ESPN’s chief idiot and former General Manager Idiot of the Reds and Nationals just published something that made me want to curse: Five Trades for Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters. I have long despised Bowden’s writing, but this post was the proverbial last straw. Starting today #FireJimBowden is a thing and it’s not going away anytime soon. His long-winded, ill-concieved post follows in bold, with my comments interjected in plain text.
Matt Wieters is one of the best all-around catchers in baseball.
Among the 38 catchers with at least 250 at-bats in 2013, Wieters ranked 13th in fWAR and his .287 OBP was 33rd. We’re off to a good start.
The Baltimore Orioles’ 2007 first-round pick is entering what should be the prime years of his career. He is a 27-year-old switch-hitter, a two-time All-Star and has hit at least 20 home runs in each of the last three seasons.He’s also a two-time Gold Glove Award winner who has thrown out at least 35 percent of runners trying to steal against him each of the last three seasons.
He also lead the league in a hitting category that would make Earl Weaver proud: the sacrifice fly. Bowden just made a case for Wieters being a great player based on when he was drafted, and All-Star/Gold Glove contests. Forgive me if I’m not buying that these popularity contests prove a players’ worth.
He’s arbitration-eligible right now and will be a free agent after the 2015 season. The Orioles would love to tie him up to a long-term contract extension. But with the industry’s revenue soaring along with player contracts, and Scott Boras as his agent, it’s unlikely the Orioles will be able to extend Wieters before he reaches free agency.
Therefore, Wieters’ trade value will never be higher than it is now.
Except, he’s coming off his worst season since 2010. He also could hit 75 home runs next year.
Of course, the Orioles have a contending team, so trading Wieters doesn’t make much sense…
I WANT TO WRITE IN BOLD ALL CAPS, BUT THAT WOULD BE CONFUSING. YOU JUST TOLD US, 175 WORDS INTO YOUR NEARLY 1500 WORD ARTICLE, THAT THE WHOLE THING “DOESN’T MAKE MUCH SENSE.”
I could use this space to rant about how the producers at ESPN probably do not even read Bowden’s articles, but these are the same people who let Merril Hoge stay relevant. They need to be fired first, and then maybe the new guard will get rid of Bowden. Back to the article, Morash.
…unless they’re able to get a top-level catcher back in a trade or they sign the best free-agent catcher on the market — Brian McCann, who will cost much less than what Wieters will ask for on his next deal.
So, the Orioles might look at trading Wieters if they bring in Brian McCann to help their catching situation. Said catching situation should be in good shape because according to Bowden “Matt Wieters is one of the best all-around catchers in baseball.”
For the record, the real reason the Orioles are thinking about trading Matt Wieters is payroll related. With arbitration raises due to Chris Davis in coming years and their rotation in disarray for consecutive years, it makes more sense to escape the arbitration raises due their potentially overrated catcher.
The return for Wieters must include one of these four options:
1. Top-of-the-rotation starter
2. Corner outfielder with power
3. Impact second baseman
4. Prospect package to help rebuild a thin farm system
- Agree
- Because there’s none of those available in free agency. Nelson Cruz or Michael Morse could be had and the Orioles could keep their All-Star catcher.
- I agree that Ryan Flaherty may not be the second coming of Joe Morgan, but he had a higher OBP than Wieters and actually hit a home run every 27.1 PAs. Compared with All-Star Wieters’ 26.3 PA/HR ratio, Flaherty’s decent.
- The Orioles want to rebuild their thin farm system? Did Jim Bowden forget that he just said they’re a “contending team?” Contending teams don’t trade their starting MLB catcher to rebuild a thin farm system.
Here are some possible trade partners for the Orioles in a Wieters blockbuster deal. (Caveat: All of these deals are predicated on the Orioles signing McCann or acquiring another reliable catcher.)
Note: Jim Bowden wrote 1500 words predicated on his strange alternate universe in which the Orioles signed Brian McCann and now must trade “one of the best all-around catchers in baseball.”
Cincinnati Reds
Jim Bowden’s first trade partner, the one that is supposed to make the most sense and get the reader’s attention, is the Cincinnati Reds. At first, I’m intrigued.
General manager Walt Jocketty knows he cannot afford to bring back Bronson Arroyo and Shin-Soo Choo, the latter of whom is seeking a contract similar to the seven-year, $126 million deal Jayson Werth received from the Washington Nationals in 2011. The Reds also are trying to move Gold Glove second baseman Brandon Phillips and the $50 million remaining on his contract.
Therefore the Reds appear to be in great shape to take on the salary that Matt Wieters will command across the next two seasons through arbitration.
So if Choo, Arroyo and Phillips all end up gone, the Reds probably can’t contend in 2014 unless they improve the club in other areas.
Bowden’s an ass. The Reds line up for a Wieters trade if the Orioles sign Brian McCann, the Reds trade Brandon Phillips and fail to bring back Bronson Arroyo and Choo. That’s a whole lot of ifs, captain.
If rookie Billy Hamilton’s bat is ready, he could take over for either Choo or Phillips. However, the Reds would still need another proven bat.
It was at about this time in the first read through where I gave up and went and took a shower to blow off some steam. Even this time through, I can literally feel my head shaking.
Wieters would provide them with the best overall defense and power behind the plate since Johnny Bench.
Ugh.
Wieters also could hit 30 home runs in Great American Ball Park.
Wieters also could hit 11 home runs in Great American Ball Park.
Wieters also could hit 12 home runs in Great American Ball Park.
Wieters also could hit 13 home runs in Great American Ball Park.
Wieters also could hit 14 home runs in Great American Ball Park.
Wieters also could hit 75,000 home runs in Great American Ball Park.
Being a switch-hitter also would help provide better balance in the fifth or sixth spots of the Reds’ lineup. They also would control Wieters for the next two years.
If the Orioles don’t sign another catcher, they might be interested in a package of Phillips and young catcher Devin Mesoraco. Phillips has hit 18 home runs in each of the last four seasons and his Gold Glove defense would improve an already stellar defense. Mesoraco should develop into an above-average receiver.
This trade actually makes a good deal of sense, but leaves the Reds without a viable option to play second base.
They also might target starting pitcher Homer Bailey. Bailey could be available because he’s a free agent after 2014. Or Baltimore might decide to go younger and cheaper and acquire a top starting pitching prospect such as Robert Stephenson or Tony Cingrani.
I’m going to say that a trade proposal of Matt Wieters for Tony Congrani straight up, ends with the Reds saying no.
Uh-Oh, my favorite team. The Braves have no need for Wieters, but I will read on because I read too much about baseball.
The Braves splurged on a five-year, $90-100 million contract for B.J. Upton last offseason so forgive them if they are gun-shy about doling out another.
Did Jim seriously not look up how much the Braves agreed to pay Upton? What even is he talking about?
However, if McCann departs and Evan Gattis and Christian Bethancourt can’t cut it, they might decide to try to trade for Wieters, a former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket.
So because Wieters once played in Atlanta, he might be their fourth choice to start at catcher.
In return, the Orioles would love to get another corner outfield bat and might ask for eitherJason Heyward or Justin Upton.
Orioles brass would get hung up on.
They also might see whether they could get any of the Braves’ best young starting pitchers, such as Julio Teheran, Kris Medlen or Lucas Sims.
It’s not that I don’t think Bowden knows what he’s talking about, it’s just that I think he doesn’t understand the value of a young starting pitcher. Or the value of a catcher who ranked 33rd among catchers in OBP. I bet he doesn’t even understand his toaster. How bread goes in and toast comes out is probably a daily question in the Bowden household.
The Braves definitely have enough to trade for Wieters, but if McCann leaves, they likely will let Gattis, Bethancourt and Gerald Laird share the catching duties.
Translation: The Braves could trade for Wieters, but they will not.
Kris Bryant, the Cubs’ first-round pick out of the University of San Diego this past June, was just named MVP of the Arizona Fall League, and shortstop Javier Baez is considered the best overall shortstop prospect in baseball after finishing with a .341 on-base percentage with a combined 37 home runs in the minors. Albert Almora could be the best young hitter for average in their system. That’s a lot of talent.
I think Bowden just read Keith Law’s midseason top 50 prospects report. Or any scouting report.
However, their biggest need continues to be starting pitching. That is where they have placed the heaviest emphasis in scouting and player development. But Wieters fits because they could use a long-term impact catcher and solidify their team up the middle, with Baez andStarlin Castro at second and shortstop, respectively, and Almora in center.
A deal for Wieters centered around Jeff Samardzija would make sense.
Except YOU JUST WROTE that their biggest need continues to be starting pitching. Jeff Samardzija is a starting pitcher!
Like Wieters, Samardzija is a free agent after the 2015 season and despite trying, they’ve been unable to sign him to a contract extension.
So they should trade him for a Scott Boras client who AS YOU WROTE BEFORE is unlikely to sign a contract extension before free agency? Right.
Samardzija, who will be 29 on Opening Day, has the potential of developing into an ace. His swing-and-miss stuff, combined with the O’s elite defense could result in a banner year for him.The Orioles could also use a power-hitting outfield prospect such as Jorge Soler or high-level pitching prospect such as C.J. Edwards.
There’s so many things wrong with this that I want to throw something at Bowden. Does anyone know his address? With the instant impact of highly regarded outfield prospects in recent years, such as Mike Trout and fellow Cuban Yasiel Puig, why would the Cubs be interested in trading Soler for a catcher who has just two years left of team control?
For the record, this is where I decided to dismantle Bowden and attempt to fire him and I have dedicated 900 words to this cause without finishing the article to this point.
The Rockies love the power of their catcher Wilin Rosario, who has belted 49 home runs and driven in 150 runs the last two seasons while hitting .277/.309/.504. They also feel he’s made great progress defensively.
However, there are also many in the organization who believe an upgrade in defense behind the plate is necessary for the Rockies to be able to pitch to their potential. They made a run at free-agent catcher Carlos Ruiz before he finally re-signed with the Phillies.
Improving the game-calling, framing pitches and overall defense is something the Rockies must do, especially with half their games at Coors Field. Their internal thinking is that putting Rosario in right field or first base and taking the catching duties away will allow him to focus on hitting and in time develop into a 35-home run power hitter.
Which is the longest possible way of saying, “Wilin Rosario is a really good hitter and according to reports, the Rockies think he might be best suited at first base with a defensive wizard captaining a pitching staff that struggles.”
Wieters would be the perfect fit for the Rockies; you can’t upgrade much better than a Gold Glove defender whose hitting ability and power will only improve playing half of his games at Coors.The Orioles’ interest would have to be all pitching. But do the Orioles think enough of the Rockies starters?
Both first-round picks from 2013 and 2012 — Jonathan Gray and Eddie Butler, respectively — won’t be available. But Wieters could help their development once they arrive in Denver.
The whole reason the Orioles are shopping Wieters in Bowden illconceived alter-world centers on his representation. Assuming Wieters will be a free agent in two years and would be around to help the development of Jonathan Gray and Eddie Butler requires a suspension of logic. It’s the classic Bowden contradiction.
So the Orioles should be looking for one of Colorado’s proven top two starters — Jorge De La Rosa or Jhoulys Chacin. Chacin is a free agent after 2015, and it looks like he’s finally reaching his potential after going 14-10 with a 3.47 ERA in 2013. De La Rosa is a free agent after 2014, and after coming back from Tommy John surgery last year won 16 games with a 3.49 ERA.
I actually am intrigued by both of these trades, but have to think that the Rockies are not going to trade away one of their top two starting pitchers from a staff that ranked last in starters ERA in the NL. Especially not without some pitching help in return.
Chicago White Sox
The White Sox are clearly several seasons away from contention and must get younger and more talented at the minor league levels and on the major league roster. They’ve been steadily acquiring talent, signing Cuban free agent Jose Abreu and trading for outfielder Avisail Garcia.
And while this might be the longest shot of all these scenarios, perhaps Orioles GM Dan Duquette could offer Wieters and his choice of Kevin Gausman or Dylan Bundy to the White Sox for left-hander Chris Sale.
First, note that Bowden starts a new paragraph with “And.”
As we’ve made clear, the Orioles are in desperate need of a bona fide No. 1 starter and lefty Sale fits the bill.
The “we” here implies that Jim Bowden had people help him with this essay. Uh-oh. #FireJimBowden may need to become #FireJimBowdenAndStaff. The other bona fide No. 1 starters that Bowden suggested the O’s pursue were Jhooulys Chacin, Tony Cingrani, Kris Medlen, and Jeff Samardzija who have a combined zero All-Star appearances.
He has a very friendly contract ($6.5M average annual value through 2017). The Orioles’ window to contend is open now, so acquiring Sale would circumvent waiting on Gausman’s development or Bundy’s return from Tommy John surgery. Then the Orioles could go out and sign McCann and have what it takes to make a run at the AL East crown. Meanwhile, the White Sox would have a building block in Wieters and a potential future No. 1 starter in Gausman or Bundy.
While these trades are feasible, they are somewhat unlikely. But at this time of year, every GM must do his due diligence and explore every option possible to improve his team for the short- and long-term.
Bowden has been known to explore every option possible to improve or hamper his team’s chances of winning in the short- and long-term. Next week, we’ll explore some of the moves that made other people #fireJimBowden. Hopefully, calling attention to his terrible writing and narrow-minded logic will help to #fireJimBowden from ESPN. A boy can only hope.
-Sean Morash
Stat of the Day: The 2005 Twins rotation walked the fewest hitters per 9 innings among any starting staff since 2000. That rotation included Johan Santana, Brad Radke, Carlos Silva, and Kyle Lohse.
