Baseball Notebook: Steroids Free Zone Today
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by Niteowl049
Baseball Notebook: Steroids Free Zone Today
Today I am declaring this a steroids free zone for one day at least. That doesn't mean tomorrow will be steroids free but if a reader wants to comment on steroids today they are welcome to post their comments. I know some readers are burned out on reading about the Mitchell Report and steroids so am taking a one day reprieve from that kind of news.
Hot Stove League News
Edmonds Traded to Padres
Jim Edmonds has been traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the San Diego Padres for David Freese, a third baseman. Edmonds will give the Padres a solid center fielder to replace Mike Cameron. Edmonds who will be 38 next June has 362 lifetime home runs and 1121 runs batted in and a .287 lifetime batting average but only has 1801 lifetime hits. His home runs numbers have been dropping for the last three seasons but he has missed close to a hundred games over the last two seasons. His slugging percentage over the last four seasons has been dropping which is a true indication of his drop in production since it is not related to at bats. In 2004 he slugged .643 but in the last three seasons he has slugged .533, .471 and .403. Still if he is healthy he may help the Padres in 2008.
Haren Traded to Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks have traded six prospects in exchange for Dan Haren and Connor Robinson coming to the Diamondbacks from the Oakland Athletics. Haren should be a huge addition to the Diamondbacks starting rotation. With the uncertainty of the health status of Randy Johnson they had to do something to strengthen the rotation.
Greg Smith a lefthanded pitcher could help the Athletics as soon as 2008. My grandson's youth baseball team's manager last summer has been working with Smith during the offseason. He is former major league pitcher Kevin McGehee who pitched for the Orioles in 1993. Smith has a 31-14 record in the minor leagues and has played for five teams in his three minor league seasons and he has a 3.27 ERA.
His most impressive minor league stat is that he has given up only 316 hits in 352 innings. He played for Mobile and Tucson last season. Short term the Diamondbacks get the best of this trade but in the long term it remains to be seen how many of these prospects even make it to the majors and if they do how well they play for the Athletics. I see no reason for the Athletics to have given up Haren when that leaves Joe Blanton with 14 wins and Chad Gaudin with 11 wins with no other starter having more than 8 wins. Of course there is always Rich Harden but his injury history is so bad he can't be counted on. Surely Billy Beane will make some moves to bolster the starting pitching or the A's may be dead in the water before the season starts.
Diamondbacks Trade Valverde to Astros
Jose Valverde who led the major leagues in saves last year with 47 has been traded from the Diamondbacks in exchange for pitcher Chad Qualls, infielder-outfielder Chris Burke and pitcher Juan Gutierrez from the Houston Astros. I would like to know the reasoning behind this deal since Valverde led majors in saves and now he has been traded. It will be interesting to see who the Diamondbacks plan to use for their closer in 2008. On the same day they acquire one of the best starters in baseball they trade their major league leader in saves while getting little in return. Haren along with the other starters need a closer to save their games and right now I don't see anyone capable of stepping in to take the place of Valverde. To me they have solved one problem and created another so unless they have other free agent signings or trades in mind to come later they will have a huge void in the bullpen in 2008.
Eckstein Signs With Blue Jays
David Eckstein may not be the best fielder or best power hitter in baseball but he brings something the game needs in his hustle and determination. He may have the worst arm for a shortstop in baseball today but he manages to get the runner out at first most of the time.
Eckstein is a throwback player in that he plays the game the way it is meant to be played. He will be a tremendous addition to the Toronto Blue Jays especially if he stays healthy all season. He will be an inspiration to the younger players on the team. Eckstein may be one of my favorite players if not my favorite player because he represents the best baseball has to offer. He may be one of the shortest players in baseball but his stature means nothing. He seldom strikes out and seldom misses a pitch entirely. I am sure there are some short minor league players seeing in Eckstein a reason to keep playing since Eckstein has proved a short player can play in the majors and play well.
