Cubs acquire Jeff Baker

[BCVM22]

The Chicago Cubs have acquired Jeff Baker (notes) from the Colorado Rockies, according to a source close to the club.

 

It is unclear who the Rockies will receive in return for Baker or the Cubs' plans for him.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/rumors/post/Source-Cubs-deal-for-Rockies-Baker;_ylt=Anca8nNP.OjBjE8uJcaeK7Ub2Z14?urn=mlb,174256

[UMFan83]

Backup 3B 5 days before Rammy comes back...righty hitter, has played 1B, 2B, 3B, RF and LF in his career. Hit 12 HRs and had a .791 OPS last year. Hasn't played a game in the bigs since April 26th. Umm...a poor man's Mark DeRosa?

[A-Cal]

the guy has been on the DL since April 27th with a sprained left hand...

 

curious trade here

 

another hendry masterpiece for sure

[Keener98]

Baker has a .902 OPS in his career vs lefties. Its in only 204 at bats but hes hit 13 HRs in those 204 at bats and has a slugging pct of 559 against leftys in his career. I dont know how his defense is, but if Font could get his numbers back to respectability, a platoon of Baker and Font at 2nd base could be pretty productive. Im going to assume we gave up nothing of value for him, and maybe, just maybe, this could end the Miles ERA.

[Rob]

No confirmation yet from any news outlets that I can see...

 

I wouldn't mind the move though, provided it didn't cost much.

[A-Cal]

will hendry be man enough to eat the miles contract or is this our insurance if aram isn't healthy...if it is the latter then BOO

 

i will stay open minded for now

[Cubswin11]

Didn't Patton come from the Rockies? Can we be maybe sending him back for Baker? A man can dream right?

[cubsfan26]

As long as they didn't give up anything of good value. I think adding Baker is worth a shot. If he hits like he did last year he could be a asset to the team. I know I like his power at 2b over Miles, Blanco or Scales. People always say the Cubs have won under Jim Hendry because he had money to spend. Well this season he doesn't have money to spend. So he's gonna have to make little moves like this, and add a few players who might be unproven but have some upside. Just hopefully we didn't give up anybody we will miss to get him. I remember there being a market for Baker this spring but he was never traded. Hopefully his stock went down now that he was hurt and the Rockies don't have a spot for him on their bench anymore.

[kjfoster 1553]

Backup 3B 5 days before Rammy comes back...righty hitter, has played 1B, 2B, 3B, RF and LF in his career. Hit 12 HRs and had a .791 OPS last year. Hasn't played a game in the bigs since April 26th. Umm...a poor man's Mark DeRosa?

homeless man, actually.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Dumb. dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb. Mark Teahen is a poor mans Mark DeRosa. Jeff Baker is a slight upgrade over Aaron Miles. The only way Id be at all for this deal is if Miles if headed to Denver, but more than likely he'd be taking Fox or Blancos roster spot, maybe Freel.

[davearm2]

FWIW, someone on the minor leagues board mentioned that Al Albuquerque has been traded to the Rockies.

[weis21]

Dumb. dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb. Mark Teahen is a poor mans Mark DeRosa. Jeff Baker is a slight upgrade over Aaron Miles. The only way Id be at all for this deal is if Miles if headed to Denver, but more than likely he'd be taking Fox or Blancos roster spot, maybe Freel.

I seriously doubt this move has any implications concerning Fox. What's with the over-the-top Teahen love? Sure, he's having a good year so far this year, but the two prior years have been nothing special. I think Baker could conceivably produce similar numbers for a much lower cost.

 

Assuming we didn't give up much, I like the move. He's entering his prime (28), has decent pop, and like Keener pointed out, he could be a very effective platoon partner for Fontenot. That would shift Blanco into his best role, that of a utility infielder/late inning defensive replacement; and he can spell Ramirez when he needs a day off. As others have said, another IF may very well signal the end of Miles...

[dew1679666265]

Dumb. dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb. Mark Teahen is a poor mans Mark DeRosa. Jeff Baker is a slight upgrade over Aaron Miles. The only way Id be at all for this deal is if Miles if headed to Denver, but more than likely he'd be taking Fox or Blancos roster spot, maybe Freel.

 

Teahen was likely to cost quite a bit in prospects since the Royals have little incentive to trade him. Baker should cost much less in terms of prospects.

 

Plus, Teahen has played a total of 3 games at 2B in his career. Baker could be a viable platoon option at second with Fontenot. I wouldn't mind Teahen at the right price, but Baker makes a bit more sense.

[dew1679666265]

Baker has played 52 games at second base in his career, with all of them coming in 2008 and this year. UZR has him as a career -3.5 UZR/150 player there.

 

Not that big a defensive liability.

[weis21]

Baker has played 52 games at second base in his career, with all of them coming in 2008 and this year. UZR has him as a career -3.5 UZR/150 player there.

 

Not that big a defensive liability.

Out of curiosity, what is Fontenot's UZR? It doesn't seem like he's really that great of a defender, but I think I recall someone stating that he had better defensive metrics than Derosa at 2B. (Also, is there a place I can find that kind of info for free?)

[jersey cubs fan]

Fox replacement?

[UK1679666180]

While I'm glad it improves the bench at face value, unless they plan at using him at 2B vs. lefties, replacing Fox with Baker as the RH'ed power bat doesn't add any value. Putting Baker and Fox on the bench gives them 3 decent RH'ed options off the bench once Johnson gets healthy.

[sporrer17]

Fox replacement?

 

Seems like more of a Miles replacement, honestly. Fontenot can't hit LHs, Blanco doesn't hit anyone well, and Miles can't stay healthy or hit well. At least Baker can hit LHs

[Tryptamine]

As a few have said this looks like a move that means either Freel or Miles is getting released. I'm hoping it's going to be Miles, but I'm not going to hold my breath. It just seems weird that they would wait so long to do this.

[jersey cubs fan]

Fox replacement?

 

Seems like more of a Miles replacement, honestly. Fontenot can't hit LHs, Blanco doesn't hit anyone well, and Miles can't stay healthy or hit well. At least Baker can hit LHs

 

But Miles isn't on the roster. I guess Freel could be cut.

[sporrer17]

Do we even know for sure that Baker is healthy and ready to be put on the roster? But like you said, Freel could be the odd man out with Fuld capable of backing up CF. Freel's only other value was his ability to backup 2b/3b, but Baker gives you that too, and Freel is a pointless OF once Johnson comes back.

[dew1679666265]

Baker has played 52 games at second base in his career, with all of them coming in 2008 and this year. UZR has him as a career -3.5 UZR/150 player there.

 

Not that big a defensive liability.

Out of curiosity, what is Fontenot's UZR? It doesn't seem like he's really that great of a defender, but I think I recall someone stating that he had better defensive metrics than Derosa at 2B. (Also, is there a place I can find that kind of info for free?)

 

UZR has Fontenot as a much better defensive second baseman than DeRosa. Fontenot's career UZR/150 at 2B is 14.6 and this year it's 21.1. DeRosa's career UZR/150 at second is -7.5.

 

You can find all this info at Fangraphs.com. And it's completely free.

[UK1679666180]

Regardless of UZR, from what I seen of Baker defensively at 2B/3B has not been good. I'll be surprised if he's not a defensively liability in the IF.

[dew1679666265]

Regardless of UZR, from what I seen of Baker defensively at 2B/3B has not been good. I'll be surprised if he's not a defensively liability in the IF.

 

Thanks. I haven't seen him play at all, so that's helpful.

[soapy]

it almost has to be Freel, if they're putting Baker on the roster.

 

Freel has become (even more) expendible with Fox holding his own at 3B and Fuld capable of playing CF. He pretty much serves no purpose at all if Baker is added. Same can be said for Miles of course, but like goony said, he's not even on the roster right now.