Angels send Bourjos to Cards, acquire Freese

[Guest]

According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com, the Angels and Cardinals are talking about a deal that would send third baseman David Freese to Anaheim. In a subsequent tweet, Rosenthal explains that, according to his source, the Cardinals in return would seek outfield depth. The deal at currently discussed would reportedly not involve Angels shortstop Erick Aybar -- a possible St. Louis target this offseason -- and also would not involve any member of the Cardinals' stable of young pitching.

Freese, 30, is coming off a 2013 season in which he batted .262/.340/.381 (101 ERA+). In 2012, though, Freese authored an OPS+ of 129 and hit 20 homers in 144 games. Freese has battled lower leg problems in the past, and last season he was limited by a back injury. The Angels do indeed have a hole at third, as they'd likely open the season with Chris Nelson penciled in, barring any roster changes.

As for the Cardinals, they could use the outfield depth, especially given the likely departure of Carlos Beltran via free agency. Jon Jay is badly stretched defensively in center, Allen Craig may need time at a less physically demanding position on occasion (assuming he holds down right field next season), and there's no guarantee that top prospect Oscar Taveras is ready for full-time duty at the highest level. As such, an elite fly-catcher like Peter Bourjos would be a nice fit in St. Louis.

Insofar as replacing Freese goes, the Cardinals could easily slide Matt Carpenter back to third and install Kolten Wong as the regular second baseman, or they could seek out a market or trade solution at either position.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-...d-freese-trade

[Glenbino]

Bourjos is definitely surplus and we've needed a 3B since Troy Glaus left town.

Please let this happen.

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[Woy]

I prefer snagging Aybar from LA, but I've always been a fan of Bourjos. Rather trade Freese to the Angels instead of the Yankees, who offer absolutely nothing.

[MVPete]

Platoon of Bourjos and Jay sounds good to me. Poor guy just can't stay healthy. Move Carp to 3rd and get Wong in there, Freese just looked like a total dud most of the year.

[Woy]

Platoon of Bourjos and Jay sounds good to me. Poor guy just can't stay healthy. Move Carp to 3rd and get Wong in there, Freese just looked like a total dud most of the year.

:creeper:

[Woy]

Way to go Mo.

[NAHSTE]

Bourjos is definitely surplus and we've needed a 3B since Troy Glaus left town.

Please let this happen.

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Freese stinks.

[Glenbino]

Freese stinks.

Stinks is a legitimate upgrade over what we had going on over there this year.

If you have a better 3B we could get for an oft-injured defensive CF with no power and a first round bust I'm all ears.

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[Price]

No more Chris Nelson.

[Woy]

Stinks is a legitimate upgrade over what we had going on over there this year.

If you have a better 3B we could get for an oft-injured defensive CF with no power and a first round bust I'm all ears.

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Wouldn't call Grichuk a bust. His power numbers are impressive and he's improved his defense to the point where he plays a good RF and a passable CF. Plus he's going to an organization now that has been great at developing hitters.

As for Freese, I think he'll bounce back (at least offensively) and have a season more like his 2012 - but that's provided he stays healthy. For everything you say about Bourjos being oft-injured, Freese is in the same boat.

[Woy]

[Warner2BruceTD]

Wouldn't call Grichuk a bust. His power numbers are impressive and he's improved his defense to the point where he plays a good RF and a passable CF. Plus he's going to an organization now that has been great at developing hitters.

C'mon man, be honest, you never heard of this geek 10 minutes ago. Pump the brakes, Ashley.

The Angels are going to have a very shaky defensive team, but even still, if Freese stays healthy he represents a pretty big upgrade over the slop they trotted out last year. Salas will immediately assume a role in that bullpen, but he equates to a throw in for the Cards, who don't need him.

Jon Jay always passes the eye test for me defensively (he does take some odd routes at times), but the numbers overwhelmingly say he stinks, so I guess he must. Bourjououous is a great defensive player. I know nothing of the geek, only thing I read was that he's a fringe top ten prospect in the Cards system, where they have players. Would have been #2-#5 for the Angels.

W2BTD Final Verdict - Push, but if Freese stays healthy the Angels win the short term. The geek could win this down the line for the Cards. Sometimes, both teams get something they need and it works out for everyone. This could be one of those.

[Woy]

C'mon man, be honest, you never heard of this geek 10 minutes ago. Pump the brakes, Ashley.

The Angels are going to have a very shaky defensive team, but even still, if Freese stays healthy he represents a pretty big upgrade over the slop they trotted out last year. Salas will immediately assume a role in that bullpen, but he equates to a throw in for the Cards, who don't need him.

Jon Jay always passes the eye test for me defensively (he does take some odd routes at times), but the numbers overwhelmingly say he stinks, so I guess he must. Bourjououous is a great defensive player. I know nothing of the geek, only thing I read was that he's a fringe top ten prospect in the Cards system, where they have players. Would have been #2-#5 for the Angels.

W2BTD Final Verdict - Push, but if Freese stays healthy the Angels win the short term. The geek could win this down the line for the Cards. Sometimes, both teams get something they need and it works out for everyone. This could be one of those.

I plead the fifth there, but Glen's throwing out the bust label when the numbers and scouts' takes suggest he's not deserving of that. Maybe a little disappointing - I mean the guy was the pick before Mike Trout in '09 - but certainly not a bust yet. He could turn out to be a pretty productive player.

And I've been saying this could/would turn out to be a win-win trade. Freese was surplus with Wong ready, and Bourjos was surplus in LA. Angels get an upgrade at 3B, Cardinals get an upgrade at CF (and upgrade the infield defense too).

[Glenbino]

I plead the fifth there, but Glen's throwing out the bust label when the numbers and scouts' takes suggest he's not deserving of that. Maybe a little disappointing - I mean the guy was the pick before Mike Trout in '09 - but certainly not a bust yet. He could turn out to be a pretty productive player.

And I've been saying this could/would turn out to be a win-win trade. Freese was surplus with Wong ready, and Bourjos was surplus in LA. Angels get an upgrade at 3B, Cardinals get an upgrade at CF (and upgrade the infield defense too).

Having actually seem him play for the past few years in person, here's my take on the kid...

He was a first round pick who toiled in HiA for years and was still unable to hit for power despite the CAL league having only slightly more gravity than Neptune. He's been beaten to the majors by guys like Kole Calhoun and JB Shuck because of his inability to swing the bat consistently.

Hey but if you're jacked up for the 22 year old with the .306 OBP in double-a more power to you.

Bourjos was the commodity here, Grichuk is a 4A toss in at best IMO.

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[Guest]

W2BTD Final Verdict - Push, but if Freese stays healthy the Angels win the short term. The geek could win this down the line for the Cards. Sometimes, both teams get something they need and it works out for everyone. This could be one of those.

I'm leaning more toward that than anything else. If the geek makes the majors and performs better than Russell Branyan, this deal is a win for the Cards. If not, it favors Anaheim.