Jarrod Saltalamacchia

[stitchface]

If a taker for Barrett can be found (for some pitching please!), what would it take to get Salty from the Braves?

[AllStarMe]

I am a huge fan of Barret, but if he can be traded straight up or as the centerpiece of a deal to Toronto for Wells, I say make the deal, if you can get Vernon to sign for an extension.

 

I like Salty, but for as much as I've heard about him his stats weren't really amazing.

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/584807

He's had one outstanding season, one good season, and two disappointing ones. He is still very young and could have just been initially overmatched when moving up levels. His BB to K and AB rates have shown improvement and are very good. Right now he is tearing up the AFL. I think he still could use a long look at AAA, but I wouldn't mind bringing on Blanco for another year to hold it down til Salty's ready.

 

I'd offer the following deal to the Braves:

 

Howry+Theriot+ 1 of Marshall/Marmol/Mateo/Gallagher for M. Giles + Saltalamacchia.

 

I'd rather not give up Pie but if Scherholz insisted on him, I'd want the Braves to include a young OF, 1 of Langerhans/Diaz/Johnson and take back some salary.

 

The Braves would move Giles contract and get the bullpen help they want, as well as another young starter. McCann is blocking Salty, so they can part ways with him. Theriot could vie for 2B job in Atlanta, or could help them off the bench. If we did the Pie deal, we'd be exchanging top prospects who are both coming off disappointing seasons.

 

Then I'd probably make the lineup something like:

Murton

Giles (much better in the 2 hole)

Lee

Ramirez

Wells

Jones/DeRosa platoon

Blanco/Saltalamacchia

Izturis (prefer he be dealt)

 

That'd be a pretty potent lineup I'd think, especially if Cesar could be traded for a better hitting SS, in which case I'd move the C spot to 8th.

[Northsider]

Probably pitching and Cash considerations to cover the Hudson/Jones contracts. I could see a Veal + Novoa or Marshall + Rapada plus 5-7 mil getting it done.

 

He didn't have the best-hitting season this year at AA, but his IsoD increased from .080 to ,123. His K/AB rose, however, from .216 to .227 while his power dropped off dramatically (.205->.150).

 

He played at AA last year, too, and I'm not sure it would be best to bring him up right away, unless we upgraded at SS and made sure he batted 8th so he could just work on his hitting. I don't like that idea so much tho.

 

We might be able to convice the Braves to send us McCann instead for a similar package, probably with a couple more pitchers, but Schuerholz is very proud of being constantly competitive, so I think we'd need to send a stopgap catcher in the package.

 

I've read online (I forget where, please forgive this oversight) that the Angels would be interested in moving a pitcher so they could sign Zito or Schmidt (or Matsuzaka, though that chance is over). We might be able to move Barrett (who can play 3rd) and cash to them for pitching (probably Santana) and maybe Napoli, then get the McCann or Saltalamacchia trade done.

 

The overall deal would probably cost us Barrett's and Santana's contracts, plus some salary relief to the Braves. I don't know what the exact cost of that would be, but we'd get a pretty good pitcher and upgrade defensively and offensively, not to mention age-wise, at catcher.

[Backtobanks]

I am a huge fan of Barret, but if he can be traded straight up or as the centerpiece of a deal to Toronto for Wells, I say make the deal, if you can get Vernon to sign for an extension.

 

I like Salty, but for as much as I've heard about him his stats weren't really amazing.

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/584807

He's had one outstanding season, one good season, and two disappointing ones. He is still very young and could have just been initially overmatched when moving up levels. His BB to K and AB rates have shown improvement and are very good. Right now he is tearing up the AFL. I think he still could use a long look at AAA, but I wouldn't mind bringing on Blanco for another year to hold it down til Salty's ready.

 

I'd offer the following deal to the Braves:

 

Howry+Theriot+ 1 of Marshall/Marmol/Mateo/Gallagher for M. Giles + Saltalamacchia.

I'd rather not give up Pie but if Scherholz insisted on him, I'd want the Braves to include a young OF, 1 of Langerhans/Diaz/Johnson and take back some salary.

 

The Braves would move Giles contract and get the bullpen help they want, as well as another young starter. McCann is blocking Salty, so they can part ways with him. Theriot could vie for 2B job in Atlanta, or could help them off the bench. If we did the Pie deal, we'd be exchanging top prospects who are both coming off disappointing seasons.

 

Then I'd probably make the lineup something like:

Murton

Giles (much better in the 2 hole)

Lee

Ramirez

Wells

Jones/DeRosa platoon

Blanco/Saltalamacchia

Izturis (prefer he be dealt)

 

That'd be a pretty potent lineup I'd think, especially if Cesar could be traded for a better hitting SS, in which case I'd move the C spot to 8th.

 

After signing Derosa, I don't think the Cubs are going after any more 2B. I agree that trading Izturis would be great, but Hendry seems to like him (at least in the press).

[CoolHandLuke]

I believe Saltalamacchia was hurt (hand?) in the beginning of the year and never really got untracked until the last month of the season. What he did do this year, as I gather, is drastically improve his game calling and defense. Despite the down year offensively, it doesn't seem that his prospect status has taken a huge hit, and most seem to still expect him to hit someday in the majors.

 

Aug/Sep stats(roughly):

 

.338 ba/ .484 obp/ .662 slg/ 20 bb/ 12k/ 71 at bats

[Guest]

depending on the price this would be a good build for the future move. I wouldn't give up Veal though.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

depending on the price this would be a good build for the future move. I wouldn't give up Veal though.

 

With McCann's emergence and Saltalamacchia's down year, I don't think you'd have to.

[Guest]

depending on the price this would be a good build for the future move. I wouldn't give up Veal though.

 

With McCann's emergence and Saltalamacchia's down year, I don't think you'd have to.

 

I would inquire without trading Barrett actually. I don't think I would want to extend Barrett after this year so I would let him start and then either trade him or just let him walk next year for a draft pick (they still get picks next year, right?)

[Transmogrified Tiger]

depending on the price this would be a good build for the future move. I wouldn't give up Veal though.

 

With McCann's emergence and Saltalamacchia's down year, I don't think you'd have to.

 

I would inquire without trading Barrett actually. I don't think I would want to extend Barrett after this year so I would let him start and then either trade him or just let him walk next year for a draft pick (they still get picks next year, right?)

 

I wasn't really referring to the possibility of (not) having Barrett. I was saying since McCann put up great numbers and Salty didn't hit all that well, you could get him cheaper than he may actually be worth.

[Guest]

depending on the price this would be a good build for the future move. I wouldn't give up Veal though.

 

With McCann's emergence and Saltalamacchia's down year, I don't think you'd have to.

 

I would inquire without trading Barrett actually. I don't think I would want to extend Barrett after this year so I would let him start and then either trade him or just let him walk next year for a draft pick (they still get picks next year, right?)

 

I wasn't really referring to the possibility of (not) having Barrett. I was saying since McCann put up great numbers and Salty didn't hit all that well, you could get him cheaper than he may actually be worth.

 

I know what you were saying - just adding on to my original thought. for the life of me, I cannot figure out why anyone would want tim hudson.

[Northsider]

I don't think the Braves are going to undervalue one of their players, even with an 'off' season, especially with the crazy AFL season he's having. Schuerholz knows how to buy low and sell high.

 

Also, I doubt Hendry would look at a player that can't help him right now, given that he's hoping to keep his job; remember, the stated goal is to win the WS in 2007. He needs starting pitching and OF help (and MI help, but Hendry is ignoring that). The only way he's going to make a deal for a new catcher is

a. Can he get some starting pitching in the deal?

b. Will the new catcher be able to play this year at a high level?

 

I want Salty, and I think he'd be the better overall option for us, but I doubt Hendry is willing to play Salty this year. If someone could convince him that Salty is ready - which may be possible given McCann's jump to the majors - then he might go for the deal.

 

That leaves only the pitching aspect of the deal to cover. Barrett is now expendable, since we have McCann or Salty to take his spot. Barrett apparently has some ability to play 3rd as well as catcher, which gives us more options. So, then, we should be looking at teams that have pitching and holes at either 3rd, catcher, or DH, and are willing to trade pitching/fill the hole.

 

Teams with starting pitching: White Sox, Red Sox, Angels, Marlins, Indians, Twins?, Brewers, Pirates, Athletics, Dodgers, Giants?, Padres, Rockies?

 

Teams with holes at 3rd or catcher: Blue Jays(DH), Red Sox(3b), Angels(3b), Marlins©, Phillies(C?/3b), Royals(all), Tigers(3b), Twins(3b?), Pirates©, Rangers(Blalock/trade?), Dodgers(3b), Giants(3b), Rockies©

 

Note: these lists are rather rough estimates based on current Major-League rosters/stats and FAs, if you can please update and change them around.

 

With both, based on previous lists: Red Sox, Angels, Marlins, Pirates, Dodgers, Giants, Rockies

 

Red Sox have only 3 IF listed on their current roster, Barrett could fill in the remaining spot. They have some pitching, but are unlikely to give up anyone but Lester or Clement, leaving them with a Schilling Wakefield Matsuzaka Papelbon Beckett rotation.

 

Angels want to sign Zito or Scmidt, we could probably get Santana off their hands, thus freeing a rotation spot, for Barrett. I thik this might be a slightly better option than getting Lester from the Red Sox.

 

Marlins would want Salty or McCann, and don't want to take on salary. Not really an option for us.

 

Pirates Have mostly young pitching, and would be reluctant to send a promising young arm anywhere within the division, so we might have to pay more for one of their guys. They need OF, too, so we might convince them that Jones is a good OFer. It'd be such a shame to lose him within the division. Then we might have a shot at Duke, thanks to a bad sophomore season.

 

Dodgers could use a 3rd baseman. We'd have our best shot at Lowe or Penny, if we want to package Barrett, or Kuo and some if we aren't.

 

Giants have also some young pitching, and could use an offensive upgrade at 3rd. Not sure how viable this trade idea would be, but we might be able to get Lowry for Barrett.

 

Rockies have Francis and Jennings, could use an upgrade power-wise at catcher. Either might be available for Barrett.

 

And I'll go on record as saying Veal will probably be needed to get Salty. And salary relief would be quite welcome for them.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

While he's done fantastic in the AFL, he's only had 23 ABs so far.

[USSoccer]

As far as Boston dealing pitching...Lester has lymphoma and Clement had surgery recently, didn't he? I don't think they'll be dealing off pitching.