Trades
April 9
Trade between Cleveland and California (N) :
Cleveland gets :
2B Bobby Grich (28) - $303,000 / 1
_ CAL : .000 / 0-2 / 1 R / 1 BB
_ CLE : .200 / 6-30 / 1 R / 2 2B / 2 RBI / 7 K
CF Tim Melton (23) - AAA
California gets :
SP Don Hood (27) - $483,258 / 1
_ CLE : 3-5 / 1 SV / 4.87 ERA / 1.67 WHIP in 1976
_ CAL : 2-3 / 3.38 ERA / 1.30 WHIP
SP Terry Miller (23) - A
The Angels were obviously scared to death about having Gary Ross and his 5.85 spring training ERA in the rotation and while they do make an improvement with Hood - one has to wonder if they gave up too much in Grich. Hood has pitched decently for California, but has failed to get the run support Angel aces Frank Tanana and Paul Hartzell have been given. After starting the year in the bullpen, Rick Waits quickly stepped back into the Cleveland rotation and shined, going 2-2 with a 2.56 ERA. While Grich is mainly serving as a backup for the Indians with an occassional start against LHP, his future looks very good and he could quite possibly be the starting 2B by the end of the year. The Angles released MR Jim Hennessey to make room for Hood and called up SS Orlando Ramirez to fill the utility infielder role. The Indians would send shortstops Larvell Blanks and Alfredo Griffin to AAA Madison to make room for Grich and recalled MR Cardell Camper to fill the Hood pitching vacancy.
Edge: The slightest advantage goes to California. Grich has the potential and may pan out in Cleveland but he needs to make the most of his chances now.
April 11
Trade between San Diego and Texas :
Texas gets :
LF Marv Rettenmund (33) - $359,000 / 3
_ SD : .000 / 6 AB / 2 K
_ TEX: .262 / 42 AB / 4 R / 3 2B / 1 HR / .295 OBP / .405 SLG
San Diego gets :
2B Sandy Alomar (33) $187,000 / 1
_ TEX: .250 / 4 AB / 1 R / .250 OBP / .250 SLG
_ SD : .284 / 67 AB / 7 R / 3 2B / 0 HR / 1 SB / .364 OBP / .328 SLG
Looking to improve thier 3-man rotation of Bobby Valentine, Dave Roberts and Pat Scanlon, the Padres went out and got Sandy Alomar and his .239 average to fill thier need. So far, it looks as if Alomar has resurrected his career in San Diego as he is thier main guy at 2B, sending Bobby Valentine to AAA Chandler in the process. Texas has been looking for an opening to get 2B Bump Wills (.239, 2 HR, 4 RBI) into the lineup and the addition of Rettenmund gives them a solid bat at the 6 or 7 spot in the lineup and makes rookie LF Keith Smith (0-8) the odd man out.
Edge: Almost too close to call, but I am going to give the edge to Padres on this one. The trade will help both clubs and it may be some time before a clear winner can be made.
April 12
Trade between Kansas City and Toronto :
Kansas City gets :
RF Ron Fairly (38) - $1,117,000 /
_ TOR: 333 / 12 AB / 2 R / .385 OBP / .333 SLG
_ KC : Currently in AAA.
RF Jose Tavares (21) - AA
Toronto :
RP Steve Mingori (33) - $2,183,820/ 3
_ KC : .1-0 / 27.00 ERA / 1 IP / 3.00 WHIP / .500 OAVG
_ TOR: 0-1 / 2.45 ERA / 3.2 IP / 1.36 WHIP / .286 OAVG
Following a performance against the Yankees in which he gave the game-tying home run to Roy White, Mingori proceeded to destroy the clubhouse locker room. Mingori would ironically win that game, but would lose favor with Royals management who deemed his behavior "detrimental" to the team. Unfortunately for Kansas City, this trade does absolutely nothing for them. Fairly is average, but at age 38 will we ever see him out of AAA again? Here's hoping that they are not pinning thier hopes on Tavares because from what I here, he will never see a major league game. Mingori will definately help the Blue Jays bullpen, but why send down reliever Mark Willis who has given up no earned runs in 10 2/3 innings? It looks as if Toronto will have Willie Horton take over Fairly's DH duties and Gary Lance will take Mingori's role in the bullpen for the Royals.
Edge: Toronto by far. Kansas City gave up a temperamental but very good reliever for one outfielder who may be past his prime and another whose prime may never materialize.
April 20
Trade between Boston and Texas :
Boston gets :
1B Kurt Bevacqua (30) - $312,900 / 2
_ TEX: .229 / 35 AB / 6 R / 2 2B / 2 HR / 3 RBI / .270 OBP / .457 SLG
_ BOS: .107 / 28 AB / 1 R / .107 OBP / .143 SLG
1B Pat Putnam (23) - A - $60,575 / 1
Texas gets :
RF Dwight Evans (25) - $807,840 / 1
_ BOS: .333 / 18 AB / 4 R / 1 HR / 2 RBI / .368 OBP / .500 SLG
_ TEX: .250 / 32 AB / 4 R / 1 HR / 3 RBI / .324 OBP / .344 SLG
This trade confuses me on alot of fronts. Now while I can understand the Red Sox trading Evans because he really has no place to go when he is stuck behind Fred Lynn, Bernie Carbo, Jim Rice and Carl Yastrzemski in the outfield, I cannot grasp getting 1B/2B Ken Bevacqua in the deal and handing him the starting job when your starter, Steve Dillard, is hitting .323 at the time. Evans will get playing time now as he will take over Claudell Washington's spot as Texas' everyday right fielder and will send RF Ken Henderson down to AAA. Since Dillard got pushed to the bench, the Red Sox optioned 2B Denny Doyle down to AAA Akron. To add insult to injury in this trade, the Red Sox tried to clear Putnam through waivers after designating his for assignment only to have the Rangers sneak in and pick him up.
Edge: Gotta go with Texas on this one. Evans batting in the cleanup for the Rangers should bolster an offensive threat that continues to get better.
April 27
Trade between California and Oakland :
California gets :
MR Stan Bahnsen (32) - $309,060 / 3
_ OAK: 0-2 / 1.80 ERA / 10 IP / 1.20 WHIP / .256 OAVG
_ CAL: Has not played as of yet.
RF Larry Murray (24) - AAA - $60,575 / 1
Oakland gets :
RF Don Baylor (27) - $587,520 / 2
_ CAL: .243 / 37 AB / 7 R / 1 2B / 1 3B / 4 HR / 8 RBI / .300 OBP / .649 SLG
_ OAK: .250 / 12 AB / 2 R / 1 2B / .308 OBP / .333 SLG
LF Henry Harris (24) - AA
California wasn't finished this month as the shipped off reserve OF Baylor to really shore up thier bullpen with Bahnsen. The trade is great for Baylor as he goes from being stuck behind Bruce Bochte, Thad Bosley and Bobby Bonds in California to replacing Sheldon Mallory as the starter in Oakland. However the key to this trade has to be Bahnsen becoming the main go-to guy in the middle innings for the Angels and turning what was a good bullpen into a great one. The Angels rank first in starters ERA (2.65) and third only to Minnesota and Los Angeles in bullpen ERA (2.08) and the acquisition of Bahnsen should only make that better. LF Gil Flores will fill the backup outfielder spot left by Baylor and SP Matt Keough was brought up to Oakland to fill Bahnsen void - sending Doc Medich to the bullpen.
Edge: Gonna give it California who was able to make a great team better with this trade. Baylor may be the future of the A's but now he has to run with this opportunity.