Estrada Traded to the Mets for Guillermo Mota

[dvoiss]

Guess I don't really mind this trade. Wasn't expecting to get anything for Estrada. Would feel better if the Crew had a better answer for the catcher position but maybe they will before spring. Kendall is nothing more than a backup at this point IMO.

[sbrylski]

From the Mets fans I've talked to, they said Mota was fine in one-inning spurts, but ran into trouble when Willie Randolph would keep running him out for a second inning, when he would get shelled.

 

And here's the support:

 

2007

Pitches 1-25

.239 / .296 / .380 / .676

 

Pitches 26+

.462 / .517 / .808 / 1.325

 

However, his BABIP splits were .273 and .526, respectively. So I wouldn't expect that split to be as drastic next season.

[adambr2]

I've been a huge Melvin supporter. But right now, I cannot figure out what he is thinking.

 

People act like Estrada is absolute garbage. He's not THAT bad. You don't get .280 10 HR 55 RBI out of the average starting catcher. He can't take a walk to save his life and his defense is garbage, but he can hit.

 

So if we're going to dump him, wouldn't it make more sense to get a catcher that isn't garbage offensively AND defensively? Kendall doesn't have any power, he doesn't hit for contact, and he can't play defense. So unless you buy into the whole "veteran leadership" thing, he's pretty much useless. The only thing he does better than Estrada is run.

 

And Moto is awful. Bringing in awful relievers isn't going to solve the bullpen problem. I would much rather have given Estrada another shot rather than just giving up on him after one year and unloading him for garbage.

[kgbaseball]

I like getting rid of Estrada. All the Brewers need for their starting catcher is a defensive-minded player, as they already have the offensive ability to win without an offense-first catcher.

[strawbossisevil]

This one is interesting to breakdown.

 

I like Kendell, unlike a lot of people here, I think he'll be an improvement for us.

 

With Kendell we can count on a better OBP, better game calling, better baserunning, and a better attitude.

If he calls a better game, we can hope that our pitchers will do a bit better this year, so it's improvement in that way too.

 

It really looks like Estrada really was not a good team player, a clubhouse cancer of sorts. If that's the case, I'm glad to get rid of him and his terrible OBP.

 

Mota, hmm. He was really good a half decade ago. Hmm...

[Weirdos19]

There is no way you get a multiple inning reliever for Estrada. The guy just had surgery and needs to lose 40 pounds. I don't see that happening if he is laid up this winter.

[adambr2]

I like getting rid of Estrada. All the Brewers need for their starting catcher is a defensive-minded player, as they already have the offensive ability to win without an offense-first catcher.

 

I agree that if we're going to rid of Estrada, we may as well bring in a defensive catcher. So that begs the question, why are we bringing in Jason Kendall???

[Oldcity]

I don't know. They really cannot do worse at catcher as a whole (offese+defese+game calling+pain in the ass). I don't really mind taking a shot on Mota.

[RockCoCougars]

Hooray! Garbage day came a day early for me.

 

At least Mota has a pulse, which is seemingly more than Johnny displayed behind the plate last year.

 

I can only pray that Kevin "Shrek" Mench is next.

 

Hasta la vista, El Gordo!

[brewdude15]

I'm not a fan of this trade, but then again, I haven't been a fan of many trades made by Melvin....at first. I always think that many of the deals Melvin makes are bone-headed, and negative, but most of the time, they turn out to be pretty good. If Mota becomes a completely different player in Milwaukee, and we find a catcher out of nowhere to be productive (whether it be Palmisano, Rivera, Kendall, or someone else), and possibly helps the situation with re-signing Cordero, I will again like this trade. You just always have to hope it doesn't completely reverse, and bite us in the butt. I thought pretty high of Estrada until the last couple months of the season. I remember when he was a .300, 10 HR, 60 RBI player. In other words, he was an All-Star. I dunno where his talent went, but he didn't show much in Milwaukee. Then again, he wasn't TERRIBLE. He did have a few clutch moments as a Brewer. But he didn't hustle, he's coming off an injury, and if he was a clubhouse cancer, I guess I wouldn't want him on the team. Bottom line, my thoughts about Estrada are about 50-50. I think the only way we get a solid catcher is by another trade. Hopefully Melvin still has some more tricks up his sleeves, this offseason.

[mothershipconnection]

Well sure. But Davis could have been traded for something else. You know, something worthwhile.

 

That was beef at the time. A lot of people said "we have a bunch of good starting options in Sheets, Cappy, Suppan, and Bush, with Villanueva and Gallardo about to be ready. So we didn't need Davis". I think that was a valid point and I wasn't irate simple because they dealt him, but they could have gotten real talent in return instead of a crap catcher with known character issues and a garbage starter. Frankly, I'd be a lot happier if we were watching Davis and his expiring contract leaving Milwaukee in exchange for comp picks right now.

[Brian the Automator]

Mota is faster than Estrada.

[splitterpfj]

Brian the Automator is faster than Estrada - and throws better too.

[Kurt]

Sure Estrada had a little pop in his bat but he also had a .296 obp. Do we really need an offensive catcher with this kind of line up? I'd rather have a guy that can call a better game and not be a headache in the clubhouse..(and not be as slow as molasses on the base paths) And if it is Kendell we get, I'd be a happy about it.. People seem to overlook that Estrada's OBP was .296 last year.

[Bernie Crewer]

I'm on board with this trade for three reasons.

 

1) I will not have to watch an arrogant catcher who over-values his own talent underachieve and not give 100%. If he cannot give 100% to a new team in a race when he's bounced from team to team prior...and then got benched in AZ...the light obviously was not going to magically turn green for Mr. Estrada. I thought his excuses at the end of the year were pathetic. He had the plate discipline of an 8 year old in coach pitch.

 

2) Mota has plus stuff. Bullpens every year across MLB have guys come out of the woodwork. You put enough plus arms into the mix and hopefully you find a few that work.

 

3) I believe Melvin got cash to balance it out. I'm pretty sure he didn't get the full 3.2 million, but probably somewhere around 1.5 - 2.0.

 

PS - I like Jason Kendall as our catcher if that is to be the case. You look at his numbers over time and only one aberration stands out and that was his first half last year. I hope he plays well for the crew and at least at a minimum he will be a guy I don't curse at repeatedly for not giving 100%. That 1st to Catcher back to 1st double play with the bases loaded will be what I remember most about Johnny E. Good bye, and I hope you grow up...your history suggests that is not likely. Thank you Doug for identifying a problem on a young, impressionable team and dealing with it swiftly. Sends the correct message as well to the rest of the players, which I have not seen written yet.

[endaround]

Given the fact that the only way the Brewers win with the current defense is by piling up the runs, yes the Brewers need an offensive catcher

[brewdude15]

also, it's not guarenteed that we sign Kendall. Until it's official, I won't believe it. I rarely believe rumors.

[Fatter than Joey]

I rarely believe rumors.

 

I's not a rumor. It may fall through, but it's real.

[lukevan]

also, it's not guarenteed that we sign Kendall. Until it's official, I won't believe it. I rarely believe rumors.

 

It makes sense though, since we hear that Melvin is looking at Kendall and the next day Estrada is dealt for a garbage reliever. I'd expect to see Kendall signed tomorrow.

[And That]

Jason Kendall will be a Milwaukee Brewer by the weekend with about a 90% certainty.

[endaround]

Jason Kendall will be a Milwaukee Brewer by the weekend with about a 90% certainty.

You know, if this was 2000 that would have been really exciting news

 

[Rob]

Perhaps Sheets for McCann is an actual possibility?

 

That really intrigues me. But honestly, I can't see Atlanta doing it, but boy if were a real possiblity I would really think hard about ot.

[brewdude15]

One rumor that I heard, and am not sure what to believe is that Seattle is looking to trade Johjima for starting pitching. If Melvin has something planned to get Johjima...he is the new Einstein.

[Brian the Automator]

I think that what stings about this trade the most was the high expectations many of us (mistakenly) had for Estrada. I never thought his defense would really be THAT bad, and his slowness just was more than anything else an emotional thing for fans (even though there was certainly some real impact).

 

At least when Kendall gets on base at a decent clip, he'll be an asset on the basepaths, and not a slug.

 

Although I still wish Dana all the best, at least he and Krynzel didn't come back to sting us on the deal. I don't know... I have some hope for Mota. Juan Rincon got busted for juicing, and he rebounded alright. This is one of those "meh" deals to me, like the Clark for Dessens deal. Trash for trash.

[brewdude15]

Also, I'm not real intrigued that our catcher will hit a HR every 350 AB's, or so....