Two years ago today the Athletics acquired Matt Holliday from the Rockies in exchange for Carlos Gonzalez, Huston Street, and Greg Smith. Holliday hit .286/.378/.454 in exactly 400 plate appearances with Oakland before being dealt to the Cardinals for a package led by Brett Wallace at the 2009 trade deadline.
Street has battled injuries but has been solid when on the mound for Colorado, pitching to a 3.30 ERA with 9.5 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 in 109 innings. Smith has appeared in just eight games for the Rox (all starts), putting up a 6.23 ERA. The real get was CarGo, who will certainly be in the MVP mix after a .336/.376/.598 season with 34 doubles, 34 homers, 26 stolen bases, and a batting title.
The hot stove league will certainly bring us more blockbuster trades, but for now you'll have to settle for this long collection of links, the best the blogosphere had to offer this week…
- SPANdemonium interviews Twins prospect Niko Goodrum.
- M.C. Antil reflects on Bobby Cox's time as a GM and manager (part one, part two).
- We Should Be GMs lists the longest tenured player on all 30 teams.
- Sabernomics dispels some hot stove myths.
- U.S.S. Mariner lays out their plan for Seattle's offseason.
- FanSpeak does the same, just for the Baltimore Orioles.
- Meanwhile, Prospect Insider comes up with some trade ideas for the Mariners.
- Baseball Time In Arlington examines the idea of the Rangers signing Carl Crawford.
- Meet The Mess looks at some potential free agent targets for the Mets.
- Royals Review wonders who the "real get" in the David DeJesus trade is.
- At Home Plate thinks the DeJesus deal shows that Kansas City wants to win.
- Drunk Jays Fans chimes in on Zack Greinke and the Blue Jays as only they can.
- The Process Report explains why trading B.J. Upton now makes sense for the Rays.
- Ivy Report believes the Cubs need to strike fast and trade for Adrian Gonzalez.
- SD Sports Net lists some outfielders that could help the Padres next year.
- Athletics Nation provides a scouting report on Hisashi Iwakuma with some help from PitchFX.
- Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness looks at Tsuyoshi Nishioka as a second base option for the Dodgers.
- Red Sox Beacon muses about Boston picking up David Ortiz's option.
- Wahoo Blues looks at some backup plans for the Indians in case Carlos Santana has a setback from his knee injury.
- Examiner wonders if a Prince Fielder for Edwin Jackson trade makes sense.
- Analyze This looks at Jorge de la Rosa as a dark horse free agent.
- Yankeeist examines some designated hitter options for the Yankees.
- Baseball Analytics breaks down Ryan Howard's fall from grace.
- Redleg Nation wants to discuss how valuable Jay Bruce is.
- True Grich rants about the Angels and their offseason.
- Crashburn Alley reflects on Jamie Moyer's playing career.
- Mets Gazette provided part one of their top 50 free agents list with predictions. Here's Tim Dierkes' list for comparison.
- Fantasy Rundown compiles links for all of the various prospect lists out there.
- Last, but certainly not least, Pine Tar And Pocket Protectors provides your 2011 Montreal Expos roster.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here.
2 years later, Car-Go is the potential NL MVP
That Ivy Report post says something about there being concern that Youkilis will have a tough time transitioning back to third. Um, what? I’ve never heard anything like that. Anyone know anything about that? He’s never had a problem before…
That’s why i’m not a fan of these kind of blogs. They always assume things. No offense to SPAN.
None taken…But didn’t see any part in blog where I assumed anything.
None taken…But didn’t see any part in blog where I assumed anything.
Some of the takes, opinions and claims on that blog seem to be false and not well thought out. I see a lot of “I’m” and “I think”. SPAN does a good job of backing up his takes when he is given the platform. Nice interview SPAN!
I appreciate it. Thank you!
congrats, who is your favorite team?
I love every team equally and for a different reason, so I have 30 favorite teams…With that said, I think the Royals have the most special place in my heart.
Nice interview Span, but you duplicated the answer to the first two questions by accident =P
I bookmarked your blog and i’m still trying to find out the ‘mystery Orioles lefty’ he is talking about.
Thanks.
Did some research…Pretty sure it’s Yancorix Adrian or Enrico Jimenez…The former would seem more likely due to size.
Wren won’t sign Fuentes. He’ll be to expensive. I personally don’t think Kimbrel will be closer until at least 2012, which is why Venters or Moylan will be the closer, and that’s why they’ll bring in a veteran for the 7th and/or 8th inning(s). I still am hoping for Jon Rauch.
I am hoping for Rauch as well. But I sure hope Moylan is not the closer, with a BB rate over 5 BB/9…I actually wouldn’t mind to see him non-tendered.
Rauch has been my #1 choice since the beginning of the playoffs.
It’s very doubtful Moylan is non-tendered this offseason. He’ll most likely make about $2 million or so. He might next offseason, if he has a bad year like Bill James predicts.
I would like to see him tendered and traded above all else.
I’m guessing you’re not a Moylan fan. He will be tendered a contract, but don’t expect a trade at all. From what I have heard, Wren is kinda high on him. Wren also said the only pitcher that will be traded this offseason that isn’t in the minors would be Kawakami.
I actually like Moylan. Think he’s a good guy, and great spirit for the clubhouse. His consistent unhealthily rising BB rate is what turns me off. Don’t know how Wren could be high on that. “Veteran presence” is so overrated, I hope that is not the reason for his highness.
I haven’t heard Wren say these things, can you link me? Thanks
I’m guessing you’re not a Moylan fan. He will be tendered a contract, but don’t expect a trade at all. From what I have heard, Wren is kinda high on him. Wren also said the only pitcher that will be traded this offseason that isn’t in the minors would be Kawakami.
I would like to see him tendered and traded above all else.
Um, baseball reference tells me it was November 10th.
It was agreed to on the 10th, finalized on the 12th after physicals and stuff.
I would say he was traded on the 10th.
Edwin Jackson for Prince Fielder? Good lord. Why stop there? How about Jeff Suppan for Adrian Gonzalez? Seriously: Edwin Jackson gets you Max Scherzer or Dan Hudson. Not one of the ten best hitters in baseball.
It depends on the year Jackson is having. If he can pick up where he left off at the end of year then it could happen. But I’d imagine Brewers wanting cheaper and guys who are under control for longer amount of it (is Jackson FA next year? I haven’t bothered to check).
Since when is Fielder one of the “ten best hitters in baseball”? Ten best sluggers? Sure. But not hitters. And his up-down-up-down over the past 4 years has alot of people questioning if he’s going to weather well.
He put up “Pujols-like numbers” in 2009. He was pitched around all of 2010 and led the NL in walks. Over the past 4 seasons, he’s averaged 40.5 HR and 111 RBI.Sluggers trump “hitters”. It’s arguable in that he had an off year in 2010, but he’s certainly in the discussion of top 10 most feared hitters.
Right, 2009 and 2007 were monster years. But 2008 and 2010 were pretty pedestrian.
I’d agree he belongs in the “discussion” of top 10 offensive players, but I can think of at least 10 pretty quick who’d finish ahead of him over the past few years:
(in no particular order)
Pujols
Cabrera
Votto
Morneau
ARod
Hamilton
AGonz
Braun
HanRam
Manny (granted, declining fast, but if we’re talking 2006-2010, he’s right there)
Agreed, daveineg. I think the Prince will be a productive bopper for a while. And he sits right where you want your slugger to sit: parked at 1B. To me, his durability is also a strong selling point. A couple guys on TwinsVet’s list (Morneau and Hamilton) have durability issues. Can’t help the team if you’re not in the lineup.
@TwinsVet: Strong list, but wide open for a debate that might never end among baseball enthusiasts. Personally, I’d scratch Man-Ram off that list. I watched him regress dramatically from 2009 through 2010. He can no longer catch up to fastballs.
Fair enough. Hamilton & Morneau have some durability question marks, but I’d still keep them on there because they have MVP trophies (granted, Hamilton’s is a few days away still).
I’d probably also agree about taking off Manny, if not for his bat, then for his base-running. But when you factor in base-running (a fair “offensive production” criteria), then Prince falls further off the list.
Fair enough. Hamilton & Morneau have some durability question marks, but I’d still keep them on there because they have MVP trophies (granted, Hamilton’s is a few days away still).
I’d probably also agree about taking off Manny, if not for his bat, then for his base-running. But when you factor in base-running (a fair “offensive production” criteria), then Prince falls further off the list.
Agreed, that’s not a good return on Fielder. At all. Dealing a durable position player/top-ten “slugger” for a pitcher (i.e., always one throw away from the DL, no matter what your name is) who has only shown flashes of brilliance is not a smart GM move. The Brewers should ask for much more.
Agreed, that’s not a good return on Fielder. At all. Dealing a durable position player/top-ten “slugger” for a pitcher (i.e., always one throw away from the DL, no matter what your name is) who has only shown flashes of brilliance is not a smart GM move. The Brewers should ask for much more.
The only White Sox – Brewers deal that would involve only two players (Yes, I read, the blog, and it involves two prospects from the Sox, too) would be John Danks for Prince Fielder, and the White Sox would be stupid to do that move.
As for a possible trade, I think the Brewers would continue to start with Gordon Beckham, and add some pitching to it. I could definitely see a Fielder for Beckham and Gavin Floyd (or Jackson) deal, but not a straight up swap of Fielder and Jackson.
Overall, I really don’t think that the White Sox and Brewers really match up here. Dan Hudson was the only pitcher the Sox were willing to give up that the Brewers wanted.
I’m only reacting the notion of someone thinking that Prince Fielder could be had in exchange for Edwin Jackson (blogger did mention one prospect – escobar – that MAY need to be added…it’s pretty clear he thinks Jackson for Fielder is tempting). I’m sure there are tons of other scenarios that the Brewers would like more – I was only reacting to what was ‘proposed’.
Looks like Span has hit the big time! Good interview Spanny. I’m guessing that Niko’s duplicate reply to the first and second questions is a typo.
Thanks Herby. Yeah sorry about that. What he said was,
“After the draft , my family and I were very excited . There aren’t any words to express that feeling . I signed about a week later . Once I signed , the Twins flew me up to Minnesota for a few physicals . After the physicals , I flew home and started packing to fly down to Ft. Myers , Florida to start playing ball . I was very excited to begin . “
I’d really like to see the Cubs complete a trade with San Diego for Adrian Gonzalez that didn’t involve Hak Ju Lee, Chris Archer or Brett Jackson. I guess I’d be OK with Archer in a deal. Is Lee a must though?
include castro and you’ve got a deal.
Castro and who?
I kind of like the idea of Hak-Ju Lee and Brett Jackson. I think that would be a relivevely fair trade although I don’t know if 1 year of A-Gon will be worth it for the Cubs. Even giving one of the two.
Memo to big market bloggers:
The Brewers are not the Pittsburgh Pirates. The last 3 seasons they’ve been 6th, 6th, and 7th in the NL in attendance, averaging 2.96 million.
They aren’t going to deal Prince Fielder for a one year pitcher like Edwin Jackson. They aren’t going to deal Ryan Braun, who is under their control at a very reasonable cost through 2015 for a few Red Sox minor leaguers. If they traded Fielder, (and they don’t have to), it will be on their terms. I don’t think Braun’s going anywhere. They could hang on to both. They do have other pieces that could be dealt or they can afford to add FA arms too.
The Brewers need an upgrade in their pitching, but not a complete overhaul of the team or even the staff. Their pitching actually improved from 09 to 10, especially after some of the dead weight (Suppan and company) was dropped. There’s some reason to think it could get better internally too (see Mark Rogers and Jeremy Jeffress).
So rather than have to keep posting each time some major market blogger dreams up a one sided deal with the Brewers, why don’t you guys just realize it’s not going to happen
Welcome to flyover country.
Brilliant. I could swap out Brewers with 10 other teams and have the same point: “No, Red Sox, the royals are not going to trade Zach Grienke for Michael Bowden.”
“Wahoo Blues looks at some backup plans for the Indians in case Carlos Santana has a setback from his knee injury.”
The backup plan for the Indians is to coddle Carlos Santana back to 100% health no matter how long it takes. The kid absolutely murders baseballs. Stop talking about backup plans and focus on your future and healing your phenom.
“Wahoo Blues looks at some backup plans for the Indians in case Carlos Santana has a setback from his knee injury.”
The backup plan for the Indians is to coddle Carlos Santana back to 100% health no matter how long it takes. The kid absolutely murders baseballs. Stop talking about backup plans and focus on your future and healing your phenom.
Not sure what y’all think…But that guy SPANdemonium or whatever his name is sure knows how to write a blog. I like his a lot.
+10 points.
Gotta have a deal in place to dump Iced K first. Maybe to the Dodgers for Broxton or add some players and try to get Kemp. ZG would probably do okay in Boston though. I am sure there would be many teams lined up to go after him but where would he approve something? Boston, L.A., S.L., Texas, Phily maybe? Not a bad thought though, ZG in Boston.