I don't know about you guys, but I am loving this deal!
from indians.com:
Tribe acquires DeRosa from Cubs
Veteran infielder centerpiece of club's four-player deal
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com
Mark DeRosa can play all four infield positions and both corner outfield spots. (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP)
CLEVELAND -- The Indians didn't have the money to fill their infield with an attractive free-agent candidate, but they did have the arms in their farm system to pull off an impactful trade.
The Tribe acquired infielder Mark DeRosa from the Cubs in a New Year's Eve swap that sends Minor League right-handers Jeff Stevens and Chris Archer and left-hander John Gaub to the Cubs. With that, the Indians have filled the glaring hole in their infield with a versatile defender and productive bat.
Though the 33-year-old DeRosa played primarily at second base for the Cubs, it's expected that he'll make the move to third for the Indians, who would rather not disrupt their infield by moving Jhonny Peralta from shortstop to third and Asdrubal Cabrera from second to short. DeRosa has played 206 career games at third, and some consider it to be his best position.
The Indians, somewhat surprisingly, did not have to give up a single proven Major Leaguer to acquire DeRosa, who is coming off his career-best season. The key to that achievement is DeRosa's impending free-agent eligibility. He is in the final year of a three-year, $13 million deal that will pay him $5.5 million in 2009, and he will be eligible for free agency after the season.
DeRosa, who has committed to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic in March, has the ability to play all four infield positions and both corner outfield spots. That should be a real asset to an Indians club with flexibility in its infield composition. Peralta played third during his stint in the Dominican Winter League this offseason, and Cabrera's natural position is shortstop.
The right-handed hitting DeRosa should also be a nice complement to the Indians' lineup. In '08, he batted .285 with 30 doubles, three triples, 21 homers and 87 RBIs in 149 games. He notched career-highs in on-base percentage (.376), homers, RBIs, walks (69) and runs scored (103). He hit .310 off left-handed pitching and .322 with runners in scoring position, ranking sixth in the National League.
DeRosa's Cubs teammates began referring to him as "The Pulse" earlier this year, after an irregular heartbeat forced him out of action during Spring Training drills. He had a medical procedure performed to address the issue in late February. "The Pulse" was the title of a blog DeRosa wrote for MLB.com while with the Cubs.
Originally selected by the Braves in the seventh round of the 1996 Draft out of the University of Pennsylvania, DeRosa has compiled a .280 batting average, 58 homers and 310 RBIs over 11 seasons with the Braves, Rangers and Cubs. He didn't truly make his mark in the bigs until injuries thrust him into a starting role with the Rangers in '06. He went on to bat .296 with 13 homers and 74 RBIs that season, earning him the multiyear offer from the Cubs.
As for what the Indians are giving up to get DeRosa, Stevens is the closest to being a big league commodity, as he could factor into bullpen consideration in '09. Stevens went a combined 5-4 while racking up six saves with a 3.24 ERA in 36 games between Triple-A Buffalo and Double-A Akron in '08. He missed some time while participating for Team USA in the Beijing Olympic Games.
The 25-year-old Stevens was the player to be named in the 2006 trade that sent Brandon Phillips to the Reds.
Archer, a 20-year-old, who was a fifth round selection in the 2006 amateur Draft, spent the '08 season in low-A ball at Lake County, where he went 4-8 with a 4.29 ERA in 27 starts. He struck out 106 and walked 84 in 115 1/3 innings.
Gaub, 23, is a lefty reliever who was taken by the Tribe in the 21st round of the '06 First-Year Player Draft. He also spent '08 at Lake County, going 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in 34 appearances, notching a pair of saves. Gaub struck out 100 and walked 32 in 64 innings.
The Indians have filled two holes with Cubs imports this offseason, having also signed free-agent Kerry Wood to a two-year, $20.5 million contract to be their new closer.
_________________
~*Michele*~ |
