Dealing in a Winter Wonderland

Jason Michael Barker

The winter meetings are going on in Anaheim even as I type, and to the wonderment of all, some players actually changed teams this weekend. You'll have to excuse my cynicism -- I've been waiting for baseball news for a couple of weeks now.

The biggest deal went down Sunday, when the Cubs acquired Ismael Valdes and Eric Young from the Dodgers for, well, not very much. OK, so that's not entirely fair to Terry Adams, a talented relief pitcher on his way from Chicago to Los Angeles as part of the deal. But other than Adams, the Dodgers received a 24-year old AA reliever and a player-to-be-named-later.

It's a bit odd to think of a team like the FOX-owned Dodgers dumping salary, but that's basically what this deal boils down to. According to GM Kevin Malone, the move saves the team between $9 and $10M next season and around $4.5M in 2001 -- you have to pay for Shawn Green somehow.

Just 26, Valdes has already pitched over 1000 innings and started 150 games in his career, all with the Dodgers. He has a 3.38 career ERA and his control is excellent: just 286 walks in 1025 career innings. It's important to keep in mind that he's been pitching in the best pitcher's park in baseball, however, and last season he allowed 18 homers and had a 5.42 ERA in 14 road starts. He won't find the "friendly confines" nearly as friendly as Dodger Stadium, but he's better than anything the Cubs have going.

Young gives the Cubs the leadoff man they've been lacking, although he isn't going to be confused for Rickey Henderson. Young had a good year in 1999, increasing his walk rate (remarkably, he walked 63 times with only 26 strikeouts) as most players do under Davey Johnson, and posting a .371 OBP. He also stole 51 bases, but was caught 22 times, meaning his steals had essentially no effect. His offense should improve away from Dodger Stadium, and if he can retain his walk rate, he'll have a good season in 2000.

A few years ago, Terry Adams looked like a relief stud and future star closer after posting a 2.94 ERA in 101 innings while allowing just 84 hits. The next season (1997) his ERA ballooned to nearly five, and he's never really developed as once hoped. He should benefit from a change of scenery -- Dodger Stadium and Davey Johnson -- and will be Jeff Shaw's primary setup man.

Late Saturday the Mets signed Todd Zeile away from the Rangers, inking the free agent to a three-year deal worth $18M. The Rangers were offering similar money, but wanted a two-year deal with a club option for the third. After spending the majority of his career at third, Zeile will move across the diamond to first, replacing the departed John Olerud. Earlier, the Mets lost out on trading for Carlos Delgado, who signed a three-year extension with the Blue Jays.

While Zeile was probably the best option available (unless you're a big David Segui fan) there are several reasons this could backfire on the Mets. As a third baseman Zeile is a decent enough hitter, and his .842 OPS (on-base plus slugging) ranked eighth among all third basemen last season. As a first baseman, however, that sort of offense just isn't acceptable -- the same OPS would rank him 17th, just ahead of such powerhouses as Tino Martinez, Rico Brogna and J.T. Snow.

Throw in an expected decline due to age (he turned 34 in September) and moving from a pretty good hitter's park to relatively pitcher-friendly Shea Stadium, and this could wind up being a very bad signing in another year, if not immediately.

In other news, it appears as if the Reds have pulled out of the Ken Griffey Jr. sweepstakes. The sticking point is one Pokey Reese, which makes me wonder what both Jim Bowden and Pat Gillick are thinking. Gillick is insisting on Reese, Bowden refuses to trade him... neither of which makes any sense.

Reese is a decent player, but by no means should he be a deal-breaker. By all reports his glovework is stellar, but although he hit .285 last season, he simply isn't very productive at the plate because he doesn't walk. You'll often hear him referred to as "young," but he's really not all that young, having turned 26 in June. A 26-year old middle infielder who hit .330/.417 (OBP/SLG) certainly has some value, but why Gillick should insist on him or why Bowden is so reluctant to trade him is beyond me.

With Cincinnati out of the picture and the Braves saying the price is too high (if it's Andruw Jones and Kevin Millwood they're right), that leaves the New York Mets as Junior's lone suitor. Gillick would certainly like to be dealing with several teams to drive the price up, but his "ask for the world" strategy, which I praised a month ago, now seems to have alienated and pissed off other general managers, particularly Bowden.

about the author

Jason Michael Barker isn't one to complain, but the chicken in the Dodger Stadium press box buffet last year was as tough as Chan Ho Park. Give him a "ba-dum bum!" at jmb@strikethree.com.