The player to be named later has been named and that name is Sean Rodriguez. The Rays and Angels made it official today, sending the versatile young slugger to Tampa Bay to complete the Scott Kazmir deal. Suddenly that trade doesn’t look like such a steal for Tony Reagins, but I like it nonetheless.
It is so easy for fans to romanticize the potential of a prospect. We’ve all seen S-Rod’s massive numbers in the minors the last few seasons and let our imaginations run wild with the kind of damage that Rodriguez could do in the majors. Never mind that in 192 career big league at-bats Rodriguez has a .203 average, .609 OPS and a whopping 62 Ks, trading a promising prospect still feels like raising a puppy to adulthood and then dropping him off at the pound.
Me though, I’m not going to shed a tear for S-Rod because, as I said earlier today, it isn’t like the Angels were ready to use him. Where would the Angels have ever played him? Second base is blocked by Izturis and Kendrick. The Angels want to re-sign both Abreu and Guerrero, so the outfield and DH is all full up. Even if one of those two got away, Brandon Wood would be in the mix for the vacated line-up spot too. There was just no motivation to keep Rodriguez, especially when him spending a third straight season with the Salt Lake Bees was probably the most likely outcome for him next year.
Nor should we forget that the Lakers are getting a substantial return for S-Rod. Scott Kazmir is a pitcher with ace credentials and a long-term contract. Pitchers like that almost NEVER come available on the trade market. That the Angels only gave up Sean Rodriguez and two low-level prospects is actually a huge bargain for the Angels. Just this season the Phillies pretty much gave up their entire farm system for Cliff Lee. Kazmir isn’t in the same class as Lee, but he isn’t that far below him and was acquired for a fraction of the cost.
If it makes you feel any better, just think of Kazmir as a prospect himself. After all, Kaz is only 16 months older than Rodriguez. So it isn’t like the Angels dealt for rickety old ace heading into the end of his career. They picked up a young ace pitcher who is just coming into his prime, and unlike S-Rod, has a proven track record of success at the major league level. So, yeah, giving up a piece like Sean Rodriguez is a tough pill to swallow, but when you look at what the Angels got back, it was a trade they simply had to make and I don’t see them regretting it anytime soon.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (78-52) @ Seattle Mariners (68-64)
Starters: LAA – Ervin Santana (7-7, 5.94 ERA) SEA – Doug Fister (1-1, 3.42 ERA)
Game Info: 7:10 PM PT TV-Fox Sports West, Radio-KLAA 830 AM, KFWB, KWKW 1330 AM
THREE Questions:
- Can Ervin Santana keep the quality start streak going? My new quest for the Angels is to have them make a full turn through the rotation with each starter registering a quality start. Voodoo can make it four in a row tonight and with Kazmir going tomorrow, I like the Angels’ chances.
- Will any of the new September call-ups make an appearance? Let’s hope not because it almost certainly means that the Angels are getting clobbered.
- Why did Mike Scioscia wait until tonight to flip-flop Rivera and Morales in the order? Morales will bat fifth tonight, with Rivera batting sixth. This move should have come a few weeks ago, but despite Rivera snapping out of his funk last night, Sosh pulled the trigger now. I don’t understand it.
TWO Predictions:
- The Angels win but still see their lead shrink by half a game. Texas won the first half of their doubleheader already and I feel pretty certain that they’ll win the back end too.
- Everyone suddenly remembers that Safeco field is supposed to be a pitcher’s park and nobody hits a homer tonight.
ONE Wish:
- I wish the Mariners were being kind yet again and benching Ichiro, Beltre and Johjima. The Angels are very capable of beating the Seattle Mariners, but it is a heck of a lot easier to beat the Tacoma Rainiers like they did last night.
ZERO Tolerance for… a loss. Mike Scioscia’s boys finally have some momentum going against the AL West and can’t go giving it away now against some rookie pitcher and the worst offense in the American League.
Leave your own questions, answers, predictions or wishes as a comment or just hang out with us during the game or even chat with us on twitter (@MonkeyWithAHalo).
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