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Wanted: Major League Ready Shortstops
Both the San Francisco Giants and the Cincinnati Reds have lost their starting shortstops to injury recently. Omar Vizquel had surgery to remove torn cartilage from his knee, while Alex Gonzalez' 'sore knee' turned out to be a broken knee. In both cases, the players are not expected to be ready for opening day and neither team appears to have a major league-ready shortstop ready to step in. The best options for the Giants appear to be Kevin Fransden and Rich Aurilia. Fransden is a natural second baseman while Aurilia has not been a regular shortstop since 2004. The Reds are now stuck with Juan Castro and Jeff Keppinger. Like Fransden, Keppinger is a second baseman by trade and Castro is a journeyman shortstop with a career OPS of .605.
McCovey Chronicles recently suggested that the Giants needed to make a trade and their target should be Ben Zobrist of the Tampa Bay Rays. Zobrist, a switch-hitter, has impressive minor league numbers that have yet to register at the big league level. Zobrist posted a .428 OBP in the minors with a 176:234 strikeout to walk ratio. However, in parts of two seasons with the Rays, Zobrist has seen those numbers drop to .234 and 47:13 respectively. Now Zobrist is stuck behind Jason Bartlett whom the Rays acquired to shore up their defensive deficiencies. In addition super-prospect Reid Brignac may be ready for the big leagues in 2009.
That leads us to two questions: 1) What would it take to land Zobrist from the Rays? For the Giants, Pat Misch might get the deal done. For the Reds, maybe Bill Bray. 2) Are there any better options out there that either the Giants or the Redlegs could land to fill their holes at shortstop? Let us know in the comments.
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Don't be sending my Northbrook boy Pat Misch to Tampa Bay. They may be better than the Giants, though!
Posted by: Cubs World Champs please B4 I die | March 01, 2008 at 01:42 PM
Awesome post Corky. I'm a huge believer in Keppinger; he should make Gonzalez expendable when he returns. The Giants need more than a shortstop to fix their offense...
Posted by: Mr. JavaScript | March 01, 2008 at 01:42 PM
How about Ronny Cedeño?
Or for that matter Ryan Theriot if the Cubs prefer to go with Cedeño.
Posted by: Luis Salazar | March 01, 2008 at 01:44 PM
Ronny Cedeno will be supplanting Freddy Bynum as the O's shortstop quite soon. Freddy Bynum might then be available! :)
Posted by: Cubs World Champs please B4 I die | March 01, 2008 at 01:46 PM
I am a believer in Zobrist. He is possibly the best OBP hitter in the minors. That has to be able to transfer somehow in the majors.
Posted by: shamus | March 01, 2008 at 01:48 PM
Clearly Russ Adams would be their best choice ;)
Posted by: Grant77 | March 01, 2008 at 01:48 PM
Ray Olmedo(on waivers)is an option as a backup or occasional starter. He is very slick defensively, quite fast, and a switch hitter. Or at least he's better than Castro.
Posted by: Grant77 | March 01, 2008 at 01:50 PM
I believe they're the Cincinnati Redlegs, NOT Red Stockings. I could be wrong though.
Posted by: Whitey14 | March 01, 2008 at 01:54 PM
/fixed
wow. that was horrible on my part. thanks for the catch.
Posted by: Cork Gaines | March 01, 2008 at 02:02 PM
I liked Keppinger when he played for the Royals, and he became somewhat of a folk hero with us..but a good move for Cincy would be to make a trade with KC for Angel Berroa. He's in the final year of his contract, is not going to see KC again, and was a former Rookie of the Year.
He can be had quite cheap, and if he returns to RotY form, great. If not, then he can at least be a fill-in until Gonzalez is back.
Would love to see this happen.
Posted by: bobhamelin | March 01, 2008 at 02:02 PM
Both Keppinger and Frandsen could be solid for their respective teams. Both have posted solid-very good minor league numbers and are ready for full time positions. If anyone needs a SS, I think it's the Orioles. Luis Hernandez and Fahey were brutal in AA, so putting them as a starting SS would be a terrible move. Bynum isn't the answer either. I don't think it's right to even consider making a post concerning teams in need of a SS and not include the Orioles.
Posted by: dorfmac | March 01, 2008 at 02:03 PM
Alberto Gonzalez of the Yanks. He might only hit .240-.300-.350, but he'll play Gold Glove caliber D, and he's dirt cheap. Not a terrible stopgap.
Posted by: Mike Axisa | March 01, 2008 at 02:36 PM
How about the Red Sox deal Lugo and let Lowrie play everyday...
Posted by: ehakey | March 01, 2008 at 02:38 PM
Juan Uribe might be a good cheap option for a SS hungry team, if they can deal with his .230 average, his 20 homers, good defense, and cheap price (contract and getting him away from the white sox)will make him attractive.
Posted by: Jimmywins1 | March 01, 2008 at 02:38 PM
What about Lillibridge from the Braves? Not proven yet, but most people seem to be in agreement that he's major league ready. He's blocked with the Braves.
Posted by: TheAngelicDoctor | March 01, 2008 at 02:46 PM
I'd love to see them trade for Angel Berroa (aka the Devil)...mainly because I'm a Royals fan and I'd love to get his contract off the books. If they could flip him for a pitching prospect or two it would be a good deal.
Posted by: sisquatchkids | March 01, 2008 at 02:59 PM
As a Braves fan, I doubt that the Bravos will give up Lillibridge for nothing. There isn't much that the Reds or Giants have that would fit the Braves needs (unless they want to give up some high level pitching, which I doubt). I certainly don't think that Frank Wren will shop Lillibridge, either team would have to put together some sort of package.
Posted by: Andy Braves Fan | March 01, 2008 at 03:00 PM
Does Billy "Full-Bore" Beane field offers for Crosby? Or maybe try and pedal Ellis as a serviceable SS?
Posted by: speedchaser9 | March 01, 2008 at 03:02 PM
How about Bobby Crosby? Given the current state of the A's, you'd have to think he could be had. And with the Reds already suitors for Blanton, you know the A's have their eyes on some young Reds.
Posted by: Sour Bob | March 01, 2008 at 03:02 PM
It seems to me that the A's, with their current fire-sale state, are a really good fit for the Reds at least. The problem with the Giants is that they don't seem to have anything to trade other than the top flight pitching that they don't want to give up.
Posted by: Andy Braves Fan | March 01, 2008 at 03:15 PM
Somebody I havent seen mentioned is Juan Uribe. I know that he isnt the greatest SS, but he has alot of competition for the 2B spot with Alexi Ramirez and Donny Richar. No way he takes the SS job from Orlando Cabrera, so I think that the Chi Sox are definitely looking to move him. I dont know what the price for Uribe would be, but I bet that it wouldnt be that high.
Posted by: youngbuck8100 | March 01, 2008 at 03:16 PM
The Jays have John McDonald, Marco Scutero, and Russ Adams all riding the pine to backup David Eckstien. All three have major league experience and Adams could probably be had for a bucket of baseballs.
Posted by: jstuart | March 01, 2008 at 03:23 PM
If the Giants could trade for Uribe, and Crede from the White Sox for Fred Lewis, a prospect or 2 and A Sp maybe Corriea. I'm pretty sure they could compete for something other then the worst record in the MLB this year :(
Posted by: Giant Deric | March 01, 2008 at 03:23 PM
Uribe is solid option. Wont get on base, will whiff a ton, but will still get you 15-20 hrs, 60-70 rbi's and play solid to pretty good defense. Only a 1 year deal for 4.5 mil. The key is that every team knows Uribe has no future with the Sox with Richar and Ramirez vying for 2B. Dont get greedy KW, he should settle for a solid B type prospect from anyone interested.
Posted by: forlife61 | March 01, 2008 at 03:41 PM
Uribe would be perfect for a Dusty Baker coached team. He won't clog up the bases.
Posted by: sweetswingingbw | March 01, 2008 at 04:00 PM
LOL at suggesting a team acquire Russ Adams as a SS...the Jays have no business playing him as a 2B/3B either, his last chance as is as a LF.
If the Jays have no success this year and JP gets fired you can point to 2 horrendous first round picks with serious talent left on the table - Russ Adams and Ricky Romero.
Posted by: 92-93 | March 01, 2008 at 04:29 PM
The Nats probably would be willing to deal either Guzman or Lopez. Not sure what you would need to get either one, presumably less for Guzman. However, I can't see the Reds looking to DC again for help.
Posted by: HotTripTom | March 01, 2008 at 06:01 PM
As a Red Sox fan..I would explore this with Lugo..Let's face it Jed Lowrie is our SS of the future..Is he MLB ready? Maybe...depends on what we can get for Lugo! Pedroia took a little bit to get going and that turned out ok. Not saying Jed is going to win the ROY, the rookie pool is going to be WAY too deep this year. If I was Theo I'd take a hard look at Jed and see how he progresses through spring training and keep an ear to the ground in SF and the Nati!
Posted by: SoxtoberFan | March 01, 2008 at 09:10 PM
Might the Reds already have an additional internal option in Paul Janish?
Slick fielder, although the bat is somewhat of a question. Still his minor league numbers are far from terrible.
Thoughts?
Posted by: nckdmss | March 01, 2008 at 09:26 PM
Neither of these teams are going to want to take on Lugo's contract. My understanding is that Lowrie is not MLB ready. Not that I think it would be a bad move for them, Lugo could revive himself on the Reds or Gaints. The Reds especially.
Posted by: Andy Braves Fan | March 01, 2008 at 09:51 PM
They were previously known as both the Red Stockings and the Redlegs.
Posted by: ianoconnor | March 02, 2008 at 02:18 AM
i think the reds should definately pursue a bobby crosby and joe blanton deal for cueto and 2 other minor leaguers
Posted by: slumpbusters50 | March 02, 2008 at 09:28 AM
If the Rays trade Zobrist, they'll probably want someone in return who doesn't need to go on the 40-man roster, unless they can get a decent backup catcher. Other than that spot (and the utility infielder spot, which they obviously wouldn't get much back in return if they're trading Zobrist), the 40-man is already pretty crowded. A guy like Misch wouldn't make the team, and would just need to be DFAed anyway, unless several of the Rays' relief candidates are traded during spring training.
Posted by: Brickhaus | March 02, 2008 at 02:05 PM