No, that's not a 20-year-old headline about former Jay Jesse ... the Padres have traded Jesse's kid, Josh to the Indians for Class AAA prospects Kevin Kouzmanoff, a 3B "uber-prospect," and and RHRP Andrew Brown.
The rarest of baseball trades -- young talent for young talent in a "challenge" deal of sorts.
Thoughts?
Joe Inglett started at second base for the Tribe last year after the Belliard trade and really didn't do all that badly. He is 28 years old and hit .284 last year in 200 ABs. He isn't your A or B solution to the Jays middle infield problem, but he'd come cheap and would be an adequate ninth hitter.
I wouldn't call this a slow news day. I think at the end of the offseason this could still be one of the more interesting trades. I'd actually read (from Dial's numbers and scouting reports) that Barfield's defence was better than advertised. He was supposed to be a lot better around the bag than people thought and he could play fairly deep for a 2B because of his strong arm (remind you of anyone?). For those quick to pile on the Padres, don't forget that Marcus Giles is a likely trade target and that he has already expressed a desire to play with his brother. I'd be surprised if Towers would make this trade without being really confident he'll land Giles. I agree Shapiro did well, but I don't think it's of the "can't believe that trade happened" class.
Brown is a minor-league releiver, but he's a former top prospect before surgery with a great fastball. He's a flyball pitcher going to PETCO. I'd be surprised if he doesn't have success there. Kouz's ZIPS projection for Cleveland was 286/.342/.465, which fills their 3B hole. This isn't a robbery and Gerry's right, in that it'll take a couple of years to know who came out ahead in this deal.
