The first real trade, not counting Derek Lowe going to the Indians, of the offseason took place between the Kansas City Royals and the San Francisco Giants. In a trade where both teams move a an "extra" player, the Giants traded LHP Jonathan Sanchez to the Royals for CF and former Yankee Melky Cabrera. The Giants had an excess of starting pitchers with the emergence of Ryan Vogelsong and can now field a rotation of Linecum, Cain, Bumgarner, Vogelsong and Zito. The Royals could afford to move Cabrera because they feel Lorenzo Cain, the top prospect they got in the Zach Grienke trade, is ready to become an every day centerfielder. So, in essense, both teams helped each other out by filling an area of need with someone the other team could spare. The preliminary indications are both teams should benefit, which doesn't happen too often.
The interesting question is about Cabrera, who I initially said had no value to any team other than the Yankees. He fit the mold of a player that could do nothing but benefit from being in a Yankee lineup that, year in and year out, consistantly has men on base. His numbers were inflated because of that. I called out the Atlanta Braves for accepting him as any valuable piece in a trade for one of their valuable players. And in 2010, I was proven right as Cabrera hit just .255, 4, 42 and had just 7 stolen bases. But last year I could not have been proven any wronger when Cabrera had a career year with Kansas City hitting .305, 18, 87 with 201 hits and 20 stolen bases. This bodes well for Cabrera's stock which was at an all time low after being non tendered by Atlanta. The question will be: Will a return to the National League make Cabrera back to what he was with Atlanta, or will be be the player he was most recently with the Royals? Who knows?
The interesting question is about Cabrera, who I initially said had no value to any team other than the Yankees. He fit the mold of a player that could do nothing but benefit from being in a Yankee lineup that, year in and year out, consistantly has men on base. His numbers were inflated because of that. I called out the Atlanta Braves for accepting him as any valuable piece in a trade for one of their valuable players. And in 2010, I was proven right as Cabrera hit just .255, 4, 42 and had just 7 stolen bases. But last year I could not have been proven any wronger when Cabrera had a career year with Kansas City hitting .305, 18, 87 with 201 hits and 20 stolen bases. This bodes well for Cabrera's stock which was at an all time low after being non tendered by Atlanta. The question will be: Will a return to the National League make Cabrera back to what he was with Atlanta, or will be be the player he was most recently with the Royals? Who knows?
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