As the BARB season progresses, the standings make clear which teams are going to contend and which should build for next year. Correspondingly, general managers have picked up trades and talks, including a slightly head-scratching deal from “Trader Ron”.
Just about the time of the last published trade news, a swap came through between Worcester and Los Angeles. In a deal designed to bolster his injury-depleted offense, Matt Caskey acquired OF Nick Swisher for the price of lefty Ted Lilly.
“Worcester simply has too many healthy starting pitchers,” Caskey said. “It was the right move for the team and hopefully Swisher can provide some much-needed energy.”
Los Angeles GM Brian Chae turned around and made a deal with the other Caskey, Eric. Brooklyn sent the Wolverines young corner infielder Chris Davis for left-handers Rafael Perez and Derek Holland. No press release was immediately available from the New Yorkers, but Chae explained, in short, that the trades helped serve his youth movement.
“Punting Swisher was just to free up the outfield rotation for the younger guys…and given the amount of starting pitching I have, I figured giving up Holland (who’s talented, but inconsistent and a clear injury risk) for a corner infielder who can play right now helps my team. All of my top talent is still with my team.”
Between those trades, another became official: Ronald Melkonian traded his number three starter, Ricky Nolasco, to division-rival St. Francis for young third baseman Pedro Alvarez and prospect outfielder Blake Smith. Scott Hatfield’s squad was five games ahead at the time of the trade, and one of his biggest needs was a starting pitcher. What better way for him to acquire one than from his main competitor for what amount to spare parts?
The lengthy press releases from both sides follow:
Scott Hatfield: “There is an amusing benediction of sorts: "May you live in interesting times."
So it was that in late June, the St. Francis Friars confirmed that Jack McKeon, who had been serving as defacto GM for the organization, was named not only acting GM, but (in an interesting arrangement) the club's "co-field manager". As part of his increased responsibilities, McKeon will receive no additional salary but, as he assured reporters, "I will be getting an allowance for any additional Havanas I have to light up."
McKeon wasted no time in shaking things up, engaging in the rare 'Challenge Trade' with a team in his own division. Frustrated with the slow learning curve of Pedro Alvarez, "Trader" Jack dealt the second player selected in the 2008 amateur draft to division rival Philadelphia, along with minor-league OF Blake Smith. In return, the Rebels somewhat curiously parted with a starting pitcher, RHP Ricky Nolasco (2-5, 5.60 in nine starts with the Rebels). Alvarez, attempting to earn playing time with the Friars, had found his route blocked by a pair of versatile (and productive) new starters, 3B/1B Kevin Youkilis and 3B/OF Jose Bautista. With Youkilis hitting .335 with a league-leading 60 runs scored, and Bautista lead all of BARB with 19 HR, Alvarez found himself riding the bench. The rookie had gone 3-for-12 in brief duty before being sidelined by a minor injury.
"We don't think the kid's ready," said McKeon bluntly. "He's still a work in progress, swings at too many pitcher's pitches when he doesn't have to, still airmails throws on routine plays. He's got a guaranteed major-league contract ready to kick in, though, and it would be hard on the kid to have him up here and basically warm the pine. So, we think this is the best thing for him. He'll go to an organization where the player in front of him---A-Rod----is getting long in the tooth and will likely spend a lot of time in the future as a DH. We think a lot of him, and he's obviously the most talented player in this deal. But you can't make an egg without breaking a few omelettes."
"The big question is," McKeon continued, "is whether getting Nolasco, who has struggled, is going to help us. The sense I get is that Philadelphia thinks he won't help us all that much, because he's underachieved with them, and they would like to clear a roster spot for some talent that they see over the horizon. It's an unusual situation, dealing with a division rival. I asked GM Melkonian whether or not he understood that I was trying to steal his lunch money---which I am----and whether or not it made sense to basically sit down in the cafeteria and have lunch with me. Well, he has a different perspective, in which his organization has the pitching depth to make this deal. So, you know, don't look a gift horse in the mouth. We think having Nolasco helps us, even if he doesn't put up especially good numbers, because he is a young, affordable starting pitcher who can pile up K's in short stretches. If it doesn't work out with him in the rotation, perhaps he can fill a long relief role and we can give Correia more work. The bottom line is that we've had a lot of injuries to our pitching staff, and getting any arm at this point gives us a little breathing room. We'll know more about this trade by August."
Ronald Melkonian: “Sets up my team for a big trade that will be announced July 1st. It will allow us to be more flexible with our deep rotation and we acquire a top, young 3B in Pedro to help fill out our future team and finding a possible successor to highly paid, but aging AROD for next season. Also provides us with much needed depth at the hot corner this year when he gets off the DL. We thought it was the perfect time to acquire a top, young 3B with much promise, considering we have SP to spare, especially with a deal on the horizon July 1st. Nolasco isn't living up to his potential and is actually hurting us so we were happy to part ways with him. Blake Smith helps us increase our OF depth and our future rebuilding of that area.”
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