Diamondbacks Bullpen

shoewizard

I'm just speculating and looking at rosters and who is a free agent, and trying to figure out teams that might be good trading partners for the DBacks to dump Estrada off on.

I have not had a chance to check on the minor league prospects coming up for the teams I am about to list. This is simply based on which teams either have their catcher coming up for Free agency, or perhaps they might be interested in replacing the guy they have.

NL Teams:

1.) Houston
How much longer can they put up with zero offense from Ausmus?
The man hit .230/.308/.285 .593 OPS, 53 OPS+ !
I know he calls a good game and is a good defensive catcher. But he is 38 next year. They can't put up with that any more.

2.) Milwaukee
Damian Miller is a free agent. Mike Rivera hit pretty decently in a reserve role, but if they don't resign Miller, perhaps they could use Estrada

3.) Philadelphia
Already oft mentioned. Lieberthal is a free agent. Chris Coste was great for them this year, but he was a 33 yr old rookie.

4.) Cincinatti
Boy o Boy...can you imagine if Estrada followed Thom to Cincy? Razz

They got a ton of power from David Ross this year. But that was kinda flukey. I've heard Larue is on the way out of there, and Javier Valentin disappointed.

AL Teams:

5.) Kansas City
Maybe Estrada could go to KC and Platoon with John Buck. That would serve him right. Twisted Evil

6.) Tampa Bay
Toby Hall , Dioner Navarro, and Josh Paul split the games pretty evenly between the three of them this year.
They all sucked

7.) Texas
Rod Barajas is a free agent. Maybe Johnny could join Gonzo down in Arlington and show those kids how to win. Wink

8.) Toronto:
Benjie Molina is a free agent. So maybe

Alot of small and mid market teams. While arbitration eligible, any team getting Estrada would have 2 years of control before he becomes a free agent. So it's conceiveable he could end up on any one of these teams.

Anyway, like I said above, if any of these teams is about to hand over the catchers job to a hot shot prospect, post it here.

Otherwise, lets get to work brainstorming some REASONABLE trade possibilities between the D Backs and some of these teams.

SweetSacrifice

Would I be wrong to say that the dbacks, if trading him, will look, in return for a pitcher of some sort?

because, they really need pitching. And Estrada has enough trade value to get a decent one..maybe send a package of him and Hairston.

David B · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 9:38 pm Post subject:

Damian Miller has a mutual option (I think it's around $3 M) in Milwaukee. It's possible that it wouldn't be picked up, but my guess is that, since he's from there, they'd find a way to do a deal for a lesser amount

shoewizard · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 9:39 pm Post subject:

I think thats the concept. You have to assume he would be part of a trade for pitching.

I worry about his trade value a bit. He has not helped himself with all his sniping, IMO. Also, teams are smarter these days. He had only 6 unintentional walks all year. If his BA drops even a little his OBP drops through the floor. Most teams will realize this. So I would not expect TOO MUCH in return for Estrada.

Remember, we got him for two pretty mediocre middle relievers.
I think it was dirtygary who said that they should at least get two relievers better than the ones we gave up.

shoewizard · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 9:40 pm Post subject:

SweetSacrifice · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 9:48 pm Post subject:

Otacon · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 9:50 pm Post subject:

Greg Zaun, the back-up catcher for the Jays, is also a free agent. So, the possibility of another Toronto-AZ trade rises.
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David B · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 9:57 pm Post subject:

Miller really slowed down after the All Star break this year. At 38 coming into next season, he's probably not an everyday catcher anymore. I think he'll still be a Brewer in 07, but at a greatly reduced role. Even at that, I doubt the Brewers could afford to pick up Estrada, unless the Dbacks took LF Geoff Jenkins back in return.

SweetSacrifice · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 10:06 pm Post subject:

shoewizard · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 10:08 pm Post subject:

foulpole · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1357

From TX:
Hank Blalock 3B

Ron Mahay LHRP

for

CJ, Estrada, Hairston and maybe a B level prospect.

We move Tracy back to 1st.

An infield full of lefties.

shoewizard · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 10:14 pm Post subject:

Uh....Blalock?

No. He has been Terrible the last two years, 94 OPS+ in 2005 and 84 in 2006.
He has NEVER hit outside Arlington, and can't hit lefties.

We already have a first baseman, too Wink

foulpole · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1357

shoewizard · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 10:35 pm Post subject:

He was terrible before the shoulder started bothering him.

Context. Context.

Arlington....#1 hitters park in the AL. He has NEVER hit outside of Arlington, and he has NEVER hit lefties. This goes back to even his good year, (2003)

Look at his OPS+
Even 2003 it was only 118
For his career it's only 99

Hank Blalock Page

I'd rather have Tracy than Blalock. His career OPS+ is 106, compared to Blalock's 99

His career high is 131, compared to blalocks career high of 118

Also, and this is pretty much the clincher, Blalock is guaranteed 17 million bucks over the next 3 years, and Tracy is only getting 11.25 million.

You'll notice I am ignoring the Tracy to first aspect of your proposal. Not happening.

Hugh · A-Ball Kid Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Posts: 20

Blue Jays needs help at catcher and shortstop (I think I recall reading an article from a Toronto newspaper, and maybe a quote from Riccardi to that effect). I jump all over Estrada and Callaspo for Brandon League, but I doubt the Blue Jays would.

shoewizard · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 10:58 pm Post subject:

Thats an awful lot to give up for a reliever.

shoewizard · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 11:03 pm Post subject:

The Astros's have alot of pitching prospects. Maybe someone like Matt Albers or Jason Hirsh

TSWINDERS · Journeyman Joined: 05 Sep 2006 Posts: 427

nystro · A-Ball Kid Joined: 05 Oct 2006 Posts: 22 Location: Tempe

dirtygary · Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 8:46 am Post subject:

NJ-DBACKS-FAN · Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 8:58 am Post subject:

agree about the EB22....we need someone with more consistant pop......

dont know who, but that is why josh makes the bucks.....

EB22 season a BOB influx? i would have to assume yes
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Not many D-Back fans in NJ.....

Like to think im a trend setter

baldmaga · Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 9:02 am Post subject:

For all the whining everyone does about PV's, why would we want to trade for a 7mil, 33year old OF that nobody wants.

Anyway, I like the idea of trading Estrada to Cincinatti (RIP Thom)

Maybe a package deal with Hairston and deal for Bronson Arroyo or Aaron Harang.

Both could be good 3/4/5 starters, Harang is Arb. Eligible and Arroyo is signed through 2008 cheap at 3.8 in 07 and 3.9 in 08.

Of course, this is just a suggestion, and I'll probably have much more ideas as the day progresses.

baldmaga · Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 9:07 am Post subject:

baldmaga · Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 9:11 am Post subject:

Sorry for the Triple Post, but, I just looked at Hairston's season stats.

And now I'm wondering why he isn't even playing last year...

He was 6 for 15 in his limited time, and hit 30+ HR's in AAA...what is wrong with this guy...I'm almost thinking its a mistake to trade him.

matt · Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 9:26 am Post subject:

It's what we've been saying all along about the kid, he needs to play but will never get a chance.