Big League Chatter

For most baseball fans the "Hot Stove League" is a very exciting time of year.  This past off-season we saw several big name players that were dealt.  But what about those players who were rumored to be dealt but were not.  Among those who were supposed to be traded were Joe Crede, Brandon Inge, Brian Roberts, and Coco Crisp just to name a few.  As fans, we are often times eager to pull the trigger on these deals when we see a younger, cheaper option present itself.  Or in the case of Inge, whose position was taken away from him due to a trade.  In a 162 game season it is hard to predict what will happen or who will get hurt.  In an era where players will not play hurt or management won’t let them, depth is becoming a key to a successful season. 

In spring training Tigers center-fielder Curtis Granderson suffered a broken bone in his hand, leaving Detroit looking for a replacement.  Here’s where Brandon Inge comes into play.  Inge, who is probably one of the best all around athletes in the game, fits nicely into center-field to replace Granderson.  Inge can also play a gold glove third base and is slated to be Pudge’s back up at catcher.  With the acquisition of all-star Miguel Cabrera it was pretty much assumed that the Tigers would deal Inge. But with the way that this season has started Inge could turn out to be their MVP in 2008.

White Sox third baseman, Joe Crede has been slated to be traded since he went down last season because of back surgery.  Josh Fields came up from the minors and filled in for Crede the rest of the season.  Fields hit .244 with 23 home runs and 67 RBI’s in 373 at bats in 2007.  Even though Josh didn’t hit for a high average his power numbers were off-the-chart for his number of plate appearances.  White Sox GM Ken Williams was aggressively shopping Crede until opening day, although he may change his mind after a hot start from Crede.  Joe has opened the season hitting .408 with 3 home runs and 11 RBI’s.  Until last season, Crede was viewed as a top tier third baseman.  When injuries rob a player of almost a whole season it seems like fans and management forget what that player has done in the past.  Just ask Jorge Cantu.  Cantu was an up and coming star for the Tampa Bay Rays until he fouled a pitch off his left foot and was out for the better part of 2006 and wasn’t given a chance to play much in 2007.  He is now getting a chance to start at third base for the Florida Marlins.  Unlike Cantu, Crede has retained his starting job with Chicago.  When healthy, Crede will produce; and after a horrible 2007 season the Sox could use all the offense they can get.

The Baltimore Orioles were supposed to trade Brian Roberts to the Chicago Cubs for a host of young players.  For some reason both sides couldn’t come together on a deal.  With the direction that the O’s are going, one would figure that Robert’s and his salary would become expendable.  Brian is the heart and soul of the Baltimore team and his leadership will prove to be invaluable for the younger players if they decide not to trade him.  Even though it is early in the season the O’s are the first place team in the AL East at 6-4.  Most experts are predicting the O’s to finish last in the East and they may, but a player like Roberts is the type of player  that any manager would love to have around.

The Boston Red Sox have a problem that every team would love to have, an abundance of depth.  Case in point, Mike Lowell was recently put on the 15 day disabled list.  An injury like this would leave most teams scrambling to find a replacement.  Not Boston, they simply moved Kevin Youkilis to third base and brought Sean Casey off the bench to play first.  On a lot of teams Casey would be a starter but he decided to take a lesser role to be a Red Sox.  That is the same position Coco Crisp is in.  Crisp is a talented player who could be a starter on almost any other team.  Right now he is sharing time with Jacoby Ellsbury.  Crisp would like to be an everyday player and the Sox have entertained offers to move him, but the depth that he adds is what separates good teams from championship teams.  Plus the Red Sox are not hurting for money so there is no reason to trade him unless the right deal is presented. 

The major league season is a long one, filled with ups and downs.  It is hard to predict who will stay in the lineup for the entire season.  That is why it is so important to have depth within an organization.  There are two ways teams can have depth.  One way is to trade high priced talent such as the Twins did with Johan Santana.  Minnesota got three younger, cheaper players in return for Santana.  The other way involves keeping home grown talent in the organization.  Almost every team in the majors can afford to take on the salary of an Alex Rodriguez.  Therefore teams can afford to keep their higher priced talent, if so desired.  It isn’t as important for a team to cut salaries like it was ten years ago.  Obviously there are situations where a trade is the best solution for both teams.  Even so, the smaller market teams get millions of dollars each year in revenue sharing from the bigger market teams.  So there is plenty of money to go around and that is why sometimes the best trades are the ones not made.