Prospects for Haren

In the first, they sent a boatload of minor leaguers to Oakland for right-hander Dan Haren and change.

The linked article provides detailed information on the prospects involved. Suffice to say, they aren’t scrubs. Arizona has a very deep farm system and some terrific young talent at the big-league level. When you’re in that position, you can go out and get a guy like Haren.

Outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is the centerpiece of the package headed to the A’s. First baseman Chris Carter, acquired a couple weeks ago from the White Sox in the Carlos Quentin deal, is another potential impact player, and I kind of like left-hander Dana Eveland, who is putting up some nice numbers in the Mexican Pacific League this winter.

For the second straight off-season, Arizona has gone out and improved its rotation. On the A’s side, they’re perpetually reshaping the squad, and they’ve come away with a nice haul for an established pitcher (whom they acquired in a similar deal involving Mark Mulder back in December 2004). Seems to me both teams accomplished their objective here.

Valverde for Three

The Diamondbacks also have traded closer Jose Valverde to Houston for right-handers Chad Qualls and Juan Gutierrez, and infielder/outfielder Chris Burke. At first blush, I find it surprising that Arizona would move Valverde, who led the world in saves last year. Qualls certainly isn’t in the same class, but he’s been consistently effective since coming up with the Astros in ‘04 and is an asset to any bullpen.

Burke is a utility guy, handy to have around but not offering much upside. The potential gem here is Gutierrez, who was ranked #5 among Astros prospects by Baseball America headed into the 2007 season. The Diamondbacks appear to be stockpiling good, young starting pitching. Houston, meanwhile, has moved three of its top pitching prospects this week (two others being sent to Baltimore in the Miguel Tejada deal). Presumably the Astros see themselves as contenders in a weak NL Central starting now.

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Headed to Houston

Tejada is coming off a .296/.357/.442 campaign, which is low by his standards but still pretty darned good. The downside is that he turns 32 in May and, thanks to that whole consecutive-games streak thing, has a lot of wear-and-tear on his 5′10″, 170-lb frame. Also, the Astros have an otherworldly defender at short in Adam Everett, so if Tejada moves to third base, how will that affect his value? For a guy that’s due $26 million over the next two seasons, those are a lot of questions. Then again, no-one is out of contention in the NL Central, so why not take a shot…

Headed to Baltimore

Scott is a solid fourth-outfield type who might be capable of a full-time gig. He’s a left-handed batter with a nice mix of power and plate discipline — think Brad Wilkerson.

Albers, a right-hander, had a horrendous (4-11, 5.86 ERA) rookie campaign with the Astros. He was hittable, had a poor strikeout-to-walk ratio, and gave up too many homers. Coming into 2007, Baseball America had rated Albers as Houston’s #3 prospect, so maybe he just needs to make some adjustments at the big-league level.

Patton, a left-hander, was the Astros’ #2 prospect according to BA, which projected him as a potential front-end guy. Patton posted decent numbers at Double- and Triple-A in 2007, although the strikeout rate (5.53) could have been higher.

Sarfate, a right-hander, has spent his entire career in the Milwaukee organization. Prior to ‘07, BA had him ranked as the Brewers’ #22 prospect. Previously a starter, Sarfate moved to the ‘pen last year, with mixed results at Triple-A Nashville. He struck out a lot of batters, but also walked a lot. The Astros acquired Sarfate from Milwaukee in a September deal for the ever-popular “cash considerations.”

Costanzo is a left-handed hitting third baseman with loads of power and questionable ability to make contact. Not quite as whifftastic as Russell Branyan; more like Dallas McPherson.

There aren’t really any impact players in this bunch. Scott is a decent player, chances are that one of Patton or Albers will pan out, Costanzo is intriguing, and Sarfate is roster fill (on the bright side, he is cheaper than Danys Baez).

I know Tejada is expensive and entering the decline phase of his career, but I’m not sure the Orioles got enough in terms of quality. It’s like the kid who trades his dollar bill for two quarters because two is more than one, two quarters for three dimes… Eventually he has five cents in his pocket.

Other Voices

• Mr. Irrelevant
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Post from: Knuckle Curve

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Post from: Knuckle Curve