Jae-Kuk Ryu traded to D-rays

[CubColtPacer]

BA ranked Lopez #23 in the Tampa system in last year's prospect handbook. Relevant info from the write-up....

 

Drafted in the 8th round because of LBSU commitment, signed for 3rd round money

 

"Not only did he hit .325 in his pro debut, but he also raked against older pitchers during instructional league, where he reminded veteran scouts of Magglio Ordonez."

 

"Lopez has a line-drive stroke and quick wrists that should allow him to clear fences consistently in the future. He tends to get a bit upright in his stance at the plate, and while he has a good eye he can do a better job of making contact. While his baserunning ability is fringe average, he has good range and plus arm strength in right field."

 

Thanks for the info-I like this trade now. Ryu was behind so many pitchers in the Cubs system anyway, and they might as well take a gamble on a couple people who seem to possibly have some pretty good ceilings and are still not very experienced in the minors.

[moorecg]

This is a report from before the season in 2006-at the time, Andrew Lopez was this site's pick for the DRays 22nd best prospect, and they did little writeups on each. It's kind of hard to quote with the way they have it set up, so you really should just go there and read this one:

 

http://www.raysbaseball.com/Top25Prospects06.shtml

 

I have to say...that site has better graphics than ours...Tim should get to work on that. :D

[CUBZ99]

I saw JK pitch in Iowa last year, and he seemed to have lost his plus velocity that made him a prospect in the first place. On the day I saw him he was working in the 86-88 range for most of the game, and his stuff was not fooling anyone on the other team.

[CoolHandLuke]

Count me in as someone who is a bit happier about this trade.

 

I would like to find out why Lopez repeated rookie ball though.

[davearm]

For weeks we've been speculating about who'd be moved off of the 40-man roster to make room for Cliff Floyd.

 

Well, isn't this move the answer to that question?

[USSoccer]

I kind of like this move. We have plenty of blah pitching prospects. He was behind Guzman, Marshall, Marmol, and soon Veal and Gallagher.

 

We grabbed a couple of long term maybe types for a guy who wasn't going to really contribute.

[Post Count Padder]

Rotoworld's take:

 

Jae-Kuk Ryu-R- Devil Rays Feb. 13 - 2:18 pm et

 

 

Devil Rays acquired RHP Jae-Kuk Ryu from the Cubs for RHP Greg Reinhard and outfielder Andy Lopez.

 

We're hardly big Ryu fans, but for the Rays to get him in return for two guys who didn't rank among their top 25 or 30 prospects is a fine move. Ryu went 8-8 with a 3.23 ERA, 123 H and 114/51 K/BB in 139 1/3 IP for Triple-A Iowa and gave up 14 runs in 15 innings for the Cubs last season. He might be an adequate fifth starter or solid middle reliever going forward.

Related: Cubs

 

 

Greg Reinhard-S- Cubs Feb. 13 - 2:17 pm et

 

 

Cubs acquired RHP Greg Reinhard and outfielder Andy Lopez from the Devil Rays for RHP Jae-Kuk Ryu.

 

This was one of the consequences of the Cubs' spending spree. With Jason Marquis and Ted Lilly set to occupy rotation spots and no room for younger pitchers on the major league roster, the Cubs sold off one of their lesser talents for pennies on the dollar. Ryu didn't have the upside of Angel Guzman, Sean Marshall or Carlos Marmol, so he was the right player to part with. Still, it would have been nice if the Cubs could have received a quality prospect in return. The 23-year-old Reinhard, a 2005 sixth-round pick, had a 4.50 ERA and a 134/54 K/BB ratio in 142 innings in the Midwest League last year. Lopez, who was drafted two rounds later in 2005, hit .256/.356/.402 as an 19-year-old in the Appalachian League.

Related: Devil Rays

 

[Guest]

I just find it ironic that JK was traded to a florida team.

[BRASKYS SCOTCH]

I just find it ironic that JK was traded to a florida team.

 

Why is that? Was that where he fired a fastball through a resting bird and got into trouble with the law?

[RynoRules]

Lopez sounds like a decent prospect (I am not as concerned about the drop in nos b/c his OBP remained on the high side) based on what I am reading here. Ryu would have wasted away in AAA for a while, so I really don't have a problem with this deal at this point. One of my big issues with Jim has been that he holds onto prospects too long to the point where their value drops tremendously (see Cruz, Juan). Maybe he cut bait at the right time here.

[CuseCubFan69]

Well this move frees up the extra money to be able to sign Z.

[nilodnayr]

I just find it ironic that JK was traded to a florida team.

 

Why is that? Was that where he fired a fastball through a resting bird and got into trouble with the law?

 

Because now the state of florida has more cubs pitching prospects than the cubs actually do.

[BRASKYS SCOTCH]

I just find it ironic that JK was traded to a florida team.

 

Why is that? Was that where he fired a fastball through a resting bird and got into trouble with the law?

 

Because now the state of florida has more cubs pitching prospects than the cubs actually do.

 

so, we're sending our players to play in front of old people with hopes that they actually win something before the old people die? ... silver lining, people. silver. lining.

[KingCubsFan]

BA ranked Lopez #23 in the Tampa system in last year's prospect handbook. Relevant info from the write-up....

 

Drafted in the 8th round because of LBSU commitment, signed for 3rd round money

 

"Not only did he hit .325 in his pro debut, but he also raked against older pitchers during instructional league, where he reminded veteran scouts of Magglio Ordonez."

 

"Lopez has a line-drive stroke and quick wrists that should allow him to clear fences consistently in the future. He tends to get a bit upright in his stance at the plate, and while he has a good eye he can do a better job of making contact. While his baserunning ability is fringe average, he has good range and plus arm strength in right field."

You forgot the best part:

"Some Devil Rays officials say Delmon Young is the only hitter in the system with a better approach than Lopez"

[Burtonbell]

Well this move frees up the extra money to be able to sign Z.

 

LMAO! :lol:

 

Get the deal done now JIM!

[Burtonbell]

So basically what I have read so far is that outside of Tampa's scouting department all the other "experts" (such as BA and Rotoworld) think this trade stinks?

 

IMO, Ryu never had a chance in the rotation. This Lopez kid looks decent.

 

Where will these kids be playing? A-ball?

[Flames24Rulz]

Not that bad of a trade. I didn't think JKR would ever amount to anything successful in the majors; maybe a 5th starter if he was lucky. He's a solid AAA pitcher, but I don't think his ceiling is much higher than that.

 

And like others have mentioned, we have many other arms in the minors that have a better chance of reaching the majors than Ryu does. I think it's a decent move.

[Guest]

I just find it ironic that JK was traded to a florida team.

 

Why is that? Was that where he fired a fastball through a resting bird and got into trouble with the law?

Because after the "bird incident" the Cubs had to remove him from the Florida State League and skip him over that league later to AA.

[nilodnayr]

Lopez strikes out an awful lot. I wonder if he goes deep into counts and thats why his BB and K rates are high. I dont know about his 2005 batted ball info, but I'm guessing he hit a lot more fly balls and line drives in 05 than 06. He had nearly as many XBHs in 05 as 06 in only about 60% of the PAs and was labeled a power threat. In 06 though, he only had 32% FBs and, his LD% was only 16%. His BABIP was 367 as opposed to a team average 320 and league average 314. An increase in grounders may account for some of that, but I thought I read he wasn't especially fast.

 

If his 05 and 06 were switched, we'd all be singing a much different tune, but its never good to see a player regress like this while repeating levels.

[YearofDaCubs]

Never was a big fan of Ryu anyway.

[Pushfrog98]

Never was a big fan of Ryu anyway.

[Guest]

Blah trade. We got two guys who MIGHT be future utility players for a guy who MIGHT be a middle to back end of the rotation or a middle relief guy.

Nothing to get upset or excited about.

[Rob]

I see Hendry's plan is finally coming together.

 

If he trades enough major-league ready, back-of-the-rotation starters away for next to nothing... well, we might actually need Marquis.

[goonys evil twin]

I see Hendry's plan is finally coming together.

 

If he trades enough major-league ready, back-of-the-rotation starters away for next to nothing... well, we might actually need Marquis.

 

Good one.

[CubinNY]

I see Hendry's plan is finally coming together.

 

If he trades enough major-league ready, back-of-the-rotation starters away for next to nothing... well, we might actually need Marquis.

 

I lov3 it when a plan comes togther :x