May 16, 2012

MLB Trade News: Indians Acquire Russ Canzler from Rays

January 31, 2012 By 34 Comments

The Indians have imported a right-handed batter that plays a plethora of positions.  Last season in Triple-A, Russ Canzler played 41 games in right field, 33 games in left, 40 games at third and 17 games at first.  He is now a member of the Cleveland Indians.  From the Indians’ press release…

Canzler, 25, was named International League Most Valuable Player at Triple-A Durham in 2011 where he batted .314 (149-474) with 40 doubles, 4 triples, 18 home runs and 83 RBI in 131 games (.401OB/.530SLG/.931OPS).  He also drew 67 walks and scored 78 runs for the Bulls and hit .356 (63-177) w/17 2B, 8HR & 30 RBI in 47 second half games (1.034OPS).  The International League midseason and postseason All-Star led the IL in doubles (40) and slugging pct. (.530), finished tied for second in runs (78), third in hits (149), fourth in the IL in batting average (.314), fifth in RBI (83) and second in on-base pct. (.401) and total bases (251).

This isn’t a big splashy move for the Indians as they traded “cash considerations” for the 25-year old.  Still, it is a nice risk for a team in need of a right-handed bat that can play both outfield and first base.  It isn’t Prince Fielder, as we all know, but he could very well end up having a bigger impact than Carlos Pena or Casey Kotchman.  Let’s just hope he can have a bigger impact than Matt LaPorta and Austin Kearns did a season ago.

[That Sinking Feeling: On Matt LaPorta and Moving On]

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  • Harv 21

    so, why did Rays dump a guy with such gaudy stats for cash? Can’t be just because they’re stacked. Was he their Jordan Brown, a 4A star without a lot of MLB upside?

  • Anonymous

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russ_Canzler

    A right handed first baseman hitting .500? Not even Prince Fielder can hit .500!!1!111

    /wake me up in september

  • Anonymous

    I like this a lot.  Cash considerations for a 25 year old International League MVP?  Agree with Harv that there’s probably something we don’t know from his stats, but if it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out.  If it does, however . . .

  • Anonymous

    They had to make room for Jeff Keppinger who has a little more exp in the biggs.  We will take it.  good eye tribe

  • Anonymous

    I understand that he’s ancient by prospect terms and that he’s blocked in TB at the MLB level, but I would still think TB could have gotten more than cash for him?  

  • Anonymous

    It’s already been said, but I’ll say it as well… this guy was the best hitter in the AAA international league and Tampa shipped him for some cash?  Not to mention that TB was actively looking for a 1B on the open market (and obviously landed one in Carlos Pena), so they apparently have zero faith in this guy.  I hope he blows up MLB to spite them.  You know, like Brandon Phillips did to the Indians.

  • Anonymous

    that would be awesome if he became great (doubtful of course, but awesome)

    well, looking closer at all of his minor league stats, last year is an outlier.  yes, he has had decent power (~30doubles and ~20HR per 120 games or so in upper minors), but he strikes out a bunch (115SOs in same) and doesn’t walk enough to make up for it (50walks in same). 

    so, you would expect some regression if he played AAA ball this year (unless he is just figuring out that pitching).   but, hey, he’s a .333 lifetime MLB hitter (sample size alert:  he’s 1/3).

  • Anonymous

    I do like Keppinger.  Solid, solid player. 

  • Jnova83

    Could be the next Matt LaPorta, or this could turn out to be a great under the radar move. Time will tell, but on the surface this appears to be a pretty solid move.

  • Anonymous

    we had to give up CC for LaPorta, so this is already a better move than that one :)

  • Anonymous

    I don’t think there is any downside to this.  We gave up no players and get to take a flier on a AAAA player.

  • Anonymous

    We may have just been in the right place at the right time, they had to free up room, and he must have been on the bottom of the list.

  • Ghost

    Sometimes good players fly under the radar for long periods of time. Michael Morse from the Nationals is a good example. We got a guy who posted a .930 OPS in AAA last year for basically nothing. I like this move A LOT!! If he becomes a productive everyday player, great! If he stinks, then its no big deal because we didnt give up anything but “cash considerations”.

  • Anonymous

    If he strikes out a ton, he’ll fit right into this team!  Plenty of power but no one on base… your 2012 Cleveland Indians everyone!  No but seriously… I have a little bit of hope for this guy, but would still love to see us pick up Kotchman (he’s still out there right?)

  • http://twitter.com/oribiasi oribiasi

    That’s a lot of As.

  • Anonymous

    noone else has made the joke, so:

    I’d like to take this time to thank Fausto-Roberto Hernandez-Carmona Heredia for freeing up the cash considerations for this deal.

  • REEPJP

    Ok ok ok…..I don’t want to say I told you so, but look at my first comment from DP’s Clip Show playoff preview  
    http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/2011/09/da-clip-show-keeping-an-eye-on-the-tribes-aaa-squad-9611/  

    Little did you guys know, but I work in the Indians front office and DP’s piece inspired me to whisper in Chris A’s ear in the fall….haha just kidding, but that would be awesome right?

    ….this has got to be the first time I felt like a true “scout” so I had to brag…now lets just hope he turns out! 

  • REEPJP

    ….orrr….maybe this is the big time for WFNY….someone in the front office reads the site and saw my comment! haha that’s my story and I’m sticking to it…..makes me feel like I’m a part of the team!

  • Anonymous

    “International League” MVP traded for cash considerations…. hmm, wonder what his real name and age are? :)

  • http://twitter.com/oribiasi oribiasi

    Well done!

  • CBI

    Nice job, just in case your psychic, got any lottery numbers to share?

  • Anonymous

    Which would be crazy, considering I misspelled his name TWICE in that article… ;-)

  • REEPJP

    I’ll let you know after tonight’s MegaMillions!

  • baclap

    So could this guy be the answer at first? Wouldn’t that be nice.

  • Du

    Nicely done! Can you try this again for some other bats?

  • Anonymous

    No, Dolan should have used the money from Heredia-Carmona to sign Prince Fielder. I mean Hafner comes off the books next year, we can afford it!

  • Anonymous

    I doubt anyone would know this, but what are the Angels doing with Mark Trumbo?  I think they’ve still got Trumbo, Morales, and now Pujols all at 1B.  It’d be nice to make a trade for Trumbo.

  • 5KMD

    The Angels aren’t dumb though Pat and they aren’t giving him away. And the Tribe does not have the ammo at this point.

  • kjn

    I’ve read that the Angels will try Trumbo at third.

  • Anonymous

    This is true, and I’m not insinuating the Angels are dumb.  But they are obviously playing for the present after giving Pujols that huge contract, so would they be interested in a guy like Grady Sizemore?  Maybe Michael Brantley?  The Indians have some things they could do.

  • Anonymous

    Trumbo, Miggy both moving to 3B.  Lots of AL hitters should be perfecting their ground ball hitting to LF this year.

  • JK

    Take that Detroit!

  • kjn

    Somewhere, ol’ Zeke Carera is smiling.

  • Anonymous