Digesting Teahen for Fields/Getz

Denials on Thursday became confirmations on Friday as the Kansas City Royals began closing the chapter on the Carlos Beltran trade by trading the centerpiece of that 2004 deal.  Mr. Average in Every Way, Mark Teahen, is off to practice his trade on the South Side.  Meanwhile, the hometown guys get two remarkably average young infielders in return.

We’ll start with the bounty – Chris Getz is a 26-year old second baseman who gives the Royals a player coming off hernia surgery that caused him to miss the final couple of months of 2009.  He can steal a base (25 for 27 in that department) and is a better fielder than incumbent, Alberto Callaspo.  Josh Fields is a 26-year old third baseman who gives the Royals a player who once hit 23 homers back in 2007.  Such a number would have led KCs offense in 2009.  He had a very down year in ‘09 (.222 average with 7 homers in 79 games) and had completely lost his job to rookie, Gordon Beckham.  He has some pop, but more than anything, he gives the Royals further options at third base, first base, and left field.

That’s where this deal is most interesting to me … the Royals gave up an everyday player (although we never knew what position he would be playing) for two young, back-up guys.  Obviously, this sets the table for some big, big possibilities on the trade market this off season because you’ve got more names to work with.  To really improve, the team will likely have to work the trade market … and, most notably, give up value.  There’s now the possibility that  Callaspo is a “chip” (and, a good one at that) that adds a great deal of value to a team that is willing to accept Jose Guillen.

Money is a part of the deal here, too.  GM Dayton Moore noted that he is particularly fond of finding players with between zero and three years of MLB-service (Fields and Getz both fit the profile) because they come with salary certainly (i.e. – no arbitration).  Even after paying the White Sox $1-million in the flip, the Royals come out saving about $3-million dollars with the move.

Overall, this comes out as a winner for KC.  They rid themselves of money and one average player who wasn’t a part of the future game plan.  In return, they get two average players (some could, correctly, dispute that as constituting an upgrade!) who still have the “potential” tag.  Plus, there’s a little more freedom to make some actual moves that would alter the direction of the franchise.  Speaking of new directions …

Quick Hitter – Lost in the shuffle of the trade confirmations/denials of last week is that the Royals declined their options on Miguel Olivo, Coco Crisp, and Yashuhiko Yabuta.  It’s hard to fault the club for making the combined decision … as long as they have a plan for addressing the four weaknesses that come out of the move … finding a power bat; finding a new everyday catcher; finding a leadoff hitter; finding a centerfielder.  Not too tough, right?!  Anyway, we’ll see what happens.  The club does save a lot of money by paying a total of $1.1. million up front to the trio.  Moore claims that the team wants Crisp back (but, at a cheaper rate which is a smart decision), but says giving Olivo a multi-year deal was not a part of the current plans (also, a smart move).  Again, these moves can only be graded by how Moore now addresses the openings that were created.