Vidro traded to Seattle, pending physical

by ZackAttack on Dec 13, 2006 10:37 PM EST

Vidro is being dealt to the M's for two minor leaguers: 25 year old oft-injured Chris Snelling and 22 yr old Emiliano Fruto.

It looks like the Nats will pay a small portion of his salary over the next two seasons. Good move for Washington? Definitely a high-risk, low reward move for a team that let Sori walk away. They won't be competitive for the next millenium anyway, so I think it's a decent trade.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/13/AR2006121301763.html

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And things get even worse...

for the Mariners fans among us.

by DrunkIrish on Dec 13, 2006 11:02 PM EST 0 recs

heartbreaking

as a Mariners fan, this pushes me closer to apathy than even the Soriano-Ramirez trade. Vidro can no longer defend, and we already have a young, slick, productive and cheap second baseman in Lopez. And Vidro doesn't produce enough to be worth more than a one year, three million dollar deal as a DH. Apparently, Vidro signed an extension thru 2009 before getting dealt. Fruto has some upside as another young, cheap, effective arm to go along with Putz, Sherrill, O'Flaherty, and (once) Lowe and Soriano. Maybe Lowe can bounce back still. But Snelling still has tons of time left until arbitration, and if (big if) he stays healthy for a whole season, I think you're looking at JD Drew lite in terms of production: 380 obp, 470 slugging. And with solid d in the corners, and a very good arm.

Weep with and/or for me, comrades, and allow Bill Bavasi and Crimson Liederhosen to mock our sorrows.

by gogotabata on Dec 13, 2006 11:25 PM EST 0 recs

Good move for Nats

Vidro's overrated, can't play D and his offense has dropped off. But where will he play in Seattle? Utility?

Yeah, Snelling is always hurt, but why not? Sounds like Seattle will eat most of Vidro's contract too.

A 2006 pre-season note from John about Fruto: "One guy I didn't put in the book that I should have is Emiliano Fruto. He throws quite hard but his track record is erratic; he could slot into the bullpen sometime this year. I'd see him as a Grade C+ type."

But it sounds like this means Guzman will be the Nat's SS, and they should really know by now that that's not a good idea...

"Baseball is dull only to dull minds." -Red Barber

by e 6 on Dec 13, 2006 11:30 PM EST 0 recs

Wait, what?

Christian Guzman as A) Alive and B) still in pro baseball?

Really? Can anyone confirm this?

by Jgaztambide on Dec 14, 2006 12:46 AM EST up 0 recs

I was surprised too

"The trade means one thing for the Nationals -- shortstop Felipe Lopez will be switched to second and Cristian Guzman will remain at shortstop."

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061213&content_id=1760809& amp;vkey=news_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was

"Baseball is dull only to dull minds." -Red Barber

by e 6 on Dec 14, 2006 8:37 AM EST up 0 recs

To use the vernacular... WTF?

Why the hell would Seattle do this?? Where's Lopez, arguably their second-best hitter, going to play? His bat's not good enough for the outfield and I think they're going Ichiro-Jones-Guillen or Ichiro-Reed-Guillen out there anyways, aren't they?

Oh, right, it won't be a problem cuz Vidro will miss 40-80 games with an injury anyways.

It's a bad day to be a Mariners' fan...

Anyways, terrific move for Washington. I am, frankly, stunned by how good a GM Bowden seems to have become. Maybe he just knows how to bilk crappy GMs for everything of value but it seems like he's made a LOT of good moves lately.

by delomir on Dec 13, 2006 11:31 PM EST 0 recs

Raul

Raul Ibanez is in left, Ichiro in center and Guillen in right.

Vidro either takes Lopez's job or displaces a more effective and less espensive Ben Broussard as the DH.

Fake Teams

by ephinz on Dec 14, 2006 8:55 AM EST up 0 recs

Time to start hiring hitmans

to kill Bavasi.

by RollingWave on Dec 13, 2006 11:32 PM EST 0 recs

My salute to Bavasi

Lo, Bavasi looked upon the havoc that Purpura had wrought and proclaimed: "I can do worse than that." Alas, he was wrong, but his attempt was strong.

Out of curiosity, is there some sort of "dumb pool" going on amongst GMs? You know, sorta like a dead pool, but it's a contest to see who can do the stupidest thing? I vote for Purpura, but what can I say? I'm a homer.

by bigfatdrunk on Dec 13, 2006 11:33 PM EST 0 recs

worse than Jennings-Hirsh+

I actually think this deal is worse than Houston's. Jennings is at least average and probably somewhat above, once he's free from Coors. Vidro just sucks at this point, and I lov(ed) him as a player so it pains me to say so. But he's done.

It's a useful outfielder and a potentially good bullpen arm for...well, nothing, with the added bonus that that "nothing" kills the value of one of Seattle's biggest asset by shoving him somewhere that his bat is much less useful. Give me the reasonably-priced average pitcher for a good-not-great pitching prospect and some filler any day.

by delomir on Dec 13, 2006 11:38 PM EST up 0 recs

lol

Funniest post of the day :)

by colinadam on Dec 13, 2006 11:40 PM EST up 0 recs

Which is worst?

Maybe this should be a poll, but:

Which trade was worst?

Kearns and Lopez for an injured middle reliever?
A bunch of prospects and Tavares for Jennings?
Snelling and Furto for Vidro?

by sabernar on Dec 14, 2006 6:48 AM EST up 0 recs

OR

4. Soriano for whorRam

Arthur: "Look, you stupid bastard, you've got no arms left!" Black Knight: "Yes I have." Arthur: "Look!" Black Knight: "It's just a flesh wound!"

by pedrophile on Dec 14, 2006 9:04 AM EST up 0 recs

pure stupidity

The M's have several fairly legitatmate 2B prospects in AAA and AA too, while nothing super, there is a great chance some of them could hit more than Vidro (Garciarparra... Chen.. etc)

by RollingWave on Dec 13, 2006 11:42 PM EST 0 recs

from foxsports

"Vidro, a switch-hitter with a .301 lifetime batting average, is expected to become the Mariners' designated hitter.

The Mariners are set at second with Jose Lopez, but their DHs had the worst on-base/slugging percentage in the American League last season."

Any chance Kory Casto gets the 2B job?????

by colinadam on Dec 13, 2006 11:52 PM EST 0 recs

Okay...

So their outfield is then Ichiro-Ibanez-Guillen? So Reed and/or Jones are going back to the minors? That might not be the worst thing...

But more to the point, why is a guy who hit .289/.348/.395 last year (and .275/.339/.424 the year before) a designated hitter?

by delomir on Dec 14, 2006 12:23 AM EST up 0 recs

Easy.

Because you're the Mariners, and you make moves so that part of the fan base may not notice your organization circling the bowl.

by DrunkIrish on Dec 14, 2006 12:50 AM EST up 0 recs

Wow

What in the *$%#@ is going on up in Seattle? Has Bavasi completely lost his mind??

by Yakker on Dec 14, 2006 1:46 AM EST 0 recs

Yes.

by chaney on Dec 14, 2006 2:03 AM EST up 0 recs

Bavasi

He hasn't done anything useful since being hired by Seattle. Killed the Carlos Guillen/Omar Vizquel trade, then gave Guillen away to Detroit for a guy who can barely stick as a utility infielder. Multi-year deal for Scott Spiezio to play third. Multi-year deal for Rich Aurilia to play short. Both released before the deals were up. The organization is stuck in traction, every move they make it just so they look like they're doing something. It's like the 2001-2004 Mets. Steve Phillips lite? Mariners fans should be happy he hasn't traded King Felix for Victor Zambrano.

by MontrealMets on Dec 14, 2006 2:32 PM EST up 0 recs

You forgot

Big, multi-year contracts for Sexson, Beltre, and Washburn, waiting too long to deal Everyday Eddie, and giving up too much for the Broussard/Perez platoon last year when it was clear Seattle wasn't going to contend.

The list goes on and on...though I don't know how you can hold him responsible for "killing" the Vizquel deal, since Omar failed his physical.

by Yakker on Dec 14, 2006 3:23 PM EST up 0 recs

Vizquel/the big ones

Sexson and Beltre didn't look like horrible deals; Beltre's breakout had supposedly been coming for awhile, someone was going to give him that kind of money. If Sexson can return to last year's level of production-right in line with his career average-then he's not a bad sign. Washburn wasn't a horrible signing though, particularly given the current market for starting pitchers; it does look like he's breaking down a bit now, however.

I realize he killed it on the basis of Omar's failing a physical on account of a bad knee. "Failing" a physical doesn't really mean anything; the team says he wasn't healthy enough to make the trade, yes, but it's not a catch all term. Bavasi was advised that Omar's knee was still hurting by the doctor who conducted the phsyical; he still could have made the trade, and I think taking a risk on a pretty cheap Omar Vizquel would have been better than getting a throwaway player in exchange for a guy that had alot of upside (Guillen).

The Aurilia and Spiezio signings (along with the non-trade of Vizquel and the giveaway of Guillen) bother me on the basis that they were stupid, horizontal moves. No one would have thought they had a chance of helping the organization turn itself around; the Beltre and Sexson signings haven't panned out, but at least they had upside. The Aurilia/Spiezio signings seemed much more like fan appeasement, which is a stupid way to run a baseball team (or any organization).

by MontrealMets on Dec 14, 2006 6:08 PM EST up 0 recs

Brain dead

This trade is ridiculous! We can't believe how bad a job Bavasi is doing. These guys he is trading for are barely above replacement level, if that, and he is trading good cheap players for them. Vidro at DH is ridiculous and over-paid, and if he trades Lopez (for some barely adequate #4 starter no doubt) so Vidro can play second, M's fans may have a massive group coronary. Either that or we get together a mob and some torches and do what has to be done.

It seems like Bavasi is either desperate, or he knows his job here is over after this year and he is burning down the house before he goes.

by ddt58 on Dec 14, 2006 3:31 AM EST 0 recs

Question

Is Bavasi baseball's version of James Dolan or is james Dolan basketball's version of Bill bavasi?

Fake Teams

by ephinz on Dec 14, 2006 9:18 AM EST up 0 recs

Bill, Bill...

Whenever any opposing GM makes Jim Bowden look good after they make a deal, its not a good thing.

A Marlins fan in exile. Keep the Fish in Miami!

by jdelavalle on Dec 14, 2006 4:21 AM EST 0 recs

BTW

Seattle has agreed to pay $12 million of the remaining $16 million on Vidro's contract for 2007 and '08.

A Marlins fan in exile. Keep the Fish in Miami!

by jdelavalle on Dec 14, 2006 4:22 AM EST up 0 recs

hmm

Maybe I don't see why this is so bad.

Snelling is nothing amazing...he could be a pretty good player, but he's never been healthy. Either way, the Guillen signing makes him expendible.

Fruto is a fairly live arm, and he did maintain a good K ratio transitioning to MLB last year, but he's still just an unproven setup man.

Vidro will get on base, hit for a good average, has a little pop, and has some upside if he's healthy. Plus, in this market, he's pretty cheap.

Seattle didn't give up much, and they got a productive regular to fill a position they really needed to fill (DH). Plus they got some insurance on Jose Lopez and Adrian Beltre. I don't understand how this is a horrible deal.

by limozeen on Dec 14, 2006 4:37 AM EST 0 recs

^ what limo said

I'm with limo on this one. While "Doyle" was a fan favorite, and will be missed, he was already missing about 2/3 of his time in pro ball due to injuries.

Vidro is the sort of line-drive-hitting, high-average, extra-base-power player that could really help a team in Safeco, and sometimes players relieved of the daily beatings taken at 2b revive their offense. Don't forget that this guy is going to be 32, and his career line is still .301/.363/.459! Durham is going to be 35, and his line is .281/.354/.443, yet everyone wanted to acquire him this off-season.

Can this trade backfire? Sure. Snelling has some serious potential. But if people are going to judge Vidro on a "what have you done for me lately" basis, it's only fair to note that Snelling hit .216/.326/.340 (241 ab) last year... IN TACOMA!

by BobbyMac on Dec 14, 2006 10:19 AM EST up 0 recs

Vidro

If you guys are discounting Snelling as an injury risk, what about Vidro? He hasn't played a full season since Montreal, and the last three years, he's averaged just over 100 games a year. Plus, we know from history that guys who handle the pivot tend to wear down early than other positions, and Vidro's a classic case of it.

Maybe Vidro can "revive" himself at another position, but it remains to be seen. In addition, while his 800 OPS might be above replacement at 2B, it's not even close to replacement at 1B or DH. Heck, the M's could have just let Ben Broussard play full time and flail away against lefties if they wanted that.

by Yakker on Dec 14, 2006 1:21 PM EST up 0 recs

I expect to...

see Vidro play a lot more 1B than I do 2B or DH. I think moving him to 1B and moving Sexson to DH wouldnt be a horrible idea. Sexson isnt a bad 1B, but Vidro would be too much of a weak hitting DH. If this pushes Jose Lopez off 2B for them, whether in trade or anything else, then I would consider it a follish trade by them.

I think this is the only way its a stupid move. Vidro is getting no love here on this board, but that's to be expected because he is over age 25 and neither a Twin nor an Athletic. I still like Vidro as a player. Someone who is a career 300 hitter and has a lifetime fielding % of 985 at 2B.

Snelling was a good prospect, but is injured so much I am actually surprised Seattle got anything at all for him. He has only played in 59 games in parts of three seasons (5 years). His career line is 237/339/401 and there was no room for him on the Major League roster in the outfield.

Losing Fruto is worse than losing Snelling. He is young and may turn into a good RP, but right now RH RPs with ERAs of 5.50 arent too difficult to find.

$6MM a year for the next two years of Vidro? Definately worth it. More valuable to the team than an OF who spends 75% of the time on the DL and an RP with a 1.61 WHIP.

by Boxkutter on Dec 14, 2006 4:51 AM EST 0 recs

yeah, but...

"but right now RH RPs with ERAs of 5.50 arent too difficult to find"

True, but they're making $4M+/yr.

by sabernar on Dec 14, 2006 6:50 AM EST up 0 recs

Vidro

I happen to like Jose Vidro, and I don't like this deal for the Mariners - Vidro's 31, but he plays like he's 36. His power has declined, he's slowed up, and his range is probably sub-par compared to other second basemen.

At this stage in their existence (bare farm system, very few good players at the MLB level), a contract like Vidro's (not bad AAV in todays market, but no cost control for a player who is likely league average, maybe a little better when healthy) doesn't make much sense for the Nationals, and it has to be considered a major victory for Jim Bowden to shed $12 million over 2 years.

Snelling and Fruto are both good guys to have in the Nats system - they would probably sit high in a list of Top 20 Nats prospects, and they could develop into good players. That for $12 million off the books, and $4 paid to Vidro over 2 years?

I would make the deal in a heartbeat if I were Bowden.

by sasquatch83 on Dec 14, 2006 10:04 AM EST up 0 recs

Does this mean Cordero might get traded?

Fruto has been a closer in the Venezuelan Winter League.

by jahs34 on Dec 14, 2006 11:20 AM EST 0 recs

Fruto is not ready to close

His stuff isn't good enough to make up for his lack of command. He would have made a pretty iffy setup man last year. He could certainly step up a role or two with a little improvement, though.

This trade really pisses me off. Ten times as much as the last horribly awful one.

by chaney on Dec 14, 2006 1:06 PM EST up 0 recs

Agree

The only way Bavasi tops this move is by dealing Felix to the Pirates for Salomon Torres.

by Yakker on Dec 14, 2006 1:24 PM EST up 0 recs

how bad is it

that bowden is ripping people off in trades...i seem to remember him being a bad gm but i could be wrong on that

by johnstjc on Dec 14, 2006 4:15 PM EST 0 recs

maybe

maybe he finally sobered up...

"Baseball is dull only to dull minds." -Red Barber

by e 6 on Dec 14, 2006 4:40 PM EST up 0 recs

Bowden

Also got rid of Guillen to Seattle earlier this off season.
Vidro might have a decent bat if he stays at DH but they need to keep him off of the field (injury).
Bowden has been pulling off some sneaky trades while cutting payroll at the same time.

Building the farm for the new owner.....

Fan of Fenway

by bodyiq on Dec 14, 2006 8:30 PM EST 0 recs