Rocco Baldelli

bravefan29 · 12-09-2006, 08:40 AM

Quote:

The Braves want Baldelli, a 25-year-old outfielder, to serve as their leadoff hitter and starting left fielder this year. If Andruw Jones were to exit via free agency at the end of the 2007 season, Baldelli would become the club's center fielder of the future.

His current contract includes three club options that run through the end of the 2011 season. The maximum annual salary that he'd earn would be $9 million. Given the success he's had in his first three big-league seasons, he could become one of the game's top bargains.

MLB.com has learned that the interest in Baldelli is great enough that the Braves have at least opened themselves to the thought of including top catching prospect Jarrod Saltalamacchia in these trade offers. They also would be willing to include shortstop Yunel Escobar, who opened a lot of eyes while hitting .407 to win the batting crown in the Arizona Fall League.

But the Devil Rays are expected to demand that a starting pitcher be included. Thus, instead of James, the Braves may need to include right-handed starter Kyle Davies, whose promising future was clouded by the groin injury that caused him to miss 3 1/2 months of the 2006 season.

Braves interested in Baldelli

Yogi44 · 12-09-2006, 10:40 AM

I would do Salty and Davies for Baldelli, but when you throw in Escobar, there better me a 2nd player (mid-level prospect) coming back our way. I really do like Baldelli. He would provide us a good leadoff bat and take over CF when Andruw leaves. (be in mid-season or after 2007).

texasleaguer · 12-09-2006, 12:09 PM

If he was traded here, wouldn't he be able to demand a trade after one year, being traded in the middle of a multi-year contract?

jpx7 · 12-09-2006, 12:11 PM

I would be willing to deal Davies+, and even Davies+Escobar; personally, however, I would not make the trade out of any combination of players that involves Saltalamacchia. Baldelli has a nice contract, but not nice enough for what I see as his likely level of production, nor is his the particularly "best" candidate to lead-off, considering his relatively low IsoOBP each year that he's played. He reminds me somewhat of Francoeur, actually – though he has certainly batted for higher averages with a little more consistency as of 2006.

Nonetheless, I wouldn't trade Davies+Saltalamacchia, and certainly not those two with Yuniel Escobar, for Jeff Francoeur with slightly better average and a longer contract.

BravesRule22 · 12-09-2006, 12:36 PM

Davies, Salty, Esco ?

Just for Rocco......Pass

texasleaguer · 12-09-2006, 08:34 PM

Exactly. Just what we need. Another guy that hasn't seen a pitch he can't hit.

Yogi44 · 12-10-2006, 09:52 AM

Quote:

If he was traded here, wouldn't he be able to demand a trade after one year, being traded in the middle of a multi-year contract?

Found out yesterday that a player has to have 5 years service for the multi-year contract clause to apply. Seems we'd be OK with Baldelli not having the right to demand a trade.

Snowman · 12-10-2006, 11:55 PM

Quote:

The Braves want Baldelli, a 25-year-old outfielder, to serve as their leadoff hitter and starting left fielder this year.

2003 OBP: .326
2004 OBP: .326
2006 OBP: .339

What am I missing here?

bravefan29 · 12-11-2006, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowman

2003 OBP: .326
2004 OBP: .326
2006 OBP: .339

What am I missing here?

Here's Dave O'Brien's defense:

"His .329 career on-base percentage might scare some, especially for a guy who might hit leadoff. But look deeper and you’ll find that Baldelli has a robust .335 average with a .366 OBP and robust .639 slugging percentage in 191 at-bats as a leadoff man - all but eight of those at-bats coming last season.

The guy hit .339 with a stunning 1.018 OPS as a leadoff man last season, racking up 31 extra-base hits (11 homers) in 183 at-bats - which makes it a lot easier to overlook his 34 strikeouts/6 walks batting No. 1.

Apparently, he’s one of those who like hitting in the leadoff role. Humm."

Obviously those 191 AB's outweigh his other 1300+.

BravesRule22 · 12-11-2006, 12:46 AM

If you look @ his IsoOBP its alot scary.......He is SLIGHTLY above Francoeur in that dept.

I want no part of him leading off

TonyBagO'Donuts · 12-12-2006, 02:11 AM

What exactly is IsoOBP and when did it become a stat?

BravesRule22 · 12-12-2006, 02:31 PM

ISoOBP is your OBP - Average

Since OBP is AVG dependent, 2 people with an OBP of 350 arent really the same. If one had an avg of 310 and the other 260, the later would be the far more impressive OBP.

texasleaguer · 12-13-2006, 09:42 PM

Funny how DOB can come to Baldelli's defense when his OBP is so horrid, yet he was quick to throw Marcus under the bus when it suited his hack job on him.

Dick.

bravefan29 · 12-13-2006, 09:57 PM

I'm guessing Marcus mustn't have been too friendly to reporters... probably why so much crap is floating around about him.

12-13-2006, 09:57 PM	#14 (permalink)
bravefan29 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 33	I'm guessing Marcus mustn't have been too friendly to reporters... probably why so much crap is floating around about him. Last edited by bravefan29; 12-14-2006 at 12:32 AM.

12-09-2006, 10:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
Yogi44 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: McGee's Crossroads, NC Posts: 253	I would do Salty and Davies for Baldelli, but when you throw in Escobar, there better me a 2nd player (mid-level prospect) coming back our way. I really do like Baldelli. He would provide us a good leadoff bat and take over CF when Andruw leaves. (be in mid-season or after 2007).

12-09-2006, 12:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
texasleaguer Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 47	If he was traded here, wouldn't he be able to demand a trade after one year, being traded in the middle of a multi-year contract?

12-09-2006, 12:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
jpx7 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 561	I would be willing to deal Davies+, and even Davies+Escobar; personally, however, I would not make the trade out of any combination of players that involves Saltalamacchia. Baldelli has a nice contract, but not nice enough for what I see as his likely level of production, nor is his the particularly "best" candidate to lead-off, considering his relatively low IsoOBP each year that he's played. He reminds me somewhat of Francoeur, actually – though he has certainly batted for higher averages with a little more consistency as of 2006. Nonetheless, I wouldn't trade Davies+Saltalamacchia, and certainly not those two with Yuniel Escobar, for Jeff Francoeur with slightly better average and a longer contract.

12-09-2006, 12:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
BravesRule22 Basketball Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,089	Davies, Salty, Esco ? Just for Rocco......Pass

12-09-2006, 08:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
texasleaguer Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 47	Exactly. Just what we need. Another guy that hasn't seen a pitch he can't hit.

12-11-2006, 12:46 AM	#10 (permalink)
BravesRule22 Basketball Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,089	If you look @ his IsoOBP its alot scary.......He is SLIGHTLY above Francoeur in that dept. I want no part of him leading off

12-12-2006, 02:11 AM	#11 (permalink)
TonyBagO'Donuts Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 65	What exactly is IsoOBP and when did it become a stat?

12-12-2006, 02:31 PM	#12 (permalink)
BravesRule22 Basketball Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,089	ISoOBP is your OBP - Average Since OBP is AVG dependent, 2 people with an OBP of 350 arent really the same. If one had an avg of 310 and the other 260, the later would be the far more impressive OBP.

12-13-2006, 09:42 PM	#13 (permalink)
texasleaguer Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 47	Funny how DOB can come to Baldelli's defense when his OBP is so horrid, yet he was quick to throw Marcus under the bus when it suited his hack job on him. Dick.