I couldn't help but notice that the Twins, Tigers, and White Sox are within two games of one another in the American League Central, and they could all use a second baseman. The Angels' acquisition of yet another middle infielder, Alberto Callaspo, was puzzling, except for this possibility: Tony Reagins might anticipate trading Howie Kendrick. With Callaspo, Izturis, and Aybar all under control through 2012, Howie is, frankly, expendable. His stock isn't as high as it could be, but the price may have risen anyways.
This week Orlando Hudson and Carlos Guillen both went down with injuries, leaving the Twins and Tigers with suckmaster Alexi Casilla and some dude named WIll Rhymes (any relation to Busta?) playing up the middle. Meanwhile, the White Sox must have just about had it with Gordon Beckham and his .632 OPS. Kendrick would be an instant and cost-effective upgrade over any of these bums, with potential upside for the two additional seasons he remains under team control. And if there's anything scouts love, it's potential upside.
What should the Angels ask for in return? I don't know any of these teams' farm systems in detail, but if I'm Tony Reagins, I have to be thinking about rebuilding the bullpen. Also keep in mind that while the proverbial iron may be at its hottest now, the Angels don't need to pull the trigger right away. The opportunity will still exist during the off-season, and Howie might yet build value in the second half.
0 recs | 71 comments
I'm not sure Howie is going anywhere. Izturis is too injury prone to be considered a starting anything at this point.
~MMP~ - July 26, 2010
I would like to see us get a power bat
In the Dunn/Garrett Jones variety. Their positional flexibility would help a lot.
Slyintine - July 26, 2010
Garrett Jones?
Where would you play him? Who would you bench to get him in the lineup?
RallyMonkey5 - July 26, 2010
Play him at first
Bench Mathis, play Napoli @ catcher.
Slyintine - July 26, 2010
OK - that could help
I keep forgetting that Napoli can catch, and that Mathis doesn’t have to be in the lineup. Somebody please tell the manager.
RallyMonkey5 - July 26, 2010
Agreed
Callaspo is our long term answer to third base, because Wood is no longer in the picture and any FA’s worth having will be out of our price range for awhile. I doubt he plays much second base in his three upcoming years for us.
rghan - July 26, 2010
+1 Callaspo is our 3rd baseman now. Izturis is not an everyday player.
We need to trade outfielders. Like Juan Rivera, Hideki Matsui and Bobby Abreu to teams who need Outfielders. Like the San Diego Padres or Detroit Tigers.
Nashdiesel - July 26, 2010
You have the right idea.
Howie, even with his failings, is at least young and athletic.
Kingfish1 - July 26, 2010
Nobody wants these guys.
Howie has value if other teams are interested in him.
Fred Fredrix - July 26, 2010
Why wouldn't the Tigers want Abreu?
He’s a decent hitter and their Right Fielder just broke his ankle. He’s relatively cheap and only commands around 13.5 for the next year and a half. He’s not a bad investment for a team that wants to win this year.
Have you seen the Padres outfield? It’s a disaster. Everyone there has an OPS under .700. Rivera would be a masher on that team.
Nashdiesel - July 26, 2010
How about that lefty Thornton?
HalosBiggestFan - July 26, 2010 via mobile
No more LOOGYs
Slyintine - July 26, 2010
Question: Definition of LOOGY?
red floyd - July 26, 2010
Left-handed One Out GuY
Gorbachav5 - July 26, 2010
Much Grass
red floyd - July 26, 2010
Getting rid of Howie now might not be the best ideas........
he’s been one of the only consistant guys in the lineup.
norcaliangelsfan - July 26, 2010
Consistent, yes. Good, no.
The only thing going for Howie is that he’s young and may improve, but is .309 OBP is Callaspo bad. HK’s not one of our biggest problems, but that doesn’t make him one of our strengths.
snowhor - July 26, 2010 via mobile
Hell No
Angels_48 - July 26, 2010
We could throw in Juan Rivera...
…to anyone who will take him to make space for Bourjous. White Sox still works, not sure who they have worth getting.
The Limey - July 26, 2010
Agreed
I think moves we make from here on out should be focused on bringing home a world championship in 2011. Letting Bourjos get MLB experience this year will put us in a better spot next year as the starting left fielder.
ryanfea - July 26, 2010
Bourjos isn't ready yet
Strikes out way too much for a hitter of his type
Slyintine - July 26, 2010
Let's get Joe Nathan and hope he comes back healthy next year.
J/k j/k.
Clutch - July 26, 2010
Howard's Tv's and Appliances
does not like this.
clover_black - July 26, 2010
That's exactly what i'm thinking too
maze88 - July 26, 2010
re: Gordon Beckham
look at his stats in July. Methinks they’ve not only NOT just about had it with him, but that they’re probably falling in love with him again.
ihearhowie2.0 - July 26, 2010
Howie Kendrick WAR Profile
HK B-Ref WAR
2007: 2.1 (88 games)
2008: 2.0 (92 games)
2009: 2.9 (105 games)
2010: 0.8 (98 games)
HK FanGraphs WAR
2007: 2.3
2008: 1.6
2009: 2.3
2010: 0.3
He may never be a star, but he’s a solid player with a consistent profile. HK is a proven 2 WAR second baseman (accomplished without playing a full season). I think several teams would want such a player who is under control for 2011 and 2012. It’s unfortunate he’s having a down year.
Fan Since 1981 - July 26, 2010
No thanks
This team still has issues, but 2nd base ain’t one of them
GA'sLawnchair - July 26, 2010
I don't think Izturis or Callaspo are good replacements for Howie
Plus we’d be selling low. Keep him around.
Gorbachav5 - July 26, 2010
Stupid idea
Howie has been our second best offensive player this year. Izturis cannot be counted on for more than 100 games ever. Just no.
IE Angel - July 26, 2010
2nd best offensively?
Naps, Kendry and Torii have been decidedly better than HK. Rivera and Matsui have gotten on base more frequently and hit for more power. Abreu has the same mediocre SLG, but has a much better OBP.
snowhor - July 26, 2010 via mobile
if Howie goes so do I
NA1NSXR - July 26, 2010
doubtful
ihearhowie2.0 - July 26, 2010
Conjecture lecture
White Sox giving up on Beckham?
Tigers giving up on Scott Sizemore – who projected as the best 2B prospect in all the minors, but has pulled a Brandon Wood in his first 100 MLB at bats?
Twins actually trading a prospect – at all?
Nah.
The Mets, on the other hand, could use a young 2B. And they’re stupid. So, there’s that.
LAASurfin - July 26, 2010
Does anyone really see Callaspo as a long-term solution at 3B?
Right now his qualification at the position is that he’s a better with a bat than Brandon Wood, but so is a blind-folded kid swinging at a pinata. Overall, Callaspo is just a .282 / .331 / .404 career hitter. We’re talking about a power position here, does anyone want a slightly less than average bat at third base?
I do agree that Howie is the least of the team’s problems going forward, but you don’t need all five of Aybar, Izturis, Callaspo, Kendrick, and Frandsen. Kendrick is the one with the highest trade value besides Aybar, and they’re not going to trade Aybar. Moving Kendrick is the only way I can make sense of the Callaspo acquisition.
Suboptimal - July 26, 2010
Callaspo is a contact-hitter
Think Howie Kendrick, but he takes a ton more walks and a little more pop.
We didn’t complain about power when Figgy was our 3B.
Slyintine - July 26, 2010
Figgins got on base nearly 40% of the time
He made up for his lack of power with an outstanding walk rate and excellent speed. Callaspo has neither of those things. As you said, he’s a contact hitter. He swings at bad pitches and spreads them around the field. That’s the recipe for a light-hitting middle infielder, not a third baseman.
Suboptimal - July 26, 2010
Unless Arte opens his wallet big time
He’s your starting third baseman until at least 2012. There’s just no cash for an upgrade, and Baird/Jimenez have light years more to prove before they enter the Halos’ plans. Cowart hasn’t even signed…
I think Callaspo is a decent three year fit for the Halos. Good D, another lefty bat, could provide .800 OPS once he gets on a role, is just entering his prime. There’s upside here. Not a ton of it, but it’s there, and chances are very good he doesn’t go the way of D-Mac/Wood
rghan - July 26, 2010
I think so too
I was frankly surprised Arte took on Haren’s contract, considering the Speier/GMJ/Kaz overhang. That he did so, even with Haren’s current numbers adding some risk, shows a pretty deep commitment to winning. We’re lucky.
But there is a limit to the spending. I doubt revenues are growing much right now.
LAASurfin - July 26, 2010
Tony Reagins was just on MLBN's Baseball Tonight
Said “We’re not done. We’re looking at opportunities on offense and there are some possibilities we are very interested in. We just need to find the right fit”.
(Transcribed from memory – not directly)
LAASurfin - July 26, 2010
nice
norcaliangelsfan - July 26, 2010
Can we add Mathis to any deal? Please? Pretty please?
Fred Fredrix - July 26, 2010
Why isn't Aybar available?
Before everyone rips me to shreds, isn’t his stock higher than anyone elses? Then put Maicer at short with Frandsen backing up 2nd and 1st and Wood backing up SS and 3B.
I know that creates a question at lead off which I subtle answer with… Izturis/Kendrick.
Jay Cal - July 26, 2010
the cornerstone of the infield?
aybar is young and has only gotten better. sure his avg. is down but that is partly due to the growing pains of adjusting to leadoff….something which over the last two months he has adjusted to rather well considering.
and besides…izzy is always hurt, what if he went down and we had no aybar, who you gonna play, branding wood? hahahaha….ugh, sigh.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - July 26, 2010 via mobile
Because SS is the most valuable defensive position
And the hardest one to find a replacement for.
LAASurfin - July 26, 2010
I've had the feeling that Aybar is actually over-rated at short
It just looks like he’s not getting to all that many balls. People tend to remember the great plays (and he does make them), but for every great play it seems as if there’s a weak ground ball that he just doesn’t get to.
Both Fangraphs and BRef think he’s average to slightly below for his career. Izturiz, on the other hand, is considered a bit above average, even at shortstop (where he has, admittedly, only one season’s worth of games).
Combined with Aybar’s Vlad-esque baserunning and lack of patience, I’d be willing to trade him to a team that was overly wowed by the flashiness. The problem is that there’s no one within the organization to replace him. Yeah, Izturis could hold down the position, at least until he got hurt. But there’s nobody else anywhere near that level to play short.
In other words, I definitely agree with your last statement, even though I wouldn’t count Aybar among the strengths of the team.
Gorbachav5 - July 26, 2010
I think Aybar is under-rated, especially here.
If it was a choice between Aybar and Howie I’d keep Aybar. Not even close.
Fred Fredrix - July 26, 2010
I would reluctantly agree
But only because SS is much harder to replace. I don’t think there’s any question that Howie is a better player. WAR (which, admittedly, isn’t everything) on both Fangraphs and BRef agrees, although it’s close.
Gorbachav5 - July 26, 2010
Well I don't think Howie is a better player.
Fred Fredrix - July 26, 2010
Based on what?
Gorbachav5 - July 26, 2010
Based on what I observe while watching the games.
Howie is a one-dimensional hitter who almost always hits the ball to right field. You can see defenses shading him towards right. He can’t seem to ever pull the ball down the 3rd base line, or pull the ball in the air with power. Many of those rockets he hits to right are caught because he’s hitting it right into the defense. And I think that’s why his avg is down to 272 while Aybar’s got his up to 286.
I also think Aybar is a better defender with better range. Izzy too.
Fred Fredrix - July 26, 2010
Well
Fielding statistics show Howie’s range as better than Aybar’s, except for this season, but still better in total. I know fielding stats are pretty new in terms of mainstream analysis, but it’s not like the difference is small.
Howie’s career OPS+ is better, his wOBA is better, and, as mentioned, his overall WAR is better.
None of this is to say Aybar is a bad player. I don’t think he gets the most out of his natural gifts, especially his speed, but he won’t kill you at shortstop, especially given how tough it is to replace that position adequately. But none of that changes the fact that Kendrick has been a more valuable player. They’re the same age and both have some upside left.
If I thought Izturis could stay healthy, I would look to trade Aybar before Kendrick.
Gorbachav5 - July 26, 2010
you dont trade a switch hitting gold glove calibur SS with speed to burn........
especially a young one.
norcaliangelsfan - July 26, 2010
The speed is only good if you put it to good use
The only way Aybar can consistently do that is through infield hits, which are nice, but not incredibly useful. His baserunning is just average, and definitely below average for a guy of his speed. His range is also average or just below.
Gorbachav5 - July 26, 2010
His range is well above average, based on what I see every game.
Fred Fredrix - July 26, 2010
The numbers don't support that conclusion
Gorbachav5 - July 26, 2010
Nor do the people whose job it is to watch every play
As Aybar hasn’t done all that well in Dewan’s +/-, either. He makes some flashy plays, but he also doesn’t make quite a few plays that he should get to. His Total Zone and UZR numbers are either barely average or below average, depending on where you look.
Gorbachav5 - July 26, 2010
As others have said, we have enough problems to still address...
…and while I enjoy some SM once in a while, I’m not into pain just for pains sake.
No need to create any more…
RedFog - July 26, 2010
if we dished howie....
would that make us buyers or sellers this trade deadline? or maybe buy-llers?
also, was playing him at first yesterday some sort of ploy to show off his defensive versability to make him more tradeable?
I see a trend: osullivan shuts down the yanks, traded. Saundo one runs the rangers, traded. howie plays first for the first time in three years, ???
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - July 26, 2010 via mobile
Except Howie didn't play that well at first
ryanfea - July 26, 2010
If there is a player to trade in the infield
it’s Mike Napoli. Now I’m not saying trade him now because it appears we are still trying to reach October this year, but in the offseason we should try to move him for a very good bullpen arm.
We will have Morales back next year and we’ll drop a couple million dollars extra so we can go after a guy who’s name rhymes with Shmarl Shmawford. We start Mathis 100+ games and Conger for 50-60. If Mathis finds his stroke then great! If not, then we groom Conger in a lineup that can protect him.
Next year’s lineup:
1. Crawford LF
2. Abreu RF/DH
3. Hunter CF
4. Morales 1B
5. Kendrick 2B
6. Callaspo 3B
7. Rivera RF/DH
8. Mathis/Conger C
9. Aybar SS
Bench: Maicer, Frandzen
We’d have an extra plus arm and a lineup that is more in line with what we love about our Angels. Lots of speed with some pop mixed in. Having Maicer off the bench will go underappreciated, but if he plays 4-5 games a week we shouldn’t take him for granted.
lightupthehalo29 - July 26, 2010
You would trade a catcher with a lifetime OPS around .850 for a relief pitcher?
Wow, let’s trade Weaver for a good pinchrunner while we’re at it.
snowhor - July 26, 2010 via mobile
Mike Napoli isn't a catcher...
At least not according to Sosh. This is the problem. He’s a DH / First Baseman. If he was a catcher he would be catching and Mathis would be on the bench and we’d go get Adam Dunn.
Nashdiesel - July 26, 2010
While we're at it
We should trade Morales for a good clubhouse chef. Those are hard to come by these days.
Gorbachav5 - July 26, 2010
Ok, my bad.
How about Mathis for one? We’re rich at catcher and poor in the bullpen.
lightupthehalo29 - July 26, 2010
I would trade Jeff Mathis for a club sandwich
At least lunch has a positive value. Unfortunately, that’s about all you could get for him in a trade.
Suboptimal - July 26, 2010
mmmmm
sandwich.
norcaliangelsfan - July 26, 2010
Trade him for a Donut. After all...
Donuts. Is there anything they CAN’T do?
red floyd - July 26, 2010
Think we could get a bag of pretzels too?
~MMP~ - July 26, 2010
No, but you might be able to get a deli pickle.
halofan4life - July 27, 2010
I don't want a pickle...
Just want to ride on my motorsickle
red floyd - July 27, 2010
Beckam has been hot of late
hauldog - July 26, 2010
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