Trades | The Baseball Zealot

Roast Some Chestnuts on the Hot Stove

The Yankees made another move, now I believe, it’s the Red Sox turn. Righthanded starting pitcher Javier Vazquez & lefty reliever Boone Logan (both with the White Sox a couple of years ago) were dealt to Atlanta in exchange for centerfielder Melky Cabrera, a 19 year old out of the Dominican Republic by the name of Arodys Vizcaino, and lefthanded relief pitcher Michael Dunn. Vazquez crashed & burned in the Bronx, he did well with the Braves (but that’s the National League), it’ll be interesting to see how he makes out in the Big Apple (with big pressure), one of my happiest days as a White Sox fan was when Javier Vazquez & Boone Logan were put on a train out of town. Melky Cabrera, a fan favorite, will move into the lineup as the Braves everyday centerfielder, Dunn has a shot as a lefty in Atlanta’s pen, and the young righthander, Vizcaino, has a huge upside, only time will tell.

Atlanta also added their firstbaseman in the person of Troy Glaus. Troy was injured last season with the Cardinals. The hot corner has always been this big power hitter’s position, but he shouldn’t have any problems shifting across the diamond, his real position is BAT.

Darren Oliver went back to where he started, returning to Texas. This will be Darren’s third go around with the Rangers. Oliver spent the last three years in the Angels bullpen, the Halos are pursuing Fernando Rodney.

In a move that was kind of under the radar, Jason Marquis was signed by the Washington Nationals. Marquis showed guts in winning 15 games last season with the Rockies. This veteran righthander will provide the Nats with just what the doctor ordered, 200 innings & 30+ starts. Next up Washington needs to secure Mike Capps as their team’s closer.

Milton is Now a Mariner

2004: Dugout confrontation with Indians manager Eric Wedge in spring training before getting traded to the Dodgers.

Slammed a plastic bottle at the feet of a fan in the right-field seats at Dodger Stadium after someone threw it onto the field. Bradley drew a five-game suspension. Also received four-game suspension for tossing a bag of balls onto the field after an ejection.

2005: Feuded with infielder Jeff Kent, accusing him of being a racist, and prompted Dodgers to trade him that winter.

2007: Bitter public disagreement with A’s general manager Billy Beane. After trade to Padres and in thick of pennant race, tore ACL in his right knee when he was spun to the ground by Padres manager Bud Black, who was trying to keep him from umpire Mike Winters. Bradley claimed he had been baited by Winters, who was suspended for the final five days of the regular season.

2008: According to Dallas Morning News, Bradley attempted to confront Royals television announcer Ryan Lefebvre in the press box after a game due to what he believed were unfair comments made on the air. Texas manager Ron Washington and GM Jon Daniels chased after him and stopped Bradley before he got to Lefebvre.

January 6, 2009: The Cubs will be the seventh team for Milton Bradley, who has a history of behavioral issues during nine seasons in the majors.

April 16, 2009: Milton Bradley’s suspension was reduced from two games to one by Major League Baseball on Thursday, but that didn’t make him any happier. The Chicago Cubs outfielder still feels he was a victim of his reputation as a hothead. “It figures,” he said after MLB announced its decision regarding the April 16 incident. “I never get treated fairly. This is me. This is exactly what I expected. “I’m Milton Bradley, you know what I’m saying? You expect me to be crazy and throw stuff and do whatever.” Bradley didn’t throw anything after umpire Larry Vanover called him out on strikes with the bases loaded. But the famously volatile ballplayer did get in Vanover’s face and the umpiring crew contended that Bradley’s hat made slight contact with Vanover. It was Bradley’s first Wrigley Field at-bat after he had signed a $30 million contract during the offseason.

June 12, 2009: Milton forgot how many outs there were in a game at Wrigley Field, after catching a fly ball, he turned, and tossed the baseball to a fan in the rightfield bleachers, but there were only two outs, there were two runners on base. The error didn’t cost the Cubs, as there were runners on 1st & 3rd, the runner on 3rd would’ve scored on the sac fly and the other runner was stranded after moving from first to third. Here’s what Bradley had to say about the incident. “I wasn’t embarrassed. I’ve done a whole lot of things to be embarrassed about,” Bradley said. “My heart was in the right place. I tried to give a souvenir. It was messed up.” “We talked about it today, just have fun and relax,” Bradley said. “It’s hard to get me to smile on a baseball field, but I had to smile today. You can’t just keep taking yourself too seriously. You have to chill out, have fun. If we do that, we’ll be all right.”

September, 2009: Here’s what Cubs GM Jim Hendry had to say after suspending Bradley in September for the rest of the season. “Recently, it’s become intolerable to hear Milton talk about our great fans the way he has,” Hendry said. “We pride ourselves on having the greatest fans in baseball, so at this time we felt it was best to send him home for the rest of the season.”

All of this should come as no surprise, it’s been with Milton Bradley, pretty much, his whole life. Here is a recap of a situation involving Milton when he was a minor leaguer with the Montreal Expos, he even was suspended one game from his high school baseball team. Bradley’s anger grew to the point where would explode at authority figures left and right, particularly umpires: He poked one in the mask and later spit his gum at another, earning him a seven-game suspension and the worst reputation in the minor leagues. “It wasn’t violent,” Bradley explains. “It was something I shouldn’t have done. You can’t touch the umpire. You can’t spit on the umpire. I know that. But you just get to the point where you’re just, ‘There, I got that off my chest.’ ”

I remember following this talented switch-hitting kid way back when, when he was in the minors with Montreal, the kid with the board game company name, and his birthday being April 15th, an Aries, my birthday’s the 14th & my brother’s is the 16th, so I was intrigued, but after the spitting incident I decided to strike him from my list.

I just can’t see how so many major league teams have fallen for his B.S. Certainly he is a talented hitter, but he can’t field any more, he once was fleet-footed, but after knee surgeries, those days are long gone. So I can’t see what the attraction is, other than his bat, he is a cancer in the clubhouse, and basically, can’t get along with anyone. Bradley never seems able to accept responsibility for his actions and always comes off playing the victim.

I knew where this was going when the Cubs signed him to that big contract before this past season, why didn’t Jim Hendry? Now Hendry is looking like the hero, finding a new home for Milton & his baggage in the Pacific Northwest with the Seattle Mariners. The Cubs got starting righthanded pitcher Carlos Silva from Seattle, he’s the Mariners version of a mistake signing, $25 million over the next two years. Since signing his lucrative contract the injured hurler has posted a record of 5-17 over the past two seasons, perhaps a change of scenery will do him good, but don’t count on it.

Getting back to the lame excuse Hendry gave for bringing Bradley to the Northside of Chicago in the first place, the team needed a lefthanded bat to balance out their lineup, after getting swept by the Dodgers following a 1st place finish a couple of years ago. There were some very high quality alternatives to Milton, Raul Ibanez (a lefthanded hitter & one of the nicest guys in baseball) signed with the Phillies and Bobby Abreu (a lefthanded hitter, with a long career of solid numbers, & a decent rightfielder) signed with the Angels, both for less than Bradley’s contract.

Milton Bradley will probably do pretty well as Seattle’s regular DH in 2010, but most certainly it won’t last. The Mariners will be his eighth team in ten years. How many bridges must a man burn before there are none left to cross?

Dugout confrontation with Indians manager Eric Wedge in spring training before getting traded to the Dodgers.

White Sox Get a Leftfielder & a Leadoff Man

pierre Kenny Williams did exactly what I wanted him to do, now let’s see if it works out, because sometimes when you ask for something, it doesn’t always workout the way you thought it would. Leadoff man Juan Pierre was traded, along with cash, to the White Sox from the Dodgers for two players to be named later. Whether this deal is a good one or not depends on which two players Chicago will have to give up to LA. It’s a no brainer, looks great, a leftfielder, a leadoff man, & cash for basically nothing (nothing, that is, until the players to be named, are indeed, named). But right now, I’m very happy with my new present from Santa, hope we didn’t have to pay to much on our credit card.

Here is what the Chicago had to give up: It is reported the White Sox will part ways with reliever Jon Link, whom they acquired from the Padres in the Rob Mackowiak trade (anything you get for Mackowiak is a bonus) and Homewood Flossmore’s own John Ely. While Link has a pretty good strikeout pitch out of the pen, and might be ready for the majors, Ely is, far & away, the better prospect. The 6’1″ 23 year old was impressive at AA in 2009, 14-2, 2.87 ERA, with 125 strikeouts in 156′ innings pitched, allowing only 140 hits. The righthander had an impressive collegiate career at Miami of Ohio University before being selected by Chicago in the 3rd round of the 2007 amateur draft.

Monty Hall: Let’s Make a Deal

michael-taylor There is another three way deal on the horizon, this one involving the Phillies, the Blue Jays, & the Mariners. Philadelphia would get righthanded ace Roy Halladay from the Blue Jays & pitching prospect Phillippe Aumont (plus another Seattle youngster, yet to be named) from the Mariners, Seattle gets Cliff Lee from the City of Brotherly Love, and Toronto picks up superstar phenom outfielder Michael Taylor, sky’s the limit starter Kyle Drabek (Son of Doug), and minor league catcher Travis d’Arnaud from the Phils. In a deal involving two former Cy Young Award winners switching uniforms, the third party player might end up being the big winner, that’s how good Michael Taylor might end up, he’s that good! Trader Billy Beane jumped into the frey to make it a four-way deal, sending 1B-3B Brett Wallace, a 2008 1st round pick out of ASU by the Cardinals who was traded to Oakland in the Matt Holliday trade, to Toronto for Michael Taylor. While Wallace has some serious power 20 or more homers in each of the last two seasons, he also swung & missed 106 times in the minors this past year. To me, the A’s look to be the big winner getting the highly skilled outfielder Taylor.

This three way deal was probably made possible when the Red Sox inked John Lackey away from the Angels. Once the Bronx Bombers knew Boston was no longer in the hunt to pickup either Halladay or Lee, the Pinstripers could relax and let the trade proceed without outside interference from NY.

In another move, not made by the Yankees, World Series MVP Hideki (Godzilla, but you can call me Shemp) Matsui headed west to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Orange County team needed to bring somebody on board after losing leadoff man Chone Figgins (now with the Mariners) & ace starter Lackey (over in Bean Town) already this offseason. Still I don’t know if it’s much of a consolation prize, seeing the Mariners added Figgins & Lee, while on this day the Halos, in effect, swapped Lackey for Matsui.

Sox Getz Teahen from Royals

One day after the World Series ended Kenny Williams is at it, getting the White Sox ready for next year. Chicago traded secondbaseman Chris Getz & power hitting Josh Fields to Kansas City in exchange for Mark Teahen. I’m hoping they install Teahen at the hot corner, moving Alexei Ramirez back to secondbase, and allowing Gordon Beckham to play his natual shortstop position. There’s talk that Teahen will play rightfield, but I hope not, we need more production out of rightfield than Mark’s season average of .269 with 14 home runs. We shall see what happens.

White Sox: We Just Don’t Care Anymore

thome contreras Trader Kenny Williams turned from a buyer to a seller when he dumped Jim Thome off to the Dodgers and Jose Contreras off to the Rockies. These moves came when the team hit the skids, putting them out of the playoff picture. It doesn’t seem all that long ago, we were breathing down the neck of the first place Tigers in the AL Central. We picked up ace starting pitcher Jake Peavy, who just needed short rehab time in the minors before he’d be up, helping to lead the charge. Then Williams went out and snatched talented outfielder Alex Rios from the Blue Jays, we were going for it, for sure! But this recent roadtrip sealed our fate, losing six of seven to the Red Sox & Yankees, putting an end to any chance at postseason play. It also spelled the end of the Jim Thome & Jose Contreras era on the Southside. I’m sure there are many players on the current roster wondering if they might be next.

Jim Thome, a local boy, from Peoria, the fans took an instant liking to Jim, how could you not? He’s a great guy! Especially after getting rid of the moody, but talented designated hitter Frank Thomas, bringing on nice guy, Thome. Jim’s Dad was a frequent visitor to the Cell, coming up to watch his son play, Peoria doesn’t get channel 26, so when the Sox were on that channel, making the trip was the only way for Mr. Thome to see his son play. I still remember Mr. Thome celebrating with us on Elvis Night when Jim passed Reggie Jackson on the alltime home run list. Mr. Thome exchanged high fives with us. He even posed for some pictures, wearing Elvis big hair & Elvis glasses. It doesn’t seem right that we should have to pay the Dodgers to take our hero, just to have him relegated to being a pinch hitter in LA. All we got in return for the slugger was minor league infielder Justin Fuller and his career .242 minor league batting average. It seems like an insult, to have to pay, and get a bum in return.

Former World Series hero, Jose Contreras, was also dumped out, like yesterday’s trash, to the Colorado Rockies. Truth be told the Cuban hurler only had one year of success, which started the end of 05 and extended to the start of 06, other than that, he’s had some very rough outings. One of the ugliest happened in Boston this current roadtrip, he mishandled a roller toward first, hit by David Ortiz, with two outs, the bases loaded, and Paul Konerko standing right behind him, ready to field the ball, the Red Sox went on to score six runs in an inning where they were going to be shutout, and went on to pound Contreras & Chicago. At least Brandon Hynick, the pitcher the Sox got from the Rockies, has had some minor league success, going 16-5, with a 2.52 ERA in Class A+ ball in 2008. Contreras is credited with helping Kenny Williams sign fellow Cubans Alexei Ramirez & Dayan Viciedo.

I was going to go out to the Cell the end of the year to watch our boys battle the Minnesota Twins for a three game set, but I don’t know if I’ll be there. I don’t know how many of the current players will be there. Kenny Williams has officially pulled the plug on the season, we were on life support, but now it is over! Sad to say, but it’s time to pull my Chicago White Sox tee shirt, “They Just Don’t Care Anymore” out of the closet.

NASCER Race – Going, Going, Gone!

AdrianGonzalez I’m not talking about NASCAR where the great strategy is GO FAST & TURN LEFT, very tough concept for redneck fans to grasp. I’m talking about the fantasy baseball league I belong to, NASCER, it’s an acronym for something, but don’t ask me what it stands for. I’ve been away from fantasy baseball for about ten years. When I returned my friend gave me a caveat, he told me, “You’ll love it, until the trading deadline”. Well I’m not sure that’s completely accurate, I didn’t love it when one of my mercenary ballplayers, Brandon Webb, went down for the season after just one start, nor when I lost Alex Gordon & Carlos Delgado to injuries, nor when My Main Manny, Manny Ramirez, was suspended for fifty games.

But I managed to weather those storms, picking up Ubaldo Jimenez, Juan Pierre, & Marco Scutaro, to keep the ship afloat. I was in 3rd place as the trading deadline approached. The only trades that happened thus far were during the season between teams going for it, I was involved in both of them, both centered around, now out for the season hurler, Johan Santana. First I got Santana for fast-starting Raul Ibanez and then I traded Santana, along with Mike MacDougal & Jason Jaramillo, for Jermaine Dye, Frank Francisco, & Kurt Suzuki. Both trades turned out to be classic examples of SPY vs SPY, Johan had the worst week of the season while with me, so I sent him packing, he got hurt shortly after moving on to his 3rd team of the year. While Francisco & Suzuki have been okay for me, neither Ibanez nor Dye have performed for their new squads.

As the trading deadline approached, NASCER had eight of ten teams within fifteen points of first place. The 2nd place team made the first trade sending Mark Reynolds, picked up off the waiver wire, but having a terrific season, despite his whiffs, for Adrian Gonzalez, Yovani Gallardo, Trevor Hoffman, & Huston Street. The next deal had the first place team trading Adam Jones & Wandy Rodriguez in exchange for Joakim Soria, Francisco Cordero, Roy Oswalt, Brian McCann, & Brad Hawpe. Then there were the two deals made by a hard charging team from the middle of the pack that was looking for hitting, they found it in the two deals they pulled off, did they have to wear a mask? They got Jason Bay, Michael Wright, Brandon Phillips, Bengie Molina, & David Price in one trade for Josh Johnson, and throw-ins Carlos Guillen & Jason Varitek in one trade. And because that wasn’t quite enough, they dumped, rather than cutting him, Carlos Quentin for ready-to-go Ian Kinsler. It’ll be difficult to keep these three teams out of first, second, & third place, just because they got to the feeding troff first.

You may ask, where was I during this feeding frenzy, was I asleep in a corner? Blame it on the beer, I was a little slow on the draw, and didn’t come up with a proposed deal until three in the morning, I sent out my offer bright & early Friday morning, Shin-Soo Choo & Ubaldo Jimenez, two young stars, who’ve performed well for me all year would be sent packing in exchange for Felix Hernandez, Curtis Granderson, Adam Dunn, Ian Kinsler, & Francisco Cordero (I’d forgotten that he’d already been gobbled up). When I didn’t hear back from him by Sunday evening, it became obvious I’d have to compete down the stretch without having the benefit of a lopsided trade. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I didn’t make a deal, that’s got me upset. It’s that three deals were made, which in effect ended a great race, a race where anybody from 1-8 could’ve ended up in the money. All teams were playing by the rules, there was no collusion, the bottom feeders were trying to help their teams for next year by acquiring keepers signed cheap, while the teams in the hunt were trying to secure their positions.

While I’m still currently in 3rd place, hoping against all hope, I look toward next year, and look for a solution to what I view as the problem of “getting to the feeding troff first”. I’m asking the question, looking for a solution IMHO something is taken away when the yearly race comes down to, who you can swipe at the trading deadline for stud (or dud) keepers for next year. Maybe, if you trade for a keeper, it has to be a one-for-one trade, at least then you’d only be getting one stud rather than three, four, or five guys. Or perhaps, the salary cap has to be lowered, there is one currently in place, but it’s so high, that nobody really even had to think about it, when these trades were consummated.

All I know is that my team pretty much has the perfect name WTLNXTYR, which is what most of the teams competing for 4th place this year will be doing, rather than competing in one heck of a race, what a shame.

If I Was Their GM

spMETSKK33 Although I am a diehard White Sox fan and have loved them for over forty years, I couldn’t help thinking about how a couple of trades might really help the Chicago Cubs. Kevin Gregg has been a disaster as the team’s closer, with Carlos Marmol not doing much better. Perhaps Angel Guzman should be given a shot, but what this team really needs is a proven closer. Enter Billy Wagner, the going nowhere fast, New York Mets just brought Billy the Kid off the disabled list, and he looked like he’s still got it. Only thing is, the Mets signed KRod as their closer in the offseason, and are paying Wags bigtime closer money, even though he’s not closing. It might be a gamble, trading away a good young arm, but I would trade Angel Guzman for Billy Wagner. Next I’d be knocking on the Cleveland Indians door looking for a proven lefty relief specialist. Sure Sean Marshall has looked okay in that role from time to time this season, and Rafael Perez has been lousy all year. But I’d trade Marshall to the Tribe in exchange for Perez & his lefthanded nasty stuff. Wondering what you Cub fans think of my proposed deals, if you agree, contact Jim Hendry. I can’t believe I’m actually trying to help the Cubs. Sheesh, what’s next, a snake & a mongoose sitting down to tea?

2009 Trading Deadline Deals

victor Catcher/firstbaseman Victor Martinez of the Cleveland Indians was swapped to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for pitcher Justin Masterson and minor leaguers Nick Hagadone & Bryan Price. Masterson will pitch out of the bullpen for the Indians, while Martinez will play firstbase for Boston this year, and eventually will probably take over for Jason Varitek behind the plate for the Red Sox.

Jake Peavy finally agreed to be dealt to the White Sox in exchange for Clayton Richard, Aaron Poreda, Adam Russell, & Dexter Carter. Jake nixed a 5/21 trade to the Southside of Chicago, but decided the White Sox wanted him enough and wanted to win, that he agreed to come to Chicago. This might be like when Greg Maddux signed with the Braves. The 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner will move into the Sox rotation as soon as his ankle heals. Clayton Richard & Aaron Poreda are two great lefthand arms that should become members of the Padres rotation in the very near future.

Tyler Ladendorf of Des Plaines & the Minnesota Twins was traded to the Oakland A’s in exchange for Orlando Cabrera. Now Cabrera once again is in the playoff hunt, while Ladendorf is on the fast track to the big leagues. Tyler was hitting .410 in rookie ball, but was batting only .233 in low A ball, still this shortstop’s bat is his calling card.

Detroit retooled for the playoff push acquiring Jarrod Washburn from the Seattle Mariners for Luke French and Class A lefty sensation Mauricio Robles. Robles looks to be the real deal, striking out 111 batters in only 91 1/3 innings.

Baltimore closer George Sherrill was traded to the LA Dodgers in exchange for AA thirdbaseman Josh Bell & AA pitcher Steve Johnson, Steve is the son of former Orioles pitcher Dave Johnson.

The Toronto Blue Jays got thirdbaseman Edwin Encarnacion and pitchers Josh Roenicke & Zach Stewart for Scott Rolen. Rolen will provide veteran leadership for the young Reds.

Nick Johnson was sprung from the Washington Nationals in exchange for lefthanded pitching prospect Aaron Thompson, so now Nick finds him in the middle of the NL East Playoff race.

Adam LaRoche came back home to Atlanta when the Braves traded Casey Kotchman for him, it was the second time Adam was traded this season, LaRoche will be the starting firstbaseman in Atlanta, while Kotchman will bolster Boston’s bench.

The Cubs added lefthanded reliever John Grabow to their relief corps, along with Tom Gorzelanny, in exchange for Kevin Hart, Jose Ascanio, & Class-A infielder Josh Harrison. This deal should help both clubs, with Hart possibly moving into the Pirates rotation.

In a head scratcher, Jack Wilson (along with Ian Snell) was also dumped off the Buccos, but to the Seattle Mariners, who are sellers, for Ronny Cedeno, Jeff Clement, Aaron Pribanic, Brett Lorin, & Nathan Adcock.

Pittsburgh picked up pitching prospect Tim Alderson from the SF Giants in exchange for .300 hitting secondbaseman Freddy Sanchez. The Giants also got Ryan Garko from the Tribe for another pitching prospect Scott Barnes.

This is an exciting time of the year, with ballclubs jockeying for playoff position, and players changing uniforms.

Indians Get 4 for 2 from Phils

donald Cliff Lee was involved in one of the best trades the Indians ever pulled off, when he was traded from the Expos, along with Grady Sizemore, & Brandon Phillips. Now Cleveland is hoping lightning strikes twice, swapping Lee & Ben Francisco to Philadelphia for four top notch prospects.

Jason Donald looked great when I saw him this past year in the Arizona Fall League. He’s pretty much hit .300 every year in the minors, except for 2009, the Indians are hoping he regains his stroke.

Lou Marson is a line drive hitting catcher. I’ve seen Marson in the AFL & spring training, his average has climbed as he’s matured, batting around .300 in AA & AAA ball.

Carlos Carrasco had a breakout season in 2006 in A ball, 12-6, 2.26 ERA, 103 hits in 159′ IP, with 159 K’s. While he’s maintained about one strikeout per inning, his ERA is currently 5.18 in Triple A.

At 6’5″ 225 Jason Knapp, a 19 year old righthander out of New Jersey, can really bring it, striking out well over one batter per inning in Rookie & A ball.

This trade just might turn out to be exactly what both teams need, the Phillies, trying to repeat, get a tough lefthanded starter in Lee and a solid righthanded hitting outfielder in Francisco, in exchange for four top prospects. Donald is a scrappy player, who might be at SS next year in Cleveland, with Marson flashing the signals to Carrasco, with Knapp warming in the bullpen, you never know.