Edmonds heading to San Diego

[jdk82]

Its really unfair to evaluate the trade until we find out what the Cardinals do with the $6 million.

Not if you think that the perfect way to spend that $6M was on a player like Edmonds.

His offensive numbers are easily replacable, steady decline the past 3 yrs and his ZR for CF was the lowest of his career last yr.

[clevername]

I know that people differ on this, but I'm off the opinion that trades need to be evaluated on what we know now. If Freese becomes a good player it doesn't mean that it was a good trade, just like if I emptied my bank account on Red 16 and it hits, that doesn't make it a good gamble.

To be fair, there's a bit more research done here than just trusting blind luck.

And the research will give Freese certain odds. It might suggest that Freese has about a 37 to 1 shot at being a productive ML third baseman at this point. OK, maybe it's more like 10 to 1, but this guy would be pretty unique if he did, and I'm not asking anyone to take my analogy quite so literally.

I'm not taking the analogy literally. Your post reads like you think the organization is making a bet like a monkey could (pick the shiniest number and hope it hits). The team obviously feels the odds of this guy hitting are better than the odds of Jimmy helping the ball club next year.

I know the cool sentiment around here these days is to doubt the new management (and I agree that they haven't done much to inspire confidence so far), but I'm more and more seeing vibes that everyone thinks our team is run my people who have never had any baseball experience before and have no idea what they're doing. It's early. There may be a master plan, there may not, but the sky is falling mentality has already become grating.

[jim]

Not if you think that the perfect way to spend that $6M was on a player like Edmonds.

The plan, as far as I understand, is that Rasmus will be our everyday CFer by the beginning of 2009, if not sooner. Why then wouldn't a more perfect allocation of that money be towards someone that can fill a more pressing need? And possibly fill that need well beyond 2008?

Because it's a way to have your hands in both pots - compete now and not jeopardize for the future. If Freese is the future 3B, then this deal makes more sense. One MLB scout has stated that his *ceiling* is a league average 3B. Now, if that's what he turns out to be, then great. Trade makes sense. But there are alot of things pointing to him not being that league average 3B.

Now, if they give us Headley, I'm probably more inclined to like the trade. They gave us a 25 year old minor leaguer who wasn't on top of their depth chart at 3B, not some can't miss prospect.

[Richie Allen]

Now, if they give us Headley, I'm probably more inclined to like the trade. They gave us a 25 year old minor leaguer who wasn't on top of their depth chart at 3B, not some can't miss prospect.

Of course. But what team is going to give up a can't miss prospect in their early 20s for, what basically comes down to, a 37 year old one year rental for $6 million?

[jdk82]

Now, if they give us Headley, I'm probably more inclined to like the trade. They gave us a 25 year old minor leaguer who wasn't on top of their depth chart at 3B, not some can't miss prospect.

Thats a tad unfair to Freese, when the Padres have two of the best 3B prospects Kevin Kouzmanoff was ranked 4th and Chase Headley 6th coming into this season. Now Kouzmanoff is playing for the Padres and Headley is the their top prospect overall. Freese was their 6th best prospect by the list I saw that was published this month.

[Richie Allen]

I would rather take the risk on Rolen

Hurt his shoulder in 2005, bounce back and had a good year in 2006 who says he cant do it again? Also, his defense isnt declining like Edmonds.

I would too. I know it doesn't seem likely now, but Rolen could have 5 solid years ahead of him.

[skmsw]

I'm more and more seeing vibes that everyone thinks our team is run my people who have never had any baseball experience before and have no idea what they're doing. It's early. There may be a master plan, there may not, but the sky is falling mentality has already become grating.

It's equally grating to listen to those who have taken all of these moves -- questonable at best and dubious to bad at worst -- and as they pile up, keep on continuously saying "it's early" or "give a pass on the first (second, third) move of the new administration" or "they run a ballteam, they MUST know more about what they're doing then we do."

And it is equally grating to see that as each contingent is met ("I'm going to wait til after the winter meetings, and if there's no useful move, THEN I'll be worried") get revised and melted into another contingency ("well, no one else made any moves either, and even with the meetings over it is still early").

And frankly, I've seen some confusion, some disagreement, some disappointment or even disillusionment, but I have not seen a "sky is falling mentality." It's cool to question the new regime, but in all fairness, it is at least equally in vogue to complain about the negativity.

[Richie Allen]

How likely do you really think that is? Considering the FA market and that we'll now be even more unwilling to trade from our OF surplus.

Personally, I'd say very unlikely.

I'm not familiar with many really great "deals," that everyone out there saw coming. I certainly have hope.

[clevername]

what purpose does the negativity serve?

I'm not saying we shouldn't question the moves. I'm not saying we shouldn't feel the team is headed in the wrong direction. I'm questioning why we need 40 page threads once or twice a week extolling how idiotic the team's moves have been.

[Richie Allen]

It's equally grating to listen to those who have taken all of these moves -- questonable at best and dubious to bad at worst -- and as they pile up, keep on continuously saying "it's early" or "give a pass on the first (second, third) move of the new administration" or "they run a ballteam, they MUST know more about what they're doing then we do."

What are all of these bad moves you're talking about?