with Chris from Atlanta
League 17
Week #17
I’m petitioning the powers-that-be to change the Mafia rules so that each team must draft a 100-person roster. There are two reasons for expanding the rosters. One, we all know that the draft is the best part … why not make it longer? Two, everyone would have an abundance of crappy players to bundle up for those awesome 4-for-1 trades that we see in MLB.
With the MLB trade deadline fast approaching, there was an avalanche of deals last week.
Ray Durham traded from Giants to Brewers - Milwaukee pushed back from the table, stood up, and announced that they are going all-in for the 2008 season. Needing some insurance for the eternally struggling Rickie Weeks, the Brewers sent two minor-leaguers to San Francisco for 36-year old 2B Ray Durham and 30-year old LHP Jack Taschner.
Ignore Taschner. He is just another arm in the bullpen. Durham, on the other hand, brings a .293 batting average, a .385 OBP, 3 HRs, 32 RBIs and 6 stolen bases to the Brew Crew. His value takes an immediate hit as he will primarily be a pinch-hitter. Weeks has been hot lately, with a .333 average, .421 OBP, 9 RBIs and 3 SBs in his last 12 games. If he should revert back to struggling Rickie, look for Durham to take over at second.
In San Francisco, Eugenio Velez replaces Durham at second base. He was considered, by some, to be a cheap source of SBs going into this season. Eugenio found that it is hard to steal bases when you can’t make it to first base. He was sent down to the minors in May, after batting .207 (OBP of .244) and only 8 stolen bases while getting thrown out 5 times.
There is reason to think that he will have some value now that he is back up with the Giants. Over the last three years in the minors, he is batting .304 (OBP of .354) with 185 stolen bases. He has also shown a little pop with 21 homeruns over the same three year span. If you need some help with SBs, you can pick him up and use him on Mondays & Thursdays. You won’t want to do more than that until he shows that his average will not kill you.
The two players that San Fran received from Milwaukee should not make a fantasy impact this year. Steve Hammond is a 26-year old LHP who has a 3.54 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 2.78 K/BB rate in 476 career minor league innings. Darren Ford is a 22-year old OF who is batting .267 with 19 homeruns, 166 RBIs, and 204 stolen bases in 1576 career minor-league at-bats. Ford could possibly see a call-up in September.
Yankees land Nady and Marte - Friday night, the Pirates sent OF Xavier Nady and LHP Damaso Marte to the Yankees in return for four minor-leaguers. The arrival of Nady signifies the end of the Brett Gardner experiment in New York. Nady’s value rises slightly as he goes from a mediocre Pirates lineup to the Yanks. Marte’s value nose-dives, going from closer to setup man, in front of Mariano Rivera.
This trade broke as I was writing up this article. It is not yet clear who will step in as the new Pirates closer. Matt Capps is still out and may not return in 2008. A quick look at the Pirates bullpen:
- Yates - 4.11 ERA - 1.61 WHIP - 6.26 K/9 - 1.03 K/BB
- Grabow - 3.08 ERA - 1.29 WHIP - 7.25 K/9 - 1.82 K/BB
- Burnett - 4.50 ERA - 1.76 WHIP - 6.88 K/9 - 1.08 K/BB
- Bautista - 3.60 ERA - 1.43 WHIP - 5.66 K/9 - 1.10 K/BB
Not much to pick from … that is for sure. My best guess would be Grabow. They do have a few players in the minors that they could call up (Salas, Sanchez, or Meek), but Grabow has the best numbers to fill-in as closer.
Pittsburgh received 25-year old RHP Ross Ohlendorf, 23-year old RHP George Kontos, 26-year old LHP Phil Coke and 19-year old OF Jose Tabata in the deal. Their minor-league numbers:
- Ohlendorf - 3.95 ERA - 1.36 WHIP - 3.10 K/BB - 473.2 innings
- Kontos - 3.54 ERA - 1.25 WHIP - 3.11 K/BB - 279.1 innings
- Coke - 3.64 ERA - 1.33 WHIP - 2.46 K/BB - 477.1 innings
- Tabata - .291 AVG - .362 OBP - 16 HRs - 62 SBs - 1180 ABs
Tabata is the crown jewel of the deal for Pittsburgh. He was named the Yankees 3rd best prospect by Baseball America entering the 2008 season … behind Joba and Austin Jackson. At the age of 17, and in his first year of professional ball, Tabata led the entire Yankees farm system in batting average when he hit .314 for the Gulf Coast Yankees in 2005. So, he’s got that going for him.
Jon Rauch traded from Washington to Arizona - The Diamondbacks sent minor-league second baseman Emilio Bonifacio to the Nationals for closer Jon Rauch. This is a very interesting move for the D-Backs. Apparently, they are unhappy with Brandon Lyon’s recent struggles and felt that they needed a little insurance. Here are the closer options available to Arizona after the trade:
- Lyons - 3.86 ERA - 1.29 WHIP - 6.35 K/9 - 3.5 K/BB - 20 saves - 5 blown saves
- Pena - 3.83 ERA - 1.28 WHIP - 6.13 K/9 - 2.91 K/BB - 1 save - 3 blown saves
- Qualls - 3.72 ERA - 1.26 WHIP - 8.80 K/9 - 2.81 K/BB - 2 saves - 6 blown saves
- Rauch - 2.92 ERA - 1.01 WHIP - 8.39 K/9 - 6.57 K/BB - 17 saves - 5 blown saves
Arizona has penciled Rauch into their eighth-inning set-up role. I say penciled in because, over the past three weeks, Lyon has blown two saves and has an 11.12 ERA, 2.12 WHIP and a 2.00 K/BB rate in 5.2 innings. Rauch’s value is minimal until he is named the closer. Lyon’s value is teetering on the edge.
Emilio Bonifacio was immediately sent to AAA Columbus but could emerge as the team’s lead-off hitter going into the 2009 season. His game is speed, and the Nats will most definitely find a spot for him once rosters expand in September. Over the last three years in the minors, he is batting .303 (OBP of .351) with 119 stolen bases and only 10 home runs. With the signing of Cristian Guzman on Tuesday, the Nationals appear to have secured their middle-infielders for at least the next two seasons.
The new Washington closer will be Joel Hanrahan. Who? Exactly! The 26-year old has a 3.94 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and a 2.03 K/BB rate in 59.1 innings this season. Follow the ‘Golden Rule of Chasing Closers’ here: if the guy is named the closer, the guy belongs on a roster. Pick him up … if he is available.
Wolf traded from San Diego to Houston - In a head-scratching move, the Astros acquired LHP Randy Wolf from the Padres for minor league pitcher Chad Reineke. Apparently, Houston GM, Ed Wade, tried to sign Wolf during the off-season. I’m not sure why he couldn’t wait until the 2008 season ended to try it again. Only Wade holds the answer.
Wolf is 6-10 with a 4.74 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. Why make this trade? It can’t be his 4.76 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 1.71 K/BB rate in four career starts in Minute Maid Park. The Astros now have a starting rotation of Oswalt (injured), Wandy Rodriguez, Backe, Moehler and Wolf. Is Wolf going to get Houston to the postseason? Um, no.
The other player in this deal is 26-year old career minor-leaguer Chad Reineke. In 495.2 career minor league innings, he has a 3.72 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a 2.28 K/BB rate. Nothing to write home about. Hard to say if San Diego will call him up this year. He might be valuable out of the bullpen. Has there ever been a more pointless “acquisition” pre-deadline than this?