Eaton to Rangers
Tue, Dec 20, 2005
by Geoff Young
The Padres have dealt Adam Eaton, Akinori Otsuka, and Billy Killian to the Rangers for Chris Young, Adrian Gonzalez, and Terrmel Sledge. [Update: Tip o' the cap to Nick G. for breaking this one in the comments to Tuesday morning's post.]
Understand that Aki is one of my all-time favorite Padres. And I still think Eaton could blossom into a frontline starter.
But I’m positively giddy about this trade. Why?
Well, Aki slipped quite a bit in his second run through the North American big leagues. His ERA more than doubled in slightly fewer innings, and most of his peripheral numbers deteriorated as well. Aki turns 34 next month, so it’s not like he was part of the core. Seriously, I love the guy but from an on-field perspective, he was expendable.
Eaton apparently wasn’t thrilled with the way the Padres were dealing with him this winter. Quoth Eaton: “I saw how they treated (Brian) Giles and (Trevor) Hoffman in negotiations, and it was disgusting. It doesn’t speak very well of them.” As opposed to dissing your employer in the media, I suppose.
There’s no doubting that Eaton has talent; what isn’t known is whether he’ll ever be able to stay healthy for an extended period of time and finally get that ERA under 4.00. His track record on both counts suggests no, but he’s still young. That said, I don’t like his chances in Texas.
What about Killian? On the one hand, he was ranked #14 by Baseball America coming into 2005. On the other, he’s an A-ball catcher in an organization that features bright prospect George Kottaras as well as lesser lights Nick Hundley and Colt Morton. Hey, Killian might turn out to be a good player someday, but it’s going to be at a position where the Padres are relatively deep and it’s not going to be real soon. No great loss there.
On the other side, Young is a former third-round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He eventually made his way to the Rangers via a stop in the Montreal organization (the Bucs dealt him to Les Expos for former Padre Matt Herges ― a trait Young shares in common with fellow rotation candidate Clay Hensley) and put together a very respectable 4.26 ERA as a rookie last season in one of the toughest pitching environments in baseball. Young’s hit prevention was just okay, but his K/BB ratio was a tick over 3-to-1, which is outstanding.
(BTW, if you’re thinking that Young will benefit hugely by moving out of Arlington, be aware that his home/road splits were almost non-existent. The upside, of course, is that anyone who can post an ERA near 4.00 in Texas must be doing something right.)
Another point working in Young’s favor is that he is very inexpensive. According to Hardball Dollars, Young is slated to make $500k next year and $600k the year after that. Given that his performance hasn’t been any worse than that of a guy who acts offended at the prospect of earning many times that amount, this is a no-brainer.
Honestly, I’d be okay if there weren’t any more to the deal than these first four players. But it gets better.
Gonzalez is a former first pick overall (Florida Marlins, 2000) who just rakes. He hails from Chula Vista, which fits in with the m.o. of acquiring hometown players. In the Baseball America Prospect Handbook 2005, Gonzalez is compared favorably to Doug Mientkiewicz, who actually has had a better career than you might realize. Also this came before Gonzalez busted out with a .223 ISO at Triple-A last season, finally showing some power at the ripe old age of 23.
As for the third player coming to San Diego, aside from having one of the coolest baseball names ever, Sledge is a solid fourth outfielder type who could provide some left-handed pop off the bench. It’s like that commercial: He doesn’t make the deal; he makes the deal better. A 29-year-old outfielder with a career 5.37 RC/27? Yes, please.
Reaction around the blogosphere? Nobody seems to understand why the Rangers would make this deal. You can count me among them. I don’t get it, but I’m glad they did it.
I have to eat dinner. I’ll update the comings-and-goings table when I return.
| Pos | Out | In |
|---|---|---|
| P | Brian Lawrence Chris Oxspring Ricky Steik Adam Eaton Akinori Otsuka Rudy Seanez Chris Hammond |
Dewon Brazelton Seth Etherton Steve Andrade |
| C | Ramon Hernandez Billy Killian Miguel Olivo |
Doug Mirabelli |
| 1B | Mark Sweeney (RF, LF) Robert Fick (C, RF, LF) |
Adrian Gonzalez |
| 2B | Mark Loretta Damian Jackson (SS, OF) |
Mark Bellhorn |
| 3B | Sean Burroughs | Vinny Castilla Geoff Blum (2B, SS) Bobby Hill (2B) Justin Leone |
| OF | Xavier Nady (1B) | Mike Cameron Jack Cust Terrmel Sledge |
[Update Dec 21, 2005 at 9:00 AM: Reaction from MSM: Baseball America, U-T, NCT]
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December 20, 2005 at 8:20 pm
Well said, GY.
Here’s a fun look at what Billy Beane’s been doing … http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/ne.....;type=lgns
December 20, 2005 at 10:59 pm
I love this deal. Young is better than Eaton.
http://sdpf.blogspot.com/2005/.....mated.html
December 20, 2005 at 11:23 pm
Brazelton, Breslow, Olivo non-tendered, Ross agreed to 1 yr/$500k:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/arti.....855S84.DTL
WTF?
December 20, 2005 at 11:33 pm
Why Breslow?
December 21, 2005 at 12:58 am
Supposedly we’re still trying to sign Breslow and Brazelton.
December 21, 2005 at 4:41 am
What is going on with the Olivo thing??
http://www.signonsandiego.com/.....notes.html
I wonder how much Olivo was looking for?
So, the Pads are going into the season with Mirabelli, LaForest and Ross. That’s a little scary.
December 21, 2005 at 4:46 am
Baseball America analysis of the trade is here. I don’t think you need a subscription to see it. If you do, someone tell me and I will cut and paste it.
http://www.baseballamerica.com.....eaton.html
What a crazy market it is for pitchers. Eaton wanted 3 yrs $27 million. But you figure that’s the going rate these days — especially with Washburn signing for beaucoup bucks.
Adam’s a good pitcher, but definitely not worth that kind of cash.
December 21, 2005 at 8:48 am
What about Roberts for Wells? Heard that speculation on ESPN radio.
December 21, 2005 at 8:56 am
I would be just fine with that. Left field is now a strength, and I’m sure some combination of Sledge and Johnson could handle the position.
December 21, 2005 at 9:04 am
There’s been a lot of buzz about Boston trading Bronson Arroyo to Seattle for Jeremy Reed. I doubt they would do both trades.
December 21, 2005 at 9:17 am
Anthony — that’s what I was thinking too, but the Sox may pull the trigger on both trades. They have very good SP depth.
1.Beckett
2.Schilling
3.Wakefield
4.Clement/Arroyo (depending on which one they trade to the mariners)
5.Papelbon — they want him to start next year anyway.
I would be elated to see Roberts for Wells. My only fear is that the Sox will get stuck on Adrian Gonzalez. Apparently they offered highly touted catching prospect Kelly Shoppach for him when Gonzalez was with Texas.
Acquiring both Roberts and Reed would be good for the Sox, b/c worst case, they could split time in center. And the Sox are DESPERATE for a CF now. I figure the Pads are in a good position here.
December 21, 2005 at 9:26 am
A look at Chris Young’s 2005 season at THT:
http://www.hardballtimes.com/m.....ris-young/
December 21, 2005 at 9:39 am
As reported in Japan:
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/.....6000c.html
Nothing new, I just love the phrasing:
“Japanese setup man Akinori Otsuka is set to be transferred from the San Diego Padres to the Texas Rangers…”
and
“The Rangers belong to the west block of the American League…”
Transferred? Block? It all sounds so sinister.
December 21, 2005 at 10:02 am
Couple more Rangers bloggers weigh in:
http://www.rangers.scottlucas......2/ugh.html
http://dallasblog.com/norm-hit.....-plan.html
December 21, 2005 at 11:29 am
PadreMike, that’s EXACTLY what I’m thinking - ESPECIALLY now that Dammon has vacated CF in Beantown… We may even get some cash thrown are way to cover Wells’ contract now.
December 21, 2005 at 12:34 pm
Red Sox will NEVER trade for both Reed and Roberts. First of all, they won’t give Arroyo or Clement for Dave Roberts (and the Pads wouldn’t take on Clement’s contract). Reed and Roberts are similar type players. Roberts is way too old for the direction the Red Sox are going. More likely, the Sox might be interested in Sledge (the next David Ortiz, in their view). They tried to get him from Washington, and then Texas. They likely told the Pads to try to get him from the Rangers to help make the Wells deal happen. Speculation only.
Peavy
Wells
Young
Tomko
Woody
December 21, 2005 at 12:51 pm
Jesse, I may have missed something, did BoSox already trade for Reed, or was there chatter that they might be headed that direction, or were you saying they wouldn’t trade for either guy?
If I’m Boston, I’d rather get Reed too, but Seattle might not give him up AND Wells has said he WON’T pitch for Boston next year, so we’re clearing $2m-ish (I forget off hand what DR will make in ‘06) for a $4.5m pitcher who IS still effective (I’d do that deal).
So in effect, Boston gets to clear salary and only has to give up a player who doesn’t want to be there to get a decent leadoff guy. Don’t be surprised if Boston does that deal.
December 21, 2005 at 1:15 pm
Peter,
I don’t disagree with you. I think Boston will exhaust a lot of other options, however, before making a deal for Roberts. I also believe KT is serious that DR will be here next season and our leadoff hitter. I’m just wondering if Adrian Gonzalez/Sledge and Shoppach are more of a driving force to a deal with Boston than Wells. Incidentally, Boston has said they will let Wells retire before they take less than fair value for him. Betcha he lands in LA or Anaheim. Have you all seen the rumor that Arizona wants Dave Roberts? I can’t see that happening, either.
December 21, 2005 at 1:44 pm
I saw that rumor. DR to the Snakes would be interesting. I wonder if someone’s just trying to drum up some interest in DR.
Never said the Pads could get Clement or Arroyo for DR. Either one of those guys would go to SEA for Reed.
The way I figure the Reed/DR thing is that Reed would be the starting CF for the Sox, and DR would come in as 4th OF. They need OF depth anyway, and they have plenty of SP depth.
That Gonzalez/Sledge take is interesting though. So are you saying it would be Gonzalez & OF (Sledge or Roberts) for Wells and Shoppach?
December 21, 2005 at 1:55 pm
Now that Aki is gone, can we still use this:
jigoku ni ochiro jiantsu: go to hell Giants; a refrain often heard at other Central League ballparks?
December 21, 2005 at 2:56 pm
For those interested, here is a list of our new padres - in color! with images!:
http://metalsupply.blogspot.co.....faces.html
December 21, 2005 at 5:24 pm
Roto Authority has an optimistic projection for Young:
http://www.rotoauthority.com/2.....g_pad.html
December 22, 2005 at 9:38 am
Keep in mind, when Wells is pissed off at his situation (and I don’t like this about him, but I’m perfectly willing to exploit it to our advantage) he’ll perform at a lower level. If Boston doesn’t trade him, he won’t retire, and Boston will end up having to pay his salary by cutting him, or by trading him for next to nothing. In this situation, Wells controls the Red Sox.
December 25, 2005 at 8:51 am
I’m glad you linked to Japanese Baseball.com for
Sikorski’s stats. The stats that are being quoted at MLB.com and in the media are way off.
By the way, just for a little more info, the Central League batted .231 against Sikorski last season with left/right splits of .256/.217.
December 26, 2005 at 11:29 am
Thanks, Gary, for the splits info. I like what I’m hearing about Sikorski so far. Actually, I really like the way the Padres are rebuilding their bullpen this winter. No world-beaters but a lot of cheap guys who could be useful. Like last year.