Morisato As GM - Five Decisions I Would Make (The Middle Class Edition)
Onto to part three of four, this time concentrating on Baseball’s middle class. Typically, these are guys that are rebuilding or are quasi contenders that are a move or two away from making the playoffs or starting over.
The Kansas City Royals (75-87)
- Trade Jose Guillen To The New York Mets For Luis Castillo - Guillen has played his way out of Kansas City, and the Royals now look awful for giving him a three year deal. So, what to do? How bout offering the Mets a chance to swap bad contracts, giving them Castillo, who could play second for the Royals, and giving Guillen to the Mets, who would then fill the hole in left field they tried to fill with Daniel Murphy. This would then allow the Mets to pursue the man they really want, Orlando Hudson.
- Trade Billy Butler To The Tampa Bay Rays For Edwin Jackson - The deal for Mike Jacobs fucked the Royals in the respect that it effectively ends Butler’s chances of being a productive major leaguer for the Royals. WIth Kaia Ka’aihue in the minors and Russ Gload signed for another year, plus 2008 1st Round Eric Hosmer, there is effectively no room for Butler to hang on. So why not deal him to a team that could bring about his potential, in this case Tampa. Tampa needs a presence at DH and Butler hit well after the All-Star break. Plus, Jackson isn’t a guy I expect to repeat the numbers he posted last year and is the likely odd man out next year to make room for David Price. This deal has upside for everyone, and Jackson will be pitching in a division loaded with pitchers parks.
- Convert Joaquim Soria To The Rotation - Soria was a starter in the minors, but was converted to the bullpen in order to give the Royals the best chance of keeping him. Soria is an exceptional closer, but he has more than enough pitches to succeed as a starter. Soria has more value as a starter, not as a reliever. Why not move him into the rotation? And if things go bad, you could always switch him back? What is there to lose?
- Play Alberto Callaspo As A Utilityman - Callaspo was acquired for Billy Buckner last off-season in hopes of giving the Royals a potential answer long term at the position. However, he’s been up and down this season, and blocked by Mark Grudzielanek the rest of it. With the Royals likely to let Gruds go, play Callaspo at second and short and see what he can do.
- Make Robinson Tejeda The Closer - With Soria now in the rotation, see what Robinson Tejeda can do as the closer. Tejeda has great stuff and was given up on too early by the Rangers, in my opinion. Give Tejeda the opportunity to close. At the very least, he gains experience and can be a valuable trade piece. At the most, you get a adequate replacement for Soria, who could blossom as an everyday starter much the way Derek Lowe did.
The Oakland Athletics (75-86)
- Sign Jason Giambi - Giambi isn’t going to get offered arbitration by the Yankees, as there is a very good chance he might accept it. That likely means that GIambi is going to be a free agent that won’t have draft pick compensation for it. Giambi offers a lot of positives. He still hits for big power and he draws great walk numbers. And he still has a fairly good relationship with the A’s. All in all, it’s a good fit, and adds a big thumper to the middle of the lineup at DH.
- Sign Rafael Furcal - Furcal offers a lot more upside than Crosby does, will likely seek a one year deal to try and re-establish his value on the market. If Oakland wants to, see if you can sneak in a option for 2010. The only problem here is that Furcal’s health record has been for shit the past couple of years.
- Trade Bobby Crosby And Dan Meyer To The St. Louis Cardinals For David Freese - St. Louis is looking for an upgrade at shortstop and second base. and Crosby, who has his faults, is much better than what St. Louis currently has on the roster. Offering them Dan Meyer, a pitcher that is out of options and might benefit from Dave Duncan, might sweeten the deal. Freese is a solid catching prospect, but might get fucked over in the long run by St. Louis’ current crop of third base prospects. They have Allan Craig in the system and are developing Brett Wallace as a third baseman. Of the trio, Wallace is the one that is the best bet long term. Oakland needs a successor for Eric Chavez at third base, as Adrian Cardenas won’t be ready for at least two years. Oakland can even cover part of Crosby’s remaining salary to help a deal along. And, in the end, St. Louis will be able to improve their roster at the cost of a blocked prospect and some cash.
- Trade Huston Street To The Tampa Bay Rays For Reid Brignac - The Athletics aren’t enthused about paying Huston Street big money now that they’ve found an effective closer in Brad Ziegler. With the minors lacking any sort of shortstop prospects at all, the Rays make sense, as they’ll be seeking bullpen help and a closer that could take the load off of Troy Percival. In return, the A’s get Brignac. THis is a big simplistic, however, as I think the A’s might be seeking a huge bounty for their closer. Keep in mind, however, that the time to move Street was in 2007 (when Eric Gagne brought a huge return to Texas) and not now (when Jon Rauch brought Emilio Bonifacio).
- Deal For The Top Selection In The Rule 5 Draft - There will be some interesting talent available in this year’s Rule 5 Draft. With the success of teams in recent years of getting top selections, pay the $100,000 or so to get the Padres to sell your their slot and nab a talent. With Oakland’s roster remaining fluid, keeping a Rule 5 Guy for the necessary time allotment shouldn’t be a problem.
The Texas Rangers (79-83)
- Exercise Hank Blalock’s Option - This is a no brainer. For $6 million, which is what Blalock would get on the market, you get a first baseman or DH, depending on what you choose to do with him, that can produce well when healthy.
- Let Milton Bradley And Jamey Wright Walk - Wright is the easy one, as he was one of the most abused relievers in the Rangers’ bullpen. As for Bradley, he wants a multi-year deal. If I were Texas, I’d offer two years, plus a vesting third year. I think he wants much more than that.
- Sign Joe Crede For A One Year Deal - I’m not sold that the Rangers should make Chris Davis the everyday third baseman, as I think that should only be in an emergency. I would, however, take a one-year gamble on Crede, who is a solid defender with some pop. If the Rangers can manage his health, with Davis and Blalock taking the occassional day at third and first, with Crede as the DH, it could prove to be beneficial for both parties (big contract for Crede, draft pick bonus for Texas.)
- Trade Gerald Laird To The Florida Marlins For Scott Olsen - For both squads, this is a trade of needs. Olsen is the odd man out of the Marlins rotation that will have Chris Volstad, John Johnson, Anibal Sanchez, Ander Miller, and a cheaper option than Olsen for the fifth spot. I’d offer them Laird, who upgrades their catching void, while taking back Olsen, who I think under the right coach (it’s going to be Rick Peterson or Mike Maddux in the the next couple of days), can be a decent lefty pitcher.
- Make Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Frank Francisco The Opening Day Catcher And Closer - I still believe in Salty and I think he should be a good offensive catcher for the Rangers. Francisco proved he can be a flat out nasty closer and should keep the role.
The Cleveland Indians (81-81)
- Trade Trevor Crowe To The Kansas City Royals For Mark Teahen -The Indians need a third baseman. The Royals need a centerfielder with patience. Crowe can fill that role for Kansas City, allowing them to play David DeJesus in left field. And Teahen could fill that role that the Indians got from Casey Blake, at a fraction of the price.
- Sign Chad Cordero - Cordero is a solid buy low option that would allow the Indians to add to their bullpen, while also giving them a potential trade chip that they could flip if they are out of contention at the deadline.
- Trade Kelly Shoppach To The Boston Red Sox For Michael Bowden, Daniel Bard, Joshua Reddick And Oscar Tejeda - Right now, catching is at a premium, and the Indians are going to get some interest in Shoppach, who filled in so well for Victor Martinez. The problem is, Martinez is going to be back and is going to be healthy next season and the Indians have catcher Carlos Santana in the minors, and is likely going to be ready in 2010 to at least share duty with Martinez. With that in mind, the time is right to trade Shoppach, and who better than to Boston, for a decent package of prospects to add depth to the minors. Bowden can at least be a suitable back of the rotation guy, Bard a useful setup man. Reddick and Tejeda are both raw, but also both highly talented guys with some star potential. All in all, it’s a nice trade that allows Cleveland to get some good options in a couple of years to work with.
- Give Asdrubal Cabrera Another Shot - He was one of the best second baseman in the second half in 2007. And his minor league numbers still are solid. Why not?
- Allow Open Competition At First Base - Ryan Garko shouldn’t be an everyday first baseman. The Indians need to see what guys like Beau Mills, Michael Aubrey, and Matt LaPorta can do at the big league level. All of those guys can provide much better offensive value than what Garko can provide.
The Arizona Diamondbacks (82-80)
- Sign Mark Grudzielanek For One Year - The Diamondbacks aren’t going to get Orlando Hudson back, and let’s face it, his age, health, and price tag aren’t going to make it a good idea to invest in him long term anyway. Getting the two draft picks for him are the best way to go. In return, signing Grudzielanek, who is a capable defender and can bat second would be the way to go.
- Leave Max Scherzer In The Bullpen - Scherzer shouldn’t be in the rotation, as I think that his lack of a third pitch, plus his violent delievery, make him more of a bullpen guy, and one that would be stellar at that. Having him as a relief ace, and eventually an option at closer, is the way to go.
- Re-Sign Randy Johnson - Might as well finish off that chase for 300, plus get some league average innings as well.
- Play Justin Upton And Eric Byrnes In The Outfield Corners - Byrnes is the easy one: his contract makes it necessary to play him in order to have any value. As for Upton, he’s got the most upside of anyone that the Diamondbacks could hope to get in the free agent market.
- Trade Chad Tracy To Seattle For Miguel Batista And A PTBNL - Batista might be able to harness some of that magic (or whatever it was that made him a competent pitcher) back in Arizona, where he’ll be an easier division and a better defensive club. As for Tracy, I’m iffy on him long term and think that Connor Jackson should be the everyday first baseman. So sending him to Seattle, who needs a first baseman, for Batista, cash and a player to be named later is fair.
The Los Angeles Dodgers (84-78)
- Re-Sign Casey Blake - There aren’t any better options out there, so may as well pay the guy you know.
- Play Chin-Lung Hu At Shortstop - Furcal’s injury history makes it problematic for the Dodgers, who like his bat, but are reluctant to give out any huge salaries unless that player is a total badass. Hu was rushed a bit last season, but is still a stellar defender and has offensive upside. Play him, as you’ll never know what he can do unless he gets the reps.
- Trade Andruw Jones To The Cincinnati Reds For A Player To Be Named Later - This is strictly a roster dump, but one that has some potential. Jones might find himself rejuvinated in Cincinnati’s hitter’s park and so long as the Dodgers are willing to pay a good chunk of his salary, it would make all kinds of sense to the Reds, who lack outfield depth at the moment.
- Sign Jason Kendall To Backup Russell Martin - Kendall is still a competant catcher and is the best of the catchers that might accept a backup gig. It would allow Martin to take some days off and hopefully should protect him from wearing down in the second half.
- Do Not Bring Back Takashi Saito - Jonathan Broxton is a more than capable closer, and Saito’s arm has a lot of miles on it.
The Florida Marlins (84-77)
- Trade Scott Olsen To Texas For Gerald Laird - The Marlins would be selling high on Olsen, who has seen his velocity and strikeout totals fall, plus gain a catcher that can help their offensive woes at the position, without sacrificing defense.
- Play Dallas McPherson At Third, Move Jorge Cantu To First - McPherson isn’t a great defensive third baseman, but Cantu makes him look like a Gold Glover. Move Cantu to first, McPherson to third, and bingo, you’ve replaced Mike Jacobs’ power and onbase numbers at a fraction of the cost.
- Do NOT promote Cameron Maybin This Season - Maybin isn’t ready, as his power hasn’t manifested itself complete and he still strikes out a ton. Leave him in the minors for one more season, then roll the dice in 2010, unless something clicks.
- Trade Kevin Gregg To The Cleveland Indians For Ben Francisco - Gregg will have a lot of appeal for teams wanting a proven closer. In this case, trading him to Cleveland, who is showing a willingness to trade Ben Francisco, who I think can be an average left fielder, makes tons of sense. Which sets up the last move…
- Trade Josh Willingham To Tampa Bay For Prospects - Willingham needs to be a DH, as he’s too fragile to play the field. Trading him to Tampa, who is looking for a young DH, for some prospect depth, is the final move I would make. Tampa would get their man, and Florida gets some more options to play with in the future.
The St. Louis Cardinals (86-76) [Note: Slippery When Wet is a nifty album to rock out to when no one is looking...]
- Sign Rafael Furcal - The Cardinals need a shortstop badly, but the options on the market aren’t promising. How long do you really expect for Orlando Cabrera to remain solid when he’s in his mid-30’s? And any deal for Cabrera costs the Cardinals their first rounder, which they do need. So what are they to do? Sign Furcal, who has good upside, loves the National League, and most importantly, will be cheaper and won’t have any draft pick ramifications like the other options out there.
- Make Chris Perez The Closer - The Cardinals have a potential closer in house in Perez, who throws heat, but also lacks control over his stuff. All in all, he is a good inhouse candidate to at least make a difference. FInd out what he can do.
- Trade Ryan Ludwick To The San Francisco Giants For Jonathan Sanchez - Ludwick had an impressive year last year, but to be honest, I would sell high on him, as his health history hasn’t been great and his year last year was a bit out of line from what he put up in previous seasons. The Giants are looking for a big bat. Offer them Ludwick for Sanchez, whose value is down this year. Hopefully, with work from Dave Duncan, things can work out well. It also allows St. Louis to move top prospect Colby Rasmus into center and move Rick Ankiel to right field.
- Re-Sign Felipe Lopez - Lopez could be the starter at second base, or at the very least a valuable utilityman.
- Attempt To Trade Or Cut Adam Kennedy - Kennedy wants out of St. Louis, based on his delusion that he is still an average second baseman. In the event this delusion persists, see if there is any value out there. If you can’t get even the shittiest Player To Be Named Later back, cut his whiney ass and move on.
The Toronto Blue Jays (86-76)
- Sign Manny Ramirez - Toronto needs offense more than anything, and the one thing that should be done is to sign the best bat on the market, Manny Ramirez, and employ him as their DH. Ramirez would bring a power presence to the Jays and should increase their offensive output by at least a run or so.
- Retain A.J. Burnett - I would also try to get Burnett to remain with Toronto. While I do think that they probably should quit on Burnett due to his spotty injury history, the Marcum injury and uncertainty on Dustin McGowan make it necessary to retain him, or lose their pitching advantage.
- Move Aaron Hill To Short, Play Iglett At Second - Hill can be a capable shortstop, and with the lack of shortstop prospects in the Jays minors, he fills a need and provides a hell of alot more upside than John MacDonald and Marco Scutaro. Joe Inglett didn’t embarress himself and can be a stopgap second baseman until Scott Campbell, a capable second baseman, is ready.
- Leave Travis Snider In The Minors For The Season - I think Snider will eventually force Adam Lind to first base once Lyle Overbay’s contract is up, but with the Ramirez deal and Lind, Wells and Rios all in the outfield, leaving Snider in the minors for just a few months until injury brings up some need for him makes the most sense.
- Have David Purcey In The Opening Day Rotation - I like Purcey and think he’s got the potential to at least be a lefty innings eater. Having him on the opening day rotation (Halladay, Burnett, Litsch, Purcey, and maybe one of their fifth starter candidates) should help the Jays until McGowan is able to return.
The Houston Astros (86-75)
- Commit To J.R. Towles and Michael Bourn - Towles has the potential to be a starting catcher, while Bourn was traded with the intention of being a starter. Right now, giving the reps to both is much better than dicking around with lesser options (or playing Darin Erstad, which I fear will happen.)
- Re-Sign Randy Wolf And LaTroy Hawkins - Both guys pitched well and both are open to Houston. By now, Houston should know what they’re getting with both. Wolf I think can be a suitable fourth or third starter and Hawkins a good 7th inning guy. Signing both for two years is a sensible option.
- Offering Doug Brocail Arbitration, Then Let Him Sign Elsewhere - I wouldn’t gamble on Brocail putting up a season like he did this past year, so get the draft pick and move on.
- Sign A.J. Burnett - If I am going to sacrifice a first rounder on the second tier of arms, I would go after Burnett, who offers ace type upside and can comfortable slide in after Roy Oswalt as the number two starter.
- Extend Jose Valverde - Houston fleeced the Diamondbacks with the Valverde trade, and with their closer seeking a long term extension, use something in between of what Brad Lidge recieved and what Brian Fuentes will get as a basis for Valverde.