Admit it, you missed me. I mean, who else is going to break down all of the CDL’s deals?
I want to dedicate this edition of the ATR to Chris Daley. As the former owner of the Athletics, he was the ATR’s proverbial whipping boy. Of course, with his passing I need someone new to pick on and in this column, I shall announce who that is.
San Diego receives SP Bill Gullickson and Toronto’s first round Amateur draft choice in 1986.
Toronto receives San Diego’s first round Amateur draft choice in 1986.
Well, the ATR’s new whipping boy is none other than new Toronto Blue Jays’ owner, Steve Ritter. This deal is just the first of many that Toronto has made under their new owner’s watch. And what a clunker this is. Would you trade Bill Gullickson to move up two spots in the draft? I know I wouldn’t, especially not in a deep draft like 1986. Gullickson should be a good pitcher and while Toronto was lucky to have Bonds fall to third overall, there was no realistic chance of that happening when Toronto made the deal. And San Diego still ended up with Barry Larkin, who might end up as the best player in the draft, since there are never enough middle infielders who can hit.
Winner: San Diego
Toronto receives CL Tom Henke and RF Mickey Hatcher
Houston receives SP Jerry Udjur, RF Stan Javier and Toronto’s first round Amateur draft choice in 1987.
If you thought the last deal was crazy... So, if I have a bad team that is rebuilding, what is the first piece I try to acquire? Probably prospects who play key positions and starting pitchers. What is the last piece I acquire? A closer, since they throw about 70 innings and adding a good closer only costs me draft slots, since he saves a few close games I need to lose. So, what did the rebuilding Blue Jays do? They sent a first round pick and a quality prospect with a young pitcher who could turn it around for a CLOSER and a so-so corner outfielder. The Blue Jays committed so many Cardinal sins in this deal, it isn’t even funny. (Though my reference to Steve’s Cardinal days was.) The Blue Jays really need to win this year for this deal to look horrible instead of wretched.
Winner: Houston
Pittsburgh receives SP Scott Sanderson, C Rich Gedman and OF Mickey Rivers
Milwaukee receives SP Bill Swift, Pittsburgh’s first round Amateur draft choice in 1986, Pittsburgh’s second round Amateur draft choices in 1986 and 1987 and Pittsburgh’s third round Amateur draft choice in 1986.
The Brewers are done. And Sanderson leads the first exodus out of Milwaukee. Unfortunately for the Pirates, Sanderson didn’t bring any talented players with him. Gedman is a lousy offensive player and Rivers has run dry on talent. Sanderson, if he pitches up to his skills, should be an excellent #2 starter behind the Rocket. The Brewers made out like bandits here. Swift should be a solid starter at some point in his career and the Brewers did get a nice assortment of picks to start rebuilding a weakened farm system. The Brewers should be contenders in the strong AL Central as soon as 1988 if deals like this keep occurring.
Winner: Milwaukee
Houston receives LF Tito Landrum
Milwaukee receives Houston’s second round Amateur draft choice in 1987.
Here’s a clunker of a deal for the Astros. Any halfwit could tell that the Astros were not going to make a serious run this year. And if they were, they needed to add a better outfielder than Tito Landrum. To think, wasting a second round pick on a mediocre outfielder. Shameful. The Brewers were very smart in taking advantage of this deal.
Winner: Milwaukee
Boston receives SP Ross Grimsley, 1B John Mayberry and MR Doug Corbett
Milwaukee receives 1B Leon Durham, Boston’s first round Amateur draft choice in 1987 and Boston’s second round Amateur draft choice in 1986.
Just when you think the Brewers rebuilding campaign can do no wrong, this happens. Durham is an alright 1B, but is already 28. The rest of the deal is a first and second round draft choice. And we are talking about picks at the end of the draft. Despite Grimsley’s gruesome first couple of games, he should be an excellent second starter for the Red Sox. Mayberry is one of the best first baseman in the CDL and Doug Corbett is a rock in the bullpen. This is the kind of first rate steal that gets a team into the World Series and also the kind of deal that teams trying to rebuild should never make. Bundling talent is a surest road to disaster.
Winner: Boston
Boston Red Sox Right Fielder Harold Baines capped off his finest season by winning both the 1985 American League Babe Ruth Award and CDL AL MVP Award. Baines batted .323 with 35 homers and 133 RBIs, setting team records for batting average, hits and RBIs, and led the Sox to their 2nd AL East title in a row. "I feel very humbled and honored to be recognized as the best player in the AL," said Baines. "However, it is because of the greatness of my teammates that I am able to receive these awards." As good as his individual performance was, Baines is still dealing with the inability of the Red Sox to win it all. "We lost the series in '84 and couldn't even make it past the Brewers last year. No award in the world can replace a World Series Title," said Baines. "This year I plan on having a championship parade honoring ALL of my teammates and hanging a banner in Fenway."
After six months spending numerous hours on the phone working on trades, Cards' GM Christian Trudeau saw his efforts pay off as the team had 5 of the top 31 picks in one of the best draft ever.
"With the trade of Pedro Guerrero, this was the most crucial moment for the Cards since I took the job in 1982." said Trudeau.
In order to boost the worst offense in the CDL, the Cards used 4 of those picks on position players. First baseman Fred McGriff was the first pick (4th overall). McGriff has tremendous power/patience potential.
"We weren't sure who to take, between McGriff and shortstop Barry Larkin" said Trudeau. "In the end, McGriff tremendous power potential was too much for us to pass on him."
Catcher Mike Stanley (21st), starter Kelly Downs (22nd), second baseman Robbie Thompson (30th) and leftfielder Pete Incavaglia (31st) were also taken.
St-Louis now has 11 of the top 100 prospects, including 5 of the top 20.
Those are :
1B Fred McGriff (5)
SP Mark Portugal (12)
RF Jose Canseco (17)
SP Floyd Youmans (18)
3B Kevin Mitchell (19)
SP Kelly Downs (31)
C Mike Stanley (39)
2B Robbie Thompson (53)
LF Pete Incavaglia (68)
SS Greg Gagne (91)
3B Kelly Gruber (97)
While the future looks bright, the immediate present doesn't look very good. The 1986 team should count on less veterans and more young players, but the results could be still quite bad. Let's take a position by position look :
CATCHER
Former first-round pick Darren Daulton was atrocious in 1984, and returned to AAA last year where he had a solid season. He didn't hit much in a September callup, but he has a last chance this year, with Mike Stanley needing at least a year at AAA. Veteran Gary Alexander will be the back-up, with Jamie Quirk in AAA.
FIRST BASE
Fred McGriff needs some AAA time, and that will give the Cards the time to figure out what to do with Greg Walker, who is still young (26) and had a breakthough year, especially vs RHP (,289/,336/,473). Veteran Greg Luzinski was signed as a FA to spell Walker vs LHP.
SECOND BASE
Robbie Thompson will make the jump directly to St-Louis. His back-up will be veteran John Hale.
SHORTSTOP
The Cards will complete their rookie douple-play combo with Greg Gagne, who should be an upgrade offensively and defensively on the Scott Fletcher/Glenn Hoffman platoon of 1985.
THIRD BASE
Veteran Denny Walling, acquired from the Angels, will keep the spot warm until Kelly Gruber and Kevin Mitchell are ready. Roy Howell was brought back as a FA, but he'll only be a backup this year.
OUTFIELD
The first player selected in 1985, Jose Canseco, will start in right field. He has a pretty ordinary cup of coffee in September, after a great AAA campaign. He might struggle vs RHP initially, but he should improve quite quickly.
Free agent Terry Harper was signed to play LF and he will share duty with rookie Pete Incavaglia.
In center, Dwayne Murphy and Marvell Wynne will battle for playing time. John Hale might also see time there vs LHP.
ROTATION
With Bob Knepper and John Tudor gone, the rotation will be very young, but also very talented.
Young veterans Dwight Gooden (12-8, 3,08) and Frank Viola (9-12, 3,06) will be the top pitchers, followed by rookies Kelly Downs and Floyd Youmans. Mike Mason will take the #5 spot. Mason is the oldest at 27, Downs and Viola are 25, Gooden and Youmans only 21.
Top prospect Mark Portugal, who developped beyond hope last year, will return to AAA.
BULLPEN
The weak spot, even more now with Juan Berenguer (Toronto), Jay Howell (FA) and Guy Hoffman (California) gone.
It's possible the team will get some help in the second day of the amateur draft, but the bullpen will remain inexperienced.
Dennis Rasmussen, a starter last year, will move into the closer role. Dickie Noles, acquired from the Angels, and John Henry Johnson will be his setup man, with youngsters Rich Rodas, Scott Munninghoff and Bob Kipper completing the bullpen.
While maybe not better than last year's squad, the team will feature 5 players of only 21 years old, and 10 players under 26. The AAA team will be extremely talented, with Portugal, McGriff, Stanley and Gruber starting the year there, with Kevin Mitchell in A.
It's been tough. It's been painful. It's been ugly. But it's almost over.