The Texas Rangers have traded Alfonso Soriano to the Washington Nationals for outfielders Brad Wilkerson and Terrmel Sledge and minor league pitcher Armando Galarraga.
In Soriano, the Nationals get that extra power hitter they desperately needed during their miserable second half. The Rangers, on the other hand, simply don't have to deal with the inevitable $10M+ contract that Soriano is due to get in arbitration next month. Instead, they get an average corner outfielder (Wilkerson), a 29 year old role player (Sledge) and an unimpressive minor league pitcher to add to their collection of the same.
I am completely "blah" about this trade for both teams. Soriano hit bery bery poorly outside of Ameriquest Field (25 HR, 1.011 OPS at home, 11 HR, .639 OPS on the road in 2005) and RFK Stadium has a pitchers-park tilt to it (93/94 on BAT/PIT Park Factor where <100 is pitcher's park). Somehow, I see Soriano hitting .265 with 22 HR, 80 RBI, 15 SB and 120 K's. In other words, I'm not drafting this guy in the top 50 in fantasy baseball next year, even if he will be 2B-eligible. Which brings me to my last point -- Soriano will likely be moved to LF since the Nats have Jose Vidro at second already.
In Soriano, the Nationals get that extra power hitter they desperately needed during their miserable second half. The Rangers, on the other hand, simply don't have to deal with the inevitable $10M+ contract that Soriano is due to get in arbitration next month. Instead, they get an average corner outfielder (Wilkerson), a 29 year old role player (Sledge) and an unimpressive minor league pitcher to add to their collection of the same.
I am completely "blah" about this trade for both teams. Soriano hit bery bery poorly outside of Ameriquest Field (25 HR, 1.011 OPS at home, 11 HR, .639 OPS on the road in 2005) and RFK Stadium has a pitchers-park tilt to it (93/94 on BAT/PIT Park Factor where <100 is pitcher's park). Somehow, I see Soriano hitting .265 with 22 HR, 80 RBI, 15 SB and 120 K's. In other words, I'm not drafting this guy in the top 50 in fantasy baseball next year, even if he will be 2B-eligible. Which brings me to my last point -- Soriano will likely be moved to LF since the Nats have Jose Vidro at second already.
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In other news, Lyle Overbay was traded to Toronto for pitcher Dave Bush, outfield prospect Gabe Gross and a mid-level pitching prospect named Zach Jackson. Overbay's a slightly above-average player (career 114 OPS+) and he'll certainly be an improvement over Eric Hinske who has underwhelmed since his Rookie of the Year 2002 season. This trade gives Toronto some options in that Overbay can play 1B, Corey Koskie can play 3B and Shea Hillenbrand can be the full-time DH. The Jays can also play Hillenbrand at 1B or 3B to give Koskie a breather since, for some reason, his game went into the shitter last year. Hinske's the odd man out and can now be traded for a minor league pitcher or a bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich. One way or another, Toronto only gave up one guy (Gross) with the other two being crappy add-ons.
For the Brewers, they clear 1B for Prince Fielder much in the same way the Phillies cleared 1B for their studly young power hitting prospect. Gross was a baseball god at Auburn in 2000-2001 and had a mammoth spring training last year, hitting 8 HR in 52 AB's. I think Gross can be a decent player in the big leagues. While he might struggle to find "starters minutes" in the Brew Crew OF with Lee-Clark-Jenkins, he should get some AB's as a 4th OF or in pinch-hitting situations.
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