Cubs trade Barrett to Padres for Rob Bowen & Kyler Burke

[Guest]

I like the trade, if you can get someone with the ceiling of Burke (for someone who was not liked by the manager who has played poorly and is a FA/possibly getting too old to remain adequate behind the plate), I have no problem w/it. I'd liek it even more if it gives Soto a well deserved shot.

 

Kyler Burke, of/lhp

School: Ooltewah HS. Class: Sr.

Hometown: Chattanooga, Tenn.

B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 198. Birthdate: 4/20/88.

Scouting Report: After Burke became the first high school player in the state to hit 20 home runs since Jeremy Reed did it in 1998, most clubs were convinced his future was in the outfield. He has a sturdy, streamlined frame, and showed off his athletic ability when he won his school's slam dunk contest. He was also a linebacker for the football team. With above-average raw power, Burke can drive balls to all parts of the field, though his numbers were skewed because of a short right-field porch on his home field and substandard competition in southeast Tennessee. He has some feel for hitting, and showed a good eye during the spring, drawing 40 walks. He's an average runner, but better under way. He doesn't get great jumps in the outfield, but he has above-average arm strength and profiles at a corner, where he should be an adequate defender. He pitches at 89-91 mph, though his velocity often tails off to 86-88 in the middle innings. He spins a solid-average breaking ball. Burke pitches up in the zone too much. He signed with Vanderbilt, where he could be a potent two-way weapon. Similar to Twins prospect Kyle Waldrop, another high-profile Tennessee prep player who had committed to Vandy, Burke is expected to sign if he's taken in the top two rounds.

 

Judging a 19yo in his 1st 2 months of proball at an advanced league is premature at best.

 

Thanks, Ping.

 

The first Tennessee high school player to hit 20 home runs since 1998, Burker also pitched and playede linebacker for the Ooltewag High football team. Burke is a natural athlete, but his prep performance may have been aided by substandard competition in southeast Tennessee and a short right-field fence at his home field. The Padres keyed in on Burke's all-around potential and sound batting eye, and took him with the 35th overall pick in June, then signed him for $950,000. As a pro, he showcased a clean swing, but tended to drift with his body into pitches and get out on his front foot. He also had a tough time making contact when Arizona League pitchers began feeding hiim a steady diet of breaking balls and chaneups. In fact, after hitting safely in 11 of his first 13 gamess, Burke batted just .168 afterward, which included a 4-for-47 slump. Because it was his first taste of failure, he lost confidence and assertiveness. But the Padres think highly of Burke's potential to hit for average and power, and believe it's just a matter of finding rhythm and timing at the plate. His range and speed are average at best, butplus arm strength - he hit 91 mph off the mound in high school - will allow him to handle right field. Burke will have every chance to make the low Class A Fort Wayne roster.

 

Burke hasn't played since June 2 for Ft. Wayne. Very intriguing raw prospect along the lines of Andersen and Rundle - who are also very raw HS outfielders drafted from areas with lesser HS talent. ETA: All 3 of whom have struggled with contact.

Edited June 20, 2007 by CaliforniaRaisin

[jersey cubs fan]

Is hyperbole the word of choice in this thread?

 

I was thinking the same thing. It's the new sample size.

[Guest]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Dontrelle was a throw-in a low A ball player that you would have said was "abysmal" when he was 19 and how did that turn out?

 

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/W/Dontrelle-Willis.shtml

 

Dontrelle had some nice numbers in Boise: 2.98 ERA, 77 K/19 BB.

[Chocolate Milk]

Is hyperbole the word of choice in this thread?

 

I was thinking the same thing. It's the new sample size.

 

I don't think you can all hyperbole the word of choice in this thread because of sample size. This thread is a lock to go another 10 pages.

[badger1679666666]

I stand corrected on the Dontrelle piece of my post.

[cubbyvirus00]

I cant believe some of you people believe that the Cubs would get MORE from Barrett then what we got today.

 

He's a FA after this year, and has a TON of drama associated with him. He can't work a walk, and is always first pitch swinging. Throw in that he's been horrible offensively, and his defense/gamecalling is absolute garbage.

 

 

Even if Bowen and the prospect don't pan out, this is addition by subtraction. Instead of giving him PT and knowing he'll call a crappy game, we get somebody that according to SCOUTING reports is above average defensively, cheap, and his obp is nice.

 

Thats good enough for me. Barrett was horrible.

[YearofDaCubs]

Guys, Barrett makes 4.5 mil dollars, I'm almost convinced it will show that the Cubs have given money to the Padres. I doubt it is the other way around considering how much Bowen and the abysmal minor leaguer make.

 

You do realize it's tough to judge NINETEEN YEAR OLD minor leaguers based on stats in Low ball right?

 

Man you are the king of hyperbole.

Badger,

 

Nice to see you pop in and add your precious comments to all these threads. That's all you ever do is pop in complain about someones post and leave. You're adding nothing to this thread. The fact is, and get this one right OK Badger..The fact is that your 19 year old prospect is currently terrible. Does that mean he will be always this bad? Who knows but so far it hasn't been great for him.

 

This is the first transaction thread I've posted in in over year buddy. Nice try. But your negativity and general managing expertise is like clockwork, like the sun rising and setting.

 

All I'm saying is to call him abysmal is hyperbole. I don't like this trade either, but lets see what we got first. It's not like he's a 23 year old low ball player. He's 19. There are many 19 year olds who seemed blah who have developed into solid ballplayers. Maybe the change will be good for him.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Dontrelle was a throw-in a low A ball player that you would have said was "abysmal" when he was 19 and how did that turn out?

 

I'm not encouraged by his numbers, but the word abysmal for a 19 year old still developing IS hyperbole. That being said, I agree with you that Hendry sucks.

OK Pal, this is the 3rd time you went out of your way to respond to one of my posts in the last month. You must have a problem with me or don't like me that's fine but you love to single me out whenever you have an opportunity to do so. If you have something to say to me just let me know send me a PM and we can discuss further if you like.

 

As far as the player is concerned, yes, he's young and he was drafted through HS but the fact they got rid of them probably means SD didn't highly of him and his numbers are so bad that it is a fact this guy sucks right now. Maybe he just isn't good with a wooden bat.

[Derwood]

Is hyperbole the word of choice in this thread?

 

I was thinking the same thing. It's the new sample size.

 

jesus, what? do you even know what hyperbole means?

[weis21]

anyone heard since this news broke so early today if either player will be able to play in tonights games? I don't know who would back up hill if not.

[Rebel_Cubbie]

just for a re-cap...Did we give up anything other than Barrett? And what else are we getting besides Bowen.

 

thanks.

[jyoung55]

I keep seeing Soto references. Isn't he hurt right now, and not catching at all?

 

All of you "fact checkers" with all of your "facts" are never going to end the fun, wild speculation by the ill-imformed.

[CubColtPacer]

anyone heard since this news broke so early today if either player will be able to play in tonights games? I don't know who would back up hill if not.

 

The report is that Barrett is already on his way to SD-so I would hope Bowen is on his way to Texas. Theriot and Ward are the emergency catchers right now (reported a few days ago).

[CubinNY]

Is hyperbole the word of choice in this thread?

 

I was thinking the same thing. It's the new sample size.

 

I don't think you can all hyperbole the word of choice in this thread because of sample size. This thread is a lock to go another 10 pages.

Based on it's absurdly high BABIP.

[CubColtPacer]

just for a re-cap...Did we give up anything other than Barrett? And what else are we getting besides Bowen.

 

thanks.

 

Barrett for Bowen, a raw 19 year old prospect, and cash considerations.

[E.J.]

anyone heard since this news broke so early today if either player will be able to play in tonights games? I don't know who would back up hill if not.

 

The report is that Barrett is already on his way to SD-so I would hope Bowen is on his way to Texas. Theriot and Ward are the emergency catchers right now (reported a few days ago).

 

Haha. It would be hilarious seeing Theriot in catcher's gear. :lol:

[abuck1220]

i love that people are criticizing barrett's "game calling." as if, 1) they know anything about how to call a game and can tell that barrett's doing a poor job of it and 2) pitchers don't have the ability to shake him off.

[jyoung55]

anyone heard since this news broke so early today if either player will be able to play in tonights games? I don't know who would back up hill if not.

 

The report is that Barrett is already on his way to SD-so I would hope Bowen is on his way to Texas. Theriot and Ward are the emergency catchers right now (reported a few days ago).

 

Haha. It would be hilarious seeing Theriot in catcher's gear. :lol:

 

The big-fella, Ward, may be even more interesting.

[C.C.]

Enough with the Hyperbole! Stupid word and no one seems to know what the hell it means...

 

Just wanted to vent. Carry on...

[UK1679666180]

As far as the player is concerned, yes, he's young and he was drafted through HS but the fact they got rid of them probably means SD didn't highly of him and his numbers are so bad that it is a fact this guy sucks right now. Maybe he just isn't good with a wooden bat.

 

If a player was drafted that high and signed for that amount, he's been worked out by many teams w/wood bats and been thru the showcase scene (he's been to many showcases, FWIW). He's been scouted w/wood.

 

As far as why he is struggling, it could be many things (some that are correctable and some that might not be) as well as why they got rid of him, hopefully it's a numbers thing and he happened to be best one of the names that Towers likely gave to Hendry.

[badger1679666666]

OK Pal, this is the 3rd time you went out of your way to respond to one of my posts in the last month. You must have a problem with me or don't like me that's fine but you love to single me out whenever you have an opportunity to do so. If you have something to say to me just let me know send me a PM and we can discuss further if you like.

 

As far as the player is concerned, yes, he's young and he was drafted through HS but the fact they got rid of them probably means SD didn't highly of him and his numbers are so bad that it is a fact this guy sucks right now. Maybe he just isn't good with a wooden bat.

 

Ok, maybe it's the other message boards I post on, but NOTHING I say is personal on here. I took issue once with your obssessive bashing of Kerry Wood. This is the second time I've quoted you. Maybe you're thinking too much of the significance of your posts? I have no problem with you, I've posted to you TWICE. If that's singling you out to you, there's not much to do about it. You post alot here. If I wanted to "single you out every time I have an opportunity" there'd be alot more than two posts to you.

 

I don't know you, this is a message board, I don't have a problem with you. I have an issue with hyperbole, but I probably need to get over it, because it's not going anywhere and I realize that.

Edited June 20, 2007 by badger

[swordsman]

Is hyperbole the word of choice in this thread?

 

I was thinking the same thing. It's the new sample size.

 

Hyperbole is the greatest word ever uttered by man or beast.

 

Bar none.

[jersey cubs fan]

Is hyperbole the word of choice in this thread?

 

I was thinking the same thing. It's the new sample size.

 

jesus, what? do you even know what hyperbole means?

 

Um yes, but I'm guessing you don't understand what I'm talking about. Hyperbole has been used a lot as a catch all by people complaining about others complaining about the trade. It's been used inappropriately as well. Similarly, sample size has been used ad nauseum and inappropriately at times on this board.

[BigbadB]

I keep seeing Soto references. Isn't he hurt right now, and not catching at all?

 

All of you "fact checkers" with all of your "facts" are never going to end the fun, wild speculation by the ill-imformed.

 

Haha.

[abuck1220]

hyperbole is clearly a myth.

[weis21]

just for a re-cap...Did we give up anything other than Barrett? And what else are we getting besides Bowen.

 

thanks.

 

barrett for bowen and A prospect OF Kyler Burke. Extremely mixed opinions on both. Burke very raw but has big potential to break or bust.

 

Cash is involved and espn is reporting it's the padres that are recieving it. no real surprise there.