I’ve lost track of who’s actually on the team. Not counting Ramon Hernandez, who is expected to sign with the Orioles, here’s what happened on Wednesday:
- Mark Sweeney to Giants: According to the U-T this is 2 years for $1.8M. Sweeney is a great bat off the bench but a liability on the bases and in the field. The signing of Jack Cust largely slipped under the radar, but Cust could fill Sweeney’s role next year for the Padres. The killer is seeing Sweeney go to a division rival ― the dreaded Giants no less. I wish him well in a “have a nice life” kind of way but I sure hope he stinks it up on the diamond.
- Sean Burroughs to Tampa Bay for Dewon Brazelton: Like this spring’s swap of former first-round picks Jake Gautreau and Corey Smith, but with higher profile guys. When I talk about Burroughs, I feel like Maxwell Smart: “He’ll hit like Chipper Jones… Would you believe, John Olerud… Would you believe, Bill Mueller… Would you believe, Dave Magadan… Would you believe, Trey Beamon… Would you believe, my Aunt Gertrude in Kenosha?” I know nothing about Brazelton, although presumably he has a pulse.
- Trevor Hoffman to Padres: The deal is said to be worth 2 years guaranteed for $13.5M plus an option for a third year. In terms of on-field value, the Padres probably overpaid. But Hoffman is, in the eyes of many, the franchise. Losing him would have been a huge blow in many respects. By keeping both Hoffman and Brian Giles, the Padres maintain a certain credibility among season ticket holders and corporate sponsors, which is always handy when it comes time to pay the bills.
Personally I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, I’m thrilled to know that we’ll be hearing Hells Bells at Petco Park again in 2006 and that Hoffman will continue to do good work in the community. On the other, his signing removes some salary flexibility beyond next season. If Hoffman slips even a little over the duration of the contract, this could come back to bite the Padres. But if I were a betting man, I’d bet that Hoffman will be up to the task and hold up his end of the bargain.
- Mark Loretta to Boston for Doug Mirabelli: Longtime readers of Ducksnorts know that I like to “play along” with the Padres and try to figure out what they are doing. Even if I don’t like or agree with a particular move or series of moves, I try to look at it from their perspective and understand their reasoning. That said, this trade makes no sense to me. That an All-Star second baseman doesn’t fetch anything more than an aging backup catcher defies explanation. Sure, the team saves $1.6M this year (thanks to Brian G. for the info), but still. Good thing Bengie Molina won’t cost draft picks to sign.
I’m actually quite livid about this deal, although I’m sure I’d feel much worse if I weren’t under such heavy sedation. This had better signal the beginning of the Josh Barfield era, and Barfield had better do a little more than the last son-of-a-big-leaguer to start on the infield for the Padres.
Also, Kevin Towers should block all future calls from the 617 area code.
Is it me, or does this whole winter seem like a lot of movement without much purpose? I can kind of get behind the Xavier Nady for Mike Cameron deal, but the rest of this reminds me of a little kid kicking toys around in a sandbox. And I don’t think we’re done kicking.
Related Links
- Reaction from BTF on Burroughs for Brazelton
- Reaction from San Diego Spotlight, Gaslamp Ball, and Tribe Report on Hoffman
- Reaction from Fire Brand and Bullsh*t Memorial Stadium on Loretta for Mirabelli
- From yesterday’s comments: Anthony points us to a graphical scouting report on Mirabelli, while Evan tries to cheer us up with Appreciate Doug Mirabelli!
Good morning everyone! Weird day. Glad the Pads re-signed Hoffman, but Loretta was one of my favorites.
Anyway, here’s Towers’ quotes in the Boston Globe:
”He’s a pro,” said San Diego GM Kevin Towers[about Loretta]. ”You guys will love him. He’s a good professional hitter, good with runners in scoring position. If I had Boston’s payroll, he stays.
”I didn’t want to give him up. I needed a catcher. There’s no catching out there. The catching that was out there wanted $6 or $7 million bucks.”
And on Mirabelli:
”I don’t think we should expect him to catch more than 100 games,” Towers said. ”We wanted somebody with veteran presence who’s won before, who’s caught some of the best pitchers in baseball, who can bring some of that swagger to the clubhouse, some experience for young pitchers we’re developing and help guys like Olivo.”
I was stunned by this trade; it has to go down as one of Towers’worst. Loretta played through injuries last year and had an incredible year in ’04. I find it hard to believe the team couldn’t get more in return for Loretta than a 34-year-old career back-up.
Could be a strange year, especially if every IF position player struggles at the plate, which is possible.
I think you are seeing another year somewhat dictated by the sins of the past, ie twinkletoes Klesko and Chan Ho out of the Park sucking down major salary money. Balance that against the need to resign Giles and Hoffman to try and field a competitive team and you’ve got Loretta for Mirabelli.
Don’t think we should expect him to catch more than 100 games? Holy Cow! I don’t think he should catch more than 35 or 40! I had no problem with Loretta being moved this offseason considering he was only signed through 2006, Barfield looks to be good and ready, and Lo is one of the few guys who should have brought a reasonable return, albeit not quite as much as if he were signed for a longer period. But to trade him straight up for a 35 year old backup catcher is ridiculous!
For the record, Mirabelli’s single-season high in games caught is 80 and that was 5 years ago. Here are his games caught totals in Boston:
Yr Age G
02 31 50
03 32 55
04 33 53
05 34 43
Pretty sure we could have filled that “need” via free agent.
Just a baffling trade in all respects. The Dbacks get Estrada for two crappy pitchers and the Padres give up Loretta for a career backup catcher who high in ABs for a season is 230 — which also happened to be his BA that year too.
Granted Loretta wasn’t good last year but he was the best 2B in the majors in 2004. To trade him for for a low ceiling player like Mirabelli straight up is just horrible. Towers has been great at putting together low cost bullpens but his trading over the past couple of years has been atrocious. First Vinny Castilla and now Doug Mirabelli….who’s next, Rafael Palmeiro to play first?
I sure hope Mirabelli doesn’t catch more than half a season’s worth of games. 100 games is ridiculous.
Here’s a thought:
Can we use Ryan Klesko only as the first basemen while the Padres is on the road against RHP given his dislike and struggle at Petco Park? Then, give the rest of the at-bats to Paul McAnulty?
Barfield better be in the ML level next season. A lot of pressure on the guy, probably bigger than when Greene came up.
One of the reasons that Mirabelli is a backup is that he plays behind arguably the best catcher in baseball (considering offense, defense, and “intangibles”). That said, his performance projects pretty well with more at bats, and it a nice platoon with Olivo.
But there is no reason why he would be the best thing Towers could get for Loretta. I don’t buy Hoffman salary as an issue. Loretta’s salary would be off the books whether Towers traded him now or later, so it seems more rational to me to actually wait until you’re sure you have the best deal you can get. Many teams need a second baseman, especially a recent all-star.
“If I had Boston’s payroll, he stays.”
-Kevin Towers on the Mark Loretta trade.
$1.6 million in savings is worth that trade? I guess brand new, state-of-the-art, downtown ballparks with 3 million in attendance just don’t seem to pay the bills.
And my season ticket renewal form keeps collecting dust…
What is the direction of this team (and don’t say we’ll be big free agent buyers in ’07 when Klesko and Park are off the books…I challenge you name the last free agent the Padres spent serious coin to bring here.)
Brian Giles just got a big contract.
“I challenge you name the last free agent the Padres spent serious coin to bring here.”
Jack Clark?
Gee,
How about you move Loretta to 3b, install Bush at 2nd, keep Blaw for pitching depth. I don’t need a big time free agent signing, however just some simple sound problem solving would suffice.
Djones-funny you mention that…I think this the first winter where the Padres signed a big-name player from the free agent market, and they signed TWO. Granted, they were both incumbent hometown boys, but still.
michael: I don’t buy the Mirabelli was stuck behind Varitek argument. He was a backup in SF for five years behind some pretty forgettable catchers, too. Hopefully you’re right about him being a good platoon matchup with Olivo. Haven’t really looked at splits for either of them.
DJones: I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt as to how they’ll handle the FA market going forward. I dont’ really expect them to be big players there, but I do expect them to be smart players. Considering we’re only now entering the third year, second offseason, at Petco, and the first with Alderson and Fuson on board, I think it’s fair to give them a couple of years before we judge them in this area.
Don’t get too down on Towers for this Loretta – Mirabelli deal, I’m sure Julio Franco signing with the Mets has been a big blow to him.
Nice Robert Plant/David St. Hubbins references.
Loretta for Mirabelli? With the West up for the taking again I just don’t understand this trade.
In fact I would have rather had Randa at third than Castilla too. Maybe we can free up some money if we get rid of Towers…
Thanks, Jeff. Glad you enjoyed that.