The Cubs acquired Robert Coello from the Red Sox for minor league infielder Tony Thomas, the teams announced. The Red Sox designated Coello for assignment last week and moved closer to a deal this afternoon.
Coello led Red Sox minor leaguers with 130 strikeouts last year, before pitching in the Dominican Winter League and the Mexican Pacific League. He spent last season in the upper minors, where he posted a 3.86 ERA with 10.9 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 107 1/3 innings as a starter and reliever. The Red Sox called the 26-year-old up for a six-game stint in the majors at the end of the season. The Reds drafted Coello as a catcher in 2004 and the Angels converted him to a pitcher before the 2007 season.
Thomas, 24, placed second in the Southern League in triples (11) and fourth in slugging percentage (.485) last year. The 2007 third rounder was at Double-A for the second consecutive season; he posted a .276/.338/.485 line with 15 stolen bases in 17 attempts.
Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reported yesterday that the Red Sox were moving toward a trade.
Great, another pitcher with a high BB rate….
3.7 BB/9 isn’t that bad. It’s a little more than 1 every 3 innings. So he’ll walk someone 1 out of every 3 games his appears in. Not that bad.
I don’t pick out the last season with the assumption of he got it together. His minors+MLB makes him a 4.22 BB/9. Now if he was able to get it down to less than 3 BB/9 next season while keeping his SO/9 I’ll change my mind on him.
Who the hell is Tony Thomas?
minor leaguer. He has upside but no promise.
trust me, with cubs history/track record of trading players, he will probably be an allstar
Whatever.
Cubs dealing away a 2B prospect?
Since Jeff Baker and Blake DeWitt have proven replaceable, it looks like the Cubs have a lot of faith in Darwin Barney.
Or that they’re about to get Michael Young…(just kidding. But if it happens, I’m totally taking credit.)
But really, DeWitt is only like a year older than Thomas. So if you think Thomas still has upside, you kind of have to think DeWitt does too. And if you don’t think either has upside, then it doesn’t matter that you traded Thomas. I don’t mind.
Actually, I dont think its that unrealistic. Right now if you figure DeWitt is a starter and Barney and Baker are the backups, there is nobody for Iowa’s middle infield (except maybe augie). Young would fit as the starting 2b and backup SS, allowing Barney to play everyday in Iowa.
Plus with Aram’s deal ending after this year, Young would give the Cubs an option for 3b going forward
Young might fit there, but you will not like the defense he provides.
I don’t think the cubs have enough cash to take on his contract unless they ship away soriano or fukudome. Don’t think the Rangers want those bums.
So Dewitt is not their starting 2nd baseman? Why the hell was he traded then?
2B is a deep position in the minors for the Cubs, they can afford to trade a 2b prospect away.
Looking bleaker by the day for Samardzija.
Why? Coello is AAAA talent at best.
Agree, same as SJ has shown to be. Another arm to beat out for the 6th or 7th man in the pen. With no options left I’m guessing Samardzija has a leg up unless the Cubs deem him to be a sunk cost.
Thomas wasn’t progressing at all for a 2007 2nd rounder & they had to make a decision to roster him next year or expose him to the Rule V draft…obviously they felt he’d gone as far as he could in their system & why not flip him for another live arm.
11 Triples, 15 of 17 SB’s. Kid sounds quick to me.
Not especially fast. He’s not an Eric Patterson type player at 2b that could really fly. His best tool when he was drafted was his bat. He has above average speed but it’s doubtful that it translates to stolen bases in the major leagues. It seems now he’s more of a player that does a little bit everything but nothing exceptionally well. He’s going to have to master other positions to be useful as a utility guy.
This guy is the replacement to Raymond Fuentes, quick but needs work hitting.