Late Innings

Two days after the Mike Jacobs trade happened, we’re still talking about it here. Most of the feedback I’ve seen on the trade has been negative for the Royals, especially from ESPN’s Keith Law, who says that Jacobs is a non-tender candidate, something I honestly don’t see. Given the (rumored) interest that has been floating around about Jacobs, the Marlins were going to at least tender him a contract for next year. I understand that he is arbitration eligible, however 3MM for a first baseman who hits 30HR and drives in 100 is a bargain, and even the Marlins know that.

If Jacobs (as I’ve said earlier) draws about 30 more walks in 2009, his OBP would jump into the .340 range, and he’d be an even more attractive trade candidate for the Royals as they enter next Winter’s off season. In either way, I’ve made the argument that the Royals didn’t get “fleeced” with this move. Looking at the forest from the trees here, the Royals got a 35HR bat (which are rare), and all it cost them was a middle reliever.

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I’ve seen a post yesterday on Rany on the Royals about the role Billy Butler will play for the team in 2009. He made the following statement:

Most importantly, though, trading for Jacobs makes it more likely than not that Billy Butler has already played his last game for the Royals.

I’m not sure if I’d go that far. He mentions that Dayton Moore isn’t a big fan of Butler, however he’s clearly one of the team’s best prospects to come up in the last three years. Butler is currently penciled in as the Royals’ DH for 2009. His average has always been high, and his lost power came back once he returned to the team’s lineup in July. In either case, I highly doubt that the Royals would move Butler. If there are any players they should move, they should either look at moving Mark Teahen or Jose Guillen. Teahen’s trade value is high now, and Guillen would fill any corner outfield void for many teams. Still if Moore does in fact want to move Butler, Camden Chat says the Orioles would like him.

More on the Royals

The ever interesting RotoProfessor looks at whether Royals’ starter Kyle Davies could be a sleeper in 2009. Honestly I ask this question each and every year about Davies, and I’m personally starting to lose patience with him. He might prove me wrong, I don’t know.

More on the Orioles

Granted the Orioles wouldn’t mind having Butler (as another DH), however the team has numerous holes right now: shortstop, corner infielder, starting pitcher… Roch from MASN looks at the free agents, and mentions that insiders within the Orioles are kicking the tires on free agents Orlando Cabrera, Rafael Furcal, and Edgar Renteria. I’ve discussed Renteria and the Orioles earlier, and I could see it happening, however he’s a Type B free agent. If the Tigers offer him arbitration (which will most likely happen), Baltimore will lose their second round draft pick next year.

In either news, Peter Schmuck also mentions that the Orioles are highly interested in Mark Teixeira, and there has been rumors that Peter Angelos will pay “whatever it takes” to get Tex at first in 2009. One caveat, Tex is a Type A, and the Angels are sure as ever going to offer him arbitration, especially since they coughed up Casey Kotchman to obtain him. The cost won’t be cheap, and even if the Orioles grab him, after all the teams bump up the bidding he’ll be looking at 20MM per year.

My take, I like Teixeira, however the Orioles aren’t a winning team yet. Granted Teixeira could come in for the money, however he’d be disappointed after Andy MacPhail then dealt the rest of the lineup for prospects (Ramon Hernandez, Melvin Mora, Aubrey Huff.) MacPhail needs to stay the course and keep building talent within. Last year was good, and he’ll need to start moving more chips to only improve the team’s overall depth.

By the way, the official Elias rankings are out now for the free agents.