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Four harebrained schemes
March 12th, 2009, 7:59 am · 14 Comments · posted by Sam Miller, The Orange County Register
Pedro Martinez is perhaps the most obvious option to fill out the Angels’ rotation, but he’s not necessarily the best. Pedro’s stats went into deep decline in 2008, and it’d be wishful to count on him for more than 100 or so innings. Meanwhile, with Ervin Santana’s health forecast murky and a previously empty fifth slot, the Angels may ultimately need a full-season solution, regardless of whether the Kelvim Escobar Miracle Project continues. So, some ideas:
Trade for the Rays’ Jeff Niemann. Niemenn was one of the best pitching prospects in baseball, but his velocity didn’t bother following him up the organizational chart. Now he’s merely promising, a six-foot-nine righthander with a strong slider and low-90s fastball. He’s out of options, and the Rays don’t have a full-time rotation spot for him, with David Price ready to take the fifth spot this year. He threw 150 innings last year and had a solid 3.59 ERA in Triple A, so he’s probably ready to eat some major league innings.
Trade for the Yankees’ Ian Kennedy. A 1.99 career minor league ERA, a 6.14 ERA in the bigs. It’s not like he put up his best numbers against teenagers, either; in Triple A in 2008, he struck out a batter an inning, more than four for every walk, and had a 2.35 ERA. His stuff has never been impressive, but he’s a strike-thrower who could succeed with a change of scenery and a pitcher’s ballpark. Like Niemann, it’s hard to see him getting a chance with his current team, as the Yankees’ rotation is five deep with Phil Hughes and a gazillion dollars for free agents presumably next in line.
Trade for the Giants’ Noah Lowry. Maybe not. Lowry missed all of 2008 with elbow and forearm problems, and his recovery this spring has been slow, so the Angels would have to hear some good news about him before this would make any sense. If he does make it back healthy, he’s a man without a rotation spot in San Francisco. Lowry’s peripheral stats were heading south before his injuries, but he’s got 600 career major league innings and an ERA 10 percent better than the league average.
Sweet-talk Paul Byrd into a return. It wouldn’t be the sexiest move, but it’d be my favorite, as Byrd is exactly the sort of safe, 190-inning option to help us all relax a bit. Since Byrd left the Angels, he has averaged 185 innings per year with an ERA just a tick worse than the league average. He’s still the same pitcher — few strikeouts, no walks — and his upward flyball rate wouldn’t be a concern in Angels Stadium. He says he wants to sit out the first half of the year to spend time with his family, so this may be impossible, but it’d be worth trying to convince him otherwise.
Any other ideas?
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Sam-
Good ideas about Niemann and Kennedy, especially with the Rays pitching depth and Niemann being out of options. What would it take to get him?
I still like the Pedro idea, but only if he’ll sign a Smoltz-like deal. I don’t think the Angels would be wise to guarantee him too much, not with his injury history or recent poor performance.
Keep up the great work, I enjoy reading your posts!
What about Peavy from the Padres?
Wow. I wouldnt believe a writer would say stuff like that if I didnt just read it myself.
If Pedro Martinez is the most obvious option then i wonder what Moseley, Escobar, Loux, and Adenhart think they are doing for a living?
The only one of those I would take Pedro over would be Loux.
I like Niemann. I remember being impressed with him even as far back as the College World Series when he was at Rice, and he could be either a starter or a power bullpen arm after we get Esky and Ervin healthy. But I highly doubt - even with him out of options - that the Rays would trade him.
The rest (including Pedro) - not so much.
Kennedy had nine starts last year and got six or fewer outs in four of them. He got into the sixth inning twice. He also walked too many guys for his stuff. He does know how to pitch and always was a winner until last year, but the change of scenery for him should be Scranton.
The most difficult rung in the ladder is still Triple-A to the majors.
I saw Kennedy pitch a few times last season including his start at the big A. None of his pitches were over-powering and its hard to see him turning into a productive major league starter. Of course the same could be said about Mosley so take your pick.
I agree with David. We know the Pads are going to trade Peavy somehow. We have lots of ML ready guys at outfield and infield positions who would like to play somewhere every day. A rotation of Peavy, Lackey, Santana, Saunders and Escobar/Weaver would be the best in baseball.
If you can’t get Peavey then hold your cards and see how it all turns out!
I think that Peavy is the obvious answer, and only 100 miles away….the Friars ARE going to trade him this year, so “why wait for spring, do it now!”
Paul Byrd ……….stop yourself !!!!! Did you really say Paul Byrd?
Give the kids (Adenhart, Mosely, Loux, maybe even Ortega) a chance. If they falter, go to plan B (whatever that is). I can’t imagine the Padres NOT trading Peavy at some point this year. I bet they wait until the trading deadline when teams are more desperate than they are now…or they can smell the playoffs. In any case, we’ll be fine. The division is not going to be won in April or May.
Sam,
Good post. I think David Painter is a good option too.
Jamie I
pedro? would make vlad happy. he and pedro martinez became good friends in montreal. and pedro has been a big brother to vlad.
Adenhart and Moseley deserve a shot. If not now, when?
Might as well see what you got with those two.