Let's accept what appear to be the facts: Howie Kendrick is major-league ready. You can parse about whether his glove is at the caliber of Adam Kennedy's but barring the presence of such a prestigious veteran, the decision would be obvious.
The decision might actually start to create a little friction among team management. If Kennedy is to be traded, his value will be highest as Spring Training winds down. Given two months to risk that he bat .280 while Kendrick is at .333 in Salt Lake, the snake in the grass that is Bill Stoneman could make the move.
Packaging Kennedy with McPherson, Erick Aybar and Jered Weaver could net the Angels Miguel Cabrera. Then it is just a July 31 bidding for Orlando Cabrera until Brandon Wood debuts and then hold your breath until Nick Adenhart is major league ready.
0 recs | 24 comments
Crazy Trade
Kennedy aside, you'd be throwing away a lot of organizational talent in McPherson, Aybar, AND the younger Weaver. And getting rid of Kennedy before Kendrick's defense is up to par will mean a lot of missed defensive opportunities. It's not just that his defense isn't on par with Kennedy, it's nowhere near as good.To me that just looks like too big a loss for one guy.
Neo8234 - March 8, 2006
Yes and No
Agree about Kennedy. Adam's game has reached the level of All-Star and we may see him playing in the Mid-Summer Classic this year. He has become one of the better all-around 2nd basemen in the game, and it will therefore hurt to see him go NEXT YEAR.The timing works out well for the Angels. There is no need to rush Kendrick up here. One season at Salt Lake will not hurt him.We will probably see him in the summer and certainly a September call up for the playoffs, but we shouldn't be so anxious to push Kennedy out the door. He'll help us win alot of games this year and could be key in the playoffs as well.
We all know Kendrick is not going anywhere -- his time will come. As for the Cabrera trade. I'm okay with trading McItchy, Aybar, etc, but I'm sure the Marlins would want either Wood or Kendrick (or maybe both) as part of any package and I'm not sure Stoneman wants to give up either one, even for a talent like Cabrera. The great thing about all the young talent we have is that we don't HAVE to do anything. We're really in the drivers seat. If another club wants to offer Stoneman a star offensive player he can wait to be bowled over by an offer. Stoneman and the Angels are sitting at the table with a Full House and the only way they can lose in the long run is by folding those cards.
Jack Frost - March 10, 2006
But its Miguel Cabrera
I would do that trade in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, Weaver cannot be traded until 1 calendar year after his signing which is in June (I think). I'd be willing to substitute any minor league pitcher though.Miguel Cabrera is a superstar on the level of Pujols. If the Angels could find a way to get him, they should do so with haste.
Was Henry Aaron just one guy?
akathelorax @ Halos Heaven - March 9, 2006
re: Trade Proposal
"And getting rid of Kennedy before Kendrick's defense is up to par will mean a lot of missed defensive opportunities."We could play Figgens until Kendricks is ready. But then we should hold onto DMac. Or do we trust Miguel Cabrera there?
Barca - March 9, 2006
Trade
I would say a trade for Cabrera would be a good one, I am not sure at this point I would give up all of the players you listed: Maybe Stonewall can get a little more creative and figure out how to keep either Mac or Weaver. I also don't think Kendrick is ready to play 2b in the bigs as of yet. His glove work is below average and he needs another 1/2 year in the minors to improve that. I think if he improves defensively at AAA, by mid year, we will see Kennedy traded. At this point I would not put Kendrick at 2nd base for the Angels. I would consider using him at DH if he keeps hitting the cover off the ball, but that would cripple his efforts in becoming a better defender.As for Wood, he's not Major League ready yet either. That is great he hit 57 ding dongs last year, but lets not forget that was in A and AA. He hasn't done much this spring,nor has he faced Major League Pitching. I know it's ST, but I would still like to see him hit some out before we ship off OC for Wood. Sure Wood will get there sooner rather than later, but cmon if you want to see our last years A and AA double play combo in Anaheim this year, you have to be crazy. They are the future, but the future isn't right now. I do expect big years from both AK and OC this year, and as long as they are getting hits and getting on base, they will be doing their jobs. Needless to mention that their defense in EN FUEGO!
As for the trade:
Kennedy-yes and he is of great value (plus it is his walk year)
Dal Mac- Maybe, but he has a lot of upside. He just needs a full season to get his confidence and should be pencilled in at 3b for at least 5 years for a reasonable cost
Aybar- No brainer
Weaver- I have a tough time letting him go, but wouldn't be totally against it
It would be nice to keep either Weaver or Dal Mac, I wouldn't want to get rid of both of them for one player. I would like to see Stoneman do something to increase the power in this lineup...These guys cant even score runs in the cactus league against AA and AAA pitchers
P237 - March 9, 2006
if we got Cabrera...
LTFO!The purse strings are worth loosening up for a guy like this. We would go from possibly 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the AL West to possibly WS favorites.
Cabrera can play 3rd, and actually prefers to. That's possibly our biggest question mark. He's young too so we're not risking our future just to be good now. Imagine the lineup...yikes.
thewebb - March 9, 2006
Too Much
Long-time lurker, first time poster here. Love your site, Rev...But that's way, waaaay too much to give up. Three starting position players, AND a starting pitcher? Maybe if the Marlins were to throw in a pitcher as well.
Basically, I don't think one should ever trade starting pitching, except for other starting pitching, unless you've really got a surplus. The Angels don't, really, not with both Weaver the Elder and Escobar becoming free agents at the end of the year. There's no other pitching prospect in the organization who'll be ready to be in the majors by opening day, 2007, unless Steve Shell or Joe Saunders suddently catches fire. Maybe I'd include one of those two, instead of Weaver...
When is Cabrera (Miguel, that is) eligible for free agency? It would be nice to know if he could be locked up with a contract extension before making any deal.
jjackflash - March 9, 2006
Next year
He'll be arbitration eligble next year. This guy is the real deal. Take a look at his stats, he is a monster. Vlad and Cabrera would be the best one two punch in the league (yes, much better than Ortiz and Manny).akathelorax @ Halos Heaven - March 9, 2006
Why don't we go after Dontrellle while we're at it
atomburn - March 9, 2006
Willis/Cabrera
for:AK
Lil Weaver and/or big Weaver
Mcpherson
Aybar
Frist round draft pick
Some other middle infield prospect
Sing it up Stoneman, I will make the call into him to authorize the deal
P237 - March 9, 2006
uh oh
Draft picks cannot be traded - But who knew, right?Well, now the Athletics Nation Troll Squad will pile on about ignorant Angel fans not knowing the nuances of trading rules and laugh at us while we go out on dates with hot chicks and they eat their mothers' cooking before their friends come over to play D&D in the den.
Rev Halofan - March 9, 2006
what a numbtard
trying to trade draft picks. <claps excitedly>numbtards - March 9, 2006
i love you
i'm so glad you're here, mr. tard.we're gonna have a great time with you around.
yeswecan - March 9, 2006
See, guys...
I ban the sane and rational Athletics fans like that chick named grover and I let the dateless weiners who live with mom and talk smack represent their "Nation."Please, fly your freak flag here anytime, fucktard. I will never ban someone who - in one post - humiliates Oakland more than I could in a thousand.
Rev Halofan - March 9, 2006
Trade and Stoneman do not go together
This is silly. Bill Stoneman doesn't trade unless he has to, and he absolutely doesn't have to.scareduck - March 9, 2006
not true
Ron Gant?Alex Ochoa?
Bottenfield?
Figgins?
Christiansen?
Callaspo?
Rev Halofan - March 9, 2006
Bottenfield
... at least, was forced on to him. And I daresay that Jimmy Edmonds, were he five years younger and still on the team, wouldn't want to be traded anywhere.scareduck - March 9, 2006
I concur...
I have to agree with you rev, gaining a stud like cabrera who is what? 22? 23? is worth the package of aybar, kennedy, dmac and weaver... the three infielders can be replaced with wood, kendrick and cabrera at 3rd... so really the only thing we're losing is weaver.Can you imagine an infield of cabrera, wood, kendrick and kotchman in 5 years? This isnt including morales in the outfield, dh or wherever they put him.
God I love being an angels fan right now. It feels like rolling around on a bed full of hundred dollar bills.
rpmbot5000 - March 9, 2006
sure dood
a bed of a 100 dollar bills that hasnt been printed yet. none of your guys has proven themselves in the bigs yet. <claps excitedly>numbtards - March 9, 2006
We printed up some ALCS programs last year...
... also some fancy deals in 2002. (Claps at s*** that don't work in the playoffs)mattwelch - March 9, 2006
Half of Oakland are printing up BART Tickets....
To go see the giants play.rpmbot5000 - March 9, 2006
How quickly the past is forgotten...
Harrumph: -- Rev. Halofan, 10/27/05scareduck - March 9, 2006
Are you kidding me
I have enjoyed this site for quite some time, and have been a lifelong Angel fan.That said AK/Dmac/Aybar/Jered Weaver for Miguel freakin Cabrera? God if that is all that it took we should have pulled that trade as soon as it was offered.
- AK is gone after this year anyway, quite frankly Kendrick might be a better MLB player right now.
- Dmac's injuries are quite frightening, hip injuries really never fully heal. Miguel is already putting up the HR totals the Halos expect from Dmac, and let's take on a .320+ average and a 1.000+ away OPS with Miguel to the mix.
- Aybar, if we keep Wood, really has to no role.
- Weaver. Solid potential, yet in the right move, and folks this is THE right move, expendable.
Look, Miguel Cabrera is not even 24 yet! He hit 33 HRs in a pitchers park at ages 22 and 23. His away OPS last year was over 1.000. Look this kid might end up being the best player of his generation. Frankly I would give up a package of:Dmac/Wood/Adenhart or Weaver + any other young player not named Santana/Kotchman/mathis/kendrick
andreweac - March 9, 2006
agreed on basically everything...
the one part I'm not sure of is the last sentence, and only because I don't want to think that hard on a Friday.To add to your #3, don't forget we still have OCab for 3 more years who is more than capable until Wood's ready and/or gets moved to another position.
thewebb - March 10, 2006
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