MVN - Most Valuable Network

Who’s going at the deadline? (Part 2)

Even with the Diamondbacks tanking and the Rockies perking up a bit with two straight wins over the Padres… we stick to our original premise that the Rockies are selling at the deadline.

Yorvit Torrealba
Why he should go: That 2 year, $7.25 million contract the Rockies inked Yorvit to this offseason is looking pretty bad right now. Even after Chris Iannetta struggled last season, I still thought he would be the best option for the Rockies going forward, and fortunately for my sanity the Rockies seem to be recognizing that as Iannetta has started five of the last seven games behind the dish. In seven years in the majors, Yorvit has had an OPS+ above 100 (i.e., been an above average hitter) just once, in his rookie year; since then, it’s been 83, 81, 70, 78, 75, and an 80 this season. The fact that both the Giants and the Mariners were willing to part with him so easily should have let the Rockies know that they expected him to be a backup catcher, not a full-time backstop. And that’s what he is.
Why he should stay: He shouldn’t, but he might simply because there may not be that big of a market for him. There almost was last season, but then the Mets woke up and realized that they were about to do something dumb and he came back to the Rockies. If anything, the urgency to trade him isn’t great, since the Rockies at least seem to have figured out that Iannetta should be the starter and he’s really not blocking anyone, except other backup catcher material. The Rockies’ best catching prospect, Mike McKenry, is still in A-ball and isn’t even hitting that well there.
Verdict: He probably stays. Sure, it’s a bad signing, but there probably aren’t many teams who are willing to pay $2.75 million this year and $3.5 next for a backup catcher.

Brian Fuentes
Why he should go: Left-handed relief pitchers are always in demand. Currently miscast as a closer, Fuentes would have plenty of value to a contending team as a middle reliever or setup man. Although his ability to get righthanded hitters out has faded a bit this season, he’s still death to lefties (.208 average.) He also could benefit a bit from a change in scenery; on the road, he’s given up just a .211 average and has a 3.52 ERA. Fuentes could be a very valuable trade chip at the deadline. Plus moving Fuentes would allow Taylor Buchholz to step into the closer’s role (which, well, he should be already, but Clint Hurdle manages our team), and that’s what we really want.
Why he should stay: No real reason I can think of. Fuentes is a free agent after this season anyway, and his time as a Rockie should be coming to a close.
Verdict: He goes. If the Rockies trade one player at the deadline, it will be Fuentes.

Matt Herges
Why he should go: After being left for dead after 2006, Matt’s resurrected his career with the Rockies. This season, he’s been pretty average, but the Rockies could trade him to a contender in need of a relief arm.
Why he should stay: I can’t think of a ton of reasons. He’s not young, he’s not signed to a long-term contract (though the Rockies do have an option for 2009), and other teams will have more use for a bullpen arm late in the season. There may not be a great market for Herges, though.
Verdict: Probably goes. Herges won’t fetch much in a trade, but if the Rockies are hopelessly out of it at the deadline, there’s no real reason for him to stick around.

Other players

Jeff Francis: Struggling, now injured. He’s under team control through 2010, and there’s virtually no reason to trade him while his value is low.
Aaron Cook: Signed through 2011 with a mutual option for 2012. There’s no reason to trade your ace, especially if he’s going to be around a while.

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 3rd, 2008 at 3:29 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.