Trading Darwin Barney

[Little Slide Rooter]

•Rival teams frequently ask about Darwin Barney and it’s possible the Cubs will trade the second baseman.

 

I know the obvious response is nobody would offer enough to make it worth trading a player as productive as Barney at his price, but say that they do? If someone wants to overpay, or even sprinkle in some extra prospects in a Dempster or Garza I'd do it in heartbeat. I doubt that anyeone expects him to continue his 3.2 WAR, and if this could be the definition of selling high.

 

Our next options for 2nd would be Cardenas, Valbuena, Lake, and DeWitt could then each audition for 2nd once Baker's gone.

[Cubswin11]

•Rival teams frequently ask about Darwin Barney and it’s possible the Cubs will trade the second baseman.

 

I know the obvious response is nobody would offer enough to make it worth trading a player as productive as Barney at his price, but say that they do? If someone wants to overpay, or even sprinkle in some extra prospects in a Dempster or Garza I'd do it in heartbeat. I doubt that anyeone expects him to continue his 3.2 WAR, and if this could be the definition of selling high.

 

Our next options for 2nd would be Cardenas, Valbuena, Lake, and DeWitt could then each audition for 2nd once Baker's gone.

I basically agree with you, Barney alone probably won't bring any sort of great prospect back and is probably worth keeping in that case. But he could probably help in a Garza/Demp trade in improving the quality of prospect(s) we get or getting an additional guy or two added.

Edited June 19, 2012 by Cubswin11

[Guest]

Barney has 4 years of team control after this year, meaning he'll be cost controlled throughout his prime. As it looks like he's a league average player at a minimum going forward, that's a pretty valuable commodity, especially given his ability to play SS. I'm not opposed to selling high with Darwin, because I don't think there's much more room for growth, but you need to get something to hang your hat on in return. A strong MLB ready prospect, or even a MLB player. In all honesty, he's probably closer to Garza in value than Dempster. At the deadline, I'm not so sure you're going to get that, even moreso since the team trading for Barney can't dream on 4-5 win upside for those arbitration years.

[jersey cubs fan]

A strong MLB ready prospect, or even a MLB player.

 

I have a hard time imagining what sort of already arrived MLB player they could get that would make it worth their while to deal him. The whole service time issue would be more or less a wash and then you'd be trading for the sake of a trade rather than resupplying the system as a whole.

[UK1679666180]

His production/team friendly contract is worth more than the possible perception from other teams that he's a utilty player exceeding expectations. Hang onto him until he gets into year 4 on his arby years and hope he cont's to produce offensively this pace with above avg defense.

[Guest]

A strong MLB ready prospect, or even a MLB player.

 

I have a hard time imagining what sort of already arrived MLB player they could get that would make it worth their while to deal him. The whole service time issue would be more or less a wash and then you'd be trading for the sake of a trade rather than resupplying the system as a whole.

 

You'd likely be trading Barney's certainty for more upside, and probably at a different position. Barney is so valuable despite his lack of star potential because he's pretty well proven his ability to be average at worst(plus defense, .270 hitter in 900+ PA) with so many team controlled years in front of him. Taking on someone with more risk but more potential reward could be worth their while. I agree that it's not an easy fit, which combined with all that Barney offers makes it an unlikely match.

[davell]

About the only major league piece I could see a team giving up for him is maybe a younger set up type guy. Not sure how many teams that are contending would view Barney as an upgrade from their 2B situation, other than Detroit. Plus, you've got Scutaro on the block, who's probably as or more appealing, because it's the last year of his deal and will cost less, and possibly even Jose Altuve, if the Astros could get a big ransom(doubtful, I think) for him.

 

But, unless we received a very nice bullpen arm who's under control for a while or a borderline top 10 prospect from a system, then there's no reason for us to trade him, in my mind.

[jersey cubs fan]

A strong MLB ready prospect, or even a MLB player.

 

I have a hard time imagining what sort of already arrived MLB player they could get that would make it worth their while to deal him. The whole service time issue would be more or less a wash and then you'd be trading for the sake of a trade rather than resupplying the system as a whole.

 

You'd likely be trading Barney's certainty for more upside, and probably at a different position. Barney is so valuable despite his lack of star potential because he's pretty well proven his ability to be average at worst(plus defense, .270 hitter in 900+ PA) with so many team controlled years in front of him. Taking on someone with more risk but more potential reward could be worth their while. I agree that it's not an easy fit, which combined with all that Barney offers makes it an unlikely match.

 

I guess an arm would make sense. But would they trade a starting caliber 2B (who could probably start at SS) for a reliever? God I hope not. Starting pitching is probably valued higher than a guy with the perception of being an over achieving utility player.

[Little Slide Rooter]

A strong MLB ready prospect, or even a MLB player.

 

I have a hard time imagining what sort of already arrived MLB player they could get that would make it worth their while to deal him. The whole service time issue would be more or less a wash and then you'd be trading for the sake of a trade rather than resupplying the system as a whole.

 

You'd likely be trading Barney's certainty for more upside, and probably at a different position. Barney is so valuable despite his lack of star potential because he's pretty well proven his ability to be average at worst(plus defense, .270 hitter in 900+ PA) with so many team controlled years in front of him. Taking on someone with more risk but more potential reward could be worth their while. I agree that it's not an easy fit, which combined with all that Barney offers makes it an unlikely match.

 

This sums it up. Barney will more than likely be a productive, league average/above average player through his prime. However, if given the opportunity to move a guy who's a sure thing to be a good but not spectacular player for a package of high celing guys, you can't turn it down. If someone really wants him, and they offer a top 100 guy you take and run faster than Tony Campana. Basically, you're trading the promise of stability for the off chance of greatness.

[KingCubsFan]

About the only major league piece I could see a team giving up for him is maybe a younger set up type guy. Not sure how many teams that are contending would view Barney as an upgrade from their 2B situation, other than Detroit. Plus, you've got Scutaro on the block, who's probably as or more appealing, because it's the last year of his deal and will cost less, and possibly even Jose Altuve, if the Astros could get a big ransom(doubtful, I think) for him.

 

But, unless we received a very nice bullpen arm who's under control for a while or a borderline top 10 prospect from a system, then there's no reason for us to trade him, in my mind.

I think his best use is to be packaged with Dempster in order to get a true impact prospect. Or maybe with another guy like Russell to get a good return.

[TruffleShuffle]

His production/team friendly contract is worth more than the possible perception from other teams that he's a utilty player exceeding expectations. Hang onto him until he gets into year 4 on his arby years and hope he cont's to produce offensively this pace with above avg defense.

 

agreed. i don't think his defense is widely regarded as phenomenal, so you're just not going to get proper value for him on the trade market.

[davell]

To me, ranking our guys that we may actually trade, I'd rank them like this now, as far as getting the most in return goes: Garza, LaHair, Dempster, Barney, Russell, Campana, DeJesus, Maholm, Soriano, Camp, Soto, Reed Johnson, Marmol, and Baker.

[Little Slide Rooter]

To me, ranking our guys that we may actually trade, I'd rank them like this now, as far as getting the most in return goes: Garza, LaHair, Dempster, Barney, Russell, Campana, DeJesus, Maholm, Soriano, Camp, Soto, Reed Johnson, Marmol, and Baker.

 

You really think we'd get more for Campana than DeJesus, Maholm, or Soriano?

[Guest]

I really don't see LaHair being ahead of Dempster, DL or no DL.

[Guest]

To me, ranking our guys that we may actually trade, I'd rank them like this now, as far as getting the most in return goes: Garza, LaHair, Dempster, Barney, Russell, Campana, DeJesus, Maholm, Soriano, Camp, Soto, Reed Johnson, Marmol, and Baker.

 

You really think we'd get more for Campana than DeJesus, Maholm, or Soriano?

 

Yea, that's kind of a head scratcher as well.

[davell]

I could see a team thinking he's Juan Pierre lite possibly. Maybe giving up a top 20 prospect for the speed and team control. After the first 4, I tjink it's really jumbled.

[UK1679666180]

To me, ranking our guys that we may actually trade, I'd rank them like this now, as far as getting the most in return goes: Garza, LaHair, Dempster, Barney, Russell, Campana, DeJesus, Maholm, Soriano, Camp, Soto, Reed Johnson, Marmol, and Baker.

 

You really think we'd get more for Campana than DeJesus, Maholm, or Soriano?

 

Yea, that's kind of a head scratcher as well.

 

 

Certain variables need to be applied, especially Soriano's contract and Dempster's injury.

 

I see them trading Dempster, maybe Dejesus, and maybe a PTBNL for Johnson.

 

Russell has a too team-friendly contact at a position where cost-effectiveness is emphasized, same with Barney. They'll find a spot for Lahair as they're already showing (similar low salary), Campana is likely viewed as a 25th man with no value (every organization has one in their system ). If they want to trade Dempster and maybe Garza, Maholm won't be traded and he's done little to add value in return besides eat innings on a 90+ loss team. Soto might have more potential value at a later date than what he'd get now (although this has been case for a couple of years now). No one will want Marmol without them eating the contract and still get little in return, Baker and Camp likely have no value for other teams.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I could see a team thinking he's Juan Pierre lite possibly. Maybe giving up a top 20 prospect for the speed and team control. After the first 4, I tjink it's really jumbled.

 

The trouble is, there are plenty of Juan Pierre lights out there: Rajai Davis, Ben Revere, Sam Fuld, Carlos Gomez etc. and I can't imagine any of them having more value than DeJesus or a fully paid for Soriano.

[SouthSideRyan]

And nobody cares about the actual Juan Pierre now.

[squally1313]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-atlanta-braves-suddenly-need-a-starter/

 

Wasn't sure if this should go in the Dempster thread or this one, but if you start reading the comments, a lot of people (granted, their commentators, but people who read FG tend to be a little better than the norm) said they need depth that can play the utility role. There wouldn't be a starting spot for Barney (Uggla is having a great year, the new rookie SS is producing, and Chipper is back), but they have a real back up for any of those spots. Jack Wilson's put up a sub-.200 OBP backing up short, and Juan Francisco was a similar disaster at third. Basically, there's a lot of room to give someone like Barney ABs.

 

Could we package Demp and Barney and get a couple guys from their highly regarded system? I know a couple of their pitchers have taken a step back (or my Braves fan friend isn't as high on them at least), but I think there could be a few options to choose from there.

[SouthSideRyan]

If we're trading Barney to a team that plans on using him as a utility infielder then we're not going to get a fair return for him.

[squally1313]

If we're trading Barney to a team that plans on using him as a utility infielder then we're not going to get a fair return for him.

 

Probably. But between Simmons still being unproven, Chipper being very injury prone, and them possibly someone to pair with Uggla at second/third when Chipper retires, he could have decent value to them.

 

To echo what everyone else (and you, basically) are saying, he's more valued by us than he is to the rest of the league, and I'm only really in favor of trading him with others to sweeten a possible return. Pairing him with a pitcher to the Braves and all those young arms could be the way to do it (obviously, given the right return.)

[Backtobanks]

If we're trading Barney to a team that plans on using him as a utility infielder then we're not going to get a fair return for him.

 

Probably. But between Simmons still being unproven, Chipper being very injury prone, and them possibly someone to pair with Uggla at second/third when Chipper retires, he could have decent value to them.

 

To echo what everyone else (and you, basically) are saying, he's more valued by us than he is to the rest of the league, and I'm only really in favor of trading him with others to sweeten a possible return. Pairing him with a pitcher to the Braves and all those young arms could be the way to do it (obviously, given the right return.)

 

It had better really sweeten the return or else you just created another hole to fill on a team that has a ton of holes to fill now.

[XZero771679666304]

If we're trading Barney to a team that plans on using him as a utility infielder then we're not going to get a fair return for him.

 

Probably. But between Simmons still being unproven, Chipper being very injury prone, and them possibly someone to pair with Uggla at second/third when Chipper retires, he could have decent value to them.

 

To echo what everyone else (and you, basically) are saying, he's more valued by us than he is to the rest of the league, and I'm only really in favor of trading him with others to sweeten a possible return. Pairing him with a pitcher to the Braves and all those young arms could be the way to do it (obviously, given the right return.)

 

It had better really sweeten the return or else you just created another hole to fill on a team that has a ton of holes to fill now.

 

 

I'd be a little reticent about trading a cost effective player, but I don't think replacing Darwin Barney would be a tall order. If some team wanted to give a decent return (like a decent pitching prospect), I'd deal him without much compunction.

 

And I don't think it's out of the question that a team would want Darwin to plug in at SS, either.

[squally1313]

If we're trading Barney to a team that plans on using him as a utility infielder then we're not going to get a fair return for him.

 

Probably. But between Simmons still being unproven, Chipper being very injury prone, and them possibly someone to pair with Uggla at second/third when Chipper retires, he could have decent value to them.

 

To echo what everyone else (and you, basically) are saying, he's more valued by us than he is to the rest of the league, and I'm only really in favor of trading him with others to sweeten a possible return. Pairing him with a pitcher to the Braves and all those young arms could be the way to do it (obviously, given the right return.)

 

It had better really sweeten the return or else you just created another hole to fill on a team that has a ton of holes to fill now.

 

If it gets us a pitcher that has a reasonable chance of slotting into the rotation over the next 3-5 years, I'm more than ok with putting some combination of Stewart/Vitters/Valbuena/Lake at third and second through next year to get a look at them (and by then we'll know plenty more about the future of guys like Baez, Marco Hernandez, and DeVoss).