It wasn’t a matter of if, but more when. Some expected this last off-season and most expected it this off-season. Mark Teahen is officially no longer a Royal, now a rival as a part of the White Sox. Some may not be happy Teahen is gone because he was a valuable player, but Teahen’s impact will still be felt in numerous ways.
The Royals got two players in return for Teahen: Josh Fields and Chris Getz. Fields, who will be 28 next year, was once a top prospect in the White Sox farm system and is only two years removed from a 23 HR rookie season. He is listed as a 3B, but has seen time at 1B and LF. Though he has some pop, he’s not the best hitter as far as average goes. His career batting average is .229 with an on-base percentage of .302. His defense is average at third, posting a career .952 fielding percentage mark, with his best year coming as a rookie when he posted a .958 mark. Maybe a change of scenery will be good for him and he can develop into the player that Chicago thought he would be.
I believe that he isn’t the better part of this deal. Chris Getz, a 25-year-old 2B. He was the White Sox’s starting 2B the majority of the year, starting 100 games at 2B and appearing in 107 total. He’s a pure contact hitter with not a lot of power. Though he posted a .261 AVG with a .324 OBP in his first full year in the majors, he did show flashes of improving throughout the year, including a two-month stretch in July and August where he posted a .300 AVG with a .358 OBP.
Getz also is a good baserunner, finishing 15th in the AL in stolen bases with 25 last year. His defense is good, as he had a .958 fielding percentage last season.
So now that that Getz and Fields are Royals, the questions are now is what role will each have on the team and how that will affect the rest of the players in the organization. Getz is an up-and-coming young player with years of control on the Royals left with him. Josh Fields seems more like a utility player backing up at a couple of different positions, but if his bat turns around he may compete for the DH spot. He has a couple of years left of control by the team left as well.
One of Royal’s GM Dayton Moore’s main goals this off-season is to improve defensively. Quoted from a recent Kansas City Start article, “Our defense in general is our main objective to fix before next season.”
I have to believe that the acquisition of Getz means that he will be the team’s starting 2B come opening day. All in all, this puts into question what might happen to two players next season.
Alberto Callaspo
Alberto Callaspo can hit, there’s no doubt about that. Getting a chance to play every day, Callaspo hit .300 with a .356 OBP, 73 RBI, and 41 doubles. Callaspo also has some impressive splits, hitting .361 against lefties last year and .337 at the K.
While Callaspo can produce with the bat, his defense was terrible last year, committing 17 errors last year at 2B. Callaspo’s range isn’t near as good as you would want it to be for a 2B.
Like I said before, I believe that Dayton Moore acquired Chris Getz to be the Royal’s starting 2B next year. Not to say that Callaspo won’t play second next year at all, but I think that there are two likely scenario’s for Callaspo.
1. Trade - Some Royal’s fans may be upset about this, but Callaspo’s bat could bring in some good young players at a time where his value is high. There have been rumors that the Dodgers may be interested in Callaspo
(http://www.kansascity.com/sports/royals/story/1557629.html). Dayton Moore will get offers for him this off-season, and if it’s the right offer the Royals might just be willing to take it.
2. DH - This may seem like a weird idea, but one way to nullify the bad defense that Callaspo brings is to put him in a hitting role. Mike Jacobs most likely will not be back next year, leaving a hole open at DH. Though Callaspo doesn’t have much HR power, he did have 41 double’s last year and hit an impressive .313 with runners in scoring position last year. Another interesting stat: When batting fifth in the order, Callaspo put up an .305 AVG with an .367 OBP in 278 plate appearances. I believe that this is a likely scenario if he remains with the club.
I don’t really see the Royals trading for an INF that started everyday last year that they won’t use as a starter, and I do think that Callaspo’s days as a starting 2B in KC are nearing it’s end. But there is another player that might have been pushed back on the depth chart.
Mike Aviles
Mike had a very impressive rookie year with the bat, hitting .325 his rookie year. but with the elbow injury keeping him out most of last year, Aviles is going to be in an uphill battle to win back a starting job.
He is a better fit at second, but with Callaspo and now Getz in front of him, Yuniesky Betancourt in front of him and Alex Gordon getting the opportunity at third, there really isn’t much room to start or even back up. Fields can play 3B and 1B, and Willie Bloomquist can play anywhere but pitcher and catcher. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Aviles either backing up or traded by the time the season starts.
The Royals started off the off-season quick with a big trade, and it should be exciting to see what the Royals do in the next couple of weeks leading up to the Winter Meetings.
Arizona/Caribbean Fall League Players to Watch:
Despite Callaspo have a great ’09 season, so far in winter ball, Callaspo is only hitting a sluggish .059 so far in the Venezuelan Fall League (VFL). He’s only played five games though, and players go through slumps. I’m confident he turns that around.
One player thriving in the VFL is CF Jose Duarte (.248 AVG, 18 SB in A-Ball) is hitting .305 this fall with four SB in 23 games.
In the Arizona Fall League (AFL), SS Jeff Bianchi (.308 AVG, 70 RBI, 22 SB in 128 Games - ‘09 AA & A Ball) is hitting the ball fairly well so far, posting a .278 AVG in 13 games.
Top Prospect 3B Mike Moustakas, who had a decent year this year in A-Ball (.250 AVG, 16 HR, 86 RBI in 129 Games) is hitting .268 with 4 HR and 14 RBI, including one seven RBI game.
As far as pitching goes, first round pick Aaron Crow in two starts has posted a 7.36 ERA with 4 Ks. It’s been awhile since he has pitched at a high level, playing independent baseball last year instead of signing after a good career at Missouri. Scouts have said he is regaining form and hitting his spots, and he should knock off more rust as he gets more innings, since he has pitched in only 7.1 innings so far.
Brandon Sisk (2-3, 1.92 ERA, 78 K’s in 45 games in A-ball) is pitching well so far, posting a 2.25 ERA in 8 innings with 7 Ks. Hitters are only hitting .231 on him as well.
Thanks to MLB.com, MLBtraderumors.com, The Kansas City Star, Fangraphs.com, and Baseball-reference.com for stats and information, as well as Google Image Search for pictures.
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