As I wrote in the National League installment of this subject, there are no secret moves or below the radar player pick-ups in Major League Baseball any more. The media swarm is such that if the fifth starter in Double A Flushbucket, Louisiana throws a no-hitter we’re all going to know about it.
So while there are no player pick-up secrets in the game, there are a number of mid-range trades and signings that make a significant impact on every MLB season. It’s a player acquisition category that can almost always be found in the “smart move” preseason file, no matter how they turn out.
Here are six mid-grid off-season moves in the American League that could have a big impact:
1. Zach Duke / LH relief pitcher – signed as a free agent by the Chicago White Sox for three years at $15 million on 11/18/14.
The 2014 Chicago White Sox bullpen was epic in its ability to lose leads, to “let go” instead of “hold”, to blow saves and find numerous ways to bring down a Sox team that otherwise might have contended. They were 28th out of 30 MLB bullpens with a 4.38 ERA and 21 blown saves, leading the Majors in losses (32) and walks allowed (236).
So a principal part of White Sox GM Rick Hahn’s 2015 blueprint was to reboot his bullpen and this three year deal with Zach Duke was the key rebuilding block of that project. Duke immediately becomes manager Robin Ventura‘s #1 bullpen lefty.
Duke, who will be 32 this year, found his stride in Milwaukee last season posting a 1.125 WHIP, a 2.45 ERA, and 74 strikeouts in 58.2 IP– an eye-catching 11.4 SO/9. And his numbers are as good against right-handed hitters as they are against lefties. It didn’t get screaming headlines, but the impact of this signing will loom large by October.
2. Jason Frasor / RH relief pitcher – re-signed by the Kansas Royals on 11/28/14 to a one year $1.8 million contract (with a mutual option for 2016).
The Kansas City Royals were determined to keep their outstanding 2014 bullpen together and righty Jason Frasor was one of their best finds. The ten year veteran came over from the Texas Rangers in mid-July and he put up a 1.73 ERA for the Royals in 17.2 IP in 23 games. In the 2014 playoffs Frasor went 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in 5.1 IP proving that he was comfortable on the big stage.
Jason Frasor plays a supporting bullpen role to the Royals dominating threesome of Greg Holland, Wade Davis, and Kelvin Herrera, but that role proved critical. There are no throwaway spots in any quality bullpen and Frasor’s 8.2 SO/9 and 0.962 WHIP in 23 games for Kansas City in 2014 brings additional value to the best bullpen in the game.
3. Franklin Barreto / SS – came to the Oakland A’s as part of the multi-player Josh Donaldson trade with the Toronto Blue Jays on 11/28/14.
When Oakland A’s GM Billy Beane sent his All Star third baseman Josh Donaldson to the Blue Jays there was a universal gasp throughout baseball land. What was Beane blowing up (this time)?
I may regret writing this publicly but I think not only was this a good trade for both teams, I think the Oakland A’s will have gotten the better of this deal two years down the line.
When Oakland received nineteen year old shortstop Franklin Barreto from the Jays he immediately became Oakland’s #2 prospect. Also in the deal were LHP Sean Nolin (now the A’s #8 prospect), RHP Kendall Graveman (now the A’s #9 prospect) , and 25 year old starting third baseman Brett Lawrie.
Lawrie, who was drafted in the first round of the 2008 draft, was Toronto’s most promising young player and Billy Beane expects to have Lawrie’s talent fully bloom in an A’s uniform.
Venezuelan Franklin Barreto has the kind of power and speed that registers rare even for a top prospect. This is a player baseball insiders will keep an eye on throughout his minor league career, and it will be a significant moment when Barreto hits the big leagues.
4. Daniel Robertson / SS – came to Tampa Bay as part of the multi-player Ben Zobrist trade with the Oakland A’s on 1/10/15.
The Oakland A’s dealt veteran catcher John Jaso and minor league star Daniel Robertson to Tampa Bay for the multi-talented Ben Zobrist and shortstop Yunel Escobar. Then just days later GM Billy Beane sent Escobar to the Washington Nationals for their outstanding reliever Tyler Clippard. Another set of nice gets by Billy Beane.
For the Rays, the key in the deal was getting Oakland’s #1 prospect, twenty-two year old shortstop Daniel Robertson. Robertson has an .807 OPS in 288 minor league games with a .373 OBP. He is another up and coming shortstop with serious extra base hitting talent to go with a great glove. Robertson is the perfect Tampa Bay player– young, wildly talented, and under team control for years.
If everything goes right, there will come a time in two or three years when the American League will feature two of the most talented young shortstops seen in the game in decades: Daniel Robertson and Franklin Barreto.
5. Justin Smoak / 1B – claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays from the Seattle Mariners 10/28/14; non-tendered by Toronto and re-signed by the Jays for one year at $1 million on 12/3/14.
It’s been a rocky road for Smoak, 28, who was drafted 11th in the first round of the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft by the Texas Rangers. After spending 2010-2014 with the Mariners, Smoak and his .689 OPS hit rock bottom until the Jays decided to take a chance on him.
From 2011 through 2013 Justin Smoak hit 54 home runs for the Mariners so he has power potential, but his -10 Rtot suggests that he will not be winning any gold gloves at first base. But this is the kind of solid risk a pro-active team makes: grab a player loaded with unfilled potential, still in his prime production years, team controlled for two years and see what might happen.
Smoak will platoon at first base for the Jays, but if he finds his groove he could develop into an important run contributor.
6. Devon Travis / 2B – traded from the Detroit Tigers to the Toronto Blue Jays for OF Anthony Gose on 11/12/14.
Drafted in the 13th round of the 2012 MLB Amateur Draft, Travis was the price Detroit had to pay to get Major League-ready center fielder Anthony Gose from the Blue Jays. Travis, 23, has put up three outstanding season in single A and double A: a solid .876 OPS and .388 OBP.
In 2013 he finished second overall in the minor leagues with 177 hits an a .351 BA.
Devon Travis was the Tigers’ #1 prospect, but is #8 in Toronto’s deeper and more talented minor league pool. Travis looks to be an impact player at the plate and in the field– this could be one of the best trade pick-ups by any team this off-season.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
