Matt LaPorta?

[JohnBriggs12]

The Indians just signed Casey Kotchman to play 1B. LaPorta has never fulfilled the promise he had when the Brewers sent him to Cleveland for Sabathia. He's now 27 and clearly past the prospect stage. The problem is he's never hit lefties very well so his suitability as a platoon is questionable. But he can play either corner OF spot as well as 1B, and he still has an option left. Maybe a return to his original organization could revive him?

[dadofandrew]

Laporta (and Shelley Duncan, another CLE RH 1B/OF) has a reverse split, hits RHP far better than LHP. Laporta also has at least one option left, so CLE can just stash him at AAA and see what happens.

 

Even if he hit both sides equally, it'd make perfect sense.

[RockCoCougars]

I'd look into this. Maybe they are still interested in Green.

[Raw Biz]

I'd look into this. Maybe they are still interested in Green.

No way would I trade Green for LaPorta. Green is two years younger than LaPorta and has more service time remaining. Plus he plays 3B and 2B and LaPorta is basically a bad defensive 1B/LF type, which we have plenty of. Not to mention he has a career .700 OPS in about 1000 PAs. That move would make zero sense to me.

[Warning Track Power]

I'd look into this. Maybe they are still interested in Green.

No way would I trade Green for LaPorta. Green is two years younger than LaPorta and has more service time remaining. Plus he plays 3B and 2B and LaPorta is basically a bad defensive 1B/LF type, which we have plenty of. Not to mention he has a career .700 OPS in about 1000 PAs. That move would make zero sense to me.

I like Green but I am not as high on him as other people are. I don't disagree with anything you have said above or in the other thread about Kotchman signing. I think that given the situation with Braun and Gamel being unproven I'd like to have someone to potentially fill those roles. I just am uncomfortable right now with the possibility of Morgan/Gomez/Aoki as a 3 man rotation in CF and LF if Braun is suspended given Morgan's inability to hit LH, Gomez's inability to hit RH and Aoki being unproven. Additionally, if Gamel struggles what is the gameplan to replace him at 1B? Green has all of 21 games in the minors at 1B, A-Ram has never played there and Hart has already been a little whiny about playing 1B.

 

Maybe the answer isn't LaPorta to play 1B if Gamel struggles or LF if Braun is suspended, but I would at least inquire about his availability. Ideally, it doesn't cost us a Green. A bench of LaPorta/Aoki, Green, Morgan/Gomez, Kottaras & Izturis looks pretty darn good.

[Raw Biz]

I would definitely look into LaPorta. But I would hang up the phone if they asked for Green. Ideally, I'd give them another one of our 1B/OF types at a lower level.

[patrickgpe]

id do Green for LaPorta. The brewers need a power hitter off of the bench and Green is probably blocked. If you bring in LaPorta you have 2 young players that can play 1st. if nothing else its a good lefty-righty platoon. not sure if the tribe wants to get rid of him.

[jerichoholicninja]

The last thing this teams needs is another no glove/all bat player. Especially one that has shown he's not much of a hitter.

[DHonks]

Laporta has the potential to be a Pat Burrell-type bat. He could break out in Milwaukee just as Sexson did. Green has been repeatedly called a utility-type player despite how high many of us are on him. So it'd be a no brainer of a trade.

[pete]

Other than people here, who keeps calling Green a utility type player?

[RockCoCougars]

With Ramirez and Weeks, I don't see a spot for Green outside of being a utility player. As for LaPorta, I like the fact that he could at least theoretically help cover left during a Braun suspension. The Indians may have a bit of interest in Green as they are projected to have rookies manning 2nd and 3rd as far as I can tell.

[endaround]

LaPorta for Green? No. Sub .750 OPS OFers who can't field are available all the time. The Brewers already have Aoki and he can field. If the Indians were to release him sure you bring him in but otherwise no.

[TooLiveBrew]

Another no vote on Green for LaPorta. I'd guess Green can produce comparably at the plate & he actually can defend too.

[HiAndTight]

Other than people here, who keeps calling Green a utility type player?

I think there is some confusion with Green. Just because he's capable of playing 2rd, 3rd and 1B doesn't mean he's got to be pigeon holed into the dreaded "utility," label. I prefer he's versatile.

 

Ben Zobrist is a guy who plays several different positions. Is he a quote-unquote "utility" player?

 

To me that's a benefit, not a detriment. Green reminds me very much of Mark Loretta. I think he'll hit for more power and not quite as much in the BA department. Loretta played SS as well for a while, but at his height, he was a 3B/2B type.

 

I think Green's got a nice upside. I think he's very capable of being a .285/.350/.475 type hitter who can hit 15-20 HR's given the chance.

 

I wouldn't dream of giving him up for LaPorta either.

 

I WOULD be interested in bringing LaPorta back into the fold. Perhaps for a guy like Nelson+one of our many 1B in the lower levels who've put up nice numbers. Or a Nyjer Morgan once Braun comes back(or hell, before and just bring Schafer up right away. With Sizemore, they've got to want some protection).

[HiAndTight]

With Ramirez and Weeks, I don't see a spot for Green outside of being a utility player. As for LaPorta, I like the fact that he could at least theoretically help cover left during a Braun suspension. The Indians may have a bit of interest in Green as they are projected to have rookies manning 2nd and 3rd as far as I can tell.

Yes, but a player who is blocked at two positions by two of our best players does not mean he's a utility player.

[Hate those Rodents]

+1 for the LaPorta thread idea, as the Indians signing of Kotchman could make him available and makes him a relevant name to discuss. But a much bigger -1 on somehow turning this thread into LaPorta vs Green. I almost want to start a new thread that focuses on LaPorta and how he might fit for us.

[RockCoCougars]

With Ramirez and Weeks, I don't see a spot for Green outside of being a utility player. As for LaPorta, I like the fact that he could at least theoretically help cover left during a Braun suspension. The Indians may have a bit of interest in Green as they are projected to have rookies manning 2nd and 3rd as far as I can tell.

Yes, but a player who is blocked at two positions by two of our best players does not mean he's a utility player.

In lieu of an injury, he is on this team unless he's back in Nashville starting. By the time Weeks' and Ramirez' contracts are up, Green will have to be a

bench player or gone, you can't stash him in the minors forever (though

it seems like he's been down there that long already).

 

[monty57]

Games played by Rickie Weeks / Aramis Ramirez:

 

2005 - 96 / 123 or 105 games not played

2006 - 95 / 157 or 72 games not played

2007 - 118 / 132 or 74 games not played

2008 - 129 / 149 or 46 games not played

2009 - 37 / 82 or 205 games not played

2010 - 160 / 124 or 40 games not played

2011 - 118 / 149 or 57 games not played

 

I'm pretty sure that if the organization chooses to use Green as the replacement for Weeks & Ramirez, he will find a decent amount of playing time over the next few years.

 

I would be happy if the Brewers could swing a trade to pick up LaPorta if Cleveland is ready to give up on him, but I don't want to see the Brewers give up a good prospect (like Green) to get him. LaPorta has the potential to be good, but to this point of his MLB career (909 AB), he's hit more like a SS than a 1B, and apparently isn't very good with the glove either - particularly in the OF. I'd bet that Aoki will put up better overall value in LF than LaPorta, and that Gamel will put up better value than LaPorta at 1B. Therefore, I wouldn't give up much in value to get him.

[Warning Track Power]

+1 for the LaPorta thread idea, as the Indians signing of Kotchman could make him available and makes him a relevant name to discuss. But a much bigger -1 on somehow turning this thread into LaPorta vs Green. I almost want to start a new thread that focuses on LaPorta and how he might fit for us.

Agreed.

 

Matt LaPorta's splits:

Platoon Splits

Direct Link · Glossary · SHARESHARE [X] · CSV · PRE · LINK · ?

I
Split
G
GS
PA
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
SB
CS
BB
SO
BA
OBP
SLG
OPS
TB
GDP
HBP
SH
SF
IBB
ROE
BAbip
tOPS+



vs RHP as RHB
245

747
682

168
39
1
26
93
3
0
54
156
.246
.304
.421
.725
287
15
5
0
6
0
8
.281
106


vs LHP as RHB
124

261
227

48
12
1
4
22
0
0
27
50
.211
.303
.326
.629
74
5
4
0
3
2
3
.250
82


vs LH Starter
78
75
294
261
22
58
15
2
4
23
0
0
27
55
.222
.296
.341
.637
89
6
2
0
4
0
2
.262
83


vs RH Starter
191
179
714
648
82
158
36
0
26
92
3
0
54
151
.244
.307
.420
.726
272
14
7
0
5
2
9
.277
107

That is downright ugly as a RHB in a platoon. Count me in as someone who has interest in acquiring LaPorta but yikes. That doesn't look real promising and I wonder now if my want to acquire him isn't solely based on him being a former stud prospect of ours.

[RockCoCougars]

I started the Green thing. Was just throwing a name out there that might make sense since Green is blocked and Cleveland apparently wanted him in the Sabathia deal. It's going to take something of decent value to get LaPorta at this point since he still has an option. Next year at this time, maybe not.

[paul253]

I'd look into this. Maybe they are still interested in Green.

If the Indians signed Kotchman because they don't have faith in LaPorta then no way should we give up Green for him. LaPorta has yet to put up an OBP over .308 despite being given ample opportunity. The only thing I can see him being useful for right now would be a power hitter coming off the bench and part time fill in when your starter needs a day off. There were a lot of people, myself included, who were willing to hand third base to Green this offseason. I'd take my chances that he can put up at least similar major league numbers to LaPorta. Plus if you make that trade and Ramirez gets hurt, who plays third? Cesar Izturis? Jeff Bianchi? No thanks.

[TheCrew07]

LaPorta has power but he seems to lack the most important tool, the hit tool, at MLB. Maybe he'll figure it out eventually but he hasn't adjusted very well in almost 1000 MLB PAs now. His is a career .299 hitter in the minors, but those holes in his swing have certainly been exploited in the bigs. As I said in a thread in the MLB forum if you add 40 points of BA his entire line looks pretty respectable, he'd be an .800+ OPS first baseman.

 

However I wasn't a huge fan of his when he was here and since he left he's done nothing to convince me he's worthy of trading anything to get him back. If you can get him on waivers and put him in AAA then sure, but why would we trade anything for him now? We already have Gamel who's a better hitter and defender. LaPorta might have more raw power, but I'd much rather have Gamel. LaPorta doesn't even appear to be a decent platoon option anywhere...

 

I don't expect a Nelson Cruz like surge out of him, he's gotten over 350 PAs 2 years in a row, something just isn't clicking. He's certainly young enough he could turn it around, but I wouldn't give anything of value for him.

[Invader3K]

I really don't see much value in Matt LaPorta at all for this team. If the Indians want to give him back, fine, but I wouldn't give up anything of value to trade for him.

[craigharmann]

How about Arnett for LaPorta?

[Warning Track Power]

How about Arnett for LaPorta?

Blue?

 

One first round bust for another? I like it. The Indians did trade Drew Pomeranz and Alex White for Ubaldo. Maybe they'd be interested in taking a chance...or maybe they'd view Arnett like most of us do. Either way, I'd do it.