June 13, 2005
Trade Baez, Not Huff!
Much commotion here in the Tampa Bay area over the sorry state of the Devil Rays, and manager Lou Piniella's angry quotes in this weekend's newspapers. Of course Lou's upset - he was (apparently) promised an increased payroll to lure him here, and then the payroll shrank! But of more immediate concern is what moves the Devil Rays have planned for next month's trading deadline.
It has been widely reported that the Devil Rays are expected to try to move closer Danys Baez and right fielder/first baseman/third baseman/designated hitter Aubrey Huff. Baez is a no-brainer. With the benefit of hindsight, he should have been traded during the off-season, before his poor performance this season sapped his trade value. But regardless of his 2005 performance, he should be traded -- he is an eminently replaceable veteran commodity who can: a) get something of value in return and b) be replaced by someone younger and cheaper (in either or both of Lance Carter and Chad Orvella), without a significant drop-off in expected results.
Huff should not be traded. Trading Huff is a clear sign that the Devil Rays simply don't get it, and are just out to slash payroll, mindless to the on-field consequences. Huff is a veteran commodity for whom something of value could definitely be obtained. However, he cannot be replaced by anyone the Devil Rays currently own, without a sharp drop-off in expected results. Simply put, Aubrey Huff is currently the Devil Rays' best all-around hitter. Crawford has the incredible speed and developing power, but Huff has established a consistent track record of hitting for a high average with 30 HR power. Trading Aubrey Huff would be foolish, unless the Rays acquired a #1 starter in return. And frankly, that's just not likely. Any team looking to trade for Huff is probably not going to offer a #1 starter. Any team looking to trade for Huff is probably trying to make a playoff run, and those teams don't get rid of #1 starters.
In my opinion, the Devil Rays should hang on to Crawford and Huff and use them as the nucleus of their offense going forward, then add B.J. Upton and Delmon Young when they are ready. Rocco Baldelli is expendable, as are Joey Gathright and Alex Sanchez. Jonny Gomes should be given more of a look at the major league level to see what he can offer. He will then likely be trade bait, but his trade value is being depressed by his being left to languish in Durham while the Reggie Taylors and Chris Singletons of the world get major league playing time in his stead.
The Rays should look to use Baldelli/Gathright/Sanchez to land a quality, established, top-of-the-rotation starter. This probably cannot be done mid-season, so it may need to wait until this coming off-season. But this should be job one. The Rays' offense actually isn't bad. The pitching is horrendous. Scott Kazmir is their only quality major league starting pitcher. Jeff Niemann can hopefully be #2, and perhaps Wade Townsend may make a third quality starter in a few years. But the Rays need a bona fide "stopper" in the rotation in order to move forward toward respectablity, and with their stable of young offensive talent they should be well-situated to get one.
It just doesn't seem as if they're trying, if the press reports are even remotely true. And, as with most things Devil Ray, that's disappointing.
It has been widely reported that the Devil Rays are expected to try to move closer Danys Baez and right fielder/first baseman/third baseman/designated hitter Aubrey Huff. Baez is a no-brainer. With the benefit of hindsight, he should have been traded during the off-season, before his poor performance this season sapped his trade value. But regardless of his 2005 performance, he should be traded -- he is an eminently replaceable veteran commodity who can: a) get something of value in return and b) be replaced by someone younger and cheaper (in either or both of Lance Carter and Chad Orvella), without a significant drop-off in expected results.
Huff should not be traded. Trading Huff is a clear sign that the Devil Rays simply don't get it, and are just out to slash payroll, mindless to the on-field consequences. Huff is a veteran commodity for whom something of value could definitely be obtained. However, he cannot be replaced by anyone the Devil Rays currently own, without a sharp drop-off in expected results. Simply put, Aubrey Huff is currently the Devil Rays' best all-around hitter. Crawford has the incredible speed and developing power, but Huff has established a consistent track record of hitting for a high average with 30 HR power. Trading Aubrey Huff would be foolish, unless the Rays acquired a #1 starter in return. And frankly, that's just not likely. Any team looking to trade for Huff is probably not going to offer a #1 starter. Any team looking to trade for Huff is probably trying to make a playoff run, and those teams don't get rid of #1 starters.
In my opinion, the Devil Rays should hang on to Crawford and Huff and use them as the nucleus of their offense going forward, then add B.J. Upton and Delmon Young when they are ready. Rocco Baldelli is expendable, as are Joey Gathright and Alex Sanchez. Jonny Gomes should be given more of a look at the major league level to see what he can offer. He will then likely be trade bait, but his trade value is being depressed by his being left to languish in Durham while the Reggie Taylors and Chris Singletons of the world get major league playing time in his stead.
The Rays should look to use Baldelli/Gathright/Sanchez to land a quality, established, top-of-the-rotation starter. This probably cannot be done mid-season, so it may need to wait until this coming off-season. But this should be job one. The Rays' offense actually isn't bad. The pitching is horrendous. Scott Kazmir is their only quality major league starting pitcher. Jeff Niemann can hopefully be #2, and perhaps Wade Townsend may make a third quality starter in a few years. But the Rays need a bona fide "stopper" in the rotation in order to move forward toward respectablity, and with their stable of young offensive talent they should be well-situated to get one.
It just doesn't seem as if they're trying, if the press reports are even remotely true. And, as with most things Devil Ray, that's disappointing.
