The Trouble with Trading Outfielders
LAS VEGAS — Back in 2003, Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry went into the offseason looking for a lefthanded bat to balance out his lineup. He came to that year’s general manager meetings with that in mind, he planned to hit the Baseball Winter Meetings with that bat atop his shopping, and inbetween the two he made a deal … for righthanded-hitting Derrek Lee.
Go figure.
“We were too righthanded,” Hendry said here at the Baseball Winter Meetings. “Same problem we still seem to have.”
Hendry told the Lee story to provide context for how these meetings often spin and whirl in unexpected directions. He came to find a lefthanded bat. He may leave with another pitcher (i.e., Jake Peavy). But in doing so he also helped describe what is one of the overcrowded markets in this winter’s free-agent field: outfielders. Specifically, lefthanded hitting free-agent outfielders. The Cubs are said to be pursuing Milton Bradley, but a whole handful or other outfielders have also been on their radar. The list of options is long:
- Garret Anderson, who would prefer to go back to the Angels
- Bobby Abreu, whose agent has put together a packet of stats that includes a statement placing Abreu in the company of Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez. They are the only three players with at least 100 RBI in each of the past six seasons.
- Raul Ibanez
- Adam Dunn on the high end.
- Ken Griffey Jr.
- Milton Bradley
- etc. (Jim Edmonds, Cliff Floyd, Luis Gonzalez … )
Add into that market players like Jeremy Hermida, who the Florida Marlins are willing to move, and even a DH-like hitter in Jason Giambi, who could satisfy some of the teams looking for a DH/OF best-buy hybrid in this market. There are more available outfielders than teams looking for outfielders. The Cubs are one. Cincinnati has been mentioned as another team, though a righthanded bat may be a better fit for the Reds. Tampa Bay has been talked about here as a team looking to sign an outfielder after the dust has settled.
There is a glut of outfielders available to teams who are looking.
Therein lies the trick for the St. Louis Cardinals as they plan to deal from a strength — their depth in the outfield — and possibly clear a spot for Colby Rasmus in the big-league outfield. (Asked the other night if there was a scenario he saw where Rasmus broke camp with the major-league club this coming April, GM John Mozeliak nodded in the affirmative.) Rick Ankiel may attract a team like Atlanta — where true believer Bruce Manno is the assistant general manager — but for what return? Ankiel is eligible to be a free agent after this coming season and is his arbitration reward going the be all that different than what the market may do to some of the salaries for the free-agent outfielders?
This market has been billed as one that would encourage teams to deal because of the set salaries and the attractive quality of control through arbitration. But the outfield market is so overrun with options that the better price may be not giving up a prospect or two at all. But will that land the better outfielder?
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(10 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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Derrick Goold said he was going to Mizzou for capital-J journalism, but after growing up in the Time Zone Baseball Forgot he was really drawn to MU sitting between two major-league cities. Goold joined the Post-Dispatch in 2001 after working for The Times-Picayune and Rocky Mountain News, covering sports from LSU to NHL and every level of baseball in between. 
Valid points to be sure…but if Chris Duncan proves he can play at all, like it or not, the 2009 Cards will have 4 outfielders with at least a season of major league experience before Rasmus even laces up his cleats. If they’re not going to trade this kid, they have to play him…but where?
The Cardinals are players. Mo will make the deal ot get a big pitcher or top prospects and we will be a top team in the NL with the Cubs and Cards fighting it out for the division championship. The Astros better retool cause if they are slow to start this year it may be out of BOTH races by June. This is going to be an exciting year. Rasmus will take a little bit to warm up but when he does its RoY and his first GG and some hardware? He has power and average and speed and hitting in front or behind Pujols with Ludwick and Glaus he is going to hit 30 homers and have 100 RBI’s. He is a stud folks and the Cardinals and Cubs are the powers to be in the NL Central.
Mr. Goold,
Does the glut of OFs on the market force Mr. Mozeliak into waiting until Spring Training before he will be able to make any significant trades? Do you think it is necessary for guys like Duncan and Ankiel to prove they are healthy before they have significant enough trade value to make a deal worth making? Does the reduced cost of the Cardinals OFs make them a more desirable option than a Luis Gonzalez, Garrett Anderson, or Ken Griffey, Jr. even considering the injuries?
Thanks for any comments.
Have the Cardinals made a contract offer to Ankiel for 2010-2112?? If not WHY??? I can see tradeing him IF he has turned down out multiyear offer.
With catcher Bryan Anderson blocked @ ALL the teams looking for good young catching WHY have we not been able to trade Anderson for a good young prospect?? Same question about 3rd base,Why have we not traded eather Freese or Craig?? Anybody in the Rule 5 draft we may look at??
DG….One thing that Ankiel has over all of those guys available, though, is the ability to play CF. Save Edmonds, none of those guys can do what he’s capable of (even if he’s still learning) let alone handle the glove in any of the OF spots, actually. That has to help his value a tad.
Barring any deals, and provided Rasmus is ready to play in the big leagues, the Cards’ best outfield may put Rasmus in center, with Ludwick in left and Slick Rick in right. Not much love for Duncan or Schu if those are the guys in front of them. Ankiel’s long-term status is iffy given the money he’ll likely want (and likely deserve), so if he can be moved for someone under control I think the front office should consider it, sad as I’d be to see him in another uniform.
The main need is bullpen help, and a Suppan-like fourth starter — moderate salary guy who can eat up innings. Hello Randy Wolf?
DG:
Currently, what is the health status of Chris Duncan? In August, he underwent a very serious surgery to address a herniated disk issue in his neck, remember. It would look to me that this would diminish some of his trade value.
Seems to me the bottom line is if you want a player you pay for him value for value, by cash or player. But, depending upon how bad a team wants your guy or visa versa, the scales could be weighted for or against you. It all boils down to do you want the buck for your bang. If so, pull the trigger and bag the buck with a big bang. Otherwise just go home and forget about the hunt.
There have been no discussions with Ankiel about a long-term deal. With a full, healthy season under his belt this would have been the time for the Cardinals to bring it up — with one year remaining on his arbitration. Instead, they seem content to deal him or deal with arbitration.
Chris Duncan is deep into his recovery from the surgery and has strengthened his shoulder enough that he is taking batting practice, his father said. Duncan has been able to work out and work on his upper body for several weeks. The Cardinals expect him to be at full strength for spring.
Bingo: Ankiel can play center. That is a plus. Not all of those teams are looking for a center fielder (i.e., the Rays) but some would make room in center for Ankiel.
More stuff later tonight from Tony La Russa and John Mozeliak.
dg
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