Wait, Maybe I DO Want Jarrod Washburn
June 23, 2009 at 12:19 pm | Posted in Jarrod Washburn, Juan Pierre sucks | 13 CommentsI’m not blind to the fact that you want to limit Kershaw’s innings as the season wears on, and that guys like Kuroda and Wolf are prone to injury. I just think the Dodgers have enough rotation depth to compensate for issues like that (remember, you’ve still got Eric Milton, Eric Stults, James McDonald, Jeff Weaver, and eventually you have to do something with Jason Schmidt), so giving up the top price that Washburn would likely command to get someone who’d be LA’s 4th starter – at best – just doesn’t seem worth it.
Let’s leave him for the Mets and Phillies to fight over.
And I stand by that. But then, via MLBTR, we have this from Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times:
Lots of discussion on this blog today about reports out of Los Angeles that the Dodgers are interesting in acquiring Mariners pitcher Jarrod Washburn. One of the pieces the Dodgers could be looking to move is speedy outfielder Juan Pierre, a perennial threat on the basepaths who could naturally fit in to Seattle’s left field slot after the season-ending injury to Endy Chavez.
It should be stated right off the bat that although Pierre has put up a career-best on-base-plus-slugging percentage of .825 so far, his batting average on balls put in play is a whopping .368 — about 80 points above average. So, his numbers might be due for a tumble. That’s for starters. Then again, some folks feel the same way about Washburn’s totals.
The fact that anyone’s even considering this is a little mind-blowing to me, as what would you rather have? A glorified 4th starter with about $5m left on his deal, or a glorified 4th outfielder with about $23m left on his deal? Granted, Baker does say he doesn’t really think it’d work, and I can’t see how it would. But yeah, that’s one way I’d love to get Jarrod Washburn. (No, don’t tell me about how great Pierre’s been. He’s been lousy lately, and three weeks of good play doesn’t override 2+ years of poor play – nor does it mean he’ll be any better over the next 2.5 years.)
What’s really great, though, is what the Mariner fans on Baker’s blog have to say. Like…
Anyone posting that this is a good idea should throw away all of their Mariners gear and move out of the state. Washburn is one of our biggest assets right now for trading for GOOD players. Washburn for Pierre is insane, no matter how you spin it.
NO! Are you kidding? Very bad idea. Washburn needs some run support and we have enough singles hitters. Give me a break.
If you ignore AVG, OBP, SLG, defense, stolen base percentage and pretty much every other meaningful catagory, offensively and defensively then yes, Ichiro and Juan Pierre are exactly the same.
What a truly terrible idea. Pierre is a bad player in the midst of a hot streak. He’s been a well below average hitter (look at more than batting average, people) since his big year with the Marlins until this year. His defense is at times flashy, but at times erratic, and overall he works out to being about an average defender. Even his vaunted stolen bases aren’t really much of an asset, as he’s caught more than 25 per cent of the time.If there was a good reason to think his 200 ABs in 2009 was his true talent and likely future performance, and not, say, what he’s done over the last five years or so, he’d be an OK pickup. But there’s no good reason to think that. His contract is a Bavasi-esque albatross.
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If the Dodgers can get Washburn for Pierre, especially without having to take on much if any salary, I will anoint Ned Colletti genius for a day.
Jamie Hoffmann or Xavier Paul is a better option than Juan Pierre as a 4th OFer anyway.
This would also mean that the Dodgers would have extra cash to go after a good FA next year. John Lackey anyone? Perhaps an incentive laden deal to Rich Harden or Erik Bedard?
Comment by Alireza— June 23, 2009 #
As long as Pierre takes a single at bat away from Kemp or Ethier, heis a liability.
Comment by JG— June 23, 2009 #
Totally off topic… if I could tar and feather Bill Plaschke… I would.
Comment by Wilson Fonasty-Foshow— June 23, 2009 #
3 – Derogatory remarks about Bill Plaschke are NEVER off topic.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— June 23, 2009 #
I can go for this. :o
Comment by kensai— June 23, 2009 #
Pretty good post. I just came by your blog and wanted to say
that I’ve really liked reading your blog posts. Anyway
I’ll be subscribing to your blog and I hope you write again soon!
Comment by Sara— June 23, 2009 #
I rarely disagree with you, but this time I have to. I’ve been as critical of Pierre in the past as anyone, but this year he has been incredible. I thought he was slowing down and returning to his old ways, and then he put up incredible numbers in the Anaheim series. I’d part with him for Bedard, Halladay, Oswalt etc. obviously…but for Washburn? Washburn wouldn’t even be one of our three starters in the playoffs, so it’s pointless to acquire him. What we really need is another front-line starter. Personally I’d rather keep Pierre as a super fourth outfielder and make do with Weaver/Stults/Milton. They haven’t been half bad. Anyways, Ethier has been absolutely abysmal during stretches this year, so if he has another one of those stretches again after Manny returns, we know who we can plug in. I’m just sayin we shouldn’t just throw Pierre away when he’s at his highest value
Comment by Jordan— June 23, 2009 #
7 – but we’ve been dying for over two years to give him away. Trading him for Washburn, for me, would be more about getting out from under Pierre’s contract than the joy of adding Washburn. His hot streak was nice, but let’s not have that make us forget how bad he was before that and how much money he’s still owed.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— June 23, 2009 #
I was going to suggest that you use your fairy dust (or whatever it is) and do a segment on Kuroda and comment on how the Dodger starters aren’t going the distance. Well, he’s just finished 8 innings so, never mind.
Comment by Lynne— June 23, 2009 #
I can do Washburn-for-Pierre…..
as long as they include a draft pick in addition to Washburn.
Comment by slam— June 23, 2009 #
If Bill Bavasi was still running the M’s, the deal would be done by now and we would likely get Greg Halman or Rob Johnson in the deal. I doubt that Jack Z. is foolish enough to make this trade (wait didn’t he acquire Endy Chavez? Isn’t he a cheaper version of Slap with a better arm?), so I gotta think it is a non-starter.
Of course, after watching the M’s, an overhaul wouldn’t be a bad idea. If they are giving away pitchers for overpriced outfielders, we should be in on that.
Comment by grabarkewitz— June 23, 2009 #
After reading his literary drool in today’s Times, one has to wonder how he is able to avoid getting his ass kicked on an hourly basis by anyone who has to suffer his moronic thought process and writing style.
Hell, I may have to apologize to Ringolsby for saying he is a bigger hack than Plaschke. Right now they are nose to nose with any of the “journalists” employed by ESPN coming up on the rail.
Comment by grabarkewitz— June 24, 2009 #
What I love about these pseudo-journalists is that they also think they are lawyers. They have no idea what a contract is, or they only do when it suits them.
The CBA is very clear about the rehab/tune up period granted each player coming off a suspension. The crazy thing is that these assholes are the first to deride a guy like Magglio Ordonez for considering a grievance or lawsuit for the Tigers’ obvious breach of contract.
On the Pierre/Endy comparison, there is no doubt Pierre is a far better offensive player. He also is a very good fielder of the baseball. The place Endy has him beat is arm strength. Perhaps Ichiro could teach Pierre how to be a smaller guy and throw seeds into the infield?
Comment by Alireza— June 24, 2009 #