Crazy trade idea, merely for fun

by walk off bunt on Jul 21, 2006 12:30 AM PDT Comment 29 comments

Let me start this with a disclaimer: I'm not advocating trading Barry Zito, or Eric Chavez, or anything of that like. This merely popped into my head with all the A-Rod bashing going on in New York and I was interested how people would perhaps respond to it, completely unrealistic as it may be.

The idea I had, at least, was:

Chavez, Zito, Jay Payton, and a middling prospect sort (Casilla perhaps) for Alex Rodriguez, a large large sum of cash, and minor league starter Darrell Rasner (4-0, 2.56 in 52.2 innings with a 42/11 K/BB ratio for AAA Columbus. If I recall correctly, he's 25 or 26, so he could step into a rotation I think right away and be a useful young arm. He's not a lights out prospect either: the Yankees picked him off waivers from the Nationals before the season.)

Anyway, I'm not even necessarily saying I'd do it. To be honest I probably wouldn't. But it seemed like a fun fantasy-land type trade to gather opinions on. Again, this isn't a rumor, I'm not advocating it, and yes, I realize it would never under any circumstances happen. So don't rail on me. Tis just for fun.

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haha

sounds good :P, I would do it! haha
A-Rod > Chavez... he may not be clutch but he is a descent player in my opinion

"The are only two places in this league. First place and no place." -Tom Seaver

by greekpride08 on Jul 21, 2006 2:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I love to reply to this

If you look at A-Rod's late inning stats they're actually pretty good. He also has a better playoff batting average and OBP than the guy that plays directly to his left in Jeter (granted much smaller sample). It's hard to say a guy that make $25 mil per is catching a raw deal, but the media absolutely hates him for some reason.

by RunRickeyRun on Jul 21, 2006 7:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd buy that for a dollar!

I'd take it. New York, however, would not.

Proudly celebrating my 20th year as an A's fan.

by bzn5150 on Jul 21, 2006 6:35 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

A Rod would veto a trade.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jul 21, 2006 8:18 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

A-Rod is what we want Chavez to be

That would be an awesome trade for us. We'd be giving up two pieces that probably wouldn't be here next season (Zito & Payton) and replacing Chavez with Rodriguez would be an upgrade (offensively, not defensively). The question would be how much money would we be able to get in the deal? A-Rod makes 25 million a year and I believe Chavez is in the 11-13 million a year range. I highly doubt the Yankees would send enough money to make up the difference when they're receiving two players they'd have to re-sign after this season. If the deal were made, would Crosby stay at SS and would we plug Rodriguez in at 3B or would Rodriguez take over at SS and would Crosby switch to 3B? I'd do the deal but like you said it's not going to happen.

We can be considered David, David knocks out Goliath. -Eric Chavez PT-42

by norcaldevilasu on Jul 21, 2006 8:38 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The Yankees are only paying ARod

about $15 per year. The rest is being paid by the Rangers.

I would honestly rather trade Crosby and Zito (or hey, maybe Crosby and Blanton!) for ARod + $5 Million.

by Zonis on Jul 21, 2006 8:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He would veto it tho...

Why would it matter?

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jul 21, 2006 8:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't be so sure that

A-Rod would veto a trade. I think he's pretty miserable in New York.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Jul 21, 2006 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, he said he would....

Alex Rodriguez laughed when a trade rumor that circulated through Wall Street yesterday was relayed to him.
"It doesn't make any difference," Rodriguez said of the rumor that had the Yankees third baseman going to the Phillies as part of a blockbuster trade for Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell, Tom Gordon and David Bell, with the Yankees supposedly also sending Melky Cabrera and a player to be named. "I would veto it."

Though Rodriguez has become the Yankee Stadium boo birds' No. 1 target, the abuse hasn't come close to having him waive the blanket no-trade clause in his contract.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jul 21, 2006 9:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That quote sounds to me

like he's saying he'd veto that trade, not any trade. Philly would be no kinder to him that New York, but some places might appeal to him. Maybe not, I don't know--but I do think he's pretty dispirited right now.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Jul 21, 2006 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is fair and I can see that..

I took it more that he was laughing at being dealt at all. I think he would veto a trade almost anywhere....and definitely Oakland.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jul 21, 2006 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ya

Oakland A's fans LOVE A-Rod!

"The are only two places in this league. First place and no place." -Tom Seaver

by greekpride08 on Jul 21, 2006 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

As a Yankee...and rings

Maybe its just my personal bias but I think A Rod is the most overrated player in baseball. It is inarguable that every team he leaves improves and every team he joins declines. His "close and late" stats are terrible, especially this year. In comparing him to Jeter you get a real insight into te NY fan's perspective. Remember, for a Yankee fan there is only one team, the Yankees. Stats accumulated while in any other uniform are ignored. As a Yankee, here is the postseason stat comparison between A Rod and Jeter: Jeter has played in 23 postseason series with the Yankees (17 series wins-6 losses). His lifetime postseason average is .307 with 16 HR and 47 RBI. A Rod has played in 3 postseason series with the Yankees (1 win-2 losses) and his stats are .277 avg. with 3 HR and 8 RBI.
Jeter has 4 WS rings, A Rod has none.
Perhaps the most interesting of all A Rod numbers are the apparent effect he has on each team he plays on. The last A Rod year in Seattle ('00) the Mariners were 91-71 -- and their first year without him ('01) they were 116-46. The net gain is amazing (+25 wins). Then, take a look at Texas. In '00, without A Rod, they went 71-91. In their 3 A Rod years they went 73-89 ('01), 72-90 ('02) and 71-91 ('03). While A Rod put up great stats, he had zero impact on the Rangers record. But, in their first post A Rod year ('04), the Rangers improved dramatically, to 89-73!
Lastly, we have A Rod the Yankee. In '03, the year before the Yankees signed A Rod, they went 101-61. Add A Rod, what do you get? 101-61 ('04). And the trend continues...in '05, the 2nd A Rod year in NY, the Yankees decline to 95-67!
So, the Yankees can keep him. Despite his huge stats his impact on a team is either negligible or negative and he hasn't won anything--other than some personal awards.

This is a game to be savored, not gulped. There's time to discuss everything between pitches or between innings. ~Bill Veeck

by Steve in Napa on Jul 21, 2006 9:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Such an unfair

comparison to make that the other teams got better.

I love how in that example with the Mariners you fail to mention that is also coincided with the Mariners signing that freaking MVP of the AL that year as a free agent, Ichiro. Not to mention Freddy Garcia and Bret Boone with career level years. It had a lot more to do with other people than A Rod leaving. I get the feeling adding Ichiro maybe helped the M's a tad more than losing Alex did.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jul 21, 2006 9:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I expected that kind of reply

Yes, Seattle did add Ichiro and the players they got for A Rod performed well. And, they signed Bret Boone who began his 3 year run (roids?) of monster stats. That said, they still lost A Rod. I wonder what your response is to the non-impact in Texas...or the negative impact in NY?

This is a game to be savored, not gulped. There's time to discuss everything between pitches or between innings. ~Bill Veeck

by Steve in Napa on Jul 21, 2006 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The non impact in Texas?

Well, he went to a team in which all their stud players were very young....they matured playing with Alex and he left before they blew up.

The year after he left...Michael Young and Mark Teixeira had career years because they had finally hit their prime.

And it is not like Texas just lost A Rod and they got better....they did get Alfonso Soriano back for him....so he as replaced to some extenet in Texas.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jul 21, 2006 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"the negative impact in NY?"

Your Honor, I faithfully submit that it is a legal impossibility for a player to earn an MVP while contributing negatively to his team.

I submit, as "Exhibit A", Mr. Rodriguez's career statistics: Exhibit A

I would like to direct the court's attention specifically to 2004 and 2005 in New York City. I maintain that an OPS+ 133 in 2004 and 167 in 2005 serves as adequate evidence to refute opposing counsel's claim of a negative impact in NY.

Thank you, Your Honor. The defense rests.

by booya on Jul 21, 2006 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The defense rests?

Then we're really relying on the pitching, because our offense always rests.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Jul 21, 2006 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And as for the Postseason stats....

What is your point comparing them to Jeter. A Rod has more HR and RBI per series than Jeter does....Take A Rod's 3 HR and 8 RBI over 3 series and put them in Jeter's 23 and you have better numbers. Not sure what you were trying to prove with those....except for the fact Jeter has played in more postseason series....which everyone knows.

I love Jeter....but this comparison did nothing at all to discount Alex.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jul 21, 2006 9:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He also left out A'Rods Seattle postseason stats

You can't compare stats by just grabbing what you want Harold Reynolds.

by RunRickeyRun on Jul 21, 2006 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Texas believes

that they get better when they cut a certain individual, they really should look at firing their Manager. Both the Yankees and Diamondbacks won the Series the year following each clubs firing of Buck Showalter.

BTW, comparing 23 postseason appearances to 3 is a little skewed. Why don't you relook ARods postseason performance and include ALL of his series?

"Do you ever get down on your knees and thank God you know me and have access to my dementia?" - George Costanza

by Captain on Jul 21, 2006 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A-Rod's not coming here

He can't get the spotlight he demands and there's not enough fans (sadly, it's true) to watch him. (and stroke his ego?) Besides, we couldn't pay the rest of the team if we had A-Rod.

Other than that...I really, really, really, REALLY don't want overpaid prima donnas. That's all.

Forget tomorrow. Let's laugh till we're dizzy.

by Squeaky on Jul 21, 2006 9:41 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Overpaid yes...

But what has Alex done to be called a prima donna? He plays his ass off every single day and very very rarely comes out of the lineup. 161 or 162 games in four of the last 5 years...and the other was 155 games. This is a guy who comes to the park every day and works and plays his ass off. I dont see anythign prima donna on him.

Overpaid? Of course, but its not like anyone would have turned down that contract....the blame for that one goes to stupid Tom Hicks.

But I dont get the prima donna thing....he never sits out with injuries..and hell, he moved from SS where he was on his way to being the nest offensive SS in the history of baseball. A prima donna aint moving positions.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jul 21, 2006 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

best, not nest :-)

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jul 21, 2006 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Best Nest

My kids love that book.

A's 2006 record when I attend: 6-5

by peanut gallery on Jul 21, 2006 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A-Rod is in a bad place....

Nobody can touch that $$$ except Boston, Anaheim & Mets. And his middling performance is giving the Yanks an anuerism. .284 Avg, 20 HR, .388 OBP, 68 RBIs. Respectable, but hardly superstar $25 Mil per annum level. IMHO, his best play is to leave the union ala Bonds, and discount himself to keep playing. Go somewhere he can perform. (Oakland anyone?)

"Knucklehead over there is second or third in the league in home runs."Billy Beane talking about Nick Swisher

by 510inDenver on Jul 21, 2006 9:43 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs