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When Batting Champions Get Traded

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It shouldn't come as any surprise that if Jose Reyes, the current National League leader in batting average, gets traded, the move will be almost entirely unprecedented. Generally, players at the top of the league leaders category in batting average are considered irreplaceable, and stay put. But as should be obvious by now, these aren't ordinary times for the New York Mets.

But the only time a batting champion was ever dealt mid-year, it was by the arch rivals of the New York Mets back in the most successful period of the franchise's history. The year was 1990. The player was Willie McGee, the team the St. Louis Cardinals, and the statistical ramifications were truly wacky.

It had been a rough year for the Cards, who'd won a National League pennant in 1987, and 86 games in 1989. A team whose best seasons were built around speed, defense and pitching saw all three areas decline. Other than John Tudor, the pitchers were decidedly average- and Tudor, now 36, pitched just 146 1/3 innings.

The hitters were slowing down, too. Ozzie Smith turned 35. Vince Coleman, who'd stolen more than 100 bases three times, swiped just 77. Terry Pendleton hit .230 with six home runs, and no one had the power of Jack Clark – the home run leader was a young catcher named Todd Zeile, who clouted 15.

But Zeile, along with young outfielders Bernard Gilkey and Ray Lankford, appeared to be the foundation of the next Cardinals team. That made for a very different fit in the manager's chair, and halfway through the season, the great Whitey Herzog called it quits. Rebuilding mode was on.

But that didn't stop McGee, who'd already won a batting title and MVP back when the stakes were higher in 1985. Playing primarily center field, McGee posted a .335 batting average in 125 games during his age 31 season. The Oakland Athletics had Dave Henderson in center field, and wanted a better defensive alternative to the aging Hendu. So on August 29, Oakland traded Felix Jose, Stan Royer and Daryl Green to St. Louis for the magical McGee.

Jose was supposed to be the centerpiece of the deal, but he simply never developed into the top-tier slugger the Cardinals wanted. (Actually, his numbers mirror, rather dramatically, his minor league production). McGee's pace fell off as well, and he hit just .274 with the Athletics- enough, however, to get them to the 1990 World Series. McGee, a free agent-to-be like Reyes, then signed with the San Francisco Giants that winter.

Thanks to the math of the time, however, McGee's .274 didn't prevent him from winning a batting title. Back then, totals accrued in the American League were considered separate from NL totals. So McGee, with his .335 NL average in the required number of plate appearances, sat frozen atop the batting average leaderboard. Thus, he edged out the full seasons of Eddie Murray (.330), Dave Magadan (.328) and Lenny Dykstra (.325). George Brett's .329 took home AL honors. McGee's combined .324 average wouldn't have won either league.

How baseball would handle the leaderboard if Jose Reyes switched leagues is still unclear. Currently, Reyes trails Adrian Gonzalez, the AL leader in batting average, by a single point. But if Reyes should get dealt while winning a batting title, Mets fans cannot accurately bemoan an unprecedented occurrence. And in a fascinating twist, the GM who'd deal Reyes, Sandy Alderson, is the same GM who traded for McGee with the Athletics. Maybe the man just hates untainted batting titles.

Stark On Dempster, Adams, Reyes, Braves

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Jayson Stark leads his latest column for ESPN with a debate with colleague Buster Olney about realignment possibilities.  He notes that his sources say there's no chance divisions are dissolved and baseball becomes two 15-team leagues.  On to Stark's other rumblings…

  • An NL executive who spoke with Cubs GM Jim Hendry says there's no likely scenario where Ryan Dempster is traded.  Earlier today, there were indications the Yankees at least have an eye on Dempster, who has full no-trade rights and a $14MM player option for 2012.
  • Padres reliever Mike Adams also is likely to stay put, as the Padres are only interested in trading impending free agents Heath Bell and Chad Qualls.
  • Jose Reyes might not be Brian Sabean's type of player, says one baseball man who speaks with the Giants' GM regularly.  Still, Stark's source wondered if the liberation of winning last year's World Series might compel Sabean to take more chances.  Of course, the Mets are looking like potential buyers right now.
  • The Braves are "aggressively positioning themselves to deal for an outfield bat as soon as they can find a team ready to open its sell-off shop for business," writes Stark, and they've already checked in on Josh Willingham and Hunter Pence.  We outlined potentially available power bats earlier this month.

Alderson Talks Reyes, Trade Deadline, K-Rod

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Mets GM Sandy Alderson chatted with WFAN's Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts today for about twenty minutes; here are a few highlights.

  • Asked when the Mets will make a formal contract extension offer to Jose Reyes, Alderson laughed at the direct nature of the question and responded, "Well, we said that we will reach out to Jose at some point, and I expect that will happen.  Beyond that, I can't tell you."  Questioned about the possibility of extending Reyes before season's end, Alderson noted that it's a "two-sided process."  He said he hasn't gotten to the point of determining limits on what to offer Reyes, and reiterated that the feelings of the fans factor into his decisions.
  • Reyes spoke to WFAN's Mike Francesa today, saying right now all he can control is his play on the field.  He says he wants to stay but understands this is a business and he doesn't know what's going to happen.  He doesn't talk about his future contract with his agent Peter Greenberg.
  • Though the Mets have long been considered potential sellers, Alderson says the team playing well closer to the trade deadline is "the best possible situation for us to be in."  Later, he guessed that the Wilpons "would do everything they can to make that possible" in terms of creating payroll flexibility to make deadline acquisitions.  Alderson, however, feels that getting Ike Davis, David Wright, and possibly Johan Santana back would provide a similar boost.
  • Alderson didn't commit much on the Francisco Rodriguez situation, only saying that the hosts had "reminded me of all the difficult propositions we face."  He admitted that next year's payroll is a big issue, and said the vesting option situation will be more fully addressed down the road. K-Rod currently has 27 games finished, and it's possible he could reach 55 by the end of August, causing a $17.5MM option to vest for 2012. 

Scott Kazmir Rumors: Thursday

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27-year-old lefty Scott Kazmir was released by the Angels yesterday.  The team ultimately received 188 innings of 5.31 ball, plus 10 2/3 postseason innings, since acquiring him on August 28th, 2009.  The Angels gave up prospects Alexander Torres and Matt Sweeney that day, and infielder Sean Rodriguez was included as a player to be named later.  The Angels still owe Kazmir over $9MM to cover his salary for the rest of the season and the buyout on his club option.  Today's Kazmir links…

  • Yankees GM Brian Cashman said he hasn't looked into the possibility of acquiring Kazmir but will eventually, tweets MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez.  Cashman commented, "I know he's struggled."
  • Kazmir is a "possibility" for the Mets, GM Sandy Alderson said in response to a question on WFAN's Benigno and Roberts (MetsBlog has more info).  However, when pressed on the topic by Andy Martino of the New York Daily News, Alderson admitted his interest in Kazmir is the same as it is for everybody who hits the wire (Twitter link).  Kazmir, of course, is a former first-round pick of the Mets who was traded by former GM Jim Duquette to the Devil Rays in '04.  Kazmir's history with the organization is a factor, Alderson told Dan Martin of the New York Post.
  • My take: signing Kazmir is a low-risk proposition that almost any team could justify, taking him on as a minor league project for the next several months similar to what the Nationals are doing with Oliver Perez.  But that's only if Kazmir wants to sign right now and finds a good fit.
  • "I don't have any regrets," Angels GM Tony Reagins said of the '09 Kazmir trade, speaking to Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times.  Explained Reagins, "You make decisions in this business and live with the consequences."
  • Angels manager Mike Scioscia remarked to ESPN's Mark Saxon and the AP, "He's still young and I'm sure at some point we hope he can unlock that secret of where he needs to be."

Mets Notes: Gee, Mazzoni, Einhorn, Collins

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Dillon Gee's xFIP (3.90, well above his 3.05 ERA) and low BABIP (.244) indicate that the right-hander is probably due for a regression, writes Mark Simon of ESPN New York.  Mets fans are hoping the magic can last for at least one more start as Gee puts his 7-0 record on the line tonight against the Braves.  A Mets win tonight would get them back to the .500 mark (34-34) for the season.

Some more items from the Amazin's….

  • The Mets announced the signings of 12 draft picks, including second-rounder Cory Mazzoni.  Mazzoni, a right-handed pitcher from NC State, was taken 71st overall.
  • If Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz don't pay $200MM back to pending minority owner David Einhorn within three years, Einhorn will receive a 60% controlling interest in the franchise for just one dollar, writes Mike Ozanian of Forbes.  Somewhere, at least one Yankee fan is claiming the price is too high…
  • Given all of the off-the-field drama, trade rumors and injuries that the Mets have suffered this season, Terry Collins should be a Manager Of The Year contender for keeping the team competitive, argues Adam Rubin of ESPN New York. 

Rosenthal On Reyes, Hardy, Blue Jays, Padres

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As always, good reading from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…

  • The Mets would listen to an offer for shortstop Jose Reyes if the suitor "bowled them over," according to Rosenthal's source, but they're not currently looking to trade him.  Rosenthal says the Mets "might be growing more flexible" as to what they're willing to offer Reyes for an extension.  The team initially hoped for three years and $45-50MM, which they now realize isn't happening.  I can see Reyes getting a Jayson Werth-type contract on the open market, but 60% of the Mets' season remains. 
  • ESPN's Adam Rubin discussed the Reyes topic recently, writing "it now appears highly likely the Mets will keep Reyes at the trading deadline, take their chances trying to re-sign him as a free agent next offseason, then take the draft picks if he ends up elsewhere."
  • Rosenthal says the Orioles want to discuss an extension with shortstop J.J. Hardy before season's end, and The Baltimore Sun's Jeff Zrebiec quotes Andy MacPhail on his aim to start talks before the All-Star break.  The 28-year-old Hardy, who is hitting .287/.363/.473 on the season in 147 plate appearances, would be a nice two-year bridge to top prospect Manny Machado.  Of course, Hardy's agent at LSW Baseball knows that his client could get more than two years on the open market if his client remains healthy and keeps hitting.  If the O's do extend Hardy before July 31st, it will strengthen Sandy Alderson's position if he decides to move Reyes.
  • Rosenthal believes the Blue Jays and Padres, both enduring losing streaks, will soon have to put aside notions of contending.

NL East Notes: Phillies, Reyes, Mets, Gordon

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While the Phillies continue to sit atop the National League standings, the Braves are making the NL East race a little more interesting these days. They'll send Tommy Hanson to the hill this afternoon in Houston in search of their sixth consecutive win. As we wait to see whether Atlanta can gain any more ground on the Phils, let's round up this morning's NL East links from the division's two biggest markets, New York and Philadelphia:

  • Based on Ruben Amaro Jr.'s track record, the GM's assertion that the Phillies won't make any major moves this summer should be taken with a grain of salt, says Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Two Phillies officials that spoke to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports contended that Amaro may actually be telling the truth this time.
  • Within Rosenthal's piece, the FOX scribe notes that, while the Phillies could use a bat, their strong rotation has made them a new kind of team, and "not necessarily a worse kind."
  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post doesn't think the Mets will trade Jose Reyes before July 31st, and believes the team needs to make a strong effort to keep the shortstop past 2011, despite the risks.
  • Mets fans may not look back fondly on Omar Minaya's stint in New York, but Andy Martino of the New York Daily News points out that the former GM was responsible for acquiring many notable contributors on the club's present-day roster.
  • As Newsday's Ken Davidoff writes, Phillies minor leaguer Brian Gordon has the opportunity to opt out of his contract this Wednesday, on the condition that another team adds him to its Major League roster. Gordon, 32, has only made four career big league appearances (in 2008), but is excelling at Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season, with a 1.14 ERA, 1.1 BB/9, and 9.1 K/9 in 55 1/3 innings.

Cafardo On Capps, Clippard, Athletics, Cabrera

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There are indications that Cubs owner Tom Ricketts could be considering a management overhaul in Chicago, and Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe thinks Ricketts would do well to hire as many Red Sox people as possible. Cafardo suggests that Allard Baird, Ben Cherington, and DeMarlo Hale are among the names that should be attractive to the Cubs. Here are some other highlights from the Globe's Sunday Notes:

  • Matt Capps should draw plenty of trade interest if the Twins decide to move him. However, the closer likely won't become available until the Twins are absolutely sure they're out of the race, as the defending AL Central champs will be reluctant to give up on their season.
  • If the Nationals are willing to deal him, there will be a strong market for setup man Tyler Clippard. Cafardo speculates that Clippard would be a good fit for the Yankees or Phillies.
  • An AL GM on the Athletics' decision to replace manager Bob Geren with Bob Melvin: "[GM Billy] Beane made the move now because he thought there was something to salvage. They still have the pitching. So it’s not out of the realm of possibility."
  • Any contenders with interest in Orlando Cabrera may be able to acquire him sooner rather than later, after the Indians' promotion of Cord Phelps reduced Cabrera to a part-time role.
  • Jason Bay's most recent slump had the Mets' $66MM man out of the lineup this week. "His bat is slow and he’s just not himself," said one veteran scout. "The ballpark [Citi Field] isn’t good for him, but the way he hit his home runs, I never thought that was a big issue."

New York Notes: Minaya, Montero, Alderson

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Here are a few items of note coming out of the Big Apple as the Mets face the Pirates in Pittsburgh:

  • The Mets were just one game under .500 entering Saturday night's game, and the team has played surprisingly well with an unheralded cast largely assembled by former GM Omar Minaya, writes Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.
  • Jesus Montero, the Yankees' touted catching prospect, was out of the lineup for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre tonight but not because he was called up to the big leagues, according to Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger (Twitter links).
  • In the wake of Phil Hughes' DL stint and Joba Chamberlain's season-ending injury, Bill Madden of the New York Daily News writes that the Yanks should handle top arms Manuel Banuelos and Dellin Betances differently.
  • Within the same piece, Madden writes that the Mets appear to be taking a long-term approach to restocking the organization under new GM Sandy Alderson, as evidenced by their selection of prep outfielder Brandon Nimmo with the No. 13 pick in the Draft.

2012 Vesting Options Update

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Now that the calendar has flipped to June, let's check in on the status of the various vesting options around the league…

  • Bobby Abreu, Angels: $9MM option vests with 433 plate appearances. Abreu has already come to the plate 276 times this year, so this one seems life a safe bet to vest, barring injury.
  • Rafael Furcal, Dodgers: $12MM option vests with 600 plate appearances. Furcal is back on the disabled list with an oblique strain, and he's still a month away from returning. He has only 69 plate appearances this year, so this one won't vest.
  • Jon Garland, Dodgers: $8MM option vests with 190 innings pitched. Garland has been on the disabled list twice this year (the first two times of his career), and he's currently out with a sore shoulder. He only has 54 innings to his credit and won't be back anytime soon, so this one won't vest.
  • Francisco Rodriguez, Mets: $17.5MM option vests with 55 games finished and if doctors declare him healthy at the end of the year. K-Rod has already finished 25 games, putting him on pace for 65 at season's end. A trade to a team that would use him as a set-up man would change everything, but right now the option figures to vest.
  • Koji Uehara, Orioles: $4MM option vests with either 55 appearances or 25 games finished. Uehara has appeared in 26 games and finished 11, putting him on pace for 69 and 29, respectively.
  • Arthur Rhodes, Rangers: $4MM option vests with 62 appearances and if he's not on the disabled list at the end of the season. He's appeared in 20 games so far, putting him on pace for 50. Rhodes' workload could increase down the stretch.
  • Joakim Soria, Royals: $6MM option vests with 55 appearances. He's already appeared in 28 games and is on pace for 71. It's worth noting that even if the option doesn't vest, the Royals would still control Soria as an arbitration-eligible player in 2012.
  • Dan Wheeler, Red Sox: $3MM option vests with 65 games; increases to $3.25MM with 70 games. Wheeler has appeared in 17 games so far, so a stint on the disabled list did not help his cause.

Adam Wainwright's 2012 ($9MM) and 2013 ($12MM) options will not vest because he will finish the season on the disabled list after having Tommy John surgery. Aramis Ramirez's option depends on MVP Award finishes and whether or not he's traded, not plate appearances or another counting milestone.

Mark Buehrle is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2011 season and although he doesn't have a traditional option in his contract, he gets an extra year at $15MM tacked onto his current deal if he's traded at some point this season.

Thanks to Cot's Baseball Contracts for the info.

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