A Sense of Joakim Soria's Trade Value

post from Royals Review on 30 November 2011 11:01:03 PM. © Royals Review

I wrote yesterday, in my own odd and inarticulate way, that I have no idea what's going on anymore. And, I meant it. While that particular yelp was in regards to predicting Dayton Moore's moves or motivations, it can be extended to other Royals related issues as well. I don't even know what to make of Billy Butler, for example. I think he's over-rated and under-rated at the same time. Similarly, Joakim Soria has been around for so long, and generally been so good, that when he was really really good -- back in 2009 ish -- I don't even remember being that in to it. Then, when he seemingly took half a step back last year, I had this weird overreaction in which I felt like he was imploding. Which, for awhile, he actually kinda was.

So tying it all together, we've begun another round of Soria trade rumors. Of course, the lesson is that the Soria trade will never come, but instead Moore will sign CJ Wilson or somesuch. But what might Soria's image be on the trade market? We should but we can't really use the recent Papelbon signing as an example, because Ruben Amaro Jr. is a clown. But let's think this through.

Here are Soria's stats the last three seasons:

Year Age ERA G SV IP H R HR BB IBB SO ERA+ H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB 2009252.21473053.044145161692027.50.82.711.74.312010261.78664365.253134161712367.30.52.29.74.442011274.03602860.160297170601029.01.02.59.03.53 Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/30/2011.

Age: Soria is still in his prime. Closers don't typically have a long shelf-life, but Soria doesn't appear to be your average Billy Koch.

Salary: Soria will make $6 million in 2012. This is the extent of his guaranteed money. He has a team option for $8 million for 2013 and a team option for $8.5 million in 2014. This is extremely favorable. It's a high price, but I think most teams could live with the money. The real fear with contracts is having multiple years where you have an expensive guy that you don't even want on the roster. If someone traded for Soria today, at worst, they would only have one year of a bad player on their roster.

Performance: You can see how Soria was less effective in 2011. The strikeouts went down, the hits went up, and in a new run-scoring environment, suddenly Soria was basically a league average pitcher, posting a 102 ERA+. For a short-inning high-leverage reliever, that's not that exciting. My recollection was that Soria struggled initially last year, then stopped fooling around with new pitches and was fine. I'm not sure that was the case. Soria's monthly splits from 2011 are bizarre. In April he couldn't strike anyone out, in May he struck out 12 per 9 but couldn't get outs. Perhaps it's all random noise.

I can't write about baseball anymore, but when you put it all together, this is a valuable trade commodity. Jon Daniels seems intent on building a Ron Washington proof roster, which eventually will be 11 proven closers and Nolan Ryan starting every game, so let's just trade Soria and Broxton to Texas straight away for the next Kevin Mench.

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ue

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Tigers keep Santiago for 2 years, $4.2M (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 30 November 2011 10:02:33 PM. © MLB News Blog

Ramon Santiago has agreed to a $4.2 million, two-year contract to remain with the Detroit Tigers. The 32-year-old infielder hit .260 in 101 games last season, playing mostly second base and shortstop. He batted .295 after the All-Star break, helping Detroit pull away to win the AL Central title. Santiago agreed to the deal Wednesday.

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/12/01/tigers-keep-santiago-for-2-years-4-2m-ap/

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Kennedy Deal Worth 1 Year/$800k

post from 6-4-2 ? an Angels/Dodgers double play blog on 30 November 2011 10:02:28 PM. © 6-4-2 ? an Angels/Dodgers double play blog

Per Dylan Hernandez. Pretty reasonable for a bench guy.

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Angels To Acquire Chris Ianetta For Tyler
Chatwood

post from 6-4-2 ? an Angels/Dodgers double play blog on 30 November 2011 08:02:57 PM. © 6-4-2 ? an Angels/Dodgers double play blog

Per Sam Miller of the Register, who gets it from MLB Trade Rumors. Chatwood made his major league debut as a 21-year-old, and it's hard for me to conceive of how you unload a guy like that as a youngster. For the Rockies, Ianetta has been their starting catcher since 2008; his 2013 option is now voided thanks to the trade. In a sense, it looks like Tony Reagins continues to curse the team by making this deal (or one like it) necessary. Couldn't the Angels have signed the similarly meh Ramon Hernandez — as the Rockies are said to be doing — without taking the hit to their starting rotation? Why does Jerry Dipoto suddenly start to look a lot like Tony Reagins?

Update: A tweet from the Angels confirms the deal. Mark Saxon sounds an optimistic note by observing Ianetta's OBP is no less than .370 in each of the last three seasons. I can live with that.

Mike DiGiovanna of the Times also reminds us this makes it a certainty that Jeff Mathis won't be tendered a contract — another reason to be optimistic.

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2011 Qualified SPs with a BB/9 greater than Aaron
Crow's 4.5 BB/9

post from Royals Review on 30 November 2011 08:01:44 PM. © Royals Review

2011 Qualified SPs with a BB/9 greater than Aaron Crow's 4.5 BB/9

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ater-than-aaron-crows-4-5-bb-9

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Rockies close to signing Ramon Hernandez, trade
Chris Iannetta to the Angels for Tyler Chatwood

post from Purple Row on 30 November 2011 08:01:43 PM. © Purple Row

CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 14: Ramon Hernandez #55 of the Cincinnati Reds hits a home run against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park on September 14, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Ken Rosenthal on Twitter first reported this:

Source: #Rockies close to signing R. Hernandez to two-year deal, sending Iannetta to the Angels. Teams checking medicals. #MLB

and we have further confirmation from Troy Renck:

Confirmation that Hernandez coming to Rockies... Chatwood should be coming back from Angels.

Apparently we're just awaiting the fine print and last okay.

UPDATE:

Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Hernandez deal is for 2 years, $6.5 million. Iannetta would have cost a bit more if the Rockies were to keep him for two seasons. They get a similar catcher plus a rotation arm for about the same cost in salary.

UPDATE 2:

The Rockies official Twitter confirms that the Iannetta for Chatwood trade is complete.

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-hernandez-trading-chris

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George Brett 2001 Fleer Greats Really Is
Great!!!

post from 30-Year Old Cardboard on 30 November 2011 08:01:40 PM. © 30-Year Old Cardboard

George Brett 2001 Fleer Greats – Really Is Great!!! First, let me show you the card: Now, look at how boldly Brett’s image leaps from the card. Partly due to the dull and muted background, and partly due to the … Continue reading →

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Rangers 1B Moreland has wrist surgery (AP)

Texas Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right wrist. Moreland underwent surgery in Cleveland on Wednesday, when a small pea-shaped bone was removed from the base of his wrist. The Rangers say the estimated recovery time is expected to be eight to 12 weeks.

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Angels get Iannetta, Chatwood to Rockies (AP)

The Los Angeles Angels have acquired catcher Chris Iannetta from the Colorado Rockies in a trade for right-hander Tyler Chatwood. The Angels dealt a top pitching prospect Wednesday to acquire Iannetta, the latest candidate to solve the club’s catching woes. Iannetta batted .238 last season with 14 homers, 55 RBIs and a .370 on-base percentage, [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/12/01/angels-get-iannetta-chatwood-to-rockies-ap/

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Billy the Marlin in his new multi-colored swag

H/T to @TealMonster, who provided the Lockerz link.

Apparently the fin is more multi-colored than this picture makes it out to be, but overall it isn't as awful as imagined (par for the course in this re-branding / re-coloring phase). Fish Stripers, your thoughts?