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« Padres Rumors: Iguchi, Prior, Cameron | Main | Cubs Like Joe Nathan »
Royals Acquire Alberto Callaspo
Interesting move today, as the Royals sent 24 year-old minor league starter Billy Buckner to the Diamondbacks for 24 year-old second baseman Alberto Callaspo.
Buckner, a labrum surgery survivor, has a plus curveball according to Baseball Prospectus' Kevin Goldstein. Goldstein adds that he's able to get groundballs and projects as a fourth starter. Throw him in the NL, maybe he could even become a #3.
Callaspo is one of the better second base prospects out there, but keep in mind that good prospects rarely come up at that position. He almost never whiffs, and plays strong defense. The high contact approach led to a .341 average in Triple A this year. That the D'Backs shipped him off could imply they want to sign Orlando Hudson long-term. Perhaps Callaspo's off-field indiscretions played into the decision. At any rate he's a nice addition for the Royals.
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i think this is a good deal for both teams. KC gets a pretty good (potentially great) 2b in callaspo and AZ gets a starter that they desperatly need. if nothing else, they can add him to the deal for one of the 2 athletics pitchers or possibly make an incredible package for santana.
Posted by: fgsfsfbbbrd | December 14, 2007 at 01:53 PM
Looks like the Brewers have themselves yet another $3+ million reliever:
http://rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=MLB&hl=227667&id=2858
Posted by: thenockmlb | December 14, 2007 at 01:57 PM
billy buckner? really? what the hell were the parents of that kid thinking when they named him that, unless of course they are mets fans. if this kid reaches the majors someday he will never hear the end of that
Posted by: 04Forever | December 14, 2007 at 01:59 PM
I'm thinking the D'Backs got Buckner to off-set losing someone else in a trade with Oakland....someone like Dustin Nippert. Buckner doesn't appear to be an Athletics-type of pitcher.
Posted by: scatterbrian | December 14, 2007 at 02:01 PM
I think you're right on a possible A's trade.
Great trade for KC though. Moore is doing outstanding work there. They'll be contending, even in baseball's best division, the Central, in no time.
Posted by: djskilbr | December 14, 2007 at 02:03 PM
"Buckner, a labrum surgery survivor"
Modern medicine has come so far. I remember when the mortality rate of labrum surgery patients was abnormally high.
Posted by: worldcupfever | December 14, 2007 at 02:04 PM
And now The Journal News retracts the Brewers' Vizcaino signing.
Posted by: thenockmlb | December 14, 2007 at 02:09 PM
nice deal for KC I think, tho too bad he's not a shortstop they could use one of those aswell.
Posted by: Dev0 | December 14, 2007 at 02:35 PM
This is a great move by the Dbacks. As soon as Callaspo tossed around his wife, Arizona didn't want him in the organization anymore. Getting anything in return is great.
Posted by: AngryTick | December 14, 2007 at 03:09 PM
"Throw him in the NL, maybe he could even become a #3."
I don't understand the logic. A #4 SP is a #4 SP, regardless of the league. Yes, his stats would be better in the NL, but EVERY pitcher's stats are better in the NL, including team's 1-3 SP's.
It's true that certain characteristics of a ballpark and league specific scenarios can help certain pitchers. Chris Young doesn't get a ton of K's and he gives up a lot of flyballs. Well that is going to make him much, much more effective in San Diego than he is in Arlington. However, extreme groundball pitchers and strikeout pitchers aren't more or less effective in comparison to their opposition in most situations (although a GB pitcher's defense does play a big factor.)
I just don't buy the fantasy-minded logic that any pitcher somehow has bigger upside based on arbitrary situational shifts ("fantasy-minded" because a shift of leagues could mean a dramatic change in that players fantasy value.) If a pitcher is scouted to be a "#4 SP" it's because it's assumed that most teams are going to have at least 3 SP's that are better when that player is in his prime ... in any league.
Posted by: AJ | December 14, 2007 at 03:35 PM
Could this be a sign that Grudzy is on the move? I still don't see how the d'backs could do this. As usual, Dayton steals this one.
http://ultimatebaseball-cGouds.blogspot.com
Posted by: C-Gouds' UltimateBaseball | December 14, 2007 at 04:44 PM
I'm just trying to say that a player deemed worthless in the AL can have decent value in the NL. That player's poor AL numbers makes him a bargain.
Posted by: Tim Dierkes | December 15, 2007 at 12:18 AM
Buckner was in the Majors in September with KC. He's a borderline talent. Keep in mind that being a #4 starter is probably his max ability. He could toss long relief for a few years and retire.
Posted by: coryjwilson | December 15, 2007 at 10:15 AM
This is precisely the type of deal that makes this site so great. Great info. Thanks and keep up the good work!
Posted by: icantbelieveitsnotbittner | December 15, 2007 at 10:39 AM