Interesting, I like Atkins... But I'm NOT the biggest fan of the idea. The thing is this.ESPN's Buster Olney makes a point to say that this trade idea is pure speculation rather than anything he's heard. Still worth discussing. Here it is:
If Colorado eventually turns the page on 2008, the Indians and the Rockies could match up well in a deal built around Garrett Atkins. The Rockies have a third baseman waiting in the wings, in Ian Stewart -- although he is not faring well so far -- and the Indians, as they look for ways to improve their offense, are flexible at first and third base. (MLBTR)
Atkins plays third and first base. We are pretty good in both areas. Trading Marte wouldn't work because apparently they like the guy that would replace Atkins. MLBTR speculates Aaron Laffey(not a fan with CC and Byrd's pending FA statuses), and Josh Barfield. As we all know I love Josh Barfield and if Casey Blake isn't with this team next year, we need either Barfield or Marte.
Plus where would you play him THIS year AND he is due a lot of money in arbitration because of the years he has been having. Not a fan of this, and thankfully it is just Buster Olney dreaming stuff up and we have no real interest in the guy.
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3 comments:
You said the Indians can't afford to trade Marte and/or Barfield because of Blake's status but the point is we would have Atkins...he will more than replace Blake. Also IF Marte does some how work out Atkins could go to first. The Mets, Yankees, and Giants are just a few of the teams who will need new first basemen after this season. Garko could land you a few nice players like say Heilman and Pelfrey from the Mets? Ian Kennedy, who's value may have fallen a lot more by then, from the Yankees? Adding Atkins this season helps you now and also sets you up very nice in the offseason. Trading Garko next off season would be like trading Crisp, and Shapiro has shown he is open to those types of deals. We know Garko's ceiling and we know his value will not get much better than now especially when both New York teams will be needing firstbase help soon. Also next offseason, if we are worried about Cabrera, we can always bring in a low level free agent to fill in and help at secondbase, sort of like Belliard was a few years ago. The point is the Atkins trade does make sense. The fact he is signed for through 2010 only helps. I think the Rockies would do Jordan Brown, David Huff and Barfield for Atkins. Huff is doing very well at AA and Brown is a 10 prospect but could be passed soon by Aubrey, Whitney, Hodges and Mills in the depth chart and Brown's power is limited. Colordo has a big hole at second so Barfield makes sense for them.
Well the question of where Atkins would fit into the Tribe lineup isn't too outrageous. He'd start mostly at 3B (maybe the occasional 1B start). Blake could easily move back to the OF then. Now I know most of you love Francisco....but I just don't see this guy as the answer. I'd love to see Marte become the Indians everyday 3B....but he's not gonna magically start hitting this season with the few at-bats he's getting. He needs to be playing everyday, something he can't do at the ML level right now. Atkins isn't gonna be a free agent til after the 2010 season. That will give plenty of stability and hitting from the 3B spot. After that you can look to resign him or hands the reigns over to a guy like Wes Hodges or possibly Beau Mills if he moves back to 3B. Atkins is making $4.3875M this year. He asked for $4.65M in arbitration. He'll probably want something around $6M in 09 (hmm, that's what we're already paying our 3B). Tribe may even offer him a 2-3 year deal to get him through arbitration for like $7-8M a year. Sounds like a logical move at this point if Atkins should become available.....
Nathan
I'm not a fan of trading Garko for anything, at all. You will learn I'm a big Garko fan and I don't like the idea of getting rid of him. We very rarely trade for pitching prospects like Pelfrey and Kennedy who are this late in their development stages. I've seen Pelfrey pitch in the big leagues too. Electric stuff, but I wonder about him.
Aubrey is out of time after this year. They will have to make a decision on him because its his last option year. Brown has more time than he does.
Thanks for the comment.
Hermie,
I just am not a big fan of putting Atkins in this lineup. I really like Francisco, tonight he got the job done, he has proven he can flat out hit the baseball.
I think the price would be a little too much. What would they want? A good pitcher? Adam Miller, you can forget it about it. We need our pitching in case Sabathia leaves next year. Plus Byrd probably won't be back. That is two spots to fill and we need as much depth as possible.
But, thanks for the comment, it's nice to have some people come in an disagree with me for once.
Just not a fan of the idea. Doesn't slide in as easily as say a one year outfielder(Griffey maybe?) would.
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