To keep myself sorted out this winter, and to counter the doldrums induced by the immense lack of baseball playing, I've started an (ir)regular feature covering the off season trades, signings, and whatever else puts new players in new uniforms. I may still have no idea who plays for what team come spring, but at least this time I've tried.
Carlos Silva to the Mariners
Seattle needs some starting pitching help, and although Silva isn't great (though the M's think he's great enough to lock him up for four years) he should be able to positively contribute to the rotation. He's capable of producing good seasons (see 2005) but equaly as capable of producing blah seasons (see 2006). He gives up a lot of hits and doesn't strike out many, but whatever. The Mariners somehow finished with a decent 88-74 record despite having the fifth-worst team ERA in the league. Imagine how well they could compete with a real staff.
Geoff Jenkins to the Phillies
It's been pointed out that Jenkins only batted .215 against left-handed pitching last season, and that may prevent him from being the every-day right-fielder. Last year's regular right-fielder, Shane Victorino (a name straight out of a Rob Schnieder SNL skit) will likely move to center to fill in the gap left by Aaron Rowand, who's now a Giant. That leaves Jenkins and Jayson Werth (who batted .375 aginst lefties last season) to share right-field. As far as I can tell, every member of the 2008 Phillies is going to hit 25 home runs and bat .260 (except for Ryan Howard, who will hit 50 home runs, and Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins, who will both bat over .300).
Ron Mahay to the Royals
The Royals, whether you want to admit it or not, have a good-looking bullpen. Mahay was exceptionally good in 2007 with his 2.55 ERA and his 55 strikeouts in 67 innings. As long as the starters (and the defense behind them) can limit those early runs, and as long as there's some run support in there somewhere, the Royals should finish above last in 2008.
Kip Wells to the Rockies
Wells has led the league in losses twice and struggles to keep his ERA under 5.00, having not done so since 2004. Although he'll get more run support in Colorado (and consequently less losses), Coors Field isn't going to play nice with the rest of his numbers. I'm not sure why the Rockies (or anybody else, for that matter) would want to sign him as he's quickly filling in the mediocre void left by Jose Lima.
Cliff Floyd to the Rays
Two things that surprise me about Cliff Floyd: 1) He still plays baseball, and 2) he's only 35 years-old. I thought for sure he was 40 and retired. Anyway, he doesn't quite replace the holes left by Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes, not all by himself, but he'll be a decent offensive contributor.
Hiroki Kuroda to the Dodgers
There's not near as much hype as Daisuke Matsuzaka (or Hideo Nomo, if you want to keep the comparisons strictly in LA) generated, but apparently Kuroda's pretty good. He doesn't walk a lot of batters and has a ton of pitching experience in Japan. With Brad Penny, Derek Lowe, a healthy Jason Schmidt (whenever that might happen), and now Kuroda, the Dodgers have an excellent starting rotation.
Jim Edmonds to the Padres for David Freese
I'll miss Edmonds, but at the same time I won't. He's had some great Cardinal seasons, but he's aged and brittle now and his best years are behind him. As far as his new team, the Padres regular center-fielder, Mike Cameron, is looking elsewhere (rumor has it he's talkin' with the Phillies, which would leave the Philadelphia outfield in a little bit of a jumbled mess [at least after he returns from his 25-game PED suspension]), and his absence would leave the door open for Edmonds to field that gigantic outfield. I don't know if he's still capable of playing the Petco center-field as everytime he makes a diving effort I fear he'll give himself a concussion. His bat has seriously deteriorated as well and between his weakened bat and his weakened fielding ability I don't know if he'll be able to survive 2008.
If it seems odd to trade a veteran for an A-ball player, the Cardinals have also offered to pay part of Edmonds' contract. But Freese is somebody to look out for. He's already proven himself on the lowest rungs of professional ball and will hopefully advance easily through the Cardinals system. He does strike out a lot, but so does Edmonds. Look for Freese to emerge as a third base candidate for the Cards in a couple years.
Stick around if you can stand it for a Part Three to come.
Carlos Silva to the MarinersSeattle needs some starting pitching help, and although Silva isn't great (though the M's think he's great enough to lock him up for four years) he should be able to positively contribute to the rotation. He's capable of producing good seasons (see 2005) but equaly as capable of producing blah seasons (see 2006). He gives up a lot of hits and doesn't strike out many, but whatever. The Mariners somehow finished with a decent 88-74 record despite having the fifth-worst team ERA in the league. Imagine how well they could compete with a real staff.
Geoff Jenkins to the Phillies
It's been pointed out that Jenkins only batted .215 against left-handed pitching last season, and that may prevent him from being the every-day right-fielder. Last year's regular right-fielder, Shane Victorino (a name straight out of a Rob Schnieder SNL skit) will likely move to center to fill in the gap left by Aaron Rowand, who's now a Giant. That leaves Jenkins and Jayson Werth (who batted .375 aginst lefties last season) to share right-field. As far as I can tell, every member of the 2008 Phillies is going to hit 25 home runs and bat .260 (except for Ryan Howard, who will hit 50 home runs, and Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins, who will both bat over .300).
Ron Mahay to the Royals
The Royals, whether you want to admit it or not, have a good-looking bullpen. Mahay was exceptionally good in 2007 with his 2.55 ERA and his 55 strikeouts in 67 innings. As long as the starters (and the defense behind them) can limit those early runs, and as long as there's some run support in there somewhere, the Royals should finish above last in 2008.
Kip Wells to the Rockies
Wells has led the league in losses twice and struggles to keep his ERA under 5.00, having not done so since 2004. Although he'll get more run support in Colorado (and consequently less losses), Coors Field isn't going to play nice with the rest of his numbers. I'm not sure why the Rockies (or anybody else, for that matter) would want to sign him as he's quickly filling in the mediocre void left by Jose Lima.
Cliff Floyd to the Rays
Two things that surprise me about Cliff Floyd: 1) He still plays baseball, and 2) he's only 35 years-old. I thought for sure he was 40 and retired. Anyway, he doesn't quite replace the holes left by Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes, not all by himself, but he'll be a decent offensive contributor.
Hiroki Kuroda to the Dodgers
There's not near as much hype as Daisuke Matsuzaka (or Hideo Nomo, if you want to keep the comparisons strictly in LA) generated, but apparently Kuroda's pretty good. He doesn't walk a lot of batters and has a ton of pitching experience in Japan. With Brad Penny, Derek Lowe, a healthy Jason Schmidt (whenever that might happen), and now Kuroda, the Dodgers have an excellent starting rotation.
Jim Edmonds to the Padres for David Freese
I'll miss Edmonds, but at the same time I won't. He's had some great Cardinal seasons, but he's aged and brittle now and his best years are behind him. As far as his new team, the Padres regular center-fielder, Mike Cameron, is looking elsewhere (rumor has it he's talkin' with the Phillies, which would leave the Philadelphia outfield in a little bit of a jumbled mess [at least after he returns from his 25-game PED suspension]), and his absence would leave the door open for Edmonds to field that gigantic outfield. I don't know if he's still capable of playing the Petco center-field as everytime he makes a diving effort I fear he'll give himself a concussion. His bat has seriously deteriorated as well and between his weakened bat and his weakened fielding ability I don't know if he'll be able to survive 2008.
If it seems odd to trade a veteran for an A-ball player, the Cardinals have also offered to pay part of Edmonds' contract. But Freese is somebody to look out for. He's already proven himself on the lowest rungs of professional ball and will hopefully advance easily through the Cardinals system. He does strike out a lot, but so does Edmonds. Look for Freese to emerge as a third base candidate for the Cards in a couple years.
Stick around if you can stand it for a Part Three to come.
