Do the Rockies make good trading partners?

[Weirdos19]

I seem to think so. They have 4 good outfielders (Tavares, Spilborghs, Holliday, and Hawpe). 3 of the four could be expendable for the right price. I think Tavares or Hawpe would look great in Milwaukee.

 

Willy Tavares- No slugging percentage, but .320 BA with a .367 OBP while playing a very good centerfield could be very attractive. He kind of fell out of favor last year, losing time to Spilborgs late in the season. Just giving them Gamel could be enough. He could be their heir apparent after Atkins bolts in 2010.

 

Hawpe- This is the guy I want. Big numbers while hitting left handed. Plays solid right field. Parra, Turnbow, and Gamel for Hawpe? He's signed through 2009.

[MNBrew]

Hawpe- This is the guy I want. Big numbers while hitting left handed. Plays solid right field. Parra, Turnbow, and Gamel for Hawpe? He's signed through 2009.

I like Hawpe, too, but two of our best prospects (one of whom is major-league ready and feet-wet already) and a former stud closer who's generally a very solid setup man save the periodic implosion amounts to overpaying. Hawpe is good but not MVP material. Then again, this offseason most GMs are asking for the moon in most deals.

Maybe you're right, that that's what it'd take. But I don't think he's worth that much.

[Weirdos19]

Well, considering that Hawpe will make about 4 mil in arby this year, we wouldn't be adding payroll.

 

And, Parra and Gamel would be too much, but add Turnbow's salary and it works. IMO, Turnbow will be no more than a 7th inning guy this year.

 

We's still have Gagne, Riske, Torres, Shouse, Stetter, Mota, McClung, and whoever doesn't make the rotation (Bush or Cappy).

[Tbadder]

I still think the Brewer's best trading partner is the team that has the best AAA 3Bman blocked at the major league level. Any ideas?

[TooLiveBrew]

The first one that comes to mind for me is SD - Chase Headley at AAA, Kouzmanoff at MLB. However, Kouz was only saved by Ryan Braun's disastrous fielding last year. Kouzmanoff was awful at 3B - and since the Pads have a vacancy in LF, I'd be surprised if they didn't use Kouz there, & Headley at 3B (or vice-versa, as I have no authority on Headley's defensive ability).

 

Another idea, though it's been proven relatively unlikely, is Detroit's Ryan Raburn. The Tigers seem to plan on keeping him in the fold both short & long-term.

[JohnBriggs12]

The Rockies are not good trading partners.

 

Hawpe isn't going anywhere much less for the package of Parra, Turnbow and Gamel. Heck Nick Swisher (a lesser talent than Hawpe) brought more back in return.

Hawpe is a Rockie core player in the same sense that Hart is with the Brewers.

 

Spillborghs will be 28 in 2008 and has never been a regular in the majors. He's a righthanded Gabe Gross.

 

But the big reason they aren't good trading partners is that they have some nice young pitchers in their rotation with more promise that the expendable Brewer trio.

 

The best potential Brewer trading partners remain Kansas City and Seattle. Both have lefthanded OF bats and sore needs in their rotations.

[TooLiveBrew]

Heck Nick Swisher (a lesser talent than Hawpe) brought more back in return.

 

Swisher is the superior player, no question about it. I agree that Hawpe is a fine hitter v. RHP, but he has to be protected from LHP.

[Big Reed]

the rockies have a tremendous 3B prospect named Ian Stewart who is blocked by Atkins. When they were both in the minors, Stewart was thought of as a much higher ceiling prospect. a little luster has rubbed off Stewart's comet, but he's only 22 and got a call up to the majors last year. I have to believe the rockies would be asking a lot in return for him, but he is worth it.

[TooLiveBrew]

Yea, Atkins isn't a whole lot better than Braun in the field, but he is better, and obviously brings great offense. I don't know how much we'd have to give to get him, unfortunately, as it may just create a hole somewhere else. But he'd be a darn good find at 3B if the Rox really are ready to hand the job to Stewart.

 

EDIT: The Rockies are unique, though, in that they wouldn't need to go out & get a 3B answer after trading their current one to us. I for one would be all over a Cappy/Bush + Hall + Gamel for Atkins + Spilborghs.

[homer]

While his overall numbers are better than Swisher's, Hawpe was helped greatly in 2007 by Coors Field:

 

Home .308/.405/.612

Away .273/.367/.462

 

(Swisher was actually better on the road .270/.376/.474 than he was at home .252/.388/.432)

[TooLiveBrew]

That kind of split for Swisher makes sense, though, due to playing at a pitcher's park. I'd expect a big year from him playing at U.S. Cellular in 2008, fwiw.

 

I should be responsible and remember that Spilborghs's output has been influenced by playing at Coors Field. He did, however, have an 111 OPS+ in 2007.

[DrWood]

ian stewart would be ideal, but I believe the rockies are moving him to 2b next season.

[hauser42]

ian stewart would be ideal, but I believe the rockies are moving him to 2b next season.

 

 

Heard this also. He may end up at 3B if Helton or Atkins gets moved from the team in a trade.

[TooLiveBrew]

Thanks for that update, Dr. Wood. It seems odd to me that the Rox are considering moving him to a more challenging defensive position, since he piled up the E totals at 3B in the minors. I know E's aren't everything, or even necessarily a good way to evaluate a fielder, but he posted consecutive 20+ E seasons.

[colbyjack]

The Rockies were going to try Stewart at 2B over the winter, but I don't buy it. He was considered a decent 3B, but more likely to either move to 1B or RF if he goes anywhere. And if they were sold on Stewart at 2B they probably wouldn't have been considering every available 2B imaginable.

 

The Rockies have/had a ton of free agents and a ton of salary arbitration players. Their payroll could easily go up $20+ million this year, and similar to the speculation that the Brewers may be waiting for the arby results to move Cappy, Vargas, etc., the Rockies may be doing the same given their situation with Holliday, Hawpe and Atkins (and Fuentes for that matter).

 

And don't forget that Matt Holliday is a FA after the 2008 season, and he's represented by Scott Boras. What do you think the chances are that he stays in Colorado? I'm guessing Ian Stewart is the Rockies starting LF in 2009 and that everyone stays put for one more year.

 

Which reminds me how much I like how the Rockies are built from top to bottom. They have depth everywhere.

 

And I agree that the Brewers don't match up well with the Rockies, as much as I'd love to see guys like Brad Hawpe and Brian Fuentes with the Crew.

[TooLiveBrew]

And don't forget that Matt Holliday is a FA after the 2008 season, and he's represented by Scott Boras. What do you think the chances are that he stays in Colorado? I'm guessing Ian Stewart is the Rockies starting LF in 2009 and that everyone stays put for one more year.

 

LF will be either Atkins or Stewart, I think that's a pretty safe bet. I'd been wondering about Holliday's contract situation, and hadn't had the time to go check Cot's. Thanks, cj.

[Gopher74]

Thanks for that update, Dr. Wood. It seems odd to me that the Rox are considering moving him to a more challenging defensive position, since he piled up the E totals at 3B in the minors. I know E's aren't everything, or even necessarily a good way to evaluate a fielder, but he posted consecutive 20+ seasons.

I understand that 2Bconsidered to be more challenging by some, but wouldn't it stand to reason that 3rd is more challenging? Tougher throw, the balls are generally hit much harder. What makes 2nd tougher? Just that you have to turn the DP. It just seems to me that 2nd is a easier position to play.

 

Do you think that Weeks would be a better 3rd basemen than a 2nd basemen? To me it just seems like he'd struggle even more with the long throw and conversely, Braun seems like he'd handle 2nd much better with a much easier throw.

 

[Gopher74]

The Rockies are not good trading partners.

 

Hawpe isn't going anywhere much less for the package of Parra, Turnbow and Gamel. Heck Nick Swisher (a lesser talent than Hawpe) brought more back in return.

Hawpe is a Rockie core player in the same sense that Hart is with the Brewers.

Not only do I not agree with you that Swisher is an inferior player to Hawpe, I don't agree that he cost more than Parra, Turnbow and Gamel.

 

I consider Parra to be quite a bit better than either of the two prospects the White Sox shipped out, and he's got some big league experience, Turnbow's a very good SU man, and Gamel's quite a bit better than Sweeny.

 

 

 

[twobrewers]

The Rockies were going to try Stewart at 2B over the winter, but I don't buy it. He was considered a decent 3B, but more likely to either move to 1B or RF if he goes anywhere. And if they were sold on Stewart at 2B they probably wouldn't have been considering every available 2B imaginable.

Rookie Jayson Nix has the inside shot at the Rockies' second-base job. But for insurance, the Rockies will bring major league veteran Marcus Giles to spring training, the Rocky Mountain News has learned. Giles agreed to terms of a nonguaranteed deal, but it won't be finalized until he passes a physical, which he will undergo in Denver next week.

Rocky Mountain News

 

Ian Stewart would be the ideal 3B for the Brewers next year. He is blocked by Atkins - which is kind of odd because Stewart has a higher ceiling. He would cost a ton in trading assets, but I think I would be willing to pay the price. Colorado could really use pitching - and they would need a stud from the Brewers. Parra, Capuano and LaPorta would probably be enough.

 

(Obtaining Stewart would leave us with no use for LaPorta - as Braun would be shifted to the OF. Losing Parra would hurt for next year - but not really this year. And Capuano is likely gone this year or next regardless.)

 

 

[DrWood]

parra, capuano and LaPorta (I guess as a PTBNL) is way too much for stewart, based on my valuation of parra and Laporta (top two prospects in the system).

 

 

 

regarding 3b vs. 2b, 3b is generally a much more challenging position, but 2b have to turn the DP. turning the DP was always the hardest part when I played baseball--getting to the balls and making the throws was instinctive--had to think too much about making that exchange.

 

 

 

regarding moving weeks to 3b if it was less challenging--I made that out-of-the-box suggestion a few months ago, but based it on weeks having a strong arm, but having trouble with the short throws. My suggestion was roundly criticized. Hall is a fine 2b, too, so that would round out the IF.

[TooLiveBrew]

Not only do I not agree with you that Swisher is an inferior player to Hawpe

 

JB and/or Gopher - what do you find more favorable about Hawpe? Check each player's road splits for a better idea of their ability if you hadn't already. Imo the fact that Swish can hit both LHP & RHP makes him more valuable, but that's just me.

 

3-yr. splits used following...

 

Hawpe road: .280/.374/.486/.860

Swisher road: ..260/.363/.473/.836

 

Hawpe v. LHP: .224/.297/.408/.705

Swisher v. LHP: .265/.400/.436/.836

 

Hawpe v. RHP: .297/.392/.517/.909

Swisher v. RHP: .246/.346/.476/.822

 

Hawpe OPS+: 2006 - 120; 2007 - 129

Swisher OPS+: 2006 - 125; 2007 - 127

 

I'm not saying Hawpe isn't a fine player, but he just doesn't hit LHP, and I am honestly not sure either way whether or not his mashing of RHP balances out greater than Swisher's versatility. Keep in mind, too, that Hawpe has played at an extreme hitter's park whereas Swisher to this point has been playing on the opposite end of the spectrum. I'm honestly just curious what/why you guys think...

[twobrewers]

parra, capuano and LaPorta (I guess as a PTBNL) is way too much for stewart, based on my valuation of parra and Laporta (top two prospects in the system).

Maybe so. But I am pretty sure Parra would have to be included in any deal for Stewart. It is possible that Parra and Capuano would be enough. But I think we often overvalue Parra. He has an incredible ceiling, but his injury history really limits his value.

 

Of course, then we have LaPorta blocked at the major league level.

[TooLiveBrew]

LaPorta isn't really blocked considering he won't be up to MLB anytime in 2008. If he hits his way onto the 2009 squad, then you may have a 'blocked' situation, but I think it can/could be worked out. I don't think he'll be up any earlier than mid-2009.

[DrWood]

LaPorta could be up in 2008 if there is an injury or two or some total suckiness from gross, gwynn, dillon.

 

He should skip Brevard, go straight to Huntsville, and could be moved to Nashville (or MKE) by mid-year if he does well. He's pretty advanced as a hitter, so if he isn't a complete butcher in LF, could move quickly.

[TooLiveBrew]

IF there's a catastrophic injury, and IF Matt is destroying AA pitching, there's a chance he could be up this year. I highly, highly doubt it.