Mike Aviles Traded To Red Sox For Yamaico Navarro, Kendal Volz

by Ben Buchanan on Jul 30, 2011 5:15 PM EDT in News

The Red Sox have traded Yamaico Navarro and Kendal Volz to the Kansas City Royals for utility infielder Mike Aviles.

Aviles, 30, is not really the best example of an impact talent. He's had decent numbers in 2008 and 2010 for the Royals, but has interspersed those periods of usefulness with a couple of terrible years, hitting just .222/.261/.395 in 202 plate appearances this year. Interestingly, Aviles' effectiveness seems to be tied heavily to BABIP, with .223 and .231 marks in his off years, and .331 and .360 figures when he's been successful. The question is if either is the real Aviles, or if he's somewhere in-between.

It's understandable why the Sox would take a gamble on Aviles-if he turns out to be the 2008 and 2010 player, he's a solid middle-infielder who could potentially even replace Marco Scutaro next year. If he's the 2009 and 2011 Mike Aviles, however, he's not worth much at all.

Really, it's confusing why the Red Sox would give up a player like Yamaico Navarro in return. He's shown flashes of brilliance in the minor leagues at times, though he's looked overmatched at times in his initial exposure to Major League pitching. Kendal Volz, too, has shown potential given his at-times absurd peripherals.

The Red Sox could come out on top of this if neither Navarro or Volz prove to be capable of cutting it in the Major Leagues, but it seems just as likely that they've given up as much Major League talent as they've received, and have the greater possibility of really regretting the deal down the line.

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Trade??

Theo, Can Aviles pitch??

by Sox in Phx on Jul 30, 2011 5:26 PM EDT reply actions

Eh

I don’t have much to say about this. I’m fine with this trade but I wonder what happens when Jedi comes back.

"Remember, it's not over until the fat lady drops one."

by n0va on Jul 30, 2011 5:33 PM EDT reply actions

I am disappoint

by Sean O on Jul 30, 2011 5:40 PM EDT reply actions

I don't like it,

but I’ll that Theo had some really good reasons for making this deal. I know that Navarro’s work ethic has been called into question, so I can see that as a reason that his value may have dropped a minute amount, but certainly not to the level of the 30-year old Aviles. If anything, KC should have been throwing in a lottery ticket here, not us.

by frozendesert on Jul 30, 2011 5:43 PM EDT reply actions

I’ll trust that

by frozendesert on Jul 30, 2011 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions

When has his work ethic been questioned lately?

He’s done everything asked for him, OF? ‘Yeah sure boss’.

We traded Navarro for essentially his floor I think.

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on Jul 30, 2011 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions

exactly this

well put. Traded for his older floor.

by Sean O on Jul 30, 2011 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/7/1/2252917/prospect-of-the-day-yamaico-navarro-3b-boston-red-sox

http://www.kffl.com/article.php/128011/515

Just speculation as to the reason that he got traded for his floor, which is what I agree happened.

by frozendesert on Jul 30, 2011 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

Terrible trade by Theo!

Twitter | "Almost every organization has a guy like Papelbon or Lester" - Dave Cameron 12/29/2005

by radiohix on Jul 30, 2011 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Now I have 3 players to hate

Lackey and Crawford for the contracts and Aviles for that trade!

Twitter | "Almost every organization has a guy like Papelbon or Lester" - Dave Cameron 12/29/2005

by radiohix on Jul 30, 2011 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions

And Oki for being a total dick.

I'm a 7 WAR player in bed.

by TheLoneDavid on Jul 30, 2011 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I like Aviles.

Just not at this price.

Theo, when will you be getting us the pitcher we need, rather than these deals that we won’t realize are good a year from now? (aka salty)

The Red Sox suck, and I am the dirt that was sucked in, I am a dirty.

by outofleftfield on Jul 30, 2011 6:08 PM EDT reply actions

Patience.

Last I checked, trade deadline is tomorrow, which is when 95% of deals go through.
That said, Rangers just got Uehara. Sox is almost forced to make a significant move?

by ramer on Jul 30, 2011 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Just what do you think we can acquire?

Jimenez was traded to the Indians, Beltran to the Giants, Kuroda appears to be staying in LA, and Pence is a Phillie.

All that comes to mind is Erik Bedard, and I don’t want a guy who blows up every other start.

We won’t make a move that matters, all we can hope is Bucholz comes back soon, and he pitches to his norm.

The Red Sox suck, and I am the dirt that was sucked in, I am a dirty.

by outofleftfield on Jul 30, 2011 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Ludwick

With Harden deal done, I wouldn’t mind seeing them getting Ludwick to provide insurance in case Reddick falters down the stretch provided no major prospect (i.e. Renaudo or Middlebrooks if possible) is included in the deal.

by ramer on Jul 30, 2011 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions

The Harden deal fell apart as expected.

As for Ludwick, I’d rather stick with Reddick honestly. No move is better than a trade that makes us a worse club.

The only good option left is to somehow make a trade no one sees coming, odds of it happening are pretty low.

The Red Sox suck, and I am the dirt that was sucked in, I am a dirty.

by outofleftfield on Jul 31, 2011 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't see this as such a huge price

by wolf9309 on Jul 31, 2011 3:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Aviles isn't a huge player.

I think Navarro is going to be a much better overall player.

The Red Sox suck, and I am the dirt that was sucked in, I am a dirty.

by outofleftfield on Jul 31, 2011 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Used a MLB ready prospect and a future prospect and still need pitching:

I know Theo had his reasons, but still hasn’t filled the gap in the rotation or any holes in the pen. Will the Sox get a pitcher too. These are two pieces that could have been used to sweeten te pot for Colorado.

by NJ Native on Jul 30, 2011 6:10 PM EDT reply actions

Volz is an interesting case

His peripherals are great, but… he’s pretty old for A ball, maybe older for a reliever in A ball. I don’t think we’ll miss him at all.

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on Jul 30, 2011 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't think that Navarro was "ML Ready" at all

by BobZupcic on Jul 30, 2011 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I might be the only one but I think this trade makes sense

Aviles is not a great player, but he is a useful utility infielder who hits righty. He is insurance for Scutaro and depth behind Sutton if we lose him or Youk.

Navarro had recently looked unable to handle shortstop, where we have almost no depth at all. Sutton can’t do it either. Navarro had a good year at AAA but could not translate that to the big leagues. He struggled to make solid contact and showed little power. I doubt we will miss him much.

I don’t know much about Volz beyond some of the number I have read but he is still in high A at age 23 so he has not done much to prove himself so far. At that age and level he SHOULD have the peripherals he does. Chances are neither of these guy end up much above replacement in the near future.

- Matt Sullivan
"I would change policy, bring back natural grass and nickel beer. Baseball is the belly-button of our society. Straighten out baseball, and you straighten out the rest of the world." Bill "Spaceman" Lee
www.overthemonster.com
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by Mattsullivan on Jul 30, 2011 6:22 PM EDT reply actions

This guy is nothing more than minor league depth.

So we traded minor league depth and a reliever for… older minor league depth? What the hell, Theo?

Theo-trade John Lackey for a used condom and a punch in the nose. Remember, it's all about value.

by LesterJohn on Jul 30, 2011 7:44 PM EDT reply actions

Aviles has more upside than being minor league depth

Can play all IF positions adequately, but is rated positively by all defensive metrics at SS. More than anything that reflects (justified) lack of faith in Sutton/Lowrie managing SS if Scutaro goes down.

As for the bat, he sucks against RHP but has a career 111 wRC+, .168 ISO and much better K/BB splits against lefties. As a dead pull hitter he will also benefit from Fenway.

For very little cost he essentially duplicates Lowrie’s skillset except with better defense.

by L33to II on Jul 30, 2011 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions