The Elusive Right Handed Bat

by Gradyforpresident on Oct 28, 2007 1:50 PM EDT Comment 17 comments

Well, since there's going to be a ton of discussion about this, I thought I might start something here about potential bats to target.

A few guidelines:

Be realistic.
Platoons are always an option.
Think about how we match up (trade wise) with other teams needs.
Playing multiple positions (flexibility!) is a bonus.
Plate discipline is preferred, though our organization is good at helping youth with their approaches.
Left handed bats are OK, but RH is preferable ... I guess.

A few (just to get the ball rolling):
Atkins, Garret, Colorado, 3B
Johnson, Kelly, Atlanta, 2B (LH)
Guillen, Jose, Seattle (Bavisi!)
Ethier, Andre, LAD (LH; they hate youth!)
Kemp, Matt, LAD (lefty masher, needs work on PD)

Have at it.

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The Dodgers would....

.... be an ideal trading partner because of their cadre of prospects and the PR whacking they've been taking from Kent et al via. the establishment moron Bill Plashcke of the LA Times.

C.C Sabathia and (someone with some pop) for Kershaw, LaRoche and Kemp.

Unfortunately, I think the Dodgers are looking to land a power bat.

by crazymoloh on Oct 28, 2007 2:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: The Dodgers would....

Swoon ...

Sizemore-Shapiro 2008. The Official Red Bull of Let's Go Tribe Game Threads.

by Gradyforpresident on Oct 28, 2007 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The Elusive Right Handed Bat

Jose Guillen might be fine if he's not a clubhouse distraction. But with Washington in '06, he struggled. Also, Seattle has an option on him. If they pick it up, I'd rather not trade for him, because I wouldn't want to give up anybody for a risk like that.

How about Moises Alou? He's getting old, but he can still hit- at least he did this year.

I like Atkins. I also like Miguel Cabrera-he'd instantly be our best hitter- but the question is, who would the other team accept in a trade? According to Sports Weekly, the Rockies would want an immediate big league impact player plus prospects for Atkins. So...they'll need a second baseman if Kaz Matsui doesn't resign. We could trade Barfield, but I wouldn't consider him synonymous with "impact player." Sabathia is off limits, according to Shapiro. We could pick up Byrd's option and trade him, but that only opens another hole. I don't want to trade Perez or Lewis. And at this point, I doubt the Rockies consider Cliff Lee, Jeremy Sowers, or even Aaron Laffey "an immediate impact player."

The Marlins? They need a center fielder and starting pitchers. OK... I know it's almost heresy, but for Miguel Cabrera, I'd consider trading Franklin Gutierrez. How about Gutierrez, Lee(we'll take on most of his salary), Marte, and David Huff? You could add Brad Snyder or even Trevor Crowe, or substitute Lofgren for Huff if the Marlins want more. We'd then have Cabrera at third, Blake in right, Michaels/Delucci in left, resign Gomez as utility infielder, and have Francisco and Barfield compete for the final spot in spring training.

(Yeah, it's probably fantasy. Anyway-just my thoughts).

by Matt Y. on Oct 28, 2007 3:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: The Elusive Right Handed Bat

Cabrera is Pujols Lite (and has an attitude, btw). No way would the Marlins do that deal. He's their franchise player.

Don't get me wrong, I wish they would. But it's not realistic.

by Voltaire on Oct 28, 2007 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The Elusive Right Handed Bat

Yeah I'd trade Franky for M.Cabrera in a heartbeat. But I don't see them doing it. They've been dangling D. Willis out there every year and asking the moon for him (when he isn't that good anymore).

But going back to the Atkins thing....Laffey might not be that far fetched of an idea. It seems to me that Colorado has made an effort to aquire/develop GB starting pitchers, that put up low FB rates and thereby decrease #HRs allowed in that park. Laffey would fit the bill (as would Westbrook, but I don't see us being that desperate of a situation at third).

by hans on Oct 28, 2007 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The Elusive Right Handed Bat

Miguel Cabrera's most similar player by age is Hank Aaron.

I've been trying to be polite with all these trade proposals. But it's hard.

by Voltaire on Oct 28, 2007 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The Elusive Right Handed Bat

yeah, its always fun to dream.

by hans on Oct 28, 2007 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The Elusive Right Handed Bat

As I recall, Aaron didn't eat Cheetos non stop during each offseason.

(I kid, really, Miggy is good but oy! the weight that kid has put on)

by emd2k3 on Oct 30, 2007 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The Elusive Right Handed Bat

Trying to take the Mo Vaughn career route, I guess.

by Voltaire on Oct 30, 2007 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The Elusive Right Handed Bat

Another thought-I'd like someone who hits breaking stuff and offspeed pitches as well as or better than fastballs. Scouting reports said that Blake is our only regular who fits that category. I'm tired of seeing guys like Mike Mussina baffle our hitters with slow curveballs.

Do any hitters mentioned in this thread, or others like Carl Crawford, Chris Duncan, or Jason Bay, qualify?

by Matt Y. on Oct 28, 2007 4:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: The Elusive Right Handed Bat

rumor has it that Billy Beane is open to the possibility of trading Dan Haren...

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/oakland_athletics/index.html

there may be no truth to this, but...

I don't think a C.C./Kemp and prospects trade is entirely farfetched. Ned Coletti, to me at least, seems the kind of General Manager more interesed in bringing in big names than addressing actual needs. The Dodgers certainly need a power bat in the lineup. That they'd even consider trading Kemp supports this view.

That said, if we could get Kemp and a pair of prospects the Athletics like (and I think every team can find a player or two they like in Dodgers' system), in exchange for C.C., and then flip the prospects, and maybe Gutz, to Oakland for Haren (who is under contract for the next two years), we've improved the team without really mortgaging the future.

Of course, this is an overly idealistic proposal, but hey, why not throw it out there?

by aclockworkowens on Oct 28, 2007 4:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs