The Padres have traded outfielder Ben Johnson and right-handed reliever Jon Adkins for two bullpen arms, lefty Royce Ring and righty Heath Bell. Although not as interesting as, say, Don’t Fear the Reaper performed on ukelele, this is one of those minor deals that could help both clubs.
With the apparent departure of Dave Roberts, there had been some talk of Johnson taking over as the everyday left fielder in San Diego next year. But Johnson — despite my enthusiasm for him many moons ago — really is more of a fourth outfielder, and Terrmel Sledge, Paul McAnulty, and others are already available to take on that role.
Seems to me this just sharpens the focus on acquiring a big bat to play left field. Whether that would be one of the many free agents (Moises Alou, Barry Bonds [shudder], Frank Catalanotto, David Dellucci, Cliff Floyd, Luis Gonzalez, Carlos Lee, Alfonso Soriano, Shannon Stewart) or possibly making some kind of trade (Pat Burrell? Adam Dunn?) is anyone’s guess.
Adkins and Bell look like fairly interchangeable parts to me. Both are 29 years old, both have ERAs over 4.50. Adkins has more experience, Bell has better control. Bell is from Oceanside, which seems to work in a guy’s favor these days. Bell also has a much stronger minor-league record, although some of that could be due to the fact that he’s worked almost exclusively in relief, while Adkins spent much of his career as a starter.
| IP | ERA | H/9 | HR/9 | BB/9 | SO/9 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adkins | 733.2 | 4.53 | 10.00 | 0.79 | 2.71 | 6.19 |
| Bell | 569.2 | 3.34 | 8.19 | 0.79 | 2.42 | 10.23 |
| Stats courtesy of the Baseball Cube. | ||||||
Gotta like those strikeouts.
As for Ring, he’s another local product. Born in La Mesa, Ring was selected 18th overall in the 2002 draft by the Chicago White Sox. A year later, he was dealt to the Mets as part of a package for ex-Padre Roberto Alomar. Although he doesn’t have much of a big-league track record, Ring’s minor-league numbers aren’t too shabby. The ERA is nice, but I’d like to see the walks a little lower and the strikeouts a little higher.
Will this deal help the Padres? I don’t know, but as reader Richard notes in the comments, it is pretty cool to acquire a guy named Ring and a guy named Bell in the same trade.
I wonder if either of them can play the ukelele…
#200 – how much $ would it take for YOU to go to jail for me and have your name absolutely trashed for the rest of your life?
Do you make $18 million a year?
I don’t know what my number would be PF4L but being paid to have my name trashed sounds better then not getting paid to have my name trashed.
re: 200
KRS1…I suggest you check my background before you assume knowledge of my intentions.
Mr. Bonds makes statements as though he has faced great challenges due to the circumstances under which he was raised and he exhibits behavior based on his “credibility” in that area. But his childhood is far from the typical experience for a person of color in his generation. For him to act otherwise is insulting to those who actually overcame the barriers that were moved out of his way because of where he grew up and who his father was. That is the relevance of the neighborhood he grew up in. I
You reacted to one adjective in my post. Strongly, I might add. I don’t feel I deserved it. You are assuming an awful lot there…
200: I would need about $7M.
LOL @ Richard -
Yes, tongue in cheek – showing dislike for “Uncle Teddy”
Wolf or Eaton, hopefully not Padilla…don’t really think that guy has his head on straight. I do think we’ll end up with one of those first two rather than someone like Zito.
204.
Things often appear to be a certain way from the outside but when it really comes down to it you know nothing about his personal life or the way he grew up. Yeah it’s easy to say he was a rich kid and everything must have been perfect but how do you really know. Everyone has problems reguardless of their social class or the neighborhood they grew up in.
I would rather not see Bonds in SD, but a one-year deal wouldn’t be the end of the world. He’s going to play for someone next year, so it may as well be the Pads. It would make the year very interesting, if nothing else. And if Leitner and his Hummer have to go, all the better. Still, the chances of Bonds coming to SD are very slim. I’d say about they’re about the same as Zito signing with the Padres.
So, so far this offseason the Pads have got a 3B with a good bat, so-so power and below average defense, and they have strengthened the bullpen marginally. They traded away BJohnson and their starting 2B, both guys other clubs were happy to get their hands on.
How would we like the $30 mil. to be spent?
Me: Alou, Schmidt and Meche, maybe pick up Counsell. All short deals (2-yrs. or less), with Meche maybe getting 3 yrs. Gives us Branyan, Sledge, and Alou as LF options, two starters and an ace in the 4th spot if Schmidt stays healthy, and back up at 2B for Walker. And it doesn’t tie the Pads hands long-term or to go after someone at the All-Star break.
re:208. Very true. I’m reacting to second hand knowledge, and that is always dangerous. I could be way off base.
My gut reaction to either Wolf or the return of Adam Eaton is pretty positive. It would be interesting to see if Adam’s experience of being traded away mad an impact on his psyche as regards to listening to coaching. Certainly you would think that either of them would just love having Petco as their home park.
Also…if Adam returns as a free agent, that makes the trade with Texas last winter possibly the most lopsided deal in franchise history.
I can’t imagine that Schmidt will sign less than a 4 yr deal, maybe, in this market, even five.
I don’t think anyone gets Jason Schmidt on a two year deal without it being a large difference in the yearly salary. Very large.
Enough people need pitching, he can get a longer deal…
I like the idea of Alou. I think he could be a great fit, depending on who else we get…
Re 211-12:
You are right about the value of starting pitching, but it sounds like Schmidt only wants to play on the West Coast, preferably Seattle (or SF). The Angels seem to have other plans for their money (Zito, a bat), SF may let him walk if he wants a multi-year deal (he isn’t going to bring them the Series with their current team) , and I haven’t heard anything on the Dodgers wanting to pick him up. That leaves Seattle, and they have some big contracts already and a long-term deal on a pitcher with health issues doesn’t seem like the move that will bring them the division title.
So two years (maybe an option with a buyout) at 10 mil. might entice Schmidt to sign with the reigning division champs. SD is a nice place to play and live during the season, Petco is a pitcher’s park, and the Pads have a much better chance of winning next year than the Mariners — and Schmidt is not getting any younger. May be his last chance to get a ring. Then again, I’m kind of talking out of my a**, so he could sign a 5 yr. deal with the Mets.
If the Pads even have to go three years, no way we will sign him.
Re: Schmidt (From SI.com)
OK throw LA in the mix, too.
“It looks like the Mariners will have serious company in their pursuit of top right-handed free-agent Jason Schmidt. The Dodgers are expected to join in the hunt, and the Yankees are another possibility.
Schmidt’s handlers have been fighting an uphill battle to dispel the notion that he very much wants to remain on the West Coast. The Mets aren’t convinced and are focusing elsewhere (Barry Zito), while the Yankees, said by one official to “love” Schmidt, also are skeptical as to whether Schmidt would move 2,500 miles. This perception could end up costing Schmidt and making him the one true bargain among front-line starters in a free-agent market that’s been described as “white hot” by excited agents.”
Interesting discussion of free agents and “market price.”
210 – concerning Eaton returning and how that Texas trade looks – I totally agree, but we would have to factor in the higher cost for Eaton on the return swing, but still it nets out to basically:
Akinori Ostuka +
(1 year w/o Eaton) +
several million dollars
-for-
Adrian Gonzalez
Chris Young
Adam Eaton
I’d do that 7 days a week and twice on sunday.
From mlbtraderumors.com, this article is claiming that Alou is about to sign with the Mets on a 1 year/$8 million deal:
http://www.listin.com.do/cuerpos/deporte/dep8.htm
If true that’s another LF option off the market. Our options seem to be:
Lee (too risky)
Soriano (too expensive)
Burrell
Dunn
Drew (Boston bound)
Bonds (ugh)
Burrell and Dunn would be ok if we don’t have to give up the farm. Who else is available?
Trot Nixon? David Dellucci? Peavy and Linebrink to ATL for Giles and Jones?
My choice for LF for next season is Burrell – let’s face it, with the 40 year old Alou signing for 8 million, 13 million for Burrell is a bargain. The market is just way out of wack right now. If we could get him for a spare part – say, Mcanulty or Mike Thompson – I would do it in a minute. His numbers last season, which was widely viewed as a disappointment : 29HR/ 95RBI 98BB .258/.388/.502, with an OPS of 124 – his OPS was 24%better than the league. And the Phils want to give him away. I say we take Burrell, even if it costs us Linebrink, then go after Zito with Meche or Eaton as the fallback. (I know, Eaton…ugh). I don’t trust Meche or Padilla, and I really doubt Estes will ever be a decent major league pitcher ever again. The history of junkballers who have had TJ surgery coming back and being successful is pretty meager. This is my ideal lineup right now:
C:Bard (But, boy, that Piazza option looks better every day, doesn’t it? I just hope he doesn’t end up on a division rival)
1B:Gonz
2b:Durham (but I’d be fine with Loretta or Counsell if we get Burrell)
ss:Greene
3B:Kouzmanoff/Branyan
LF:Burrell
CF”Cameron
RF:Giles
SP:Peavy, Young, Hensley, Zito, Thompson
1B:
Re: 217 wow the mets over paid
I forgot Manny Ramirez in my list.
I agree on Burrell. I don’t understand why Philly is so down on him but then again Philly fans are not the most rational people sometimes.
Good point on the Piazza option, I bet he’ll sign for more than that with some other team. Word is Oakland is after him as a DH. I’d be really surprised to see him back.
No one seems to want Bonds but Bud Black had good things to say about him recently. If we sign him, foam rubber syringes could replace the inflatable shillelagh as next year’s hottest gimmick.