(Not So) Rapid Reaction: The Callaspo Trade

There is still a week before the trade deadline, but the Angels struck early and added infielder Alberto Callaspo from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Will Smith and Sean O’Sullivan.  I’m happy the Angels got busy on the trade market, but was this actually a good deal?

Welcome back, Alberto.  Please try not to suck.

WHAT TO LIKE ABOUT THE TRADE:

• First and foremost, Callaspo is here to bring some stability to the hot corner for the Angels.  Callaspo has been touted for his versatility having played third, second, short, left and right, but make no mistake, the Halos brought him in to take over third on a full-time (or pretty close to it) basis.  In a season where LAA has started three different players, having an everyday guy there will be a welcome sight.
• Not only will Callaspo bring consistency to third base, he should also be a defensive upgrade.  This is really his first year as a full-time third baseman and his defensive numbers look solid and he should only get better as he gets more comfortable with the position (he came up as a second baseman and shortstop).  Just think about how much better Chone Figgins got defensively after he got a year or two to focus on playing one position.  Callaspo can do the same thing as Figgins and was well thought of as a defender when he was still a prospect.
• This isn’t exactly the impact bat that Angel fans were looking for, but Callaspo is an offensive upgrade.  Kevin Frandsen is a bit of a fan fave, but he doesn’t walk much or drive the ball.  Maicer Izturis actually might be a better hitter, but the difference is marginal at best.  And like Izturis, Callaspo is a switch hitter, so he brings versatility to the lineup as well.  In fact, Callaspo has drawn a lot of comparisons to Maicer Izturis, which seems pretty accurate only Alberto has a bit more pop but isn’t as fast.  I just hope he proves to be as clutch a hitter as Maicer.
• This is a smart trade for the Angels because they badly need to add some depth after suffering through a few weeks of being forced to rely on the likes of Paul McAnulty.  Adding Callaspo allows Maicer Izturis to return to his best role as a super utility player where he can spot start a few times a week, serve as a clutch pinch-hitter and, most importantly, stay healthy by not having to play everyday.
• Callaspo may seem like just a slightly above average player, but the price for him was high because he is far from a rental player.  In fact, the Alberto is under team control all the way through the 2013 season.  Those next three seasons are arbitration years so he won’t be super cheap, but at least he should be around for awhile.
• I like that the Angels pulled the trigger so early.  The timing could’ve been a little better (like maybe before the Yankees series instead), but the news of this trade should give the Angels a shot in the arm, knowing their front office is working to help them win.  It also certainly doesn’t hurt to add some reinforcements to the lineup during this crucial Texas series.

WHAT NOT TO LIKE ABOUT THE TRADE:

• As I just mentioned, the price for Callaspo was not cheap.  Sean O’Sullivan demonstrated that he is major league ready earlier this week but now is gone, robbing the Angels of their organizational starting pitching depth.  Now Trevor Bell has to start until Scott Kazmir is ready to return because there is pretty much nobody else ready to step in and start for the Angels right now.
• The bigger price though was the prospect involved, Will Smith.  Coming into the season, Smith was arguably one of their top five prospects.  He has struggled a bit this year, but it shouldn’t have hurt his stock too much, meaning the Royals got two decent young pitching prospects for a guy who is merely a decent starting infielder.  I’m not sure that the Angels didn’t overpay a little here, though I do suppose they are paying a premium since Callaspo is still under contract for such a long time.
• I also think the Angels might have overpaid a bit because they are familiar with Callaspo since he was an Angel prospect before he was swapped for Jason Bulger a few years ago.  Ironically, he was traded away since he was the odd man out of a prospect crop that included Erick Aybar, Howie Kendrick and Brandon Wood.  But now he is back because of how poorly Wood developed.  Oh well.
• One thing that really bugs me though is that if you break down the history of Callaspo’s status with the Angels, they essentially traded Sean O’Sullivan and Will Smith for Jason Bulger.  When you put it that way, it seems like the Angels overpaid by a ton.
• If Brandon Wood actually has any fans left, you best pay your respects now because he isn’t long for this world as an LA Angel.  Callaspo is here to stay and start at third the next three-plus years, making Brandon Wood obsolete.  They might try and trade Wood before the deadline, but I’m not sure they have enough time to try and drum up a market for him.  More likely they will find some team willing to take a chance on him this off-season and hope they can get half-decent prospect for him or perhaps swap busts with some other team.
• On a personal note, I apologize for the delayed analysis on this story.  Apparently my full-time job actually requires me to work instead of blog at work.  But if something like this happens again during the day, always be sure to check our Twitter feed (@MonkeyWithAHalo) as that will certainly be updated quickly and frequently.

WHAT TO BE CONFUSED ON ABOUT THE TRADE:

• What does this trade mean for the Angels?  Are they making this trade to try and make a playoff push or because they are trying to position themselves for next season?  Some people think it is the former, but I think it is the latter.  Unless the Angels think they can upset the Rangers by stockpiling marginal upgrades on their rosters, they just burnt two tradeable assets on a guy who probably won’t hit above seventh in the order.  If another big move was on the horizon, they would have held onto O’Sullivan and Smith until they figured that blockbuster out, not vice versa.  I hate to say it, but I think a mini fire sale might be happening in the near future.
• Is this trade going to sit well with Izturis?  As of a few days ago, Izturis probably thought the starting third base job was all his.  Now he is back on the bench.  Even though he is used to that role and likely understands how his fragility limits him, he could be a little bit chapped that he just lost his starting gig to a player that is nearly a carbon copy of himself.
• Can the Angels pick an offensive philosophy and stick to it?  The Angels had been shying away from smallball before the season and looking to add more power and patience to the order, thus the additions of Matsui and Abreu and jettisoning of Chone Figgins.  Now they are adding an action player again.  I just don’t get what they are trying to do with their lineup anymore.