Melky Cabrera trade rumor

Lenny · 12-16-2006, 11:36 PM

Has anyone read the trade rumor on ESPN about us getting Melky Cabrera from the Yankees, and us sending Larocke to the Pirates? Looks like the Braves are trying pretty hard to get a young out fielder to replace Andruw Jones now, or at least I'm guessing that would be the point to this trade.

Quote:

The deal, an unnamed baseball official told the New York Times, also would send reliever Mike Gonzalez from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Yankees, and first baseman Adam LaRoche from the Braves to the Pirates.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/player...ting&year=2006

jpx7 · 12-17-2006, 12:19 AM

I saw that, as well.

If the price is simply LaRoche, I would be highly intrigued: whether LaRoche's new level of production is permanent or transient, he is 27 and soon to be expensive through arbitration or longer extension, and there are multiple short- and long-term replacements (Thorman now, Saltalamacchia later); moreover, Cabrera is 22, hasn't hit arbitration, and posted a .280/.360/.391 in 460 ABs last year, to go along with 12 outfield assists. Based on Cabrera's explosion in AAA before getting his call-up, and his solid though less spectacular career prior to 2006, it is reasonable to expect an ~.800 OPS with good patience, BA, OBP and the potential for more power as he matures.

It seems to me an option as good as – or better than – Rocco Baldelli, considering the team's needs in LF/(CF), without the costly price of the younger/cheaper Davies and/or Saltalamacchia. Anyways, trading those two would be selling low, based on relative potential, while I think it is a safe bet that unloading LaRoche would be selling high.

Snowman · 12-17-2006, 12:26 AM

I would say he's easily a better option than Baldelli.

jpx7 · 12-17-2006, 12:58 AM

I was giving Baldelli the benefit of the doubt.

BravesRule22 · 12-17-2006, 08:01 PM

LaRoche is worth way more than just Melky

Metaphysicist · 12-18-2006, 03:03 AM

Melky Cabrera is meh.

jpx7 · 12-18-2006, 12:37 PM

Well, if this or Rocco Baldelli is what we're to expect from Schuerholz, then I would take this route: Cabrera, with his more frequent proclivity to take first base, certainly fits the putative lead-off goal better; and, though he's shown less power than Baldelli, he is also three years his junior – as well as cheaper, at least for the next couple of years, and with less of an injury history.

And, while this isn't necessarily an amazing option, it still has the Braves selling high on LaRoche – for whom there is at least an ostensible internal replacement – and not selling low on the less fungible Saltalamacchia, Davies, or Escobar, who are the constituents always thrown around in any potential Baldelli scenario.

pfiggy · 12-18-2006, 01:53 PM

Damnit, jxp, say that again in pfarkin' English.

bravefan29 · 12-23-2006, 12:10 AM

For what it's worth, a Pirates blog is reporting the deal is "nearly complete".

http://buccoblog.mlblogs.com/my_webl...te_the_tr.html

BravesRule22 · 12-23-2006, 03:00 AM

total BS

LongtimeBravesFan · 12-23-2006, 03:38 PM

Be careful, too much talking about Melky can get you banned.

Lenny · 12-24-2006, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bravefan29

For what it's worth, a Pirates blog is reporting the deal is "nearly complete".

http://buccoblog.mlblogs.com/my_webl...te_the_tr.html

That link doesn't work for me.

bravefan29 · 12-24-2006, 01:05 PM

Just try buccoblog.com.

12-17-2006, 12:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
Snowman Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: North Topsail Beach, NC Posts: 1,302	I would say he's easily a better option than Baldelli. __________________ That corpse you planted last year in your garden, Has it begun to sprout? Will it bloom this year? Or has the sudden frost disturbed its bed? If it wasn't for my horse, I wouldn't have spent that year in college.

12-17-2006, 12:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
jpx7 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 563	I saw that, as well. If the price is simply LaRoche, I would be highly intrigued: whether LaRoche's new level of production is permanent or transient, he is 27 and soon to be expensive through arbitration or longer extension, and there are multiple short- and long-term replacements (Thorman now, Saltalamacchia later); moreover, Cabrera is 22, hasn't hit arbitration, and posted a .280/.360/.391 in 460 ABs last year, to go along with 12 outfield assists. Based on Cabrera's explosion in AAA before getting his call-up, and his solid though less spectacular career prior to 2006, it is reasonable to expect an ~.800 OPS with good patience, BA, OBP and the potential for more power as he matures. It seems to me an option as good as – or better than – Rocco Baldelli, considering the team's needs in LF/(CF), without the costly price of the younger/cheaper Davies and/or Saltalamacchia. Anyways, trading those two would be selling low, based on relative potential, while I think it is a safe bet that unloading LaRoche would be selling high.

12-17-2006, 12:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
jpx7 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 563	I was giving Baldelli the benefit of the doubt.

12-17-2006, 08:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
BravesRule22 Basketball Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,089	LaRoche is worth way more than just Melky

12-18-2006, 03:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
Metaphysicist Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 117	Melky Cabrera is meh.

12-18-2006, 12:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
jpx7 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 563	Well, if this or Rocco Baldelli is what we're to expect from Schuerholz, then I would take this route: Cabrera, with his more frequent proclivity to take first base, certainly fits the putative lead-off goal better; and, though he's shown less power than Baldelli, he is also three years his junior – as well as cheaper, at least for the next couple of years, and with less of an injury history. And, while this isn't necessarily an amazing option, it still has the Braves selling high on LaRoche – for whom there is at least an ostensible internal replacement – and not selling low on the less fungible Saltalamacchia, Davies, or Escobar, who are the constituents always thrown around in any potential Baldelli scenario.

12-18-2006, 01:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
pfiggy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Location: Location: Posts: 3,637	Damnit, jxp, say that again in pfarkin' English.

12-23-2006, 12:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
bravefan29 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 33	For what it's worth, a Pirates blog is reporting the deal is "nearly complete". http://buccoblog.mlblogs.com/my_webl...te_the_tr.html

12-23-2006, 03:00 AM	#10 (permalink)
BravesRule22 Basketball Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,089	total BS

12-23-2006, 03:38 PM	#11 (permalink)
LongtimeBravesFan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,162	Be careful, too much talking about Melky can get you banned.

12-24-2006, 01:05 PM	#13 (permalink)
bravefan29 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 33	Just try buccoblog.com.