Norichika Aoki traded to Kansas City Royals for LHP Will Smith

[sheetskout]

#FreshPrince

 

(Think about it)

[patrickgpe]

DM is on WSSP and said that Smith will be given the chance to start.

[JohnBriggs12]

I suggested in the trade forum on 09/27 targeting some of KC's excess bullpen arms as a possible return for Aoki, and it looks like that is what the market ended up being after all.

 

Kudos. Smith is a young power lefty who's had some success in the big leagues. Starter or reliever it's a good return. They needed room for Davis, along with Gindl in the OF.

[Invader3K]

DM is on WSSP and said that Smith will be given the chance to start.

 

That's good to hear. It sounds like he has the potential to be a solid #4/5 type. I think that's a great return for a 32 year old right fielder, if correct.

[djoctagone]

do we get the "pursuit of happyness" will smith or the "after earth" will smith?

[JohnBriggs12]

Everyone needs to keep in mind too that Aoki is under control only through 2014.

[brewmann04]

The Kid will be a reliver he stats as a starter not very good.

[fondybrewfan]

I don't like making Smith a starter if it bumps Nelson and/or Thornburg to the bullpen. Does he really have any more upside than those two? He has shown an ability to very good out of the bullpen; just leave him there as a 7th/8th inning guy.

[brewmann04]

We have this kid for at least two years and we NEEDED a LHP good all around and like another Poster said creates a spot for are younger KIDS.

[Bombers]

As with all trades time will tell. But reality tells us, there is no way we were going to sign Aoki to an extension and do we really think we are going to win the pennant in 2014? Probably not. So I am good with the roll of the die on this kid. Hopefully he can find a groove and be successful.

[torts]

Everyone needs to keep in mind too that Aoki is under control only through 2014.

 

right, he is a free agent after the season, he doesnt have arbitration, so for 1 year of Aoki the Brewers got 5 years of a LH SP/RP.

[sheetskout]

Everyone needs to keep in mind too that Aoki is under control only through 2014.

 

No, Aoki would have hit arbitration in 2015. He was under team control until 2018. At least according to:

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/aokino01.shtml#contracts

[torts]

Everyone needs to keep in mind too that Aoki is under control only through 2014.

 

No, Aoki would have hit arbitration in 2015. He was under team control until 2018. At least according to:

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/aokino01.shtml#contracts

 

no. that is not correct.

 

http://brewersbeat.mlblogs.com/2013/07/01/new-information-on-aoki-contract/

[reillymcshane]

Everyone needs to keep in mind too that Aoki is under control only through 2014.

 

No, Aoki would have hit arbitration in 2015. He was under team control until 2018. At least according to:

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/aokino01.shtml#contracts

The club clarified during last season that Aoki could not be tendered arbitration. He is scheduled to be a free agent after 2014.

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/07/aoki-can-become-free-agent-after-2014.html

[sheetskout]

 

http://brewersbeat.mlblogs.com/2013/07/01/new-information-on-aoki-contract/

Ahh! Very misleading!

 

"But that is not the case, according to Aoki’s agent, Nez Balelo of CAA Sports, and Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash, who double-checked the language in the contract on Monday. It includes language stipulating Aoki will be an untethered free agent at the end of his current deal, whether or not the Brewers exercise their option."

 

This makes me feel a little better.

[Patrick425]

Seems like a decent deal to me. Judging by his K rate, I'm assuming he's a hard thrower.

 

I guess my only concerns would be:

 

A) As mentioned - who leads off now and

B) I'm concerned that Khris Davis is being overrated. Hopefully I'm wrong about that.

[torts]

Seems like a decent deal to me. Judging by his K rate, I'm assuming he's a hard thrower.

 

I guess my only concerns would be:

 

A) As mentioned - who leads off now and

B) I'm concerned that Khris Davis is being overrated. Hopefully I'm wrong about that.

 

im with you on both of those. I also hope moving into Miller Park from KC doesnt cause his HR rate to increase.

[brwrsfan]

That was key, they likely would have kept Aoki if they controlled him for 4 more years, but they don't. They have younger options available at the OF spots. Aoki has already past his prime, was extremely unlikely to get an extension and they felt they could add a quality, young LHP to the roster.

[reillymcshane]

I would have preferred a higher upside prospect for Aoki. But we seem to be locked into a player who can help now. That mindset limits the player we got for Aoki.

 

As Aoki's value - as people have pointed out, he is 32, a free agent after the season, has limited power, and needs to play corner OF (unless you want a bad CF). It limits the teams interested. With his limited power, some clubs probably see him more as a 4th OF. If he could play a good CF, it might be different, but his destinations were limited.

 

While it's underwhelming what we got for Aoki, I don't think it's that unexpected. Even if he is only a decent reliever - 4-5 years of him is probably worth one year of Nori.

 

I guess the big thing is that the club thinks he can start. And being a lefty, they see that as a need.

 

Can he actually be a decent starter? We'll see. If he can, it's a deal for us. But even if he's just a decent reliever, it's probably an okay deal in the long run. Just not real sexy.

[Outlander]

Seems like a decent deal to me. Judging by his K rate, I'm assuming he's a hard thrower.

 

I guess my only concerns would be:

 

A) As mentioned - who leads off now and

B) I'm concerned that Khris Davis is being overrated. Hopefully I'm wrong about that.

Not too concerned with B because Gindl is a decent option if Davis doesn't pan out.

[sheetskout]

I guess my only concerns would be:

 

A) As mentioned - who leads off now and

 

 

Why does it seem like everyone is against Segura leading off? The guy makes contact, has the speed for it, and doesn't strike out a lot.

[TheCrew07]

I would have preferred a higher upside prospect for Aoki. But we seem to be locked into a player who can help now.

 

This.

 

From BA after 2011 when he was the Royals #22 prospect:

Smith's two-seam fastball sits at 88-90 mph, a tick up from what he showed in 2010. He tweaked his two-seam grip midway through last season, adding velocity while not losing any of movement. His four-seamer operates at 91-92 mph and touches 94. His best secondary pitches are his big-breaking curveball and a changeup that's not quite as consistent. He added a slider midway through 2011 to give him a better chance against righthanders. Smith lacks a true strikeout pitch and he lands on a stiff front leg, which affects his control at times. His crossfire delivery helps create some deception, however, and he's equally successful against lefties and righties. Smith projects as a back-of-the-rotation starter if he continues to develop, and he should be at least a long reliever in the big leagues.

 

Unless the Royals found some mechanical flaw which accounted for his average FB velocity jumping up 92 mph last year I'm going to assume without watching that he just benefited from the typical switch to the bullpen where every pitcher's stuff can play up.

 

He's got no standout tool, he should not be the type of player Milwaukee is looking to acquire for the rotation, he's average at best as starter, which means he's likely far below average.

 

I don't have a problem with him as a BP guy.

[LaprilOne]

Well, a little news brings me back. I should stay more in touch.

 

I get the trade, it makes sense all things considered.

 

That said, I really liked Aoki being on the team. His at bats were quality, and he was a reliable RF. Not too mention, he was a good team guy.

 

So thanks to Nori, good luck!

[Mass Haas]

Hopefully never needed, but Will Smith has one minor league option remaining.

[Thurston Fluff]

I liked Aoki as much as anyone but we need to realize being a pleasant surprise is not the same as being a great player. I think getting a young lefty for a career 755 OPS corner outfielder isn't bad.