What about Adrian Gonzalez?

by coldriver10 on Jul 15, 2009 5:50 PM EDT Comment 39 comments

Please accept my apologies if this has been discussed previously and I was drunk in a gutter somewhere or distracted by the Brooks Conrad thread.

I've thought a lot since last year how amazing it would be to have Adrian Gonzalez. I figured he would be completely untradeable, but some (MLBTR) think the Pads should consider dealing him. The idea got me feeling tingley inside. Let's look at this further.

He's 27 years old. So far this year, he's at 24 HRs, 49 R, 52 RBI with an OPS of .910. The two years before that, he's averaged 33 HR, 102 R, 110 RBI, and an OPS of .860. Meanwhile, he's going to make an absurdly low $3M this year, $4.75M next year, and $5.6M the year after that.

Casey Kotchman, on the other hand, currently has 4 HR, 21 R, 31 RBI, and a .742 OPS. Granted he's missed some time this year and is a gold-glove caliber defender, but offensive prowess he does not have. In his best year, 2007, he had 11 HR, 64 R, 68 RBI, and an .840 OPS. Gonzo could put these numbers up blindfolded and with one hand (why he's using only one hand, I'll leave to you).

Now, this would not be cheap, but we have the depth to do it. And this would also NOT be Tex version 2 because we'd have him at super cheap for the next 2 years. I think we could give Kotchman, Freddie Freeman, Jo-Jo Reyes, Cole Rohrbough, and Cody Johnson and not miss a beat in the minor leagues.

People always talk about upgrading our offense through the LF position. But if we can get a powerful, young, and cheap 1B that would instantly give us the hitter we need, why not do it?

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Ehh

Personally, I’d rather not deplete the farm system anymore. Freeman has a lot of potential and is relatively similar to Gonzalez…He has a better average, but might be a little lighter on the power, at least as of now. Rohrbough still has a lot of potential and giving up Locke is an indication Rohrbough is here to stay. And Cody Johnson is a personal favorite of mine. He’s still raw, but I feel at very worst he’s a pinch hitter with power. We’ll see, though.

by smscardinals1 on Jul 15, 2009 5:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

we apparently need a new rosterbation thread

by Doghnut on Jul 15, 2009 6:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ah, didn’t think about that…

Touche, my friend. Touche.

by coldriver10 on Jul 15, 2009 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i like A.Gon .. but the pads won't trade em.

i don’t like giving up freeman though..freemans a helluva player and has awesome promise as i just saw him play in b-ham at regions park against the barons last saturday nite..the guy scooped balls up left and right and even did the splits to stretch out and get a ball..literally did the splits, he was amazing to be that young. He went 0-4 but hit the ball strong and deep. Regions park isn’t a fair park unless you hit it down the left field line.

by SidKotchman on Jul 15, 2009 6:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I was there, that was a raaaaaddddd play! Didn’t win a used car though :-(

by Bmacbandwagon on Jul 15, 2009 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol the only one worth taking

was the sequoia.. the other vehicles were awful lol..i told my girlfriend that i hope i didn’t win one, the escort would have been like “oh gee thanks for the headache” lol

by SidKotchman on Jul 15, 2009 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, at least for me, when given the option of potential versus now, I’d take the now every time. I like Freeman too and have high hopes fo him, but I don’t know how many times there’s been a can’t miss player that misses completely (Alex Gordon, Delmon Young immediately come to mind).

by coldriver10 on Jul 15, 2009 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

gordon was playing well until getting hurt and isnt a bust just yet… on the other hand Young is a very good example (except he had bust written all over him…becuase of his attitude)

Heyward,Hanson,and Shaffer r ready now!! Why do you think they havent signed the "right handed bat"?

by fatazfoot on Jan 7, 2009 8:59 PM EST

by Swo12bv on Jul 15, 2009 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Pads probably wouldn't take that trade

Its a nice offer, but Kotchman and JoJo are basically valueless in a trade. And I don’t see the Pads giving up a player like Gonzo, who is so cheap, without getting more than Freeman, Johnson, and the suddenly awful Cole Rohrbrough. Just my opinion, but I don’t think we get in the door without mentioning Yunel Escobar or Jason Heyward.

by krsracker on Jul 15, 2009 6:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think they would want Johnson

The have Kyle Blanks

by esadb on Jul 15, 2009 6:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What you mean is...

the Pads wouldn’t want Kotchman, Freeman, or C. Johnson

by BravesRaleigh on Jul 16, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think the conversation starts without one of Escobar or Heyward (with the Escobar trade needing better pieces).

by soup du jour on Jul 15, 2009 7:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think any trade would need to include both.

by blitzerlover on Jul 16, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think that gets us anywhere close to acquiring Gonzalez. It would probably look more like Yunel, Freeman, Schafer, and Hoover. Of course, they will certainly start by asking for Heyward. If Gonzalez were made available, Boston would likely offer a nice package built around Clay Buchholz and/or Lars Anderson. Gonzalez has more value than Tex and Peavy had, so whatever was on the table in those two trades, might be best to add another piece.

"Four of us wolves, running around the desert together in Las Vegas, looking for strippers and cocaine..."

by jeg on Jul 15, 2009 7:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You might be right. I won’t trade Yunel, though, not as long as we’re throwing in other top prospects as well.

by coldriver10 on Jul 15, 2009 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No NO NO

We don’t need to give up our minor league depth, especially Johnson, Freeman, & Rohrbough. I agree that we could use some power an I would give up Kotchman, Jo-Jo, an maybe some other minor league talent; however even with what you are talking about you would still need more in a package deal. Schafer an kelly johnson plus Kotchman, and Jo-Jo Reyes at-least an probably more. Deal just really doesn’t fit for the Padres an they would want basically all high level minor league prospects.

by Holty_Panthers_Fan on Jul 15, 2009 7:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gonzalez would be a nice addition, but I wouldn’t unload a ton of prospects to get him like the Tex trade.

by Walker Wallace on Jul 15, 2009 7:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

it’s nothing liek the teixiera trade cause Gonzo isnt a rental

Heyward,Hanson,and Shaffer r ready now!! Why do you think they havent signed the "right handed bat"?

by fatazfoot on Jan 7, 2009 8:59 PM EST

by Swo12bv on Jul 15, 2009 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Love it, but probably wouldn't happen

I’m a huge fan of Adrian Gonzalez, and would love to see him suit up for the Braves. Easily possibly one of the most underrated players in the entire National League. Puts up huge numbers, even in massive PETCO. But unlike the Peavy situation, the Padres are in a huge position of leverage with Gonzalez, because so many teams are tantalized by his very team-friendly financial terms. So they’d basically want a whole lot of Braves talent in order to wrest AGon away from them.

As much as I would love to pony up Kotchman, Jo-Jo, Kelly Johnson, and any other mentioned Braves, the Padres won’t bite. AGon is also wildly popular in San Diego, and he and his wife are known for their own generously charity contributions; just more reason why fans would make it harder for the team to trade him.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jul 15, 2009 8:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What about Aubrey Huff?

The Orioles are reportedly looking to move Huff by the trade deadline, according to MLBTR. All they are asking for in return is a “fringe prospect”. Maybe we could give them Kotchman and this “fringe” prospect, and they will eat some of his remaining contract. Huff will be a free agent after the season.

by JurrjensFan on Jul 15, 2009 8:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

But then what?

Who’s our 1B in ’10?

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 16, 2009 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Greg Norton

Duh.

by BravesRaleigh on Jul 16, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

please no

Put KJ at 1st before Norton

by drumzalicious on Jul 16, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why not Prado at 1st if we're going to use them both?

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 16, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

because

I’m still in the midst of a fantasy world that tells me Brooks Conrad is a beast

by drumzalicious on Jul 16, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha...so you start Conrad over Prado and let Marty utility?

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 16, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

not quite

fantasy world has Kothman not on the team.

Prado at 1st

Conrad at 2nd

Also in the fantasy world we have gotten rid of Garret Anderson.

The Line Up you say?

Nate
Prado
Chip
Mac
Esco
Conrad
Diaz
Church

Eh. like i said fantasy world where Conrad hits like crazy.

He’s currently hitting .355/.375/.710 and if he could keep that up. . . . bat em clean up lol

by drumzalicious on Jul 16, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ahh...

You weren’t including KJ at all. Got it.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 16, 2009 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh lol

yea man. KJ isnt helping himself in AAA.

Conrad however . . . . if he keeps this pace i say bat em cleanup

by drumzalicious on Jul 17, 2009 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's also on an INJURY REHAB.

And frankly, if he could come up and slug 500+ while OPSing over 800 with the now above-average defense he brings, I’d be just fine with that.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 17, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We have a rosterbation thread

for this kinda stuff. keeps the clutter down and its already being talked about over there.

by drumzalicious on Jul 15, 2009 9:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, it wasn’t “already being talked about over there” when I made this thread. But now that it exists, we can just mosey on over there…

by coldriver10 on Jul 15, 2009 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The old rosterbation post was gone, this game before the new one, and was more than just simple “hay guys whut about player x?” There was enough justification and explanation to warrant individualized discussion.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jul 15, 2009 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

sigh. meant to reply to you below.

by coldriver10 on Jul 15, 2009 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're just being nice cuz she's a girl

"…aren’t worthy enough to hold his (Pujols) ass cheeks apart while Playboy models wipe him with thousand dollar bills after he craps out the cure to whatever previously-incurable disease." by royhobbs 1/7/09

by buzzdeadwax on Jul 16, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks, roy. That earns you a pint of Red Oak next time you come up…Red Oak being the greatest beer on the planet, of course.

by coldriver10 on Jul 15, 2009 11:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Javier Vasquez trade possibility..

Javy to the dodgers for andre ethier and a solid prospect..i know javy has it somewhere in his contract that he cant be traded to the west,but is there some way to convince him to waive that? we all know the dodgers need good starting pitching, and the braves need a good productive hitter in the middle of their lineup.with that being said,doesn’t that make this trade PERFECT for both sides? it puts the dodgers as the clear cut favorite with billingsly,kershaw,vasquez,wolf,kuroda,and weaver in the rotation. i think javys trade value is through the roof right now,and i think we could get something like a blake dewitt in this trade also. potential lineup: nate,prado,chip,big mac,ethier,yunel,garrett,conrad/kotch. rotation:derek,jair,KK,tommy,kris medlin(until tim hudson returns).thats the recipe for success.

by Riley3 on Jul 16, 2009 9:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs