I woke up in a new Bugatti! Training Camp Notes: 07.31.2014
July 31, 2014The “Help” Josh Gordon Really Needs
July 31, 2014After yesterday’s unloading of Justin Masterson, this can’t be much of a surprise: The Indians have traded long-time shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to the Washington Nationals.
In return, the Indians reportedly will receive 24-year-old infielder Zach Walters. He was Washington’s ninth-rounder in the 2010 draft. In 223 games for Triple-A Syracuse, he has a .262/.304/.516 line with 45 home runs. He has just 40 games and 52 plate appearances in the majors.
Paul Hoynes was first to report that Cabrera was being traded. Jordan Bastian reported that he was off to Washington and Nick Camino chimed in first with the Walters return.
At first, it appears to be a relatively light load for Cabrera, the 28-year-old soon-to-be free agent. Of course, Cabrera is making $10 million this season, so the Nats will likely be responsible for the final third of that payment.
In 914 games with the Indians, Cabrera finishes with a .270/.331/.410 line. He had an above-average bat for a shorstop, but was annually regarded as one of the game’s worst defensively. He was a sparkplug in the team’s 2007 playoff run and had his best career offensive season in 2011.
More reaction to come shortly. For now, stay tuned for the likely Jose Ramirez and Mike Aviles platoon at short. I wouldn’t necessarily expect this to trigger Francisco Lindor’s promotion — he only recently got moved to Triple-A.
Asdrubal Cabrera sitting outside #Indians clubhouse after being traded to #Nationals. #MLB pic.twitter.com/SrwFVgpjmL
— Brian Dulik (@BrianDulik) July 31, 2014
62 Comments
This really isn’t a bad trade, I think. We weren’t going to get top dollar for asdrubal anymore, but someone who could be the next Aviles is an interesting thought.
Will his iron glove make it through the metal detector at Regan Airport?
I’m not sure where Walters slots in. He’s a top 10 prospect in the Washington system after a really good year last year, but he’s basically a Jhonny Peralta type defensively. Great arm, questionable glovework. And there’s concerns about his approach – lots of Ks, few walks – and how well that will translate to the bigs. In AAA, the Indians currently have Lindor and Urshella – top prospects at SS and 3B. So I’m not sure where they’re planning on putting him.
My immediate thought is that maybe Walters becomes the starting SS for the Tribe, eventually being moved to a SS/3B backup when Lindor gets promoted next year. But if he’s going to replace Aviles – who has an average to above average defensive range at SS – he’ll have to be a *much* better hitter than Aviles.
That, or there’s another trade on the way.
Lucky to get more than a bag of scuffed balls from a team willing to pay him his remaining $3.5 this year.
He’s turned into one of those guys that make me think sabermetrics are way too heavily relied upon. Cabby always gets hot for a while over the course of a season so his stats don’t look awful. But the last 3 years he’s killed the team in crucial situations at the worst times with horrible, panicky at-bats and errors. Guy dropped off the table faster than Baerga. The other night, when we desperately needed a runner in scoring position, he hit a scorcher off the top of the wall which caromed directly to the left fielder. But since he stood, then jogged, admiring his “homer” he was held to the world’s longest single. He should live and be well but I’ve had enough.
I don’t think the expectation is for Walters to start. He can play all over the diamond and supposedly has pretty serious splits. So I think he’ll be more of a utility guy. On the plus side, he supposedly has a lot of raw talent so maybe something will click and he’ll be an everyday guy.
There’s something off putting about Cabrera. Maybe it’s the pearls he wears.
“Oh! And pearls on a little girl! It’s a fairy tale!”
Apparently we’re paying the $3.3M owed to Acab. That explains why we got something back.
A little weird at first glance to bring back a SS, but I think it’s probably a case of BPA, and I can’t fault the FO for trying to bring back one solid, AAA level prospect for each of these trades rather than a bunch of lower level guys who we have to wait years for. Both of these guys have the potential to displace more expensive players in the fairly near future.
Am I the only one who thinks Walters is actually a GREAT return for Cabrera? Could his defense at short or his slash lines be any worse than Cabrera? I don’t think so either and he’s only 24 years old. Ultimately I don’t know where you put him on the field, but I think his bat will require the Tribe to find him some time. Walters has a .300/.358/.608/.965 slash with 15 HR, 18 2B, 48 RBI in 261 PAs (60 games) at AAA Syracuse this season. Kid’s got power.
Not at all. Ignoring what position he plays, we got one of STL’s upper level prospects for Cabby. Hard to call that a bad deal. Everybody was predicting a middling AA guy at best.
Asscab is gone? I couldn’t stand watching him play but find myself oddly sad.
Last night I wanted to yell to him “Come on, Asdrubal, get us a hit in your last game as an Indian!” At least he went 2-3…?
Well, it sounds like he has some very real flaws in his game, but a lot of upside too. I’m very happy with the return though. Sounds like at the least he’ll be an MLB bench guy. At best, he could turn into something special.
I believe the correct spelling according to some friends of mine was Assdribble.
Asdrubal “hits into a double play 80% of the time” Cabrera’s value is overstated by Sabrmetrics? Inconceivable!
I suspect he should take a spot on the 25man right now too. He’s done everything he can at AAA and has hit well on both call-ups to MLB.
#7 prospect by fangraphs from another good farm system.
I was really low on what to expect from Masterson and Cabrera, so I am pretty pleased we got something of value for both.
happy to get him. was expecting much less.
I think I may be thinking differently than a lot of folks because I am already assuming the Indians aren’t making the playoffs this year. With that assumption and Francisco Lindor coming in as the SS next year, I don’t feel like the Tribe are counting on this guy to be a big-time producer. Seems like a young Dan Uggla (Florida Marlins edition), and that has value.
I could be wrong, but I didn’t think Cabrera was really all that much of a Sabre darling. I’m not seeing much leap out at me as good from his advanced stats – at least in the last couple of years.
Completely agree. That’s another added advantage of the wild card, I guess. More teams in it, more buyers, higher demand, better return to sellers, more parity.
I’m with you on no playoffs. Not to say something stupid couldn’t happen, but I think trading ACab and Masterson is a clear sign we’re planning for 2015. While those guys aren’t amazing, we’re a better team today with them than without.
Tigers just got price. I guess we can close the book on the div…
but, a 20/134 BB/KK ratio last year at AAA is horrifying, and i’m not entirely sure we need more middle infield types in the system. that being said, i’m just glad we got ANYTHING for cabrera, a player i’ve long loathed. i think there’s a shot this move might be a precursor to trading aviles (i can dream, can’t i?) as well.
certainly not a darling, but deemed “not as bad as people say, look at the numbers.” But he was a wet sponge to so many rallies. Like this year, hitting a mediocre .246, AND HE’LL PROBABLY END UP OVER .260, but his 2-out, RISP was something like 2 for bazillion, epically panicky, and one of those hits was in a game that was already a blowout. NOT TO MENTION THE FIRST PITCH DP OF THE PLAYOFF GAME WHEN PITCHER WAS ON THE ROPES AND SWEATING LIKE A FAT GIRL IN A DANCE-OFF (like I hold a Byner-type grudge, pfft).
(What just happened – did I do my own sabershmegeggies?)
Twitter is currently abuzz about David Price being traded to the Tigers. The Indians’ chances to win the Central were already bad, but now they’re looking impossible. The Yankees aren’t the Yankees anymore. The Tigers are the Yankees. (also our wild card options are pretty poor… not gonna catch the Angels and the Jays will be really tough to reach)
Johnny Mcdonald.
Front offices of the Tigers and the A’s have been pretty daring the past couple years. It’s paid off. I think they’re the two best teams in baseball. Curious what Detroit had to give up though.
Bastian just tweeted that the Indians think that Walters could play in the outfield. He has a strong arm. He’s an Aviles type who you can move all over the field. The BB/K ratio is bad, but as long as the OPS stays around .800, I don’t mind it. And we can be hopeful it improves… some players do successfully become more patient as they get older.
cabrera’s long had a history of swinging for the fences on the first pitch, particularly when the pitcher’s on the ropes or has just thrown 7 balls in a row. i won’t be even the tiniest bit sad to see the impatient mope go.
that is horrifying. Taking all my self-control not to “like” that.
Austin Jackson, Drew Smyly
Jackson-SEA, Franklin-TB, Smyly -TB
I give the Tigers credit for their farm system, which has been pretty nicely stocked, but I can’t give them too much credit given how much their owner spends. They draft well, use those players in trades, and pay through the nose to get the best players in the league both through trade and free agency. They really are the new Yankees.
Funny that Kip was an OF and indians turned him into 2B. Others start as OF and are converted to P. Time will tell, hopefully another cle fleecing
The book was still open?
Yeah, but he was also jacking a HR every 16.8 AB’s, so there’s that.
Yep, and it seems like such a good move now. Kip has been pretty decent defensively at 2B and I can’t imagine his weak arm in the outfield.
There was always a chance.
http://www.i70baseball.com/wp-content/uploads/Chance.jpeg
As a numbers guy, I don’t think it was ever “not as bad…”. His defense was always questionable and his only real value was being able to hit while playing shortstop. During his best year, that made him fairly valuable. These last few years, his bat has been at best league average so the value hasn’t really been there considering his defense.
And the numbers that try to measure that which is !!!!CLUTCHNESS!!! (WPA, RE24) rate Acab as bad to horrible the last few seasons.
Yeah, but spending a lot of money smartly is a skill too.
They do it better than most (Yankees, Phillies for example).
And Seattle gets a lot better by adding Jackson.
I believe lack of self-control is what leads to what Ezzie is referring
I guess so, but it feels weird. Like congratulating the corporate vice president who fell ass-backwards into his job for not blowing his salary at the race track.
Not better tonight!!
Hooray for team physicals!
Hooray Beer…Det was playing this afternoon anyways…..in Det..
At least they got something these days that’s a win. But I called this season before it ever started. Nothing has changed as we near start of August, unfortunately.
I was thinking the same thing about Aviles.
2-3 years we’ll know just about time Kipnis, Gomes and Brantely are due again.
That, and olestra.