Baseball Musings: Patterson to the Orioles

January 09, 2006

Patterson to the Orioles

The Orioles finally acquire a Cubs outfieler, trading two minor leaguers for Corey Patterson today.

For the Orioles, Patterson adds depth to a depleted outfield and could challenge Luis Matos for the starting center field job. Baltimore declined to offer left fielder Eric Byrnes a contract and saw a tentative agreement with Jeromy Burnitz fall through when he decided to sign with Pittsburgh. Burnitz likely would have started in left.
"It's a situation where Baltimore gets a chance to take a good gamble on a kid who still has a lot of upside if it works," Hendry said.

The Cubs get a very young shortstop who appears to be a triples threat and a minor league pitcher with very good strikeout and home run numbers. Given that Patterson never had a good OBA, even when he showed power, I suspect this will be a very good deal for the Cubs down the road.

Posted by David Pinto at 05:48 PM | Trades | TrackBack (0)

Comments

what would it take to get Ichiro?
Exceptional leadoff and outfielder- Could he play center? Is there a Manny package?
Hargrove connection?

Posted by: tOM O'nEIL at January 9, 2006 07:17 PM

GOODBYE CORY YA BUM---a cubs fan

Posted by: Terry at January 9, 2006 08:15 PM

I'm not convinced that it's too late for Patterson to turn himself around, a la Sammy Sosa and Mike Cameron, players with similar skill sets and similiar (if less severe) strike zone problems. Patterson was quite useless in 2005, but I consider him a decent bet to be surprisingly productive in 2006.

Posted by: Crank at January 9, 2006 08:18 PM

i agree...he kinda reminds me of carlos beltran as well as cameron- total 5 tool potential...when he plays well...which was not last season.

Posted by: tony flynn at January 9, 2006 08:39 PM

I think calling it "a very good deal" for the Cubs is overrating Spears. He's not a SS, he's a 2B, and his ceiling is really as a utility guy. Even if Patterson stinks for the Orioles, I don't think that losing Spears is going to come back to haunt them. It's pretty unlikely that he'll have a significant major league career. Carlos Perez is just organizational filler.

Posted by: Joltin Joe Orsulak at January 9, 2006 08:57 PM

Getting rid of Patterson for anything would be a great deal for the Cubs. A package of peanuts, a case of beer, even used towels.

He is possibly one of the worst players I have ever seen, yet so extremely hyped as being one of those players who is oh so great.

As a Cardinal fan, I will be very sorry to see him go.

Posted by: JeremyR at January 9, 2006 09:53 PM

i'd trade corey for food stamps

Posted by: AJ at January 9, 2006 10:11 PM

corey patterson for kaz matsui any day of the week (even though we got that beltran guy)

Posted by: tony flynn at January 10, 2006 03:46 AM

Oh no, he's named Carlos Perez? Hide the water cooler...

Posted by: Adam Villani at January 10, 2006 05:16 AM

cory was a bum, but the cubs did sign jacque jones. swing battah!!! K machine

Posted by: colin at January 10, 2006 10:35 PM