January 27, 2007
Helton Rumor
It seems there's a rumor going around that the Red Sox and Rockies are working a trade for Todd Helton. Firebrand of the American League doesn't like the idea of the deal:
1) Not a fan. $90.1 million over six years? Edit: That's only if the option is picked up. Otherwise, it's five years and $45 million. That's more palatable, but it's still far from convenient. Yeah, he's got three Gold Gloves. Yeah, he's a great guy with plate discipline. HE'S THIRTY-THREE AND JUST HAD A SEASON CONSIDERED A FALL-OFF.
2) Where does Mike Lowell or Kevin Youkilis fit into the lineup with Helton? If we acquire Helton, Lowell simply has to go. With Lowell's contract, easier said than done.
3) Where was all this money when we could have had Johnny Damon and Bobby Abreu? One may say that Beckett, Crisp, Drew and Helton is superior to Helton and Abreu, but still. What's going on with the Red Sox? All of a sudden they're acting like the Yankees. I don't like it. Don't burn your farm system for a 33-year old owed $19.1 million in 2011 (club option 2012).
I'd also remind people of this for Todd's ten-year career:
- Home line: .371 BA, .465 OBA, .676 Slug.
- Road line: .294 BA, .393 OBA, .507 Slug
He's still was a great hitter away from Coors, just not so amazing. However, unless they move Youkilis back to third, I'm pretty sure it's more cost effective to keep Kevin at first.
Posted by David Pinto at
04:03 PM
|
Trades
|
TrackBack (0)
I could see this deal happening only if they can sort out the money issue. The Red Sox have spent an enormous amount on free agents this winter. Adding an aging player and giving up some young guys in the process seems unlikely.
The Red Sox have the players to offer but Helton comes with a few risks, health and hitting away from Coors as Dave mentioned.
My guess is it doesn't happen.
My vote: Hell no. His offense has been slipping the past few years. Away from Coors, he was barely replacement-level last year -- and if you look at the 3-year data, he's been only a slightly above average first baseman away from Coors. Indeed, his away batting line looks a lot like Youkilis' -- high OBP, decent BA, moderate power. But Youkilis don't cost no 16 million a year on a long-term contract.
And the proposed deal I've seen would send Lowell, Julian Tavarez AND prospects -- the Rockies reportedly want Hansen and Delcarmen. That's just way too much for a very expensive first baseman who's not an All-Star anymore, and at 33 is likely to decline further.
According to Buster Olney at ESPN, Mike Lowell would go to Colorado should the deal go through. That would shift Youkilis to third and Garrett Atkins (who rates poorly at third by PMR) to first. It's not clear in Olney's piece who pays Lowell his (approx.) $8M salary.
"$90.1 million over six years? Edit: That's only if the option is picked up. Otherwise, it's five years and $45 million."
What?!?! So the 6th year is $45M? Actually, this was debunked on another site. It's a full $90M WITHOUT the option being picked up. If the option is picked up, the total cost of the contract is somewhere around $115M.
I'd like to point out to the Firebrand dopes that not even the Yankees are "acting like the Yankees" these days. Even if these Helton rumors aren't true, it's the Red Sox organization who has taken over the "Evil Empire" mantle this off-season w/ the Matsuzaka, JD Drew, etc. deals.
I'm for this deal only if the Sox can get it done for Clement, Lowell and Tavarez, with NO prospects involved. Because that way, we get the Clemenet monkey off our backs, Youk can go back to being the 3rd baseman, and Tavarez won't really be that big a loss. However, if prospects get involved, then HELL NO. I've read somewhere that the Rockies are very interested in acquiring Ellsbury, if that becomes the case, then I'd ask Theo to say thanks but no thanks and back out. I think it was bad enough for us in the Red Sox Nation to see us lose out on Hanley Ramirez, the last thing we need to do is lose a prospect who could be patrolling the centre field at Fenway for years to come from 2008 onwards, a prospect that experts in the game are already hailing as the next Johnny Damon.
The weird part about this is that Helton, Tavarez, and Clement are all reasonably paid at the moment - given the absurd signings in the offseason. And Lowell is probably $3-4 million overpaid. If the Rockies GM is truthful when he says he wants to trade Helton because he doesn't want so much of his payroll tied up in one player, I think Theo is going to end up making out pretty well in this situation.
You gotta love the Rockies!! It's all about the fans. Helton was a fan favorite so he stuck around and tied a lot of $$ that could have been used for a much better cause.
Well at least they would be getting Lowell and a couple prospects. 2008 World Series Champs here they come!!! Watch Out!!