Helton available via trade; 3+ team ideas involving Jenks?

[TooLiveBrew]

Per Rotoworld:

Quote:

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Rockies owner Charlie Monfort said the organization remains open to trading Todd Helton and the $90 million remaining on his contract.

 

Discussions with the Angels reportedly died last month, and no other team has stepped up with an offer. It's doubtful that Helton will be moved before Opening Day, and in-season deal isn't that much more likely. The Rockies would have to pay a signficant portion of what Helton is owed over the next five years in order to move him. Also, Helton could use his no-trade clause if he's not sent to the right team.

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I don't have time to iron anything out right now, but will later.

 

Anybody else have some ideas for deals on which the Crew could join, finding a way to ship Jenkins?

[Nader Raider Tim]

No. An emphatic NO. Helton has no place with the Brewers, obviousally, not implying that is what you are saying just stating. Jenkins has no place with the Rockies unless the Brewers payed all/most of his salary. If the Rockies trade Helton they are going to be paying a HUGE chunk of his salary meaning they probably won't have room to add payroll.

 

I just don't see any possible reason to think the Brewers could make any sort of feasable trade.

[pogokat]

oh holy crap no

 

90 million dollars?

 

They better give us helton plus 45 million and their top 5 prospects...

 

helton is a 1b only and he'd carry about an .800 ops outside of coors...

[Invader3K]

Not seeing where he'd fit with the Brewers at all, unless Doug Melvin goes nuts and trades Prince Fielder or something.

[MNBrew]

I think the intended point was that the Rockies would ship Helton to "Team X," the Brewers could send Jenkins to the Rockies, and something useful from "Team X" would end up in Milwaukee.

 

Intriguing idea, but I don't have any thoughts on who "Team X" and any other primary players in the deal could be.

[TooLiveBrew]

No no no no no no no

 

GUYS! I'm sorry. Obviously Helton has no place. I was rushed for time btw. classes http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

He's a guy who may well end up being traded, and since he's a 'bigger name/talent', the deal could perhaps be a complicated one (esp. given his salary)

 

What I mean is if anyone can factor in a trade where the Crew get involved. NOT to acquire Helton, but to move Jenkins.

 

That's why I titled the thread as it is.

 

Here's the hypothetical (just for example's sake, don't take it as what I think is a reasonable trade):

 

Rockies get: Jenkins

 

Brewers get: Scott Proctor

 

Yankees get: Helton

 

 

Is that clearer? Sorry for the confusion. I'd hope people know me to be a little more savvy than suggesting the Brewers go after Todd Helton! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[TooLiveBrew]

Well read & well-timed MNBrew! His post better explains myself than.... myself

 

 

 

"Allow myself to introduce.... myself..."

[And That]

The only team who would take Todd Helton right now is the Rockies, and they already have him.

[TooLiveBrew]

I suppose I can buy that, but this guy is a top-notch offensive player. I know there were rumors, and his 1999-2004 stats look a little juicy - especially given his drop to 15 HRs in 526 ABs in '06.

 

He still drew 90+ BBs for his 7th straight season, though. In addition he mashed 40 2Bs for the fourth straight year (if you lower it to 37 2Bs, he's done it 9 years in a row).

 

Even though his SLG% dropped, due exclusively to his HR drop, in 2006 Helton still posted an .880 OPS. Further, his OPS v. LHPing in 2006 was .824 (over the past three years, it's .812). His OPS overall from the last 3 years is .983

 

On top of that, he plays solid D at 1B. I find it very hard to think that the Rockies will not find some suitors. Obviously they'll have to eat quite a bit of his salary, as he's due $16.6 mil/year through 2010, and then the numbers get bigger.

 

While he's not worth 'elite slugger' money, any team with an average to above average 1Bman would greatly improve themselves by adding one of the most consistent offensive players in the game.

 

Here's a big hypothetical ----

 

If you ran a team like, say, the Giants, how much would the Rox have to eat in salary to make you swing away on this deal? There's a very real chance the Bonds contract doesn't get finalized. Health & legal issues are still hovering, and soon to be dive-bombing.

 

5 more years left, $90 million is the starting point. I'm not talking in terms of who would be sent in return, just the dollars. If I'm the GM for the Giants (just a team w/o a good 1B option, nothing specific here), I'd start getting interested around $70 million. That's AAV of $14 million.

 

That's perhaps a tad too high still, but if you can somehow get the Rockies to agree to pay $25 mil. of that remaining salary (as opposed to all $90 mil.), then I think you'd start to hear some phones ringing in Denver

[TooLiveBrew]

Some other potential candidates for Helton:

 

Atlanta - already you hear Andruw Jones trade talk; The Rockies are not sure about going with Tavarez in CF

 

Baltimore - Miggy Tejada rumors are almost as common as Manny rumors; rumor of team being sold soon... take Tribune Co. philosophy & build team's supposed value?

 

Seattle - Richie Sexson's contract is similar, in terms of AAV ('07 & '08 @ $14 mil./year), but expires after 2008; do Mariners want a longer-term, much more disciplined 1Bman (granted with less HR pop)

 

Washington - Decrease in HR power may play well in the cavernous RFK home-turf of the Nationals; Washington franchise lacks any kind of 'face' for their franchise, although Zimmerman seems to be on his way....

 

 

(Just some possibilities to counter Toby's 'No one needs or wants Helton' thought)

[TooLiveBrew]

FYI, for those interested in the Park Factor -- Helton's OPS+.....

 

2006 = 119

 

2004-'06 (avg.) = roughly 140 (sorry, don't have a calculator at the moment)

 

 

I know these are not 'elite' numbers, which is why I discuss salary pickup by the Rox

[dadofandrew]

Helton has always hot outside of Coors as well, I think he has plenty of value. However, given Geoff has one year left at market value or less, I see no reason to move him.

[TooLiveBrew]

What I want, specifically, is relief pitching, preferrably LHRP. If not, then any reliver(s) will do, and the salary gone (although, as you point out, it's off the books after 2007 anyway).

 

Gross has proven he's more than capable of producing like Jenks against RHP. Gross will also bring a better OBP, therefore a higher OPS is likely.

 

Our Bullpen is at least one more arm away. If that arm is RH, I'd want to see another LOOGY/LHRP added. If the arm you can get for Jenks is LH, then I feel quite confident.

[endaround]

Houston should get him. Then he and Lee can grow old together after the Astros' one last push in 2007.

[TooLiveBrew]

But wouldn't a deal that reduced the cost of Helton make sense for some mid-market team? Maybe Baltimore? If the understanding is that you don't get a guy that hits HRs as frequently... and you don't pay as much (as Hou. did to get, Lee, for example).

 

What you do get, is a very productive, albeit slightly older player. Years from age 34 to 38. Although not ideal, IMO (just like RFK might be a match for Helton's swing at this point in his career), he can still generate offense. Tony Gwynn's career-high RBI total came at age 37, when his 119 were good for 6th in the NL.

 

I'm not saying Helton is Tony Gwynn. But he has had a durable career, and I'm sorry - but if I'm a mid-level club with a big contract (perhaps an unhappy player, like Tejada) and can get a discounted rate on Helton for that long, I think it's an interesting idea, if nothing else.

 

Instead of breaking the bank on a younger player (who may also be a HR slugger), taking a proven commodity such as Helton could serve to provide stability, instead of hoping for stop-gaps in case prospects don't pan out. For a team that has to select which young guys to re-sign, and which to let walk, this can serve as both stability & a 'win now' approach, when the young stars you have retained are in their primes.

 

This obviously doesn't apply to the Brewers specifically in terms of Helton, but I think this is the kind of move - applied generically to free agency - that may prove savvy once it's time for several and all of our young talents to sign longer-term deals

[mothershipconnection]

Helton would simply be a huge salary dump, as he's owed a ridiculous amount, so a 3-way deal wouldn't work with Jenkins. It would need to involve another player who's overpaid quite a bit or the Rockies eating more salary than they're gonna eat.

[fleehaw]

Operating under the premise that this would be a major salary dump by the Rockies, and they are willing to pick up around $20-$30M of Helton's salary. Apparently, the Rockies were willing to pick up $40M of Helton's salary. I found this figure on mlb4u.com regarding the Angels/Rockies rumors from earlier in the offseason.

 

Rockies trade: Helton & Affeldt & cash

Rockies get: Jenkins, Lowell, & a prospect from the Brewers (I'm thinking in the 5-15 Power 50 range for prospects)

 

Boston trades: Crisp & Lowell

Boston gets: Helton & Turnbow & cash

 

Brewers trade: Jenkins, Turnbow, & a prospect

Brewers get: Crisp & Affeldt

 

Obviously, the proposal has its warts. Boston gets rewarded for eating most of Helton's salary. Youklis slides over to 3rd, Manny in LF, Drew in CF, & Pena/Hinske in RF.

 

Rockies get to dump a sizeable portion of Helton's salary & Jenkins & Lowell come off the books after '07. Lowell could play some 1b, 2b, or backup 3b, and Jenkins most likely would be a backup OF unless Holliday or Hawpe can play CF. The Rockies don't get a whole lot back for Helton, but they do get some financial freedom in '08.

 

The Brewers dump some salary. Crisp can play either CF or LF depending on where Hall will play. Affeldt adds another lefty for the pen.

 

The Brewers make out very nicely in this deal which probably puts this in the 'not a fair trade' category.

[TooLiveBrew]

Nice work though, fleehaw. I like the creativity

[sbrylski]

MLB Trade Rumors

 

Nice call on the Sox.

[TooLiveBrew]

as a Yankee fan, the possible addition of Helton worries me far more than JD Drew. At least you know Helton's gonna be out there for 500+ ABs. His sweet lefty stroke is born to play the Peske pole.

 

 

David Ortiz

Manny Ramirez

Todd Helton

 

 

*gulp*

[TheCrew07]

sports.espn.go.com/mlb/ne...id=2745139

 

Looks like BoSox are serious.

[jackalope02ca]

There is no way a 3 way deal works in this case as the only relevant number to consider is salary. I believe he has 6 years and roughly 90 million left on his deal. No one takes him unless half or so is paid by the Rockies. That leaves only a handful of teams to even consider him. I doubt he is moved for another couple of years when the salary numbers are more reasonable. The Rockies are the one's anxious to move him here, not the other way around. He needs to have a bounce back year this year to get other teams interested.

[cancer47]

Nope, no way, no how. $$$$ talks, and it's talking way too loud for just about any potential suitor(s). The Rockies made a bad deal, and they're going to be stuck with it. The Brewers know how that goes, all too well.