A crazy past couple of days have seen half of the teams perform a transaction.
Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Over the past 48 hours, the MLB universe was lathered in a number of trades.
Here’s a list of those transactions:
1. Oakland Athletics send Jemile Weeks to Baltimore Orioles for Jim Johnson
Viewed as a salary dump by some since it’s expected that Johnson will earn about $10MM though the arbitration process. The A’s don’t have a closer since Grant Balfour is a free agent. Was Balfour requesting that much more? Have to wonder…
Weeks never regained the production from his rookie season of 2011. 2012 saw a frightening drop in his offense and last season, he spent the vast majority of the year in Sacramento. He did fare well for the River Cats (.271/.376/.369, 17-for-19 in steals). Plus, Weeks had been supplanted by Eric Sogard as the A’s everyday second baseman.
The O’s do have a need at 2B, but is Weeks the answer or merely a backup plan to Jonathan Schoop and/or Ryan Flaherty (mostly Schoop)?
2. Oakland Athletics send Michael Choice and Chris Bostick to the Texas Rangers for Craig Gentry and Josh Lindblom
Gentry can play all three outfield positions and is pretty adept at stealing bases (56-for-66 for his career). Also consider that Coco Crisp has never played more than 145 in any year of his career (he’s done so twice: 2005 and 2007), seems like GM Billy Beane is covering all his bases with this trade.
Choice was the A’s top pick and 10th overall in 2010. In his first two seasons in the A’s system, Choice belted 37 home runs in 672 PA. The last two: 24 HR in 1,002 PA. The loss power in a concern, but his average and OBP haven’t wavered.
3. Oakland Athletics send Seth Smith to San Diego Padres for Luke Gregerson
I think Billy Beane’s phone was a little busy over the past couple of days.
The A’s added even more to their bullpen strength in acquiring Gregerson. Not like their bullpen needed a boost, but this crew could be even more fierce than last season.
The addition of Smith is a good one for the Padres. With all the time they missed with injuries to their outfield last season, Smith delivers more than a viable option for them.
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4. Houston Astros send Brandon Barnes and Jordan Lyles to Colorado Rockies for Dexter Fowler and PTBNL
Anytime a team acquires a member of the Rockies, their offensive output will be put under the microscope. That will surely be the case with Folwer. Here’s Greg Thurston from Climbing Tal’s Hill:
"It will be interesting to see how Fowler fares away from the friendly confines of Coors Field. Those career road numbers are nothing to get too excited about."
For your viewing…
| Split | G | PA | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 333 | 1344 | 1129 | 226 | 336 | 27 | 146 | 48 | 22 | 177 | 261 | .298 | .395 | .485 |
| Away | 334 | 1291 | 1119 | 150 | 270 | 13 | 64 | 35 | 20 | 148 | 327 | .241 | .333 | .361 |
Fowler can cover ground and that’s an essential at Minute Maid Park.
Barnes has holes in his offense, mainly his high SO/BB ratio (127/21) and low OBP (.289). Lyles experienced growing pains, mostly those of the bad variety. Not sure how Coors Field profiles for a pitcher that delivers a career HR/9 of 1.2.
5. Philadelphia Phillies send Erik Kratz and Rob Rasmussen to Toronto Blue Jays for Brad Lincoln
Have to wonder why the Jays want Kratz. With their recent signing of Dioner Navarro and Josh Thole seemingly in place to catch R.A. Dickey, you left scratching you head. Then again, you never know with GM Alex Anthopoulos.
Catching depth isn’t always a bad thing.
In acquiring Lincoln, the Phillies add to a bullpen which was pretty woeful in 2013. Lincoln battled control issues last season and spent some time in Buffalo.
6. Three team trade: Arizona Diamondbacks receive Justin Choate and PTBNL or cash, Cincinnati Reds receive David Holmberg, Tampa Bay Rays receive Ryan Hanigan, Heath Bell and cash
Upon the deal being consummated, Hanigan inked a three-year $10+MM deal with the Rays. Have to wonder if the Rays are interested in shopping Jose Lobaton since they recently signed Jose Molina to a two-year deal.
The D’backs rid themselves of Bell, who was dealt to Arizona last winter in the hopes he could rediscover the form that at one time made him one of baseball’s better closers. Didn’t happen (again) and Bell will now be on his third team in as many seasons. Maybe The Trop is the cure.
Holmberg is only 22 and made a start for Arizona last season. That was his first taste of baseball higher than Double-A. The Reds are a little thin in starters at the Triple-A level, plus with the recent fragile nature of Johnny Cueto, well, don’t be shocked if he dons a Reds uniform at some point in 2014.
By sending Hanigan to Tampa Bay, Reds GM Walt Jocketty appears to be fully committed to Devin Mesoraco as the Reds #1 backstop.
Will we see this much action, if not more, once the winter meetings convene? A hardcore baseball fan can only hope so.