Mariners Acquire Jose Vidro

The Mariners have traded Chris Snelling and Emiliano Fruto to the Nationals for second baseman Jose Vidro, according to the Washington Post.  The Mariners intend to pay $12MM of the $16MM remaining on Vidro's contract for 2007-08.  Jim Bowden did well.

Vidro, 32, hopefully will not supplant young Jose Lopez as the starting second baseman.  In getting into 126 games last year, Vidro had his healthiest season in a while.  However, his power seems to have evaporated and he's not exactly nimble in the field.  Sure, he's cheap, but he's not particularly good.  He's little help at 2B or DH.

Snelling is another oft-injured player, though he is only 25.  Many of his injuries have been the result of bad fortune, but he's been through a lot.  He's still a good gamble for a team like the Nats.

Fruto is just 22 and is a high-upside arm with three plus pitches, according to Baseball America.  He hasn't started since '03 but maybe the Nats will want to reinvent him.

Comments

[worms]

No, Seattle is paying 12M left on the contract, not Washington.

[bdid]

Dude, reread that article... Bowden did even better than you think... it was Seattle that will pay 12 of the 16 left, not Washington...Great job by Bowden here (which is rare)

[daard86]

Well it seems that the great Seattle offseason continues.

[RotoAuthority]

Holy crap...I liked that deal for the Nats if they paid 12 of the 16. The other way around it's absurd.

[5TOOLER]

that makes zero sense.

it's vidro and 12 mill to seattle for snelling and fruto.

who would be stupid enough to trade snelling, fruto AND 12 mill for jose vidro? ...think about it.

[desturbd1]

"who would be stupid enough to trade snelling, fruto AND 12 mill for jose vidro? ...think about it."

Bill Bavasi?

[SBE]

Man...is it fair to say Seattle is having the worst offseason so far?

1. Lose out on Schmidt
2. Lose out on Dice-K (granted, they didn't bid)
3. Lost the Soriano trade
4. Lost this trade
5. Haven't traded Sexson or Beltre as rumored
6. Signed 36 year old Miguel Batista for 9 mill a year

Seattle fans had high hopes heading into this offseason, but i'm sure the large majority are pessimistic about the job Bavasi and company have done so far.

[5TOOLER]

seattle got 2 years of jose vidro at 4 mill for 2 prospects.

[desturbd1]

"seattle got 2 years of jose vidro at 4 mill for 2 prospects."

Despite the fact that the paper says the opposite? That'd certainly make more sense, but you don't have a shred of evidence.

[beeniez]

This is kind of a blah trade. Helps out Washington more though. Unloading Vidro's contract.

"Nearly as important for Washington, however, is that *Seattle* has agreed to pay $12 million of the remaining $16 million left on Vidro's contract for 2007 and '08." Seattle is paying for majority of the contract, not the Nationals.

[5TOOLER]

i guess i'm mistaken then. if true, bill bavasi might be slow.

[Das Cube]

I am ecstatic. But...what will they do with Snelling. It looks like the Nats have more OFs than they can play. Does this indicate an imminent Ryan Church for Lastings Milledge and Oliver Perez trade?

[Rayman]

^lol, maybe not.

Another winner for Bowden. Another loser for Bavasi.

[nom3k]

"Does this indicate an imminent Ryan Church for Lastings Milledge and Oliver Perez trade?"

Are you high? Bowden tried to offer Cordero and Patterson each for Milledge straight up and Omar turned him down. You think they're going to give away Milledge AND Perez for Church?

[nom3k]

I don't think they'd even trade Perez straight up for Church.

[desturbd1]

Ha, http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061213&content_id=1760809&vkey=hotstove2006&fext=.jsp

The M's had to give Vidro a vesting 2009 option to get him to waive his no-trade clause. God this was an awful trade.

[EM3]

Bavasi is a disaster. What an AWFUL trade.

[nickjs21]

It's a clear winner for the Nats. It's a shame, too, because I remember when Vidro looked like he was about to become one of the game's best around 2000. Then he just deteriorated.

[Das Cube]

I am certainly not "high". I have realized why my proposal is not adequate. How about this one. Church, Melvin Dorta, Bernie Castro, and Tony Blanco for Oliver Perez and Lastings Milledge. You see, now the Mets have a positive influx of Latin ballplayers. Sure, they lose Oliver and his Hispanicness, but are able to replace him AND get two more hispanics for the obviously inferior non-Hispanic Milledge. Don't even try to argue; my logic is flawless. Plus, Church alone is worth more than Perez and Milledge. If we are talking merely baseball. Of course he is inadequate for the Mets purposes because his name is Ryan Church. But, you win some and you lose some.

[ejruiz777]

As a Braves fan, this trade pisses me off to no end. How come the Nats got this sweet a deal from the Mariners for Vidro and yet the Braves didn't throw Giles into the Ramirez-for-Soriano fleecing??? He'd be out of the NL in case he turns it around (now it seems as though he'll be playing for an NL contender like the Pads or the Mets) and we could have ripped them off for whatever else we wanted on their roster. Incredible!!!

[beeniez]

Teams were waiting to see if Marcus Giles was going to be non-tendered or not. Vidro is under contract.

[nom3k]

"Plus, Church alone is worth more than Perez and Milledge. If we are talking merely baseball. Of course he is inadequate for the Mets purposes because his name is Ryan Church. But, you win some and you lose some."

Church does not have more value than Milledge, and he doesn't have more value to the Mets than Perez does. The Mets already turned down Cordero and Patterson. It's clear Minaya isn't all that interested in your players. If you want Milledge, you'll have to pony up.

[StLknows]

Does anyone know why the Mariners would want a 6mm/yr faltering backup 2nd baseman?? I realize that maybe they grew tired of Snelling and Fruto doesn't seem to be too highly touted, but I just don't see the logic. Lopez plays nasty D. He is better than Vidro in every aspect!

[ejruiz777]

The Mariners were so desperate for a second baseman that they just traded for the ghost of one that was pretty good before the turn of the century. All I'm saying is that I'm sure they would have been interested in acquiring Giles along with Ramirez in the earlier trade between the two ballclubs.

Oh, and anyone that doesn't realize that Das Cube is just joking in his posts deserves to be kicked in the balls at least twice.

[DRWheelock]

Why didn't the Braves include Giles in the Soriano trade?

Remember the strong rumored 3-way trade with Seattle/Giants/Braves?

Sexson to Giants
Soriano & Benitez to Braves
Hudson & LaRoche to Seattle

Then they pull off the Soriano for Ramirez deal! I have an intiution that the Braves told Seattle they wanted Lopez, and Seattle couldn't do it at the time, and didn't want Marcus Giles.

THEN, Seattle goes out and lands this trade with Vidro, and gives him a vested 2009 option for waiving his no-trade clause.

NOW, Seattle goes back to the Braves/Giants and does this deal:

Sexson to Giants
Lowry & Lopez to Braves
Hudson & LaRoche to Seattle

I'm a Seattle Fan, but becoming a Bavasi hater as everyday goes by. This Vidro thing MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL. And from all my sources, and Mariner blogs, this trade has every M's fan wondering what the hell Bavasi is thinking.

I honestly think this is the ONLY real option that's out there that seems reasonable...especially after ALL the major rumors with a Sexson/Hudson 3-way trade with the Giants & Braves.

I guess we'll all find out sooner or later what is going on in Bavasi's pea brain!

[desturbd1]

Uhh...the M's have Jose Lopez, who needs to learn to take a walk, but is only 23 and is defensively a huge upgrade over Vidro. Look for Vidro to spend most of his time DHing.

[iloveraykim]

das cube

are you making up rumors? Ill make one up. Ryan church to the mets for mr met, because you dont have a mascot and you need one.

[tinynick]

SO everyone is freaking out that the mariners made a bad deal. Im here to tell you, you are only half right. Right now
Yuniesky Betancourt may be deported back to Cuba for entering the country illegaly. (if you havent heard read about it http://www.komotv.com/sports/4907481.html)
Also if Betancourt gets to stay they can move Sexson and Brousard for pitching while moving Vidro or Beltran to 1B. If he does leave Vidro goes to 2B while Lopez returns to his original position at SS. Snelling is a very injury prone player, we have no room for him any way with Reed and Jones and about 3 other OF's that could play right now. As for Fruto, he is a MR with very good upside but will take 2 seasons to be a starter if thats the way they want to go with him. Now for the 12 million, thats just money and money that the mariners would pay for Vidro anyway if he were a F/A (you know bavis would). I dont see it has a horrible trade maybe not even bad, but its not a good or great deal either for the Mariners. Eitehr way will know if Bavis is an idiot or genius (this offseason only) when the season starts.

[allabouthephils]

Anyone hear about Cliff Floyd signing with the Cubs ???? It's still a rumor but WFAN out of new york reported than Floyd signed for one year at 6MM......

[nrmax88]

"I am ecstatic. But...what will they do with Snelling. It looks like the Nats have more OFs than they can play. Does this indicate an imminent Ryan Church for Lastings Milledge and Oliver Perez trade?"

Wow, dascube was MIA for a while, I got excited, thought he might have died or something. Wishful thinking i guess. Dascube considers Milledge a poor mans ryan church. He has admitted though that he has never seen Milledge play. I wouldnt even think of trading Perez for Church. I wouldnt even Damion Easley for Church. The mets minor league system is loaded with highly touted OFs. Dont take him seriously. Is there even a such thing as a poor mans ryan church? Maybe some kid from the LLWS is a poor mans ryan church. Thats even a stretch

[hood]

Hoping for a forum on this but there aint one one here. Just read on the Yahoo rumors page LaRoche and davies to Pirates for Castillo and Gonzalez. Then the Braves trade Gonzalez to the Yankees for Proctor and Cabrerra. As a Brave fan I would love this deal. Big John get it done. Melky in LF and Thorman at 1B. Proctor in the bullpen and Castillo at 2B. I think this would be a great trade.

[nrmax88]

I dont think that will happen. NY already declined Proctor and Melky for Gonzales from the Pirates. I dont get why they would make the deal with ATL

[hood]

I don't know but everything I read was that the Pirates were not making a deal involving Gonzalez unless they got a power hitting LH either 1B or OF. And that the Yankees were a long shot to get him because they didn't match up well. Shit I'd give up LaRoche for Melky and Proctor. The Yankees are said to be lookin at a 1st abseman. Then we get to keep Davies.

[hood]

Only question is though can Melky bat leadoff if not then I think Aybar gets the 2B job. Which wouldn't be too bad I guess even though I like him in that reserve role.And if this happens then the Braves with the money they save can go get J.C. Romero to fill out the bullpen.

[hood]

Yankee fans let me know how you would feel bout this Melky, Proctor & Karstens for Salty & LaRoche.

[DentalPlan]

Wow, the Mariners got jobbed bad. Fruto is a nice arm, I really like Snelling, he's going to hit, not fantastically, but an .850-.870 OPS year in and year out, yeah I see that. The health may be an issue, but come on, I'll take that risk.

Jose Vidro plays defense about as well as Todd Walker, and over the last two years his OPS has been .763 and .744. Mariners got taken. Badly. This is not one of the smarter organizations in baseball. It's been a long ride downhill, I thought drafting Brandon Morrow instead of hometown hero Lincecum was pretty dumb too. And the Eduardo Perez/Broussard trades. Then they give 3/27 to 1.53 WHIP, 36 year old Miguel Batista with a decent but not impressive G/F ratio.

Not good.

[Yu Hsing Chen]

Hood : if the Braves do that trade their FO should be burned.

you don't trade a great catching prospect and a very good young 1B for a decent middle reliever and fringe pitching prospect and a interesting young OF that may or may not hit for enough power.

[henry14theking]

Hood: in terms of talent yes, the Yanks would do it. But they lose their only decent bullpen arm in Proctor.

So in terms of needs Cashman might not do it. Also Salty's down year kinda puts a damper on the hype.

I'd do the trade as a Yankees fan althought I'd hate losing Melky.

Make it McCann and Laroche, and Cashman would be fired if he turned that down :P.

[Fake Teams]

Keep Fruto on your radar as a deep-sleeping closer candidate. He throwx hard and the options behind Cordero are scarce.

This was a trade, in combination with the kearns/Lopez heist, that takes some sting out of the idiotic decision to retain Soriano instead of trading him in July.

http://www.faketeams.com

[2YanksRule2]

Yank's should keep Melky as a 4th OF, but if they get offered anything even semi decent for him they should take it. His personal stats are inflated by his team mates, and while I like watching him play, he really isn't that good. While I would love McCann and Laroche, that is just a silly request. Getting Salty and a B prospect for Melky alone would a good haul, but if they throw in LaRoche and only want Melky/Proctor back I'd jump all over that.

[WebGemsRUs]

Vidro? DH some? Didn't the Mariners re-sign Broussard to become the full-time DH? What's their lineup gonna look like this year?
1. Ichiro
2. Lopez
3. Ibanez
4. Sexson
5. Beltre
6. Broussard
7. Johjima
8. Guillen
9. Bentancourt
Oh wait, where's Vidro, going to fit in?

[ArodSucksAtLife]

He'll be serving coffee at one of the 14 billion Starbucks or Seattle's Best stands at the stadium.

[hood]

I don't know what all this fuss is for Salty. He had a terrible year last year & We already got McCann. Get something for this kid already. The Yankees have Posada and he can develop behind him. Laroche is a good up and comin 1st baseman but anybody that watched the Braves last year know the Braves have Thorman waiting in the wings. He is gonna be just as good if not better offensivly than LaRoche. Probably not as good defensivly. LaRoche is arbitration eligable Proctor and Melky are not. You get a young stud OF who plays LF this year and moves to CF when Andruw leaves this after this year. And they get a nice setup man who may be able to close after this year when Wickman retires. I don't know what the Pirates problem is if they think Gonzalez gets you LaRoche by himself. I don't like the Pirates scenerio because it would be like giving up Davies for Castillo and I don't like that deal. Maybe if we had a little more depth at SP. But with the Ramirez deal which I loved by the way dipped into our depth. LaRoche should get us Gonzalez and Castillo. And to think this stupid ass G.M. gave up Arimis for Bobby Hill. Now all of a sudden he is over valuing. LaRoche and Davies better get us a young SP in return also maybe Maholm.

[nrmax88]

Melky Cabrera = Endy Chavez with a lil more pop and not as strong defense

[hood]

And any Yankee fan thinks Proctor is a SP please he found his niche like Rivera did. Rivera was a horrible SP but is the greatest closer of all times. Stud bullpen arms get found stinkin up the rotation. Stud starters are not found as setup men. You can stick guys in the bullpen to develop ( McCarthy, Wainwright, Paplebon) but everyone knew they were gonna be SP.

[hood]

I don't agree with that. Although I always said if Endy Chavez learned how to hit the ball the other way, Take a walk and hit the ball on the ground he would be a great player he deff. has tools. It has always been a head game with him. Is Melky going to the HOF no I wouldn't say that. I would rather have Baldelli but the DRAYS are asking for players that we need for the depth. For LaRoche and Salty we def get more than Proctor and Melky or I don't make the deal. But just for the Braves to be talkin bout LaRoche means they believe Thorman is ready. Now you deal from your strengths and fill your holes accordingly.

[obsessivegiantscompulsive]

According to this analysis by Ken Rosenthal - http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6270798 - the Mariners get a solid, reliable hitter to DH for them, paying him only $6M per year - they are not paying Washington any money, the money goes to Vidro. In fact, my reading of the statement is that Washington is sending $4M PLUS Vidro, for Snelling and Fruto. That's fair for a cripple 2B who can hit, that's about what Durham got from the Giants.

Has anyone thought that perhaps Seattle is planning on playing Broussard at 1B after trading away Sexson? He is a 1B by trade. Or were you envisioning someone else at 1B?

Snelling main asset appears to be a high average and OBP, he hits few homers and steals few bases. And he hit terribly in AAA last season. And Fruto's numbers have been horrible since entering AAA, though he still strikes out a lot of batters, which is a plus, but not when you walk so many. High potential, high risk of failure because of their lack of consistent success at the higher levels of minors.

I don't see why the Giants would have to give up Lowry to pick up someone's high $ contract, plus the Braves still need relievers, they just dumped Reitsma, so I would think that Benitez would still be part of the deal, not Lowry. The main question becomes, who does Seattle include in the contract to even up the deal now, I wouldn't give up Lopez, personally, just to do that trade, perhaps they give up another reliever, though, how many do they have left?

[The Ancient]

Bill Bavasi must be doing something REAL cozy to keep his job. It amazes me that that man can still have a well paid job as that.

And, Braves fans, stop complaning. Let this pathetic Nats organization have SOME moments of sunshine, for pete's sake.

[DentalPlan]

"the Mariners get a solid, reliable hitter to DH for them, paying him only $6M per year"

What a weak spin! How much should you pay for Vidro? "Only" $6 million? How much are you supposed to pay for a DH who has been stuck in the mid 700s OPS the last two years? In addition to giving up two fine prospects? Yeah, he'll hit better than Carl Everett, but will he hit better than Broussard? Furthermore, you don't have to give up two of the Mariners' best prospects and more money for the other guys.