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Olney Speculation: Atkins A Fit For Indians?
ESPN's Buster Olney makes a point to say that this trade idea is pure speculation rather than anything he's heard. Still worth discussing. Here it is:
If Colorado eventually turns the page on 2008, the Indians and the Rockies could match up well in a deal built around Garrett Atkins. The Rockies have a third baseman waiting in the wings, in Ian Stewart -- although he is not faring well so far -- and the Indians, as they look for ways to improve their offense, are flexible at first and third base.
Back in March, Ken Rosenthal suggested that Atkins was one player the Rox may not try to sign long-term. There were no talks in the 2007-08 offseason.
Atkins, 28, is a .274/.344/.446 career hitter away from Coors. Dismissing him as an average hitter is unfair - he's at .289/.363/.496 on the road since the start of the '06 season. Hard to say exactly where he'd settle in as an American Leaguer, but he'd probably be above average. Atkins' glovework does leave something to be desired though.
Atkins is under team control through the 2010 season. He could earn close to $20MM during his last two years of arbitration eligibility.
What would it take for the Indians to acquire Atkins? Adam Miller would be too much. Would Aaron Laffey and Josh Barfield be enough?
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Adam Miller is garbage. He'll never be healthy enough to be an impact player.
Posted by: icedrake523 | May 07, 2008 at 03:14 PM
i dont know that i would call him garbage yet, but they should bite the bullett and make him a closer. it seems that may be the best way to keep him healthy, and he can make an impact at the big league level now considering the indians bullpen has not been so good thus far.
Posted by: integr96 | May 07, 2008 at 03:25 PM
atkins is proving to be an rbi machine and steady hitter, how could adam miller be too much? that's crazy
Posted by: whitesoxfan424 | May 07, 2008 at 03:26 PM
Adam Miller is far too much in my mind, even with the injuries. But that is just one guy's opinion.
Posted by: Tim Dierkes | May 07, 2008 at 03:50 PM
Seeing as how Laffey and Sowers are more ML ready than Miller I would have no problem giving him up for Atkins. I really want to keep Barfield too, he still has a future. If we can give up Miller and keep Barfield for Atkins that would be great. Put Atkins at 3B, keep Garko at 1B and move Blake to a UTIL role.
Posted by: grimace455 | May 07, 2008 at 04:04 PM
The only reason Atkins is an RBI machine is because he has two OBP machines in front of him named Helton and Holliday. Don't give him so much credit just because he has two amazing hitters in front of him (though one of them is only amazing at home).
Posted by: Victor | May 07, 2008 at 05:47 PM
Stewart not faring well? He was murderous in the PCL until the last time a scrub got called up instead of him about 2 weeks ago. Miller is far too much to give up for Atkins. I don't think I'd trade Laffey for him either if I'm Cleveland. I don't get the 'flexible' comment either, 1B is far from flexible for the Indians right now barring a whole other series of moves; it's Garko's current and Martinez' future position.
Posted by: asm | May 07, 2008 at 06:06 PM
“I don't get the 'flexible' comment either, 1B is far from flexible for the Indians right now barring a whole other series of moves; it's Garko's current and Martinez' future position.”
The comment was more saying that the team doesn’t have anything definitely set in stone for the future of 1st & 3rd. Garko may or may-not be a longterm solution, Martinez may or may-not move from behind the plate in the next 2-3 years, longterm 1B may or may-not come from some combination of Brown/Mulhern/Aubrey/Whitney/Mills, Peralta may or may-not move to 3B, Marte may or may-not ever be given another real chance, Hodges/Goedert may or may-not pan out longterm for 3B…
Posted by: darkstar1661 | May 07, 2008 at 06:36 PM
I would definitely give up Miller for Atkins but I doubt the Rockies would bite. Atkins is a run producing machine ... a career .318 hitter with runners in scoring position entering this season and a career .349 hitter with two runners on base entering this season. He is one of just 4 MLB players with at least 50+ hits and 70+ rbi in each of the past three seasons (A. Rod, Carlos Lee, Miguel Cabrera). Between 2006 and 2007, he was 2nd among all MLB third basemen in hits and runs produced and 3rd in batting average.
Posted by: indians32 | May 07, 2008 at 06:55 PM
1 of 4 mlb players with 50+ hits and 70+ rbi with runners in scoring position in each of the past three seasons.
Posted by: indians32 | May 07, 2008 at 06:57 PM
Miller in my mind is the Next Rich Harden. Great player with great stuff, always injured.
Personaly as an A's fan I'm hoping for a Rich Harden/Chad Gaudin for Ian Stewart. Chavez has become un-reliable at best the past couple of years. But if the Indians get Atkins that thought goes out the window hmm...Indians DO NOT trade for Atkins.
Posted by: AriGoldisaG | May 07, 2008 at 09:28 PM
"Adam Miller is far too much in my mind, even with the injuries. But that is just one guy's opinion."
I'm no expert on mechanics but I'm know enough to notice how flaws. Adam Miller's are horrific. He does a lot of things wrong and his history of injuries prove it. The Indians could use a 3B with some pop more than they could a reliever who will likely be too injured to pitch for the majority of his career.
Posted by: icedrake523 | May 07, 2008 at 10:15 PM
how about chad gaudin for stewart +...A's fill a big need at 3b for the future or 2b. rockies inquired about gaudin last aug but the price was too high at the time. teams are trading from their depth, i think its a solid move for both teams
Posted by: arly2380 | May 07, 2008 at 11:37 PM
I suppose a Rockies fan should comment on it, instead of just a deluge of Indians fans :) .
It's hard to move Atkins anywhere, because Holliday has said numerous times that he sees his future tied to Garrett's. If Atkins is traded, the chances of Holliday signing with another team skyrocket, as the two are close friends (and Holliday could make very good money as a DH in the AL). So, from a Rockies Front Office point of view, just moving Atkins and bringing up Stewart is a risky proposition, especially because some of our "diamonds in the rough" in our farm system have turned out to take a long time to actually make an impact in the majors (Tulowitzki notwithstanding).
Posted by: oo_nrb | May 08, 2008 at 01:12 PM
darkstar, good points - that explanation does make a good deal of sense to me if you accept that definition of 'flexible'.
Gaudin for Stewart +1 makes a lot of sense too. The Rockies have got to get working improving the market for Stewart immediately -- or else decide not to trade him and start playing him at 2B in AAA. One or the other. Letting him shrivel on the vine in Col.Springs doesn't do anyone any good.
Posted by: asm | May 08, 2008 at 02:51 PM
I think the 1B flexibility comment is more in reference to Jordan Brown and Wes Hodges in the minor leagues.
I would love to get Atkins to play 3rd because it never looks as though Marte is going to be given a shot by Wedge. Blake is 36 and may only be able to play every day for 1 more year. I would be more inclined to deal Sowers rather than Laffey. Laffey could step into the number 4 spot next year if CC leaves. And Barfield could be had but with the way Cabrera has struggled I wouldn't be so quick to let him go either.
It's very intriguing but Shapiro is always too enamoured with our young players to ever deal them so this would be very unlikely.
Posted by: czechy1000 | May 08, 2008 at 04:13 PM
I clicked on this post when I read the 'Adam Miller is too much' comment. Guess everyone else beat me to the punch (lol)! Atkins benefits greatly from Coors and Helton/Holiday, but he's still a helluva hitter and is still just 28. Is Adam Miller even considered a top prospect anymore? I mean...he's ALWAYS hurt and he was terrible in Triple A after coming back last year (though he was great before the injury). I don't know; I think I'd rather have a proven bat than Harden redux. Seems most of the Cleveland fans here agree.
As for the Atkins/Stewart situation...you gotta wonder what the Rox are thinking? On the one hand, there's Atkins' relationship with Holiday; on the other, they've spent a lot of time developing Stewart and to trade him now...when he's finally ready...would be tough to swallow. I kinda think one of them might be moved across the diamond in short time, since Helton is already 34 or 35. That doesn't solve anything right now though, so a trade would seem to be in order and Stewart seems the logical candidate to go.
I won't even speculate where he could end up in such a deal, since there are plenty of teams who would love to have a potential future star at 3B and plenty of sellers who could be persuaded to part with a starting pitcher or second baseman- the Rox's two biggest current needs. Obviously, I think about my O's sending Brian Roberts to Colorado, but they may need starting pitching more, in which case Gaudin might make more sense (though I really don't know about him).
I'm tempted to propose a Roberts AND Guthrie deal for something like Stewart, Hector Gomez (hopelessly blocked), Jhoulys Chacin (raw, but I like him), Greg Reynolds (or Morales if the club is THAT down on him), and maybe a RP prospect. I doubt either club would be willing to make such a big move though. Oh well; I can dream.
Posted by: milehigh78 | May 09, 2008 at 01:07 PM