Dayton might stumble into something good here (although the fact that Mark Shapiro is considering this makes me, personally, think the Royals should hold on to Teahen).

It’s pretty funny to read that the Royals need more offense, and then bring up Gutierrez… since he’s a right-handed guy with bad platoon splits (sounds like everyone on the Royals but DDJ and Gordon) who at best, is no better than Teahen offensively over the last three years, and is actually probably worse. Bad OBP guy. He is a stud defender in right field, though — one of the best defenders in the AL — about +20 runs! It would be better to get rid of Guillen and add Gutierrez and then mix and match with DDJ (who would lose a win a year in positional value moving to left, although if Gutierrez can play better in center that DDJ [no sure thing] it works out). Personally, I doubt Dayton is after him because of his underrated defense outweighing his crappy offense, but hey, success comes in all forms. Still not sure he’s necessarily much, if any, of an upgrade on Teahen. Gutierrez is younger (25).

Fransisco is about the same age as Teahen. It’s hard to tell who’s the better defender. Another right-hander doesn’t really help the Royals that much, although he doesn’ t have a major platoon split. I think this might be selling a bit low on Teahen — same age, right-handed, equal defensive value at best. I guess if you think Teahen is a replacement level-type (and Shapiro’s interest re-enforces my belief that this isn’t the case), the Fransisco is an upgrade. I would see this as a parallel move.

Gutierrez is inferior as a hitter, but is younger than either and is a stud defender. If people don’t care about defensive stats, then get ready for a downgrade in offense, unless he “breaks out.”

Dutton also confirms the Jacobs deal… uh oh… Is Dayton really that upset by the “young guys?” I dunno… he’d have to make other moves for the Jacobs deal to make any sense. Some of this sounds like shaking things up to shake them up…

Crowe from the bigs? For some reason I like the idea of taking a flyer on potential.

If Dayton can’t pull this off, but still wants some better OF — Ryan Langerhans is/was available for free earlier. Geez, he’s even a former Brave! Yeah, he’s older (28), and hasn’t hit that well (although not as bad as you’d think — was OK in Washington this year, inconsistent playing time since his early Atlanta days), but his defense profiles as a poor man’s Gutierrez — studly in the corners, at least average in center. If they don’t think Mitch can cut it and they figure out that Gathright sucks, he’d be a good budget 4th OF.

You can throw as many stats as you want at me, but that’s the way I feel.

Migrating over here from Let’s Go Tribe, where we have a similar, if slightly upside down thread.

First, how was Teahen’s defense at 3B? My sense is not good, but I’d appreciate your thoughts.

Regarding the Tribe outfielders, my thought is that Gutierrez is far and away the best of these guys. It is unclear what kind of a hitter he’s going to be (pretty good in 2007, terrible the first half of 2008, pretty good in the second half of 2008), but he is an elite defender. By several metrics, he was one the best defensive OFer in the game last year and his value would be improved even more by a switch to CF. Francisco is a major league 4th OFer. Defense is serviceable, but not good at the corners, more of a wildcard in CF. Good contact hitter, though, with ok gap power. Crowe has regularly been injured and aside from a few short hot flashes, hasn’t done much other than hit singles.

Teahen for Gutierrez would be an enormous steal for us. He’s an elite defender wherever you put him in the outfield, and he has offensive upside (second half stats!).

I’d even throw in a little something extra to get him, not a lot, but a little.

Initial thoughts:

(1) Gutierrez is the only one that would make me want to do the trade.

(2) Seems like kind of a lateral move – mediocre hitter for mediocre hitter

(3) I don’t understand why this franchise is so hell bent on moving DJ to left.

Hi. LGT in the house.

We don’t know who Mick S is, if that wasn’t clear.

I know you guys are going to look at things from your perspective but it Franklin’s ability in the OF cannot be overstated. He has far and away the best single skill of anyone involved in the discussion and, for that reason, I doubt he’s actually on the table.

Most metrics seem to agree (and if there’s one thing the Indians’ FO keeps up on, it’s metrics) that Gutierrez is one of the best, if not the very best, defensive RFs in the majors. Most scouts also seem to agree that he could be the best CF in the majors if he played there. In short, he’s Coco Crisp with a cannon.

I don’t really love Teahen but I’d be fine with Francisco for him; it seems like two very similar players except that Teahen can play 3B. I guess the added value for the Royals is saving cash on BFran? Or maybe it’s just some kind of challenge trade?

I hope Teahen isn’t out big solution at third.

Is Butler really on the market? I saw on that on rotoworld or something.

How about Shoppach, Sowers, Crowe, and Kelvin de la Cruz for Butler and Greinke?

That’s not happening.

The Teahen trade is.

is that it pretty much guarantees Ross Gload will get 200+ ABs next year.

I was hoping management would find a corner OF, dump Gload, and put Teahen as the utility 1B/3B/COF/emergency CF

Aw hell, LGT. Two guys have a civil, topical discussion with us and now we’re laying around like those friends of friends who end up at your place when everybody comes over after the bar closes and ask if it’s okay to toke up on your futon and you weren’t going to eat all those cookies your mom mailed you anyway, were you?

Oh, and sorry about the shower, man, we’ll fix that in the a.m.

I’ve ever been to busy to participate in.

Likin’ to much; get offa my land.

that says if he leaves the Royals he’ll hit .280/.360/.550 with about 40 HRs that year. None of the names intrigues me really. Trevor Crowe was interesting 2 years ago as a leadoff speedy guy type before he stopped hitting at higher levels. Guitierrez is a borderline average corner outfield that’s not THAT young and same goes for Franklin. I might give up Teahen for one of Francisco or Gutierrez but we sure as hell shouldn’t give up extra for those. Noting the state of the farm some low minors bat or some middle/high minors middle infielder would be welcome.