Twins Acquire J.J. Hardy
by USG on Nov 6, 2009 12:50 PM EST
45 comments
The Twins traded Carlos Gomez for the Brewers shorstop earlier today. Hardy, who had seemingly lost his starting position in Milwaukee to upcoming prospect Alcides Escobar, was being tossed around by many as a possible option for the Red Sox next year.
Other options still remain for the Red Sox to either backup Jed Lowrie or platoon with him. Alex Gonzalez would have to give up his starting position and likely have to accept a good deal less than his $6 million option to return. Old friend Alex Cora remains a free agent. And another guy coming off a down season--Mike Aviles--has had his name pop up once or twice.
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that's too bad
I was hoping we’d get him. Oh well. Hopefully Gonzalez will agree to a decent price and will be OK with sharing duties with Jed.
I love Cora and would love to have him back (he just seems to be a good guy to have on the team) but not when he’s our plan B and we’re so unsure of how Jed will be. No one else on the market interests me. Is Iglesias ready yet? How about now??
by wolf9309 on Nov 6, 2009 1:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I wanted him too.
You see, you spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time. ~Jim Bouton, Ball Four, 1970
by BoldandBrash on Nov 6, 2009 2:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Minnesota didn't even give up that much
I guess the Sox are confident Lowrie can play a full season.
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Nov 6, 2009 1:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
They gave up one of the fastest and best defensive players in the game
for an unsure thing. I think they gave up way too much, but thats me. Then again, they had a stockpile of OF’s. Needed to get rid of one of them.
I didn't like the old one very much. I didn't see the ball there very well. - Julio Lugo on the old Yankees Stadium.
by Charged on Nov 6, 2009 1:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Gomez is nothing special
He’ll be a 4th OF, at best. Hardy was an elite SS in 2007-2008.
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Nov 6, 2009 2:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Gomez has a career .286 wOBA. I’m not even sure he’ll stay in the majors for very long. Last year, when Hardy was “terrible” he managed to be a 1.4 win player in only 115 games.
"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw
by BTLove on Nov 6, 2009 2:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
But, his HISD%* outranks almost everyone.
*:Head In Spinning Door Percentage
That said, Span’s probably their new starting CF. :(
@bs_uf15bosox9be 12 pieces of bacon, a Red Bull, and go get 'em; Learn to use SB Nation
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Nov 6, 2009 5:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Of course!
I guess the Sox are confident Lowrie can play a full season.
Why wouldn’t they be??
Oh…right….
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
by Bloggy on Nov 6, 2009 2:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Though he was one of the better SS’s in baseball in 2007-2008.
"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw
by BTLove on Nov 6, 2009 2:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That’s not saying much. His OPS over those two seasons was only about .800, and while he’s a good fielder, he’s not good enough to make up for his bat if he hits as craptastically as he did this year.
by RSNexile on Nov 6, 2009 2:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Only 5 MLB SS had an OPs of .800 or better this year.
Hardy was worth 4.5 WAR in 2007 and 4.9 WAR in 2008.
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Nov 6, 2009 3:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
And he was just about an automatic out this year
So which is the real J.J. Hardy? I’d rather see if Lowrie can stay healthy for a year than trade for a guy who likely as not is going to hit like Varitek.
by RSNexile on Nov 6, 2009 6:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Even last year, Hardy was less of an automatic out than Gonzo
In fact, even if Hardy duplicated last year, he’d still be better than any other Sox option at short except Lowrie.
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Nov 6, 2009 7:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
And so I repeat:
I’d rather see if Lowrie can stay healthy for a year than trade for a guy who likely as not is going to hit like Varitek.
by RSNexile on Nov 6, 2009 8:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Its kind of a moot point because now we know he isn’t coming here, but he did suffer from a low BABIP of .264 last season.
"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw
by BTLove on Nov 6, 2009 8:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Which isn’t much below his career BABIP of .280 and can partly be explained by the fact that he wasn’t hitting the ball very hard all year. When he managed to make contact, he hit liners just 14% of the time, grounders almost half the time, and popped up 9% of the time. For an alleged power hitter, he had a pathetic ISO of .128. And he strikes out a lot — twice as often as he walks.
Meanwhile, Bill James projects him for .254 BA, .320 OBP, .422 SLG next year. Not exactly stellar, and not worth trading for if the Sox think Lowrie is going to be healthy enough to play most of the season.
by RSNexile on Nov 6, 2009 10:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
My problem is going into the season relying on Lowrie. I have heard the arguments that his injury was just mismanaged, but I would have been much more comfortable with Hardy and Lowrie. Two guys with upside that can play defensively. Now, I’m afraid we’re going to end up with an absolute known quantity in Alex Gonzalez and it just does not excite me.
"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw
by BTLove on Nov 6, 2009 11:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
This front office lacks aggressiveness
VARITEK MUST GO
Brandon Webb in 2010
Jason Bay is not WERTH it
by gizmosandy on Nov 6, 2009 11:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sounds to me like the Brewers' front office is just foolish.
Buccholz/Bard =/= Gomez
by USG on Nov 7, 2009 2:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Vultures instead of eagles
It would appear that the Sox are playing the vultures rather than the eagles in this team building effort. They go for the carrion instead of the live meat. That will show in performance and results over time as we saw this past year.
by NG on Nov 7, 2009 9:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hardy is hardly live meat
Now, if you want to complain that the Sox haven’t been aggressive enough in going after Adrian Gonzalez, that’s a fair point for debate. But Hardy wouldn’t have had enough impact to affect the pennant race.
by RSNexile on Nov 7, 2009 9:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Gomez is off the Twins already?
and this was the big “star” the Twins thought they were getting after they traded the best pitcher in baseball?
Think of how good the Twins would be if they just KEPT THEIR PLAYERS!!!!!!!! They’d still have Santana, and Garza, and they’d have Tori Hunter. They’d be one of the best teams in baseball.
by nyyrocks29 on Nov 6, 2009 2:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
But, alas, they cannot afford it.
"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw
by BTLove on Nov 6, 2009 3:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Really?
I thought their owner was one of the richest owners in baseball and he just refuses to spend money.
i’m not completely sure though.
by nyyrocks29 on Nov 6, 2009 3:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yeah he is
but that doesn’t mean his budget for the team is the highest.
by wolf9309 on Nov 6, 2009 4:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The late Carl Pohlad was an awful owner
He was worth $3.6 billion, yet rarely spent money on his team. At one time, he was also a part owner of the Vikings. Like Steinbrenner, he constantly talked about moving his team in order to get the taxpayers to build him a stadium. In 2006, Pohlad offered to sell his team to MLB as part a planned contraction of teams.
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Nov 6, 2009 4:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
This trade got me to read MLBTR.
On there, I noticed that the Brewers won’t resign Cameron.If Bay/Holliday aren’t signed and that the sox land Adrian, he could be a possibility for CF. Last year, Cameron had a .346 wOBA, 24 HR, and a UZR of 10, but he is 36 years old. Although this is unlikely, it it interests me.
You see, you spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time. ~Jim Bouton, Ball Four, 1970
by BoldandBrash on Nov 6, 2009 3:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I'm interested.
Depending on the money/years, of course. But his bat could play very well at Fenway, and he, Ells, and Drew could be the best defensive outfield in baseball.
Hopefully he waits for Bay/Holliday to set the market before signing, so he’d still be available if we lose on those guys.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
by tommy.otm on Nov 6, 2009 3:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If he can be had for a few million, I'd totally sign him to be the 4th OF (at least).
@bs_uf15bosox9be 12 pieces of bacon, a Red Bull, and go get 'em; Learn to use SB Nation
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Nov 6, 2009 5:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Would he want to be a 4th outfielder? Probably Not.
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Nov 6, 2009 7:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I smell a late game defensive replacement.
You see, you spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time. ~Jim Bouton, Ball Four, 1970
by BoldandBrash on Nov 6, 2009 7:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I just don't think Cameron would want to split time.
This is a skilled Vet who wants what if left of his career to be on the field.
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Nov 6, 2009 7:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Might want a ring...
Wait, crazy plan idea:
Cameron CF, Span LF, Hardy SS, Jed UTIL – trade Ells, Bowden, and B prospect(s) to the Twins.
@bs_uf15bosox9be 12 pieces of bacon, a Red Bull, and go get 'em; Learn to use SB Nation
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Nov 6, 2009 10:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'd do that, but only if we can get a power bat to make up for Bay.
You see, you spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time. ~Jim Bouton, Ball Four, 1970
by BoldandBrash on Nov 6, 2009 11:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well, if you consider that we'll have a full season of Vic behind the plate, the difference should make up for the loss from Bay.
See the Yawkey Way Academy link from the most recent Filter.
@bs_uf15bosox9be 12 pieces of bacon, a Red Bull, and go get 'em; Learn to use SB Nation
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Nov 6, 2009 11:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
ugh
VARITEK MUST GO
Brandon Webb in 2010
Jason Bay is not WERTH it
by gizmosandy on Nov 6, 2009 5:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Don't let bs.uf etc.... hear this talk of Jed not starting
You can never have too much pitching.
by Pesky Fan on Nov 6, 2009 7:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
HOLA.
I already published my propaganda rant in one of the fanpost’s comments.
@bs_uf15bosox9be 12 pieces of bacon, a Red Bull, and go get 'em; Learn to use SB Nation
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Nov 6, 2009 10:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I had heard...
The Sox were looking at JD’s little brother Stephen as a possiblity. Arizona I head had been willing to listen to offers on him. Any word on that or is it just one of the many rumors flying around?
Sodomize Intolerance
by sonicdeathmonkey on Nov 7, 2009 2:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
So would anyone worth trading for
And given that the Brewers wanted Buchholz or Bard for Hardy, it seems that potential trade partners are still out to gouge the Sox.
by RSNexile on Nov 7, 2009 9:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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