some bench depth to help for the stretch run.
Final Grades: White Sox – C-, Padres – B+
The New York Yankees Acquire UTIL Wilson Betemit From The Los Angeles Dodgers For RHP Scott Proctor
A Rod Insurance. Pure and simple, though Betemit may finally end Joe Torre's fascination with Miguel Cairo. Betemit has some pop and can capably handle any of the infield positions. The Dodgers could have something with Proctor, who is a capable reliever and setup man, provided Joe Torre has not already destoryed his arm.
Final Grades: Dodgers - B, Yankees - B
The St. Louis Cardinals Acquire RHP Joel Pinero From The Boston Red Sox For PTBNL
Good job by the Cardinals, though I’m not sure what Pinero can do for them. Well, actually, Pinero could develop nicely if he listens to Dave Duncan and might recapture some of his old promise. It’s not a bad idea to give it a shot, especially for a PTBNL that won’t be of any consequence.
Final Grades: Cardinals – B-, Red Sox – C-
The Houston Astros acquire 3B Ty Wigginton from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for RHP Dan Wheeler.
Not a bad job here by Houston. Wigginton is a above average bat that can produce at third without killing the defense. The Devil Rays enhance their bullpen by acquiring Wheeler, a solid setup man with closing experience that was a part of the first every Devil Ray draft way back when. All in all, this helps both teams.
Final Grades: Astros – B, Devil Rays – B
The Philadelphia Phillies acquire RHP Kyle Lohse from the Cincinnati Reds for LHP Matt Maloney
A decent trade. Lohse should help the Phillies with their current pitching problems and gives them a capable Number Five guy in the back of the rotation. In return, the Reds get a decent prospect in Maloney, who could develop into what Lohse was. Not a bad trade.
Final Grades: Phillies – B, Reds – B
The New York Mets acquire 2B Luis Castillo from the Minnesota Twins for C Drew Butera and OF Dustin Martin
This was a great trade for the Mets, as Castillo can help them now and they’ll be able to reap draft pick compensation from him once he leaves. As for the Twins, nice job on getting organizational filler that will be playing in the American Association in two years.
Final Grades: Mets – A, Twins – F
The Atlanta Braves acquire RHP Octavio Dotel From The Kansas City Royals for RHP Kyle Davies
I don’t get this deal at all. Davies has flopped since coming up the Big Leagues and has struggled against National League lineups. His command is awful and he gets hit hard by opposing hitters. I don’t know what the Hell Kansas City was thinking. They could have gotten OF Wladimir Balentien, a solid prospect that helps them immediately from the Mariners. What were they smoking?! This is yet another reason why the Royals remain the Royals.
Okay, time to play some transactions catchup. Here’s what I’ve got:
The San Diego Padres trade RHP Scott Linebrink to the Milwaukee Brewers for RHP Will Inman, LHP Steve Garrison and LHP Joe Thatcher
This was kind of weird deal considering that neither team needed to upgrade it’s bullpen, as both San Diego and Milwaukee are both pretty good as far as firemen go. In any case, the Brewers did this banking on Mike Maddux’s ability to bring guys back around to form, which is what they’re hoping he’ll do with Linebrink. If they’re successful, then they’ll not only have a solid 7th inning guy to bridge to Francisco Cordero, but they can also reap draft pick compensation rewards, as getting Linebrink back to form will result in him being classified a Type A free agent. And they really didn’t give up a lot to do it. Inman is the biggest part of the deal, but really, he’s kind of a odd prospect, as he’s purely performance and very little as far as stuff. Still, in that wonky stadium, he could succeed and be a 4th man in the rotation. Thatcher will be replacing Linebrink in the bullpen and profiles similarly as such and Garrison is regarded to be a sort of long shot prospect that no one really expect much greatness out of.
Overall, what we have here is a collection of players that have kinda been rendered expendable by each organization, but San Diego comes out a bit ahead because of the salary relief, though I will say this. They could have gotten a whole lot more had they decided to deal Linebrink just a half season earlier.
Overall: Padres - B, Brewers - B-
The Texas Rangers trade CF Kenny Lofton to the Cleveland Indians for C Max Ramirez
This was probably the best the Rangers could do, with the lack of centerfield interest on the market. Nonetheless, they did do well, as Ramirez is a solid young catcher currently hitting .303 with 12 homers, 62 RBI’s and a good strikeout to talk ration (nearly 1 to 1). Ramirez is said to be able to hit pretty well, but he’s raw at catcher, though he’s improved enough where he’ll likely be able to stick. As for the Indians, they gain a versatile corner outfielder with speed and discipline that should make their lineup a little more free swinging. A trade that worked well for both parties.
Overall: Rangers – B, Indians – B
The Chicago White Sox trade 2B Tadahito Iguchi to the Philadelphia Phillies for RHP Michael Dubee
Kind of a disappointing trade for the White Sox. They traded Iguchi, one of their players that did merit interest from around the league for a Low A reliever. It would have been better to hold onto Iguchi and simply reap the Type B draft pick that they would have merited in exchange for him. The deals works well for the Phillies, who get a filler for the moment with Chase Utley out that can hit a bit.
There are going to be some names on this list if things stay put the way they look right now. However, there is no clear cut dominating favorite, as many of these closers are either A) Old, B) Injury Prone, or C) Inconsistent.
Mariano Rivera (Yankees) – It’s hard to imagine that Rivera would consider closing for someone else, but he’s apparently ready to make good on his threat if the Yankees won’t sign him. If he hits the market, Rivera can still be a viable closer, provided that all those innings that Torre used him to cover the deficiencies in the bullpen don’t catch up to him. However, I doubt New York will let him get away. As much as the Yankees make of Rivera being sort of expendable, the fact is that there isn’t many pitchers in the system that could replace Rivera. Proctor is likely going to be a starter at some point, Farnsworth should only be a closer in the NL and J.B. Cox in the system is a setup man.
Eric Gagne (Rangers) – Okay, everyone in Ranger Nation knows that Gagne is really only a one year wonder with Texas, as he’ll likely strike it rich somewhere else with another team, in spite of his recent comments that he wants to remain in Texas. Gagne looks all the way back so far and he could be the best free agent closer on the market.
