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Red Sox May Still Covet Adrian Gonzalez

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Adrian Gonzalez was supposed to be the biggest trade chip at the 2010 deadline, but the 51-37 Padres aren’t about to sell. That doesn’t mean Boston’s interest in the Padres slugger has faded, however. A baseball source tells Rob Bradford of WEEI.com that the Red Sox still like Gonzalez.

"If they could get Gonzalez [before next season], that would solve everything," the WEEI source said. "And I think that's their Plan A. But the way things are going that might be pie in the sky type of thinking."

Gonzalez is hitting .301/.397/.533 and no Padres regular has an OPS within 170 points of that, so A-Gon isn't going anywhere yet. The Padres can keep the 28-year-old for $5.5MM next year, before he hits free agency. For now, Gonzalez says he doesn’t want to go anywhere.

"It's just a relief not to be in trade rumors and be in first place, more than anything,” Gonzalez said.

The Red Sox have a club option of their own coming up. Bradford says it “seems very unlikely” that Boston will pick up David Ortiz’s $12.5MM option for 2011 and notes that the sides haven’t made major progress on contract talks about an alternate deal. Big Papi appears to want a multi-year contract and believes he’ll stay in Boston.

Yunel Escobar-Alex Gonzalez Trade Reactions

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The Braves sent Yunel Escobar north for a veteran who happens to lead MLB shortstops in home runs (Alex Gonzalez). It's a win-now move for Atlanta, though they also acquire a pair of intriguing prospects in the process. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays acquire a cheap, young shortstop who can play great defense and has a career OBP of .368. So does that make today's trade a win-win? Here's what the baseball writers are saying:

  • Matt Eddy and Nathan Rode of Baseball America break down the prospects involved and explain that Tim Collins could become a "useful reliever" and Tyler Pastornicky could become a sound defender who hits at the top of the order. 
  • Many of Escobar's teammates wanted to see him traded, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman.
  • ESPN.com's Buster Olney says this is a "tremendous trade for the Braves." GM Frank Wren told Olney that the Braves wouldn't have made the deal were it not for Gonzalez's affordable 2011 option (Twitter links).
  • Danny Knobler of CBS Sports says Escobar was "not an Atlanta Braves type of player." Gonzalez is having a strong season and should fit in, so Knobler says he is an Atlanta Braves type of player, even if he's not a long-term solution at short.
  • Mychael Urban of CSN Bay Area believes the Giants could have used Escobar (Twitter link). I wonder how many Tigers fans are thinking the same thing about their team.
  • The Blue Jays took a risk and acquired Escobar now, because top players are rarely available when they're playing at their best, Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos explained to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian (Twitter links).
  • Earlier in the season, an Atlanta Brave told Andy Martino of the New York Daily News that Braves manager Bobby Cox hates Yunel Escobar because of perceived lack of hustle.
  • Joe Pawlikowski of FanGraphs says the deal "doesn’t seem nearly as bad for the Braves as it did at first glance," though the Blue Jays still won.
  • R.J. Anderson of FanGraphs believes the trade "has to be looked upon as a pretty worthwhile risk for the Jays."
  • Bryan Smith of FanGraphs says Jo-Jo Reyes doesn't mean much to the Braves, since they have so much pitching depth. Smith also suggests Tyler Pastornicky had considerable appeal for the Braves, since he runs and has raised his walk rate.

Poll: The Braves-Blue Jays Trade

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The Braves and Blue Jays swapped shortstops today and it's time for you to weigh in. We've heard from the experts, but what do you think? The Blue Jays sold high on Alex Gonzalez for a player with star potential. Does that make them winners? The Braves acquired the player who leads MLB shortstops in homers for someone who has had his ups and downs in Atlanta. Does that make them winners? Maybe one of the minor leaguers will be the difference-maker. Let's see what you think:

Considering the short-term and the long-term, which team won the Alex Gonzalez–Yunel Escobar swap?

Click here to take the survey and here to view the results.

Red Sox Issues, Present And Future

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A series of articles from WEEI's Alex Speier and Rob Bradford dig into pressing Red Sox issues…

  • Speier looks at Boston's current tricky situation in regard to the trade deadline.  Available star players are harder to come by than last year.  The return dates of many injured Sox are unknown.  Plus the Red Sox might not have the right trade chips to make a deal or the payroll space to accomodate a decent-sized salary.
  • Bradford examines the future.  Out of Victor Martinez, Adrian Beltre, and David Ortiz, who returns for 2011?  Kevin Youkilis' future position may depend on which players Boston brings back for 2011.
  • Speier talked to David DeJesus' former teammate John Buck, who feels the underrated outfielder would be a great fit for a contender.  It'd be DeJesus' first taste of a pennant race.

White Sox Sign Jeremy Reed

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The White Sox signed outfielder Jeremy Reed to a minor league deal yesterday, according to the team's transactions page.  Reed has been assigned to the Triple A Charlotte Knights.

Reed, 29, signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays in January.  He elected free agency after being outrighted earlier this month.  Reed has come full circle since being ranked the 25th-best prospect in baseball as a member of the Knights heading into the 2004 season.  He was traded to the Mariners in June of that year as the centerpiece in the Freddy Garcia deal.  Reed hasn't hit as expected in his big league career, but he has been able to handle center field.

Blue Jays Acquire Yunel Escobar

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The Blue Jays acquired shortstop Yunel Escobar and pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes from the Braves for shortstop Alex Gonzalez and minor leaguers Tim Collins and Tyler Pastornicky, according to a team press release.  The Jays designated Ronald Uviedo for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.

The move comes as a big surprise, as Escobar was perhaps one of the more valuable commodities in the game when the 2009 season concluded.  Just a few days ago, MLB.com's Mark Bowman wrote that the Braves "simply aren't willing to sell low on a guy who they still view as the game's top defensive shortstop."  Escobar was worth over four wins last year, but his power has disappeared in 301 plate appearances this year.  Escobar will be arbitration-eligible for the first time after this season, so he'll be under the Jays' control through 2013.  Escobar's attitude was a likely factor in the deal; Bowman wrote in June that "there's no doubt that Escobar's flamboyant approach to the game has continued to infuriate some members of the Braves organization."  Back in February, MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez went more in-depth on the attitude angle.

Gonzalez will replace Escobar as the Braves' starting shortstop as they enter the second half with a four game lead in the NL East.  He doesn't get on base, but he's already hit 17 home runs on the season and continues to play strong defense.  Gonzalez is owed another $1.23MM this year and has a $2.5MM club option for 2011.  Braves GM Frank Wren told David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "This trade improves our club for the second half of the season."

Reyes, a 25-year-old southpaw, has spent most of the season at Triple A.  His strikeout and walk rates are strong in his fourth stint at the level, but he's had problems with home runs and hits.  Baseball America regarded Reyes as the Braves' eighth-best prospect heading into the 2007 season, calling him a "thick-bodied lefthander who does a good job of keeping hitters off balance."  He's dealt with injuries, including Tommy John surgery in '04.

Collins, a 20-year-old lefty, was ranked 19th among Blue Jays prospects by Baseball America heading into this season.  The 5'7" southpaw "gets outs with a solid fastball that tops out at 93 mph and a true 12-to-6 curveball that he spins really well."  Working in relief, Collins has a 15.3 K/9 in 43 Double A innings this year.  Pastornicky, a 20-year-old shortstop, was ranked 17th.  He's described as a player who "doesn't have flashy tools but gets the most out of what he has."  In the best case, he'll become a line drive top of the order hitter with solid defense, indicates BA.  As for Uviedo, the Jays had acquired him from the Pirates in the June Dana Eveland deal.  BA described him as rail-thin and homer-prone heading into the '09 season, but praised his fastball and slider.

My take: this is certainly a win-now move for the Braves, who are confident Gonzalez will provide more over the next few months than Escobar would have.  The Blue Jays, meanwhile, managed the rare feat of acquiring three-plus years of a shortstop with star potential without giving up much.

Boras Vs. Olney

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An amusing back-and-forth is emerging between agent Scott Boras and ESPN's Buster Olney, with Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel trying to be the objective party while relaying Boras' comments.

The discussion began Monday when Boras expounded to Haudricourt on the virtues of his client, Prince Fielder.  Boras drew a comparison to another of his clients, Mark Teixeira, who received an eight-year, $180MM contract before the 2009 season.

The following day, Olney posted a blog with anonymous quotes from multiple baseball executives, including GMs, who were concerned by Fielder's hefty body type on a long-term deal.  Olney suggested that even now, Fielder is regarded as "one of the worst first basemen in the majors."

Boras was not able to let Olney's comments slide, and Haudricourt has more from the agent in a new blog post today.  Boras cited error totals to defend Fielder's defense, and also railed against the use of unnamed sources.  Boras added that he's "tired of pundits broadcasting their forecasts of free agent markets in July," and said that Olney's predictions for many of his clients have ended up being low.  It'd be interesting to put numbers behind the claim.

Potentially Available First Basemen

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Several contenders might be looking for help at first base, including the Rockies, Angels, Giants, and Rangers.  Potentially available players:

  • Prince Fielder, Brewers.  The Brewers are listening on Fielder, though we haven't heard much about interested parties.  Fielder is under team control through 2011, after which point he'll pursue an extension worth well over $100MM.
  • Adam Dunn, Nationals.  Dunn is losing patience with the Nationals due to their lack of urgency about an extension, reports ESPN's Buster Olney.  The White Sox have interest in Dunn, who might be forced to fill a designated hitter role for them.  Dunn profiles as a Type A free agent, at least in the National League.
  • Lance Berkman, Astros.  Like Dunn, Berkman could technically play outfield for a few months.  Berkman has a full no-trade clause and $8.46MM left on his contract.  He's up to .255/.369/.459 on the season. 
  • Derrek Lee, Cubs.  The Cubs should probably consider trying to clear some of the $5.79MM still owed to Lee.  The problem: he's yet to slug .400 in any month this season, and his strikeout rate is his highest in a long time.
  • Adam LaRoche, Diamondbacks.  LaRoche is more affordable than those listed before him ($3.51MM remaining), but he hasn't hit much since May.  He's consistently posted big second halves.
  • Jorge Cantu, Marlins.  Aside from the 52 RBIs, Cantu isn't having an impressive season.  Even if ownership doesn't require it, clearing his $2.67MM salary is a solid baseball move. 
  • Ty Wigginton, Orioles.  Wiggy made the All-Star team with a strong April and May, and he'll be a useful piece for a contender. 
  • Mike Lowell, Red Sox.  As we wrote yesterday, Lowell hasn't played the field much and the Red Sox would have to pay his entire salary. 
  • Xavier Nady, Cubs.  The Rangers have strong interest in Nady, reported Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago a few days ago.  Nady hasn't done anything offensively this year, but he hasn't played regularly either.  He's got $1.47MM remaining plus performance bonuses. 
  • Kila Ka'aihue, Royals.  Ka'aihue, 26, already has 77 walks for the Royals' Triple A club (and a .463 OBP).  Certainly there are teams out there that would like to see how much of that skill translates to the Majors. 
  • Russell Branyan, Mariners.  It was an odd acquisition, but maybe Jack Zduriencik feels that he can trade Branyan again for more than he gave up. 
  • Casey Kotchman, Mariners.  The Mariners would have to eat most of his remaining $1.57MM to move him now, as Kotchman is a probable non-tender after the season. 
  • Lyle Overbay, Blue Jays.  If you like Derrek Lee, you should like Overbay more.  Overbay is having a better year, especially lately, and has $3.12MM remaining.
  • Recently MLBTR also profiled the market for catchers, second basemen, shortstops, and third basemen.

Remembering The 1996 Trade Deadline

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We remember 1996. Keep in mind, as you hear all the names of yesteryear exchanged- this was the last year the National League won the All-Star Game before last night. That's right, the previous time the NL won, the following players were active: Andre Dawson, Rick Honeycutt, Tony Pena, Rob Deer, Alan Trammell, Otis Nixon and Frank Viola.

Meanwhile, these were the hot deals during the summer of 1996…

  • It's not well-remembered, but the San Diego Padres and Detroit Tigers made a five-player deal on June 18 that helped propel the Padres to the NL West title. John Flaherty and Chris Gomez went to San Diego, while Brad Ausmus, Andujar Cedeno and Russ Spear headed to Detroit. All Flaherty did was hit .303/.327/.451 after taking over as the regular catcher. Gomez was solid at shortstop, while Ausmus and Cedeno did little with Detroit. This was a key trade.
  • An unorthodox signing took place on July 4, George Steinbrenner's birthday, incidentally. The Yankees inked a power hitter who was hitting .435 with 18 home runs for the Northern League's St. Paul Saints: Darryl Strawberry. Straw hit .262/.359/.490 to help the Yankees win their first World Series since 1978.
  • In a trade that would haunt the Mets for years, New York shipped Jeff Kent and Jose Vizcaino to Cleveland for Carlos Baerga and Alvaro Espinosa on July 29. Baerga was just 27, but his best days were behind him. Meanwhile, Kent, dealt to San Francisco after the 1996 season in a deal for Matt Williams, had his best years still to come. How bad was this deal? Consider that the sum of the home runs Baerga hit before joining the Mets and the home runs Kent hit after leaving the Mets is 406. The two had a total of 85 home runs for the Mets.
  • In a deadline deal that had delayed benefits, the San Diego Padres acquired Greg Vaughn (along with Gerald Parent) from Milwaukee for Bryce Florie, Marc Newfield and Ron Villone. None of the three players San Diego gave up became stars (though Villone is still around), and Vaughn hit just .206 with 10 home runs after the trade in 1996. But after slumping through 1997, Vaughn went on to hit .272/.363/.597 with 50 home runs the following season. Vaughn credits Tony Gwynn with helping him, according to his son Cory, who played for San Diego State and is now in the New York Mets system and making me feel old. 
  • In a massive overpay, the Texas Rangers acquired John Burkett on August 8 for then-prospect Ryan Dempster and Rick Helling. The deal isn't massively upsetting to Rangers fans, since Helling was re-acquired for Ed Vosberg before Helling's 20-win season. Burkett was fine for Texas, posting a 4.06 ERA in 68.2 innings, but the Rangers lost in the playoffs anyway, as was their destiny at the time.
  • The Pirates horribly mis-timed a pair of pitchers in an August 28 deal. Pittsburgh traded Denny Neagle to the Braves for Ron Wright, Corey Pointer and Jason Schmidt. One year after the Pirates traded him, Neagle went 20-5 with a 2.97 ERA for Atlanta. Schmidt pitched to a 4.39 ERA over six seasons with the Pirates, but he posted a 3.36 ERA with the Giants after Pittsburgh traded him during the 2001 season.
  • Finally, on August 31, the Seattle Mariners acquired veteran infielder Dave Hollins from Minnesota for a player to be named later who turned out to be David Ortiz. Big Papi managed a .266/.348/.461 line over five seasons in Minnesota, playing sparingly. His line after Boston picked him up via free agency? .287/.388/.577.
  • BONUS! by popular demand, we must include the acquisition of Cecil Fielder on July 31 by the Yankees. New York sent Matt Drews and Ruben Sierra to Detroit. Fielder was a classic Yankee stretch-run addition, hitting .260/.342/.495 in 228 plate appearances. And, as befits the Yankees, Sierra eventually returned, providing a power bat off the bench in 2003-2005.

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