Castrovince: Russell Branyan traded to Mariners
The Indians pulled the trigger on the first of what could be several pre-Trade Deadline moves Saturday, sending Branyan back to the M's in exchange for two prospects -- Triple-A center fielder Ezequiel Carrera and High-A shortstop Juan Diaz.
Castrovince also adds that Matt LaPorta is expected to be in Cincinnati in time for tomorrow's game. (Ryan)
The official release can be found here.
almost 2 years ago
TonyH
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I don’t think so. These guys seem to be something along the lines of warm bodies unless I’m missing something.
Diaz is the higher upside guy here. Carrera is at best a 4th Outfielder but he has shown the ability to hit for decent average, but no power. The best part here is just getting Branyan off of our payroll and roster and clearing the way for a youngster to play (LaPorta)
Looks like we’re paying the salary on this one, and I have trouble thinking of MaTola as a youngster.
We’re paying? Ugh.
I have literally no idea why we’d be paying or why the Mariners are acquiring Branyan.
Apparently we can avoid paying by sending a PTBNL.
Must not be here for baseball either. Because that isn't what we're playing.
Though giving up Phelps or Kipnis is not worth saving money in my opinion; pay the remainder of Branyan’s salary, or rather, the buyout option if Branyan’s mutual option isn’t picked up (this is what was reported later – the Mariners owe the rest of Branyan’s 2010 salary; we owe the buyout if Seattle doesn’t pick up the mutual option).
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
Are you high or something?
Nobody is talking about giving up Phelps or Kipnis.
Next thing you’ll tell us we shouldn’t give up Santana for Manny.
I’m not advocating giving up either of them, but in case someone was thinking, “well, we have both Phelps and Kipnis, making one of them ‘extra,’ we can afford to give up one of them” – this would be a poor idea, just in case that thought was crossing anyone’s mind.
Certainly, I wouldn’t be for it, nor Santana for Manny either. :-)
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
Kinda seems like treading water, or at least an inefficient way to “acquire talent.” We signed Branyan knowing we had Hafner and Laporta, paid him money that could’ve gone overslot, then acquire two turds who can’t hit. Championship?
LaPorta was still injured at the beginning of the season and Hafner is a DH. Could we have called up Jordan Brown? Sure. But I don’t mind the Indians taking a $2 million gamble on a player like Branyan. Remember, no one questioned Branyan’s battle, his back was the concern. If your doctors say he’s healthy then why not sign him to a dirt cheap contract.
Taking low cost, low risk flyers on players like Branyan, Millwood,Pavano, and Kearns is one of the ways we acquire talent. If these players produce then we trade them for prospects, if not, no harm no foul.
"sometimes the internet is hard for me." - ClemsonGirl
by world dictator on Jun 27, 2010 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions
If the best part of a trade is clearing $2 million, you haven’t “fleeced” anyone. This is shuffling.
And that’s exactly what I told the SEC.
by YoDaddyWags on Jun 28, 2010 8:01 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
People keep saying this. We’ve made one trade with the Mariners since the new regime took place.
Steel Nick
Franklin Gutierrez for Valbuena and Joe Smith looks like Seattle won on this one.
still love my tribe
We acquired Valbuena as a prospect, so the standard 3.5-season waiting period applies. Check back at the All-Star break in 2012. Yes, I’m serious.
i hope you are correct, but I would bet against it. Maybe a backup if he can improve his D
still love my tribe
Perhaps they plan on trading Branyan themselves, especially if they can’t get back into the race (which seems unlikely at this point, especially since Texas took off recently – who knows the reason why Seattle decided to take back Branyan, unless they plan to keep him for 2011 and think they can contend next year – would seem like a long shot, especially since Lee likely won’t be back with them, plus perhaps a few other changes occurring for them as well).
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
Trading for him to trade him seems dubious, since any team could have just asked Cleveland for him. Making a play for draft pick compensation seems weird, too. Odds are stacked against a draft pick becoming someone like Carrera, as limited as his ceiling may be.
Steel Nick
I was thinking that could be a possibility, but I agree with Nick that it would seem awfully odd to trade for him then to trade him again, especially when Seattle WASN’T contending when they traded for him (I could see it if Seattle was still in the race and then fell out of it over the next month, but that’s not the case here).
It still seems they plan to have him for their 2011 club – whether they can truly contend next year remains to be seen, but being that Lee very likely won’t be back, that will be a very large hole to fill, not to mention any other potential holes that come about from 2010 to 2011.
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
So, Kreskin, who goes next?
--
"Most players will tell you that even when they're 100%, they're not really 100% ... if that makes sense."
You have four likely options:
Wood
Westbrook
Kearns
Peralta
Carmona is a possibility, but is more of a longshot, since it would take a very good haul in my opinion for them to give up on him and his team-friendly contract. But I think the other four are quite likely over the next 1+ month, possibly even 2 months if they can pass through the waiver wire in August (and if they’re not gone by then).
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
I would not mind us keeping Westbrook, maybe sign him to a two year extension. I really think by the end of the year he will be close to his old form
still love my tribe
by fanintexas on Jun 27, 2010 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I agree. Somewhere today—either Pluto or Hoynes—there was comment about Westbrook being the veteran in the clubhouse. I think they don’t trade him now.
Naw. I want Westbrook gone.
I have a gut feeling he won’t stay healthy.
Blake: Thanks to you, I am damaged beyond repair!!
Of the four mentioned, I think Westbrook could be the one to most likely stay, and I think there are two main reasons why this could potentially happen:
1. Westbrook seems to be the type (just a guess) who might be willing to stay in Cleveland at a reasonable salary and not a maximum or high-level contract.
2. Our rotation is in disarray – outside of Carmona and Talbot being mostly effective this season, Masterson is still a developing work in progress and is still not a lock long-term for the rotation, Laffey will need more time to get acclimated to the rotation, and like Masterson, still is not a lock for the rotation long term, and our AAA reinforcements are either injured or largely ineffective this season – Huff has been disappointing and is reminding more people of Sowers, which is not a good thing, Carrasco hasn’t dominated AAA as one would expect for someone who has considereable experience at that level, Rondon is injured and was struggling at AAA before the injury, Gomez has struggled at AAA as well, although this is his first year at the league, unlike Carrasco, and Tomlin and Pino are only really considered depth fifth starter/spot starter/reliever options at the ML level.
As a result, essentially our ML rotation and our first “wave” of arms at AAA are not ready to be locks in the ML rotation long term; this would signify that the Indians could use a steady, experienced pitcher in the rotation, and Westbrook would qualify, provided he can regain his consistent command after TJ surgery, something he has started to show signs of, but hasn’t fully gained yet.
Still, I think it will come down to what prospects a team is willing to give up for Westbrook; just like with the Branyan trade, if someone comes up with a better-than-expected offer for Westbrook, Shapiro/Antonetti might just take it, since there is no guarantee that Westbrook remains healthy and/or fully regains his command. Plus, we don’t know how much more Dolan and the Indians’ FO will restrict the budget for 2011, since 2010 isn’t drawing many people (this isn’t a surprise), but also, that 2010 still has many questions (the rotation, the bullpen, LaPorta’s still trying to get established at the ML level, etc.).
Only time will tell, but for now, he’ll remain on the foursome list – I think the chances of his getting traded are still 50/50 or even 60/40 of his getting traded – it will all depend upon what is offered and Jake’s demand.
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
Laffey will need more time to get acclimated to the rotation, and like Masterson, still is not a lock for the rotation long term
Laffey is space filler and he’s not even very good at that. He’s holding down a spot until someone from AAA can force a call-up through their performance. Or until September comes around.
"Facebook is bad news. It and Jason Donald both crush dreams." - JRontherim
by woodsmeister on Jun 30, 2010 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Honestly, the best description of Laffey’s time with the Indians is that he’s been a good space filler.
by dgcambridge on Jun 30, 2010 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Carerra was in the three-way trade (Valbuena and Joe Smith) a couple of years ago, with him going from the Mets to the Mariners. Looks like he was playing mostly center field in Tacoma. Has anyone come across a scouting report on his defense?
I was hoping the LL thread would say something about either of these guys, but nope, just a hilarious spin on that Laffey-Branyan vid from last year.
Must not be here for baseball either. Because that isn't what we're playing.
Total Zone Fielding above Avg. has his age 22 AA season (2009) as being 8 runs above. In absence of any scouting report or other information, I am thinking that he may be a decent defensive center fielder who wasn’t really going to have a shot on the Mariners since Gutz is already cemented there in their eyes. Maybe we got some value here. I think he probably beats out Crowe by being a better defender.
It’s a likely bet that just about any prospect or marginal prospect at the upper levels who can play CF is better than Crowe – this includes Carrera, Brantley, and Constanza. Weglarz wouldn’t be, but Weglarz was never intended to play CF (although he did play RF in a game about 2-3 days ago – I think Weglarz made a fielding error in that game if I remember correctly).
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
I think you are really not considering the potential of Carrera or Constanza to be totally awful at the plate.
I presume you are suggesting that Crowe hasn’t been “totally awful” at the plate, since Crowe really is the main competition for Carrera and Constanza as far as I can tell (4th to 5th OFer) – you have Choo and Sizemore for the time that they are here (no longer than 2012 for Sizemore in my opinion; whether Choo is here beyond 2013 is anyone’s guess), Brantley for enough spot (and I do see him as a starter, NOT as a 4th OFer at this point), and eventually Weglarz (likely for LF, possibly RF).
You have Henry as well, though I’m thinking he’s still part of the “next wave” after Weglarz, though with the Indians’ aggressive promotions, there probably wouldn’t be that much time between a Weglarz making it to the MLs and a Henry (provided both continue on their projected success paths, of course, and that’s not a given for any prospect)
That still leaves one spot in the OF long term, plus additional guys who fill in from the bench, which leaves one to two more spots. Even if Constanza and/or Carrera aren’t strong with the bat, if their defensive skills are strong, and from what I’ve heard, both are, then that would fit perfectly in that role – they wouldn’t need to be strong with the bat.
I’m not sure many think Crowe is better than marginally acceptable or awful, and his OF defense has been for the most part “totally awful,” so if you flip the “totally awful” to the offense and much better than marginally acceptable or awful to the defense, Carrera or Constanza could likely still displace Crowe, especially since Carrera is younger than Crowe and I believe Constanza is within months of Crowe’s age, making them essentially the same age.
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
The end of the Casey Kotchman Era in Seattle.
/portentous music as camera pulls back from gloomy castle on hill
Shapiro is just setting it up so Antonetti can re-acquire Branyan next year for his 5th go round with the Tribe..
by SpringTrainingFun on Jun 27, 2010 8:39 AM EDT reply actions
This is what Sickles had to say about Carrera
12) Ezequiel Carrera, OF, Grade C+: Speed demon, hits for average, draws walks, good glove, no power, future reserve outfielder but a useful one.
Diaz didn’t make Seattle’s top 20 prospects.
"sometimes the internet is hard for me." - ClemsonGirl
Baseball America also has Carrera listed as fastest base runner and best strike zone discipline within the Mariner’s system
"sometimes the internet is hard for me." - ClemsonGirl
by world dictator on Jun 27, 2010 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions
2010 15th best prospect. 2008 best defensive outfielder in the Florida State League. From Venezuela.
He also won the Double-A Southern League batting title in 2009 with a line of .337/.441/.416. I wonder if the Indians scouts see something that they like about Carrera that the not in depth scouting reports don’t see. At the very least his floor looks like he’s a 4th OF which, all things considered, is a pretty high floor for a AAA player.
"sometimes the internet is hard for me." - ClemsonGirl
by world dictator on Jun 27, 2010 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions
You’re all missing the point.
We now have a guy named Ezequiel in our system!
Blake: Thanks to you, I am damaged beyond repair!!
To add to Asdrubal, Jhonny, Giovanny (Urshela – who’s at Mahoning Valley, I believe), and many others – we are certainly in the hunt for most distinctive names in a farm system. :-)
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
Good point, though I was thinking of guys who project to have good potential, or in Jhonny’s case, showed something at the ML level (though, admittedly, that was years in the past) – that’s probably why Yohan Pino slipped my mind, but good catch.
I agree, though, Pino is falling off after his hot start – he actually could have made a case to get some starts if he had kept up his hot start or close to it, but his falling off is likely closing that door.
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
All together odd. The middling return, the fact that Seattle wanted him? I suppose Seattle trades him in 3 weeks unless they go 17-4 or something?
Is this simply: Carrerra is a better defensive outfielder than Crowe and we don’t have any other great candidates for the 4th outfielder position. Maybe Diaz turns into a guy who can pick it?
Here is the quote Geoff Baker got from Jack Z:
“If you look at our team, as we move forward, just about every player who is here now will be here again next year,” he said. “We’re committed to the development of our players and that goal, that objective, has never changed for us. But part of that development process is also winning games. We want our players to be able to experience winning games this year. And we’re trying to do what we can to give them what they need to get there.”
It sounds like they intend on keeping Branyan for 2011 (which means that they’ll pick up the mutual option, and they’ll be no buyout, which sounds like the Indians won’t be on the hook for it, nor will they have to give up a PTBNL, if I understood the terms correctly) and that Seattle is planning to contend in 2011.
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
My guess is they’ll have to pay the amount of the buyout no matter whether it goes to the buyout or to the option year.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Jun 28, 2010 6:25 AM EDT up reply actions
So they just wanted to add a stick to their current lineup this year to give guys a good feeling about next year? Interesting.
by JulioBernazard on Jun 28, 2010 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions
That, plus their GM’s commitment to fielding a strong defensive team.
'If I'm not here, 'I'll be somewhere else.'' Andy Marte
I was reading through the LL thread. They seem convinced that Branyan is a perfectly capable 1B. I don’t think they are right about that one.
If we got two players for Branyan, I wouldn’t expect either of them to be more than mildly interesting. We could get lucky.
Steel Nick
This is a typical Shapiro mid-level trade. One mediocre guy in the upper minors, another guy with more ceiling in the low minors. Why is everyone so confused?
Probably the more confusing part on our end is, “why would Seattle do this?” It’s almost like the flabbergasted, “why did they do this” trade? I think most here felt that we would trade Branyan, but I doubt many, if any, seen that Seattle would be our trading partner, since they are essentially in the same boat as we are (i.e. not contending and vying for one of the worst records in baseball).
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=6330061
Must not be here for baseball either. Because that isn't what we're playing.
Well, someone at LL loves Carrerra and here's what he says about him
In theory, giving up two minor-league guys without high ceilings for a needed upgrade is a good move. But of all the OFs we could have traded, I wanted to trade Carrera least. He has an above-average eye, excellent defense at a premium position, and wreaks havoc on the basepaths. In my mind, he can be someone who posts gaudy defensive numbers while hitting enough to be a solid asset.
…
I believe the Mariners just gave up their biggest hidden asset. True, Carrera’s got no power but he makes solid contact, walks at a good clip, and plays stellar defense combined with plus plus baserunning. As a 22 year old last year in AA, he posted a .402 wOBA. In my opinion, his floor is a reserve outfielder, his likely projection a tick below-average starter
…
As you can see, I’m a little bit obsessed with Ezequiel Carrera
Must not be here for baseball either. Because that isn't what we're playing.
That description doesn’t sound like Gutierrez to me
In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).
by V-Mart Shopper on Jun 27, 2010 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions
First, I’m not agreeing with him, I’m just saying that’s what he’s saying.
Second, I admit they’re not similar hitters. My point was just that they’re both flawed hitters with sterling defense — again, by his description, not mine.
At age 22, Gutierrez posted a very uninspired line in Double-A, .261 / .322 / .423. And he was repeating that level.
At age 22, Carrera was markedly better than that at the plate: .337 / .441 / .416. And he was a very young 22.
Granted, the difference is mostly batting average, but the walk rate is also way better, and bottom line, which of those lines looks more like a future major leaguer to you?
He’s struggled this year, but he’s in Triple-A having just turned 23 two weeks ago, and we’re talking about ten weeks of baseball here. I think his career line tells the real story. He will never have Gootz’s raw power, but he should develop a little more in the next few years, and he should be able to hit at least .250 in the majors if not .270. We certainly had no guarantees about that with Gutierrez (or Escobar or Snyder or …).
Sounds more like Nyjer Morgan. That is to say, not too bad.
by ken from alexandria on Jun 27, 2010 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions
My mind was thinking the same thing based upon his description.
While Gutierrez had a more promising bat, it never really manifested itself until he got to Seattle (though that could be due to Seattle giving him more playing time). I can see some similarities – if Carrera does turn out to be a useful piece, the loss of Gutierrez in that trade could be less painful, not that it was that painful to begin with (Gutierrez was not likely to get regular playing time here so that his bat could emerge anyway, not with Sizemore patrolling CF).
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
115 SB to 52 CS on his career in the minors doesn’t translate as an asset on the basepaths to me.
Come on, four billion!
Don’t be so sure. The quality of catcher defense in the upper minors is more or less just as good as in the majors and sometimes better. An impact base-stealer, no, but a guy who can swipe a few like Choo, why not.
Also, it’s my understanding that in the minors teams like their speedsters to develop their base stealing skills and send them far more often than they would in the majors. Learning selectivity comes later—after all, how many rookies have a true green light? So CS% is a pretty poor predictor of future CS%.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Jun 27, 2010 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Sure, but I’m at work so my time for research is limited.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Jun 27, 2010 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions
That description doesn’t sound like Gutierrez to me.
In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).
by V-Mart Shopper on Jun 27, 2010 12:44 PM EDT reply actions
reply fail.
In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).
by V-Mart Shopper on Jun 27, 2010 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, Gutz didn’t have good plate discipline.
"sometimes the internet is hard for me." - ClemsonGirl
by world dictator on Jun 27, 2010 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s the one difference in Carrera’s favor (versus Gutierrez having plus potential with the bat, especially power-wise, at one time, whereas Carrera never seemed to have a plus bat in terms of power).
But you’re certainly correct, Gutierrez’s plate discipline was always a concern, something that the Indians constantly worked with him, especially at AA Akron, where they even modified his swing and approach in an attempt to improve that plate discipline.
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
















