In Full Bloom on New Year's Eve
In a surprise New Year’s Eve move, Anthony Castrovince is reporting that the Indians have consummated a deal for Cubs’ infielder Mark DeRosa, a versatile IF who is due $5.5M this year before becoming a FA after the 2009 season. The move would seem to be the short-term answer for the Indians’ infield as DeRosa can play both 2B and 3B, meaning the Indians have the option of either keeping Peralta at SS and Asdrubal at 2B and slotting DeRosa into 3B or sliding everyone to their right and inserting DeRosa at 2B.
Regardless, the deal makes a great deal of sense for the Indians, who parted with 3 minor league pitchers (Jeff Stevens, Chris Archer, and John Gaub) to net DeRosa, as it does not affect their MLB roster (Stevens was the only player on the 40-man and, while he looks like a legitimate MLB reliever, had some arms in front of him in the 2009 bullpen) and allows Luis Valbuena to mature for a full season in AAA with the idea that he’ll take DeRosa’s spot in 2010.
A player like DeRosa (versatile veteran with a capable bat and not a long-term commitment) is precisely what the Indians have been talking about adding since they netted Valbuena from the M’s. DeRosa’s versatility and OBP skills (.376 OBP in 2008, .371 OBP in 2007) make him a tremendous fit for the Indians’ roster, upgrading significantly the likes of a Jamey Carroll from being the de facto 2B until Valbuena is ready and removing any chance of either Josh Barfield or Andy Marte play in any capacity at all in Cleveland in 2009.
LOTS more to come on this as time passes, but for now – with this news – let’s celebrate the New Year in style, like Grady (ed. note - picture changed) in happier days last year.
Happy New Year’s everyone!
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8 comments:
DeRosa is a great player. I'm looking forward to seeing him in a Tribe uniform.
His versatility was huge HUGE for me in fantasy, I hope it translates well here!
you know, you could've cropped CC out of that picture so we all wouldn't have to think about him playing for the evil empire.
43 days until pitchers and catchers report!
His stats are almost as good as Blakes...I hope he can fill his shoes....seeing that he started a whopping 10 games last year at third....
I wonder if C....C... will be smiling in April....
A nice move picking up a Blake type player on a 1-year deal without giving up too much talent.
I also agree that adding the CC pic was a bad way to bring in the New Year.
Still. Happy 2009 to all and Go Tribe!
This is SUCH a great move and should probably be played on Marky Mark Shapiro's greatest hits for years to come. The only way that Mark De Rosa could be more useful to the Cleveland Indians at this point in time is if he could throw 6 solid innings every 4 days.
With Mark De Rosa the Indians now have:
- A starting 2B
- A starting 3B
- A one year commitment to a pieces/parts player.
- A veteran presence
- A top of the order hitter
- A high OBP hitter
- A 20+ homer hitter
- A strong right-handed bat
Then you add in the fact that the Indians barely had to give up anybody to get him and you have yourself the recipe for a masterful trade.
I still think we are one good starting pitcher away from competing in 2009 though.
Picture changed on the post.
More to come tomorrow on DeRosa.
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