Realistic Trade Ideas for Outfield

by RoyalsRetro on Sep 23, 2007 5:12 PM EDT

Yesterday I looked at pitching, but obviously we need to upgrade hitting too. Some would like us to go after some of the high priced talent available, like Torii Hunter, Mike Cameron, Aaron Rowand or even Andruw Jones. I think there is a possibility that Dayton takes that route, but I still think its a long shot.

With that in mind, who are some young outfielders that can provide power and might be available?

Coco Crisp - he's just 27, and the Red Sox will definitely want to dump his contract (signed for the next two years plus an option). He's hit as many as 16 homers in a season in the past, sluggin .465. Still, I don't think he provides quite the power we need and seems to have a very similar skillset to DeJesus and Teahen.
Rocco Baldelli - just 25, slugged .533 last year, is a good defender which Dayton likes. Still he makes Mike Sweeney seem like a healthy guy and his contract gets expensive in 2009. Would be a risk.
Jonny Gomes - I've seen him mentioned by other posters and I like this kid a lot, he has good power, but why would the D-Rays trade him? If they were looking to, I would definitely inquire
Franklin Gutierrez - we tried to get him at the trade deadline for Dotel, so it may take a bit to get him. His power has declined in the minors the past few years, but he has really hit well in the majors this season
Shin Soo Choo - had some injury problems this year, but has slugged .460 in the minors with good walk totals
Jason Cooper - another from the Indians in their crowded OF situation. He hit 25 homers in the minors in 2005, struggled last year, but bounced back to slug .472 in AAA this year. He's 26.
Marcus Thames - not really that young, he's 30, but still has three years before free agency. He hit 26 home runs last year and slugged .476 this year. With Cameron Maybin being rushed up, he may be squeezed out of the picture in Detroit
Nelson Cruz - a poor man's Wily Mo Pena. This guys swings out of his shoes every time up. He hit 27 homers two years ago between AA and AAA, and hit 15 homers in just 162 at bats in AAA this year. He's struggled a bit in the majors and strikes out a ton.
Jason Botts - not sure why he hasn't gotten more of a shot, he's 26 and has slugged over .500 his last four minor league seasons, although no major league success yet
John Ford-Griffin - once a hot prospect, he's no longer considered such, but he 30 homers in AAA in 2005, and hit 26 this year. AAAA player or deserving of a shot?
Cody Ross - has kind of bounced around but is just 26 and has 26 homers in 467 MLB at bats. Slugged .682 this year.
Matt Murton - his power seems to be disappearing as we speak, and the Cubs really seem to be giving up on him. His average is pretty good though and he could re-discover his power stroke.
Gabe Gross - they may not part with him but he has slugged .476 and .452 the past two seasons in a reserve role. May take over LF next year for the Brewers
Chris Duncan - I have a hard time believing the Cards would trade a coach's son, but Duncan could be trade bait. He his 21 homers this year, although he plays awful defense.
Carlos Quentin - seems to be a favorite on here and I am no exception. He has never slugged lower than .487 in the minors. He's struggled in the majors and should become available this winter for the right price.
Brad Hawpe / Ryan Spilborghs / Jeff Baker - only one of these three will start, one will probably be the top bench hitter, and one could become trade bait. Hawpe is the oldest (28) and most proven, hitting 47 homers the last two years combined with good walk totals. Spilborghs (27) got his first full season this year and slugged .498 in limited action. Baker (26) is actually a 3B who moved to the OF and has slugged over .500 the last three seasons in the minors before struggling his first MLB season.
Delwyn Young - not sure what LA's plans for him are with Kemp, Ethier and Pierre set to roam the outfield. He could take over at 2B if Kent is let go. Young has showed 20 home run power in the minors with slugging over .500 most years.

Thoughts? Any additions?

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Comments

Good list

The one's I keep bringing up are Murton, Quentin, Guitierez, or any of the Rockies guys. All will take a lot to obtain Gator/DDJ, Buckner/Nunez, Gobble perhaps. Quentin and Murton seem to have fallen out of favor with their respective organizations, so they might be easier to obtain. I hope Huber gets a shot if no one can be obtained, maybe platoon him with Gator. I think both Butler and Gordon will take huge leaps forward next year in the power department. If Shealy and Teahen return to form, we might not be in bad shape and could take on that platoon.

by lordbyronk on Sep 20, 2007 12:58 PM EDT reply actions

There's still Wladimir

... and Aaron Guiel

by Moose Tacos on Sep 20, 2007 2:11 PM EDT reply actions

Sweet! Where

Do we sign?

Being a fan is irrational, but what is the alternative?

by philofthenorth on Sep 20, 2007 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't know why they would

go get somebody else's minor leaguer when they have a couple that have done pretty good in AAA then get to the majors and ride the bench. Maybe they just have no faith in Baird's players and only want to use Moore's people. I am speaking of Huber and Brazell. I know they are not true outfielders but they could at least let Huber run around in left for a game or two.

by TXroyal on Sep 20, 2007 3:01 PM EDT reply actions

Brazell is

a Moore guy, I think. Minor league FA signed this winter.

by Skirra on Sep 23, 2007 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Joel Guzman of the D-Rays

Chris Shelton of the Tigers, or maybe even Kendry Morales of the Angels. I have no idea if the Angels are ready to give up on Morales, but everything I've read on him says that he has tons of potential, but he just hasn't put it all together in the states. That's a good list you've put together. I'd love to take Murton, Quentin, or Choo. Some of those guys are no better options than Huber IMO. I just wish we could've seen a little more of him in September to see what we have in him.

by royaldaddy on Sep 20, 2007 3:58 PM EDT reply actions

I agree

That some are no better than Huber, but I think its clear that Dayton doesn't think too highly of Huber and will probably trade him this winter. I think Huber is probably the best option. Teach him to play LF and let him hit.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Sep 20, 2007 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe we could get Diaz back from the

Braves?

by grudz69 on Sep 20, 2007 4:23 PM EDT reply actions

D'oh!

How's Ricardo Rodriguez doing anyway?

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Sep 20, 2007 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Thoughts on various players and teams mentioned

On Chris Duncan, I don't think him being Dave's son is the key consideration here. The key is that they can build a very interesting, very capable outfield rotation with Duncan, Ankiel, Edmonds, Ludwick, and Taguchi. None of them are without warts, but they are all useful to some degree and it makes for a massive bargain. It also bears mentioning that Duncan is a converted first baseman, so any team that would theoretically trade for him should do so with the goal of making him a 1B/DH. They shouldn't trade him though. He's too valuable as part of that rotation.

With the Rox scrum, Baker is the one to target, though not as a starter. To me he seems tailor made for a role as a 300 at bat per year "4C" supersub, filling in at 3B/1B/DH/LF/RF, kind of as a right handed version of what the Jays and BoSox did with Eric Hinske. Hawpe would be very, very costly after the last couple years of Coors stats.

My favorite target in that list was Murton, who really should be getting much more playing time than he's getting and could be exceedingly useful for years to come, even if Lubanski comes on and wins the left field job one of these days. He has defensive versatility for both outfield corners AND can spot start in center for a week at a time if need be. This team also needs righties.

by JM Barten on Sep 20, 2007 6:58 PM EDT reply actions

In At Least One

Way a trade seems to be a better bet than FA to get a power hitter to KC; the "K" has a reputation as a pitcher's park where what would be HR's elsewhere are long outs or doubles. Big boppers like bandboxes and launching pads.

Being a fan is irrational, but what is the alternative?

by philofthenorth on Sep 20, 2007 9:52 PM EDT reply actions

Wonder who we'd have to trade?

Nunez? Gobble? Prospects?

by marbotty on Sep 22, 2007 5:31 AM EDT reply actions

I think we can add...

...Adam Lind from Toronto to that list. They have Rios, Wells and they want to resign Stairs--leaving Lind the odd man out. my order of preference:

Carlos Quentin
Milton Bradley
Wlad Balentien
Adam Lind
Matt Murton

by nwroyal on Sep 22, 2007 12:17 PM EDT reply actions

I Listen To A Lot

Of Sailors games, and they seem to be crazy about Balentien. They'd probably deal Ibanez before Balentien, and I don't think we'd want him back at this point.

Being a fan is irrational, but what is the alternative?

by philofthenorth on Sep 22, 2007 2:47 PM EDT reply actions

Now that the Giants

have cut ties with Barry Bonds, maybe we can get him cheap. He seems to still want to play, but a lot of teams won't want him anymore, and he certainly won't command top price from whoever does have an interest. Even with his diminished playing time and production, he's got 10 more home runs this year than our current team leader.

Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!

by cmkeller on Sep 23, 2007 11:10 AM EDT reply actions

And he would sell tickets

As long as Butler can handle 1B, I don't see anything wrong with signing Bonds.

by jbrocato on Sep 23, 2007 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Ridiculous

No way the Royals are signing Bonds. This organization has too much class to do anything stupid like that. Bonds is a joke.

by royaldaddy on Sep 23, 2007 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Here's a thought

Bill Hall from Milwaukee to play SS for us. He has the power potential and played very well in 2006. His defense has been sub-par at CF, but was decent at SS. He hits for power, and would be an upgrade over TPJ. Any thoughts?

by lordbyronk on Sep 23, 2007 3:55 PM EDT reply actions

Do we have anything they'd want?

I like the idea, but do we have what they want? Our main trading chip (in my opinion) is Dejesus. Trading Dejesus for Hall would be taking their CFer in exchange for a CFer. That wouldn't help them. I don't know what else they might want. I don't think they'd take a package of mediocre prospects.

Hall is young, good and cheap (Signed through 2010 for $6M per year). Those three qualities are extremely valuable. They would require someone young, good and cheap in return.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Sep 23, 2007 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Brewers main need

seems to be relief pitching. We have a few like Gobble, Peralta, even Riske might be attractive with someone else. DDJ or Gator have to agree are our top trading chips. I'm not sure if we could get a deal done or not I just thought he'd be a nice fix for the SS problem.

by lordbyronk on Sep 23, 2007 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Hall is a good idea,

maybe we can trade one of our youngish pitchers for him...the Brewers do already have J.J. Hardy for short and Hall's been bad in the outfield.

"True friends stab you in the front."-Oscar Wilde.

by NHZ on Sep 23, 2007 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions

like the idea...

hopefully they would take a combination of something like gobble/braun/lower level prospect.

hall could be a middle of the order hitter for us, and combine him with another big masher (my unrealistic preference is adam dunn) and we have a pretty good offense.

by rockchalk on Sep 23, 2007 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions

By the way,

we absolutely do NOT want Coocoo Crap on the Royals. That is all.

"True friends stab you in the front."-Oscar Wilde.

by NHZ on Sep 23, 2007 6:22 PM EDT reply actions

I think GMDM can evaluate offensive talent.

The Braves have 4 guys 25 or younger that have OPS+ over 100 the Royals have 1 (Gordon is close at 91). That doesn't even count Salty who they traded (OPS+ 94 in limited duty). My point is that all of these guys were drafted or signed while Moore had a significant role in the front office.

by Skirra on Sep 23, 2007 10:30 PM EDT reply actions

+1

Further proof in the pitching, e.g. Brian Bannister as a serious 2007 ROY candidate.

by Stat Ninja on Sep 23, 2007 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions

A shortstop

I think the Royals have enough OF talent. Sure, they would be better after upgrading an OF position with most or any of the guys listed, but they will still have a below-average defender at SS who is an absolute out machine in TJP. TJ is a bench player at best, maybe a minor-league bench player.

I suggest Wilson Valdez as one player who may be realistically acquired and a greater impact at the position of most dire need.

I like the Bill Hall idea, too. I am concerned about Hall's defense for an everyday SS candidate and I am cautious about any player regarded for power in the young post-PED era. Still, I believe Hall is a much better idea than any realistic OF upgrade.

by Stat Ninja on Sep 23, 2007 10:41 PM EDT reply actions

the post PED era

means power is EVEN MORE IMPORTANT
because its now rarer

that is, if you believe all the hype, etc.

Anyone but Terry

by FireBell on Sep 24, 2007 1:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Scarce power is overrated

Actually, now that it's more scarce, it makes less sense to bank on one guy saving any given game with a dinger. 73 HR theoretically contributes to nearly half of games played, while 23 HR probably contributes to less than 15% of games played. Since most players hit approximately one non-HR per game played, it makes sense to maximize run production by singles and doubles instead.

by Stat Ninja on Sep 24, 2007 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions

talk to the rays about zobrist

he's a cheap, ok, not great SS

Anyone but Terry

by FireBell on Sep 24, 2007 1:53 AM EDT reply actions

i want botts

Anyone but Terry

by FireBell on Sep 24, 2007 2:15 AM EDT reply actions

Edgar Renteria???

The braves will be looking to open a spot for Yunel Escobar and will probably trade Renteria. moore could probably swing another trade with his former team

by Killer G's on Sep 24, 2007 2:54 AM EDT reply actions

Renteria's definitely better than Pena,

but everyone will get sick of his weak glove pretty quickly, and if his bat declines...let us not speak of such things.

"True friends stab you in the front."-Oscar Wilde.

by NHZ on Sep 24, 2007 8:01 AM EDT reply actions

no renty

Anyone but Terry

by FireBell on Sep 24, 2007 11:18 AM EDT reply actions

whats E-rent's contract situation?

by Freneau on Sep 24, 2007 12:14 PM EDT reply actions

It's a little complicated

2008 is the last year of his contract and he will be due $9M. But Boston is paying some of that (reportedly they are paying $8M in salary for the last three years of his contract). So, estimate that the Sox are paying $2.7M, leaving his 2008 salary at an estimated $5.3M. He has a 2009 club option for $11M or a $3M buyout. But, the Sox are on the hook for the buyout amount if the option is not exercised.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Sep 24, 2007 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

one year

9 mil, with the Red Sox paying 2-3 I believe

by Moose Tacos on Sep 24, 2007 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Ryan Spillbourghs

Doubt the Rockies let him get away, but the kid plays the game like Eric Byrnes and does everything well. He has speed, hits for power and situationally well, fields his position well, and is a great clubhouse guy. The Rockies need pitching prospects, but then, so do we. Matt Holliday won't be there long, so I don't see Spillbourghs going anywhere, but I would love him. I'm not ready to give up on Gator just yet, so I don't know if we have a spot for him either. The guy will be a starter in CF somewhere real soon though.

by ScratchBC on Sep 26, 2007 1:06 AM EDT reply actions