Tuesday, December 05, 2006
winter meetings day the second
Talks supposedly continue between Baltimore and Atlanta. When the Hudson-to-Baltimore rumors started a couple of weeks ago, one of the first players I thought of was Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts. It's known that the Braves are looking for a prototypical lead-off hitter, and, with the almost certainty that Marcus Giles will be dealt, second base should be wide open. Roberts would fill both holes ably. Of course he's arbitration eligible the next two years, and should probably earn more than Giles in at least '07. The Baltimore Sun reports that the Braves have offered Giles and Adam LaRoche for Roberts and pitching prospect Hayden Penn. Penn's been well-regarded for a while, and looked good during a brief spell at Triple-A, but was absolutely awful in six starts for Baltimore last year. He's only 22, still has a ton of potential, and would be a welcome addition to the club. I wouldn't be thrilled about this deal, though. I find it unlikely that LaRoche will match or build on his seocnd half from last year, but that deal as constituted would basically be taking one step forward and two steps back. Sure, they'd find their lead-off hitter, and replace Giles with a proven second baseman, but they'd be losing a good amount of power without immediately improving their pitching, which should remain the focus. If they could get Roberts and Penn for Hudson and Giles, flip LaRoche over to Pittsburgh for a reliever or young starter, and then use the Hudson savings to sign or trade for another starter, first baseman, or reliever, then I'd be happy.
Talks supposedly continue between Baltimore and Atlanta. When the Hudson-to-Baltimore rumors started a couple of weeks ago, one of the first players I thought of was Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts. It's known that the Braves are looking for a prototypical lead-off hitter, and, with the almost certainty that Marcus Giles will be dealt, second base should be wide open. Roberts would fill both holes ably. Of course he's arbitration eligible the next two years, and should probably earn more than Giles in at least '07. The Baltimore Sun reports that the Braves have offered Giles and Adam LaRoche for Roberts and pitching prospect Hayden Penn. Penn's been well-regarded for a while, and looked good during a brief spell at Triple-A, but was absolutely awful in six starts for Baltimore last year. He's only 22, still has a ton of potential, and would be a welcome addition to the club. I wouldn't be thrilled about this deal, though. I find it unlikely that LaRoche will match or build on his seocnd half from last year, but that deal as constituted would basically be taking one step forward and two steps back. Sure, they'd find their lead-off hitter, and replace Giles with a proven second baseman, but they'd be losing a good amount of power without immediately improving their pitching, which should remain the focus. If they could get Roberts and Penn for Hudson and Giles, flip LaRoche over to Pittsburgh for a reliever or young starter, and then use the Hudson savings to sign or trade for another starter, first baseman, or reliever, then I'd be happy.
