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TRADEABLE COMMODITIES, part 2 posted 5/16/08 by Jason Martinez In part one of the series, I addressed the few players the team might be willing to trade that could actually bring back some good talent. Part two will address a few veterans that will be free agents at the end of the season and could help a team in contention in July. If the team continues to lose series after series, the timetable for trading these players could move up to June. 1. Greg Maddux, RHP: There's no question that Maddux's presence on a contending ballclub will have a positive influence whether he's pitching well or not. However, his current performance will factor in to the type of players the Padres will get in return. For those of you hoping that a Maddux trade will net the team a top prospect, think again. Two seasons ago, Maddux, who was 9-11 for the Cubs with a 4.69 ERA, was traded to the Dodgers for middle infielder Cesar Itzuris, who really didn't have a position in Los Angeles after the acquisitions of Rafael Furcal and Jeff Kent. The Dodgers were also taking on Maddux's salary, which was considerably larger than Itzuris'. So what could the team get in return? In my opinion, maybe a second-tier minor league prospect or a major-league ready reliever. Bottom line, this could be the 42 year-old Maddux's last season. Trading him would be more about allowing him to play with a competitor in what could be his last season. 2. Randy Wolf, LHP: The 31 year-old starter is probably second-guessing his decision to sign with the punchless Padres. However, he looks healthy and he has been pitching well, aside from a few bad outings. They could try to sign him to an extension, but given his injury history, that would be a huge gamble. Look for Wolf to be moved before the trading deadline, although they probably wouldn't get more than a few minor league prospects in return. Best-case scenario, they can get a return similar to the Scott Linebrink trade when they received the Brewers' #3 prospect (Will Inman), a major-league ready reliever (Joe Thatcher), and another decent prospect (Steve Garrison). 3. Brian Giles, OF: Put Giles in the middle of the Padres lineup and he is exposed as a player who is a few years past his prime. Put him in the #6 hole for a good-hitting team like the Indians, the club that drafted Giles back in 1989, and all of a sudden, he is a productive veteran that can upgrade an Indians offense that is last in the AL in batting average and 10th in OBP. I think it would be a good fit. David Dellucci has been getting the majority of playing time against RHP's in left field. 4. Tadahito Iguchi, 2B: How about a multi-player deal with the Indians? Cleveland could also use an upgrade at second base, as Asdrubal Cabrera has struggled to a .196 batting average. After a slow start, Iguchi has been much better the last few weeks and his veteran presence will defintiely help any contending team. Look for the Padres to hold on to Iguchi right up until the All-Star break to give Matt Antonelli a few more months to prove he is ready. If not, the Padres could give Edgar Gonzalez a look if Iguchi is traded. However, trading Iguchi is not a sure thing. The Phillies acquired him last season for a fringe prospect who was playing in A-ball. If the Padres don't get a good offer, they could let him leave as a free agent and receive a compensatory draft pick instead of settling for a low-level, fringe prospect. To read the rest of the rankings, click here. PADRE PROSPECT POWER RANKINGS, 3rd Edition posted 5/14/08 by Jason Martinez 1. CHASE HEADLEY, LF (PORTLAND): He missed the first wave of callups, but don't expect to see Headley in the minors for too much longer. GM Kevin Towers says that he doesn't want to promote Headley into a losing atmosphere, fearing he would have to much pressure to perform put on him as some sort of offensive savior. In the month of May, the 24 year-old is batting .358 with two homers and six RBI's. (LAST EDITION RANK - 1) 2. MAT LATOS, RHP (FORT WAYNE): His stats do not reflect a pitcher that is competely dominating the competition (2.50 ERA, 18 IP, 18 H, 7 BB, 15 K) in the Midwest League but the 20 year-old right-hander has been recently clocked up to 97 mph on the radar gun with a good slider and effective changeup. He very well could be the Padres' top prospect going into 2009 and could be among the best pitching prospects in baseball by 2010, when he should be knocking on the door to the big leagues. (LAST EDITION RANK - 4) 3. WILL INMAN, RHP (SAN ANTONIO): Inman, just a year older than Latos at age 21, has been proving for years that you don't need to throw 95 mph to have top-of-the-rotation type stats. At 5-1 with a 1.85 ERA, Inman has has allowed just 29 hits in 43.2 innings pitched, while striking out 44. (LAST EDITION RANK - 3) 4. CEDRIC HUNTER, CF (LAKE ELSINORE): Great strike zone awareness and bat control (20 BB, 17 K), 41 singles, and a .322 batting average. He even hits left-handers (.333 BA) and right-handers (.319 BA) equally. I think it's safe to say he's the closest thing we've had to Tony Gwynn since .... well, Tony Gwynn. Of course, we'll never have another like Gwynn but the 20 year-old Hunter looks like he's going to be a good one, although I'd like to see his power (0 HR, 8 doubles) or stolen base (2 for 3) numbers increase soon. (LAST EDITION RANK - 7) To read the rest of the rankings, click here. |