Inevitably, some teams will be interested in third base help this summer. The Giants, Cardinals and Marlins have question marks at the hot corner now and other teams will presumably be looking for help at third this June, July and August. It's just a question of which teams are interested and which players are available.
As executives look around the league for alternatives to Michael Young ($45MM remaining on his contract) and Chone Figgins ($15.5MM remaining on his contract), their eyes may settle on a player who has a .305/.381/.504 line since the beginning of the 2010 season and earns just $1MM in 2011: Wilson Betemit of the Kansas City Royals.
A former top prospect turned journeyman, the 29-year-old Betemit is already playing for his fifth MLB team. He hit .297/.378/.511 with 13 homers in 315 plate appearances last year and has followed that up with a .333/.391/.480 showing so far in 2011. Betemit's numbers are flashy if not sustainable (.361 BABIP in '10, .429 BABIP in '11) and the available alternatives don't figure to be overwhelming.
Of course Royals GM Dayton Moore would have to have interest in trading Betemit for anything to happen. Now 15-13, the Royals are in second place in the AL Central behind only the surprising Cleveland Indians. If they continue winning more games than they lose, the Royals may not be interested in selling at all.
But if top third base prospect Mike Moustakas picks up the pace in Triple-A (his OPS now sits at .697) the Royals could decide to make Betemit available and, after they make a trade, promote Moustakas. Betemit is a free agent after 2011 and, unlike Moustakas, he isn't a long-term solution for K.C. Perhaps the Royals could flip him for a player who will contribute to their next great team.
Betemit's hot hitting, salary and versatility (he has MLB experience at short, first, second, left and right) suggest other teams are likely to call Moore later this summer. The Royals could stay hot, or Moustakas could stay cold, but it won't surprise many people if Betemit becomes trade bait within a few months.
Photo courtesy Icon SMI.
I’d trade him immediately while his stock is high, before he comes back down to earth. The guess here is that he’s not going to be part of the next good Royals team anyway and realistically they aren’t going hang around the upper division all year so they need get something descent for him while they can.
The only thing holding Wilson back is that he needs a Betemit! *rimshot
Great post, mate! I love reading these things on slow news days. Keep up the good work.
The Royals staying ‘hot’ is not likely given our starting rotation. It’s been fun for sure, but Hoch is inconsistent, Francis is held together with duct tape, Davies needs the plate to be a foot wider, Chen…well, so far he’s Houdini, and O’Sullivan (SOS) is as consistent as a politician while campaigning.
I fully expect Moose to be promoted sometime in June/July and Betemit moved. Honestly he’s been a great signing and I appreciate him very much…but as pointed out in this article, once Moose is ready there is no room at the inn.
Unless Andy LaRoche can continue to surprise for another month or two, I wouldn’t mind seeing the A’s make a run at him. I can’t imagine him costing a whole lot. And as of right now, I can’t think of a better 3B who seems likely to become available over the next three months.
If Chase is still down at the break maybe the phillies will make a run at him?
He should change his name to Bete-beast.
I remember back when he was with the Braves, Joe Morgan would always pronounce his name “Beta-meat”. Then Joe Morgan got canned from Sunday Night Baseball and the world was a better place.
Please god, don’t let DM trade with the A’s, they get us everytime.
Man, Dayton Moor should be thankful for this perfect storm of so many teams needing 3rd basemen because of injuries!
like Men at Work once sang, everybody needs “a Betemit sandwich”
(too obscure? i’m rhyming it with “vegemite” the alleged Aussie delight. if you’ve ever tried it or “Marmite” it looks and tastes like some mutant combination of watery peanut butter and Spam)
It was better before you explained it. 🙂
I’d take my chances with Figgins. Seattle would likely eat some of that money and if Figgins can get it together again he’s a much better player than Betemit.
I agree that he’d be a better bet than Betemit — especially if it’s a team that doesn’t have a strong leadoff-type. But Figgins has a limited no-trade clause that he’s already exercised once (A’s). I’m not sure how many other teams are on it. But judging by some of his quotes from January, it doesn’t sound like he wants to leave Seattle (though I can’t imagine why), and might veto a lot of trades.
Why does the article say that Figgins only has “$15.5MM remaining on his contract”? He’s owed $17M after 2011, plus whatever is still owed of the $9M he makes this season.
With the way he’s hit since leaving the White Sox, I seriously wonder what was going on with him. Just a slow start, they only gave him 50 or so PA’s. Or maybe sox management ruined his mojo.
I like Wilson the volleyball better than Wilson Betemit.