Breaking News: Royals Acquire Possible Berroa Replacement

by royalsreview on Mar 23, 2007 5:08 PM EDT in News Comment 24 comments

At least thats what 95% of the fanbase is hoping for.

-Braves Get: 2004 2nd Round Pick Erik Cordier, RHP
-Royals Get: Tony Pena, SS

Incredibly positive, mostly Brave's angle story, here. Everyone's a genius, both players are ballers, the Braves really love Pena, but they're just too damn smart to not trade him away (because he's not as good, or as veterany as Chris Woodward), etc.

No word on if Dayton Moore also inquired about Jeff Blauser, Rafael Belliard or Keith Lockhart.

Pena stats here, Cordier stats here.

Thanks to "thedude925" for the heads up, his diary-- which already has many good comments -- here.

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I've posted my displeasure

On some other diaries here on RR, but I also wondered one other thing.

Since Pena was almost certainly going to go on waivers, assuming he was not traded, wouldn't we have had the second shot at him after Tampa Bay?

I guess there's a chance that T Bay would have picked him up, but I'd bet there was a greater chance that they would have let him slide.

Or am I misunderstanding the waivers policy? Does the order change any time a team makes a claim?

by marbotty on Mar 23, 2007 5:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You got it

Except Cleveland was also interested...and could have traded for him. There may have been another team or 2 that would have given something to get him.

by doublestix on Mar 23, 2007 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting.

I don't mind parting with Cordier, even though he throws hard for a 20 year old, and threw well for Burlington last year. TJ surgery may have put him under for good...then again, Tony Pena?

He seems like Andres Blanco with slightly more power to me. At the very least, I guess it's good to have multiple mediocre options at SS that are slightly better than Berroa.

by nycroyal on Mar 23, 2007 5:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

saying someone has more power than Blanco...

is like saying Rey Sanchez was a power hitter...thats how little power Blanco has...still like him tho...I once saw Blanco fly out and was amazed...if he hits the warning track this year I'll have to shave my arse

Buy the ticket, take the ride.

by PhattStairs on Mar 24, 2007 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

according to neyer's transactions primer

I think the royals would have been 2nd i think does anyone really know Cordy looks like alot to give up

by royalsreview on Mar 23, 2007 5:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Come on English Major..

don't forget your puncuation.

by Stook on Mar 23, 2007 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'll remember that

next time.

by royalsreview on Mar 23, 2007 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Desperate times

I'll know more about this when I get a chance to get home and look at my "sources," but it appears that we didn't give up a big piece of the future.
As I was complaining about before, postponing the decision to cut Berroa loose until 3/21 put us in an unfortunate trading position. I know we'll be better immediately losing Berroa and adding anybody Jr. I just hope that Cordier doesn't make this look real bad in a couple of years.

by Sliver on Mar 23, 2007 5:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I already posted this in thedude925's diary

Baseball America stated in this year's edition that the Royals think Cordier's "upside rivals Hochevar."

Guess not all of the Royals thought that...

by marbotty on Mar 23, 2007 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Something for nothing

Well, we'll see what the club says about Cordier now, after the deal. If it's muted "we had to give up something to get a player we really like in Pena," worry. If it's contrary "We saw Cordier's ceiling as a middlie relief guy," then maybe worry a little less.
I got to scouting around for Cordier dope and saw this feel-bad link:

http://royals.scout.com/2/543925.html

by Sliver on Mar 23, 2007 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where are the old school guys?

Clearly Moore's scouts like what they saw (with their own eyes) of Pena. As with Meche, we'll eventually find out if the scouts were right.

And we didn't give up Hochevar Jr. Either. Cordier is a decent prospect with an injury problem. He's no future ace (IMHO).

For those of you complaining, what did you think we were going to get? Wood and Aybar were unrealistic pipe dreams. A slick fielding, no hitting SS is all we're going to get without giving up a hell of a lot.

by NYRoyal on Mar 23, 2007 6:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yea

I think some of the problem is that, they already had the same guy on hand in Blanco, and possibly A-Gon My thinking is that this trade might not have anything to do with Berroa at all... maybe they just really didnt like Cordy

by royalsreview on Mar 23, 2007 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm with you, but...

Of course this has to do with Berroa. Do you think that they were desperate to get rid of Cordier? They probably don't like him as a prospect, but its not like there was urgency to get rid of him.

I understand that we already have Blanco and frankly they sound like the same kind of player (A-Gon isn't that kind of player because his defensive range has deteriorated considerably). This deal means that Moore and his scouts think they see something in Pena. Not a future star or anything, but they think he has some upside potential. And of course More loves defense. He probably thinks Pena is a better defensive SS than Blanco with some offensive upside potential.

I have no idea if he's right. But I think that is what is going on.

by NYRoyal on Mar 23, 2007 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

very true

This is not the "big one" that you may think it is. There's a bigger trade brewing. This move is a stopgap to quiet the crowd so Dayton can buy more time to pull off a good deal. This move gives us depth at a position we need depth at. Gonzalez can opt out of his contract if he's not on the roster by next week. There's a bigger move coming here folks. This one was just too good to pass up.

royaldaddy-Bob Hamelin's #1 fan

by royaldaddy on Mar 23, 2007 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A slick fielding no hit SS...

Is already a 100% better than what we currently have (a not hit, no field SS).

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on Mar 23, 2007 6:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

btw

I love the fact that this has to be an unbelievable punch in the face to his daddy. After all the shit he talked on this organization after his firing, now, his son is in Royal blue. Priceless. I'd like to see the look on his face when he reads this on the ticker.

royaldaddy-Bob Hamelin's #1 fan

by royaldaddy on Mar 23, 2007 6:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs