Post by Josh on Sept 20, 2007 20:00:19 GMT -5
In late July, when Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn were polishing their Hall of Fame induction speeches and Notre Dame football was brimming with optimism, major league baseball general managers scrambled to make trades to strengthen their clubs for the stretch run.
Calls were made, names were exchanged, and in the end the trade news wasn't half as interesting as the speculation that preceded it.
The aftermath has been even worse.
If you're looking for a difference maker -- a single July pickup who provided a major spark to his new team -- you've come to the wrong place. Matt Morris, Ty Wigginton and Jorge Cantu certainly don't fit the description, and several of the players acquired by contending clubs have fared worse.
In this week's installment of "Starting 9," we take an inventory of the pre-July 31 activity and how it panned out for teams in pennant races. A note of caution: It's a bigger letdown than "The Da Vinci Code" movie.
Atlanta acquires first baseman Mark Teixeira from Texas for catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and four other prospects
The Braves, taking a win-now approach in the National League East, surrendered five of their top 18 prospects for Teixeira, a two-time Silver Slugger and Gold Glove award winner.
IMPACT
It's been a weird deal for Atlanta. Teixeira has been a terrific addition, with a 1.015 OPS and 43 RBIs in 44 games as a Brave. But he can't pitch, and as a result, his impact has been negligible.
At the time of the trade, the Braves were 56-51 and 3½ games behind first-place New York. Now they're 78-73 and 5½ back. There's been no "Fred McGriff effect" this time around for general manager John Schuerholz.
Teixeira won't be a free agent until after the 2008 season -- as Rangers GM Jon Daniels observed, "He's a lease, not a rental" -- so he gives Chipper Jones some lineup protection in the event Andruw Jones departs this winter.
But speculation that Teixeira wants to commit to Atlanta because he's a Georgia Tech guy is laughable. He's also a Scott Boras guy, so the Braves can expect to go through the same uncertainty with him in 2008 that they've endured with Andruw this season.
Boston picks up reliever Eric Gagne from Texas for pitcher Kason Gabbard and outfielders David Murphy and Engel Beltre
Does this mean Theo Epstein has to return his 2007 Executive of the Year Award?
IMPACT
Epstein was universally praised for putting the finishing touches on a lockdown bullpen when the Red Sox pried Gagne loose from Texas. The combination of Gagne from the right side, Hideki Okajima from the left and Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth inning seemingly put Boston over the top as the American League's pre-eminent team.
Can the Red Sox ask for a do-over? Gagne posted a 9.00 ERA in 11 August outings, then spent time on the disabled list with a sore shoulder. It took him 14 appearances to record his first 1-2-3 inning, and his ratio of strikes to total pitches Tuesday night in Toronto (13 of 32) resembled Shaquille O'Neal's free-throw shooting line.
Is Gagne even healthy enough to pitch? Given his medical dossier, you have to wonder.
"They were really careful with how they used him in Texas," a scout said. "I think he wanted to make a splash in Boston, and maybe he tried to do too much too fast and went backwards because of it."
To make matters worse, Gagne's problems have been contagious. Okajima has a 7.04 ERA since Gagne's arrival.
And by the way, Murphy is hitting .367 for Texas and working his way into the Rangers' outfield mix for 2008.
New York Mets acquire second baseman Luis Castillo from Minnesota for catcher Drew Butera and outfielder Dustin Martin
Castillo has fallen victim to some of the same fielding and baserunning maladies that have contributed to the Mets' recent meltdown, but he's been a net plus overall for New York.
IMPACT
Castillo has a .359 on-base percentage as a Met. He's working counts, drawing walks, and giving New York some production out of the No. 2 hole while leadoff man Jose Reyes is limping along at .210 in September. Castillo also turns a double play much more skillfully than Ruben Gotay, who had been playing second base in Jose Valentin's absence.
Hamstring problems and other leg woes are always a concern with Castillo. But he's a driven player with a World Series ring, and the Mets are going to need him if they plan to turn it around and make a postseason run.
Braves acquire reliever Octavio Dotel from Kansas City for starter Kyle Davies
Dotel looked quite impressive in his final days with the Royals, pumping fastballs in the mid-90s and re-establishing himself as a potential shutdown eighth-inning guy for a contender.
IMPACT
He's been a nonfactor in Atlanta. Dotel suffered a right shoulder strain, and he's pitched a total of 4 1/3 innings for the Braves. He hopes to return shortly in an audition for free agency, but his inability to stay healthy means most clubs will regard him with skepticism.
Davies, meanwhile, has struggled with fastball command and has been ineffective in Kansas City. But at least he's in a comfortable place where he'll have an opportunity to take his lumps and learn.
Cleveland acquires outfielder Kenny Lofton from Texas for minor league catcher Max Ramirez
The Indians came up short in a bid to upgrade the bullpen with Gagne or Dotel, but GM Mark Shapiro made a handy, under-the-radar move with the acquisition of Lofton.
IMPACT
Manager Eric Wedge briefly tried Lofton at leadoff and bumped Grady Sizemore to third in the order, then returned Sizemore to the No. 1 spot and dropped Lofton to seventh.
Lofton hasn't had the same impact as Cleveland's two young regulars -- second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera and right fielder Franklin Gutierrez -- but he's been a nice complementary piece for the Tribe. He's hitting .277 with a .345 OBP and playing a competent left field, and he's contributed a few "SportsCenter"-worthy moments late in games.
Lofton's experience could come in handy very soon. He's a career .244 hitter in the playoffs and World Series, but he does have 349 postseason at-bats. That's 349 more than Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez, Sizemore, Casey Blake, Ryan Garko and Jhonny Peralta combined.
Phillies acquire starter Kyle Lohse from Cincinnati for minor league pitcher Matt Maloney
Several of Pat Gillick's moves in Philly haven't worked out according to plan. Adam Eaton, with his $25.5 million contract and 6.36 ERA, immediately springs to mind.
IMPACT
But Gillick has shown a flair for midseason acquisitions in Philadelphia. Last year he picked up Jamie Moyer and Jeff Conine in August, and they nearly helped the Phillies make the playoffs.
This year Gillick responded to Chase Utley's wrist injury by bringing in Tadahito Iguchi, who helped keep the team afloat in August. And Lohse, who had a knack for exasperating managers in Minnesota and Cincinnati, has helped save an injury-depleted staff while reviving his career aspirations.
"He's really stepping into his prime," Lohse's agent, Scott Boras, told Scott Lauber of the Wilmington (Del.) News Journal. "He has been real durable. He's pitched in the playoffs. He's got a résumé that a lot of teams look at."
Translation: Boras is going to find someone who'll overpay for Lohse this winter in a weak market for free-agent pitchers.
"He's a No. 5 starter who's going to be paid like a No. 3 starter," a scout said. "He's this year's Adam Eaton."
The New York Yankees trade reliever Scott Proctor to the Los Angeles Dodgers for infielder Wilson Betemit
File this one under a relatively small trade that's been good for both clubs.
IMPACT
Proctor, who looked like a candidate for Paul Quantrill syndrome because of his heavy workload in New York, has done a serviceable job of bridging the gap from the starters to Jonathan Broxton and Takashi Saito at the back end of the Los Angeles 'pen.
By trading Proctor, the Yankees created an opening in the bullpen for Joba Chamberlain. While Betemit is hitting only .227, he has 20 RBIs in 66 at-bats for the Yankees and delivered some clutch hits during New York's big push in August.
Betemit gives New York versatility with his ability to play second, third and short. And when the Yankees try to play it cool this winter in an attempt to retain Alex Rodriguez for a price they can live with, they'll tell everyone that Betemit is their Plan B at third base. It's the Bubba Crosby-Johnny Damon scenario all over again.
Chicago Cubs acquire catcher Jason Kendall and cash from Oakland for catcher Rob Bowen and pitcher Jerry Blevins
Once it became apparent that Lou Piniella couldn't tolerate another day with Michael Barrett behind the plate, the Cubs brought in Kendall to help nurture their staff through a long, hot summer.
IMPACT
Kendall has been a welcome addition in the clubhouse, and while he's no power threat at the plate, he has a .378 on-base percentage for Chicago. On the down side, he's thrown out 2 of 51 base stealers since the trade.
Rookie Geovany Soto is hitting .393 since his arrival from Triple-A Iowa. With the Cubs having trouble scoring runs, it'll be interesting to see whether Piniella gives Kendall a seat in favor of Soto more frequently over the next 10 days.
Milwaukee Brewers acquire reliever Scott Linebrink from San Diego for minor league pitchers Will Inman, Joe Thatcher and Steve Garrison
Trevor Hoffman amassed many of his 500-plus saves with Linebrink's help, so he was understandably miffed when the Padres sent his sidekick to Milwaukee for three youngsters. In contrast, a lot of scouts who've watched Linebrink's stuff and stats regress wondered whether the Brewers gave up too much for a garden-variety seventh-inning guy.
IMPACT
Linebrink's numbers in Milwaukee are so-so, but he's gradually settled into his role, and manager Ned Yost seems more comfortable using him in tight spots. Matt Wise hasn't been the same since hitting Cincinnati's Pedro Lopez in the face with a pitch in late July, and somebody had to absorb those innings.
Still, Linebrink looks like a short-term Brewer. He's making $2.1 million and he's eligible for free agency in November. GM Doug Melvin is almost certain to look for a more cost-effective alternative this winter.
Calls were made, names were exchanged, and in the end the trade news wasn't half as interesting as the speculation that preceded it.
The aftermath has been even worse.
If you're looking for a difference maker -- a single July pickup who provided a major spark to his new team -- you've come to the wrong place. Matt Morris, Ty Wigginton and Jorge Cantu certainly don't fit the description, and several of the players acquired by contending clubs have fared worse.
In this week's installment of "Starting 9," we take an inventory of the pre-July 31 activity and how it panned out for teams in pennant races. A note of caution: It's a bigger letdown than "The Da Vinci Code" movie.
Atlanta acquires first baseman Mark Teixeira from Texas for catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and four other prospects
The Braves, taking a win-now approach in the National League East, surrendered five of their top 18 prospects for Teixeira, a two-time Silver Slugger and Gold Glove award winner.
IMPACT
It's been a weird deal for Atlanta. Teixeira has been a terrific addition, with a 1.015 OPS and 43 RBIs in 44 games as a Brave. But he can't pitch, and as a result, his impact has been negligible.
At the time of the trade, the Braves were 56-51 and 3½ games behind first-place New York. Now they're 78-73 and 5½ back. There's been no "Fred McGriff effect" this time around for general manager John Schuerholz.
Teixeira won't be a free agent until after the 2008 season -- as Rangers GM Jon Daniels observed, "He's a lease, not a rental" -- so he gives Chipper Jones some lineup protection in the event Andruw Jones departs this winter.
But speculation that Teixeira wants to commit to Atlanta because he's a Georgia Tech guy is laughable. He's also a Scott Boras guy, so the Braves can expect to go through the same uncertainty with him in 2008 that they've endured with Andruw this season.
Boston picks up reliever Eric Gagne from Texas for pitcher Kason Gabbard and outfielders David Murphy and Engel Beltre
Does this mean Theo Epstein has to return his 2007 Executive of the Year Award?
IMPACT
Epstein was universally praised for putting the finishing touches on a lockdown bullpen when the Red Sox pried Gagne loose from Texas. The combination of Gagne from the right side, Hideki Okajima from the left and Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth inning seemingly put Boston over the top as the American League's pre-eminent team.
Can the Red Sox ask for a do-over? Gagne posted a 9.00 ERA in 11 August outings, then spent time on the disabled list with a sore shoulder. It took him 14 appearances to record his first 1-2-3 inning, and his ratio of strikes to total pitches Tuesday night in Toronto (13 of 32) resembled Shaquille O'Neal's free-throw shooting line.
Is Gagne even healthy enough to pitch? Given his medical dossier, you have to wonder.
"They were really careful with how they used him in Texas," a scout said. "I think he wanted to make a splash in Boston, and maybe he tried to do too much too fast and went backwards because of it."
To make matters worse, Gagne's problems have been contagious. Okajima has a 7.04 ERA since Gagne's arrival.
And by the way, Murphy is hitting .367 for Texas and working his way into the Rangers' outfield mix for 2008.
New York Mets acquire second baseman Luis Castillo from Minnesota for catcher Drew Butera and outfielder Dustin Martin
Castillo has fallen victim to some of the same fielding and baserunning maladies that have contributed to the Mets' recent meltdown, but he's been a net plus overall for New York.
IMPACT
Castillo has a .359 on-base percentage as a Met. He's working counts, drawing walks, and giving New York some production out of the No. 2 hole while leadoff man Jose Reyes is limping along at .210 in September. Castillo also turns a double play much more skillfully than Ruben Gotay, who had been playing second base in Jose Valentin's absence.
Hamstring problems and other leg woes are always a concern with Castillo. But he's a driven player with a World Series ring, and the Mets are going to need him if they plan to turn it around and make a postseason run.
Braves acquire reliever Octavio Dotel from Kansas City for starter Kyle Davies
Dotel looked quite impressive in his final days with the Royals, pumping fastballs in the mid-90s and re-establishing himself as a potential shutdown eighth-inning guy for a contender.
IMPACT
He's been a nonfactor in Atlanta. Dotel suffered a right shoulder strain, and he's pitched a total of 4 1/3 innings for the Braves. He hopes to return shortly in an audition for free agency, but his inability to stay healthy means most clubs will regard him with skepticism.
Davies, meanwhile, has struggled with fastball command and has been ineffective in Kansas City. But at least he's in a comfortable place where he'll have an opportunity to take his lumps and learn.
Cleveland acquires outfielder Kenny Lofton from Texas for minor league catcher Max Ramirez
The Indians came up short in a bid to upgrade the bullpen with Gagne or Dotel, but GM Mark Shapiro made a handy, under-the-radar move with the acquisition of Lofton.
IMPACT
Manager Eric Wedge briefly tried Lofton at leadoff and bumped Grady Sizemore to third in the order, then returned Sizemore to the No. 1 spot and dropped Lofton to seventh.
Lofton hasn't had the same impact as Cleveland's two young regulars -- second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera and right fielder Franklin Gutierrez -- but he's been a nice complementary piece for the Tribe. He's hitting .277 with a .345 OBP and playing a competent left field, and he's contributed a few "SportsCenter"-worthy moments late in games.
Lofton's experience could come in handy very soon. He's a career .244 hitter in the playoffs and World Series, but he does have 349 postseason at-bats. That's 349 more than Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez, Sizemore, Casey Blake, Ryan Garko and Jhonny Peralta combined.
Phillies acquire starter Kyle Lohse from Cincinnati for minor league pitcher Matt Maloney
Several of Pat Gillick's moves in Philly haven't worked out according to plan. Adam Eaton, with his $25.5 million contract and 6.36 ERA, immediately springs to mind.
IMPACT
But Gillick has shown a flair for midseason acquisitions in Philadelphia. Last year he picked up Jamie Moyer and Jeff Conine in August, and they nearly helped the Phillies make the playoffs.
This year Gillick responded to Chase Utley's wrist injury by bringing in Tadahito Iguchi, who helped keep the team afloat in August. And Lohse, who had a knack for exasperating managers in Minnesota and Cincinnati, has helped save an injury-depleted staff while reviving his career aspirations.
"He's really stepping into his prime," Lohse's agent, Scott Boras, told Scott Lauber of the Wilmington (Del.) News Journal. "He has been real durable. He's pitched in the playoffs. He's got a résumé that a lot of teams look at."
Translation: Boras is going to find someone who'll overpay for Lohse this winter in a weak market for free-agent pitchers.
"He's a No. 5 starter who's going to be paid like a No. 3 starter," a scout said. "He's this year's Adam Eaton."
The New York Yankees trade reliever Scott Proctor to the Los Angeles Dodgers for infielder Wilson Betemit
File this one under a relatively small trade that's been good for both clubs.
IMPACT
Proctor, who looked like a candidate for Paul Quantrill syndrome because of his heavy workload in New York, has done a serviceable job of bridging the gap from the starters to Jonathan Broxton and Takashi Saito at the back end of the Los Angeles 'pen.
By trading Proctor, the Yankees created an opening in the bullpen for Joba Chamberlain. While Betemit is hitting only .227, he has 20 RBIs in 66 at-bats for the Yankees and delivered some clutch hits during New York's big push in August.
Betemit gives New York versatility with his ability to play second, third and short. And when the Yankees try to play it cool this winter in an attempt to retain Alex Rodriguez for a price they can live with, they'll tell everyone that Betemit is their Plan B at third base. It's the Bubba Crosby-Johnny Damon scenario all over again.
Chicago Cubs acquire catcher Jason Kendall and cash from Oakland for catcher Rob Bowen and pitcher Jerry Blevins
Once it became apparent that Lou Piniella couldn't tolerate another day with Michael Barrett behind the plate, the Cubs brought in Kendall to help nurture their staff through a long, hot summer.
IMPACT
Kendall has been a welcome addition in the clubhouse, and while he's no power threat at the plate, he has a .378 on-base percentage for Chicago. On the down side, he's thrown out 2 of 51 base stealers since the trade.
Rookie Geovany Soto is hitting .393 since his arrival from Triple-A Iowa. With the Cubs having trouble scoring runs, it'll be interesting to see whether Piniella gives Kendall a seat in favor of Soto more frequently over the next 10 days.
Milwaukee Brewers acquire reliever Scott Linebrink from San Diego for minor league pitchers Will Inman, Joe Thatcher and Steve Garrison
Trevor Hoffman amassed many of his 500-plus saves with Linebrink's help, so he was understandably miffed when the Padres sent his sidekick to Milwaukee for three youngsters. In contrast, a lot of scouts who've watched Linebrink's stuff and stats regress wondered whether the Brewers gave up too much for a garden-variety seventh-inning guy.
IMPACT
Linebrink's numbers in Milwaukee are so-so, but he's gradually settled into his role, and manager Ned Yost seems more comfortable using him in tight spots. Matt Wise hasn't been the same since hitting Cincinnati's Pedro Lopez in the face with a pitch in late July, and somebody had to absorb those innings.
Still, Linebrink looks like a short-term Brewer. He's making $2.1 million and he's eligible for free agency in November. GM Doug Melvin is almost certain to look for a more cost-effective alternative this winter.
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