Late Innings

Any ways, we’re five days past the first trade of the MLB offseason, and people are still talking about it. For the most part, people are thinking that the Marlins got the upper hand in the deal which saw them receive reliever Leo Nunez from the Royals for slugging first baseman Mike Jacobs. The most ridiculous thing I’ve seen recently: Mike Jacobs the Musical.

I’ve said it many times recently here: I like the Jacobs trade. The Royals gave up a replaceable reliever and received much needed power, especially considering that their lineup was second to last in the AL in home runs. I know that Jacobs has his holes (OBP), however with a little tinkering he can become a great trade chip for the Royals. Nunez isn’t a bad reliever, however he lacks the upside needed to push himself into the closer’s role (a poor K/BB ratio being one.)

I saw Posnanski’s blog this morning on the trade, and he doesn’t like it. However he echoed the same points, that is the Royals chose SLG over OBP. However in other words, he echoed what I’ve been saying along about the trade:

Mike Jacobs might hit 30 home runs for the Royals this year. He might get his on-base percentage up into the respectable range. He might have his best year. He might. He might. And it isn’t like the Royals traded away a star to get him. … But, more I think about it, I don’t see how he fits into any sort of plan. At all. And the more I think about it, the more I feel certain that this is precisely the kind of move you do not make.

On the other side of the coin, BA was optimistic about the trade:

Put it all together and I just don’t see where there is all that much risk in this trade from the standpoint of Moore and the Royals.

Precisely. The Royals rolled the dice by acquiring Jacobs, and the only chips they had on the table was Nunez. Jacobs has faults, however he’s still young and has upside. And as the previous authors said, he was hampered by unlucky BABIP (which precipitated his .247 average in 2008.) He could blossom into a .270/38/115 hitter for the Royals. Alex Gordon and others in the lineup could benefit from him as well (just like every other hitter in the Marlins’ lineup did last season.) And if this happens, I’ll be here, same time same place, to criticize all the haters of this trade.

Some other things from today:

Brewers pick up Mike Cameron’s 2009 10MM Option

This was an easy move on behalf of Doug Melvin and the club. Cameron only hit .243 in 2008, however he launched 25 HR and stole 17 bases. He also only made one error as well, fielding to a stellar tune of .997. For above-average position power and defense for a center fielder, 10MM is a bargain. And it seemed that the Brewers played better with him in the lineup, especially defensively (Ryan Braun was quietly a good defender in left field.)

Link Roundup

• The MLBTR top 50 free agents are up for everyone to see. Note that I did mine back in August, and I agreed with his destinations for the top two free agents: C.C. Sabathia and Mark Teixeira. One other note, we both agree on the Brewers spending big on a closer, though I see Francisco Rodriguez getting the contract, not Brian Fuentes.
• Joe Sheehan (of BP, special to CNN SI), picks five “radical moves” that would be interesting to see made this winter. Camden Chat does agree that it would be interesting to see Brian Roberts move to shop to accommodate one of the free agent second basemen this winter.
• RotoProfessor essays worth discussing: Manny Ramirez’s effect on the Dodgers lineup in 2008, and Rich Hill’s role for 2009. Both of these are good reads. Honestly I’ve given up on him, especially after he got torched for six runs on last Friday’s one inning start. Hill’s solid 2007 season (11-8, 3.92, 183K in 195.0 innings) seems like it was ages ago.
• Changes are coming to Late Innings real soon… I can’t say what. (I’ll give you a hint, it involves two thoughts: revenue and Sam Adams.)