The Orioles announced that they have acquired minor league catcher David Freitas from the Athletics as the player to be named later to complete the Jim Johnson trade.
Freitas, 24, was selected by the Nationals in the 15th round of the 2010 draft out of the University of Hawaii. He reached Triple-A for the first time in 2013 and posted a .231/.306/.368 batting line with 10 homers in 356 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A. Freitas was actually much better in Triple-A than in Double-A (in a smaller sample size), batting .268/.355/.381 in 110 plate appearances.
Prior to the 2012 season, Baseball America ranked him 27th among Nationals prospects, noting that he had good power to the pull side and a patient approach at the plate that gave him a chance to be an offensive-minded part-time catcher in the Majors.
Noooo
What a successful Winter Meetings for Duquette. {extreme sarcasm}
I’m not sure this deal made a great deal of sense for the A’s. They gave up a couple of pieces in order to pay johnson $10 mil+ (probably) in arbitration. For that money, they could’ve had their choice of Brian Wilson (for 1 year), Joe Nathan or Grant Balfour (for 2 years), without giving up any pieces. The only upside to Johnson is that they can trade him any time they want, or they might get a compensation pick for him.
That’s assuming Wilson or Nathan would have ever considered Oakland. And judging by Balfour’s comments over the last two years, he’s always been ready to move on.
I do think there might have been better ways for the A’s to find a new closer. Maybe they could have got Axford or Mujica, and let them compete with in-house options. But all of that is presumptuous and theoretical. At least with Johnson, they knew they could definitely have him if they met Baltimore’s asking price. And that price was low.
This deal makes no sense from either side. The O’s gave Johnson away and now are looking to sign Axford or Balfour for about the same amount of money. The A’s gave up prospects for 1 year of a closer who will cost the same as Balfour. Unless the A’s know about an injury to Balfour no one else does or the O’s know about an injury to Johnson no one else does, I just don’t get it.
balfour is not looking for a 1 year deal
But he is looking for about the same AAV and trading prospects for 1 year of Johnson is even worse. If Johnson had multiple years of arbitration left or would cost a lower AAV it would make more sense from the A’s perspective.
Weeks wore out his welcome in Oakland. He was to stubborn to understand that he is not a home run hitter. Freitas is a back up catcher in which the A’s have 3 catchers ahead of him. The A’s only wanted Johnson as a 1 year piece until Cook or Doolittle is ready to take over.
“Let joy be unconfined!
So frustrating to be an Oriole’s fan,$125 million payroll should not be a problem.Are they a better team today than they were at the end of the season?And to pick a rule 5 guy that has no chance to stick on the 25 man roster is embarrassing.What team that expects to contend handcuffs the big league club with a rule 5 pick like that?
Duquette trying to prove how smart he is.What a wet dream he is for Peter Anelos.
No wonder Adam Jones and the rest of the core is upset with these bush league moves.
Actually a very nice return for Johnson. I can’t see how any Orioles fan is complaining about this. Johnson is going to be overpaid and relievers are the easiest spot to fill cheaply. Weeks still gets on base and can run. I was surprised the A’s didn’t give him a chance to take over 2b this season. Freitas is a nice secondary piece. He as some good pop. Not sure what everyone was expecting for an expensive reliever. Hunter will be a better closer this year anyway and Webb was much cheaper for basically the same player.
@Stoibs…the A’s have given Weeks chances already.He first was good at the plate for about two months then was never the same again and had to send him back down after about 4 months of a slump, tried him again and still a slump..Weeks was just a flash in the pan for Oakland. But jhe is fast and so so fielding.Hopefully a new start will do him good.Just hope he don’t open his big mouth sgain after two good weeks and tell the media he is a star like he did with Oak. He was a starlike he did in Oak. Lol.