A's Trade for Another Reliever

[Villain]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/12/padres-as-swap-luke-gregerson-seth-smith.html

The Athletics announced that they have traded outfielder Seth Smith to the Padres in exchange for right-hander Luke Gregerson in a one-for-one swap.

Smith, 31, batted .253/.329/.391 with eight home runs in 410 plate appearances for Oakland this season. Always a better hitter against right-handed pitching, he continued that trend in 2013, posting a .748 OPS against right-handers and just a .621 mark against lefties. For his career, Smith has mashed right-handers to the tune of a .279/.357/.487 batting line. Smith's defense in left field has consistently graded out as a positive (+7.7 UZR/150, +2 Defensive Runs Saved), but he's limited to a corner position and hasn't received great marks in right field.

MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected Smith to earn $4.3MM this offseason in his final round of arbitration. He's eligible for free agency next winter.

Gregerson, 29, is also a free agent following this season and projected to earn a comparable $4.9MM salary, per Swartz. He enjoyed yet another strong season in the Padres' bullpen last year, pitching to a 2.71 ERA with 8.7 K/9, 2.4 BB/9 and a 45.5 percent ground-ball rate. Gregerson is the second high-profile reliever added by the A's in the past 24 hours, as GM Billy Beane also acquired Jim Johnson from the Orioles last night.

Also, Craig Gentry and another reliever: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/12/athletics-acquire-craig-gentry.html

12:48pm: The A's will also receive right-hander Josh Lindblom from the Rangers, tweets Passan. Minor league second baseman Chris Bostick will head to Texas in the trade as well.

12:47pm: The Rangers are receiving multiple minor leaguers in the deal, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.

12:38pm: The A's have acquired outfielder Craig Gentry from the Rangers in exchange for Michael Choice, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). Other players are involved in the deal as well, adds Passan.

Gentry, who turned 30 last week, is regarded as one of the game's best defensive outfielders and is coming off a season in which he batted .280/.373/.386 with a pair of homers and 24 stolen bases in 27 attempts. He boasts an outstanding 29.5 UZR/150 in more than 1400 career innings in center field, and The Fielding Bible likes him for +34 runs saved in his career.

Gentry has thrived against left-handed pitching throughout his career, compiling a solid .288/.376/.399 slash line. He's serviceable against right-handed pitchers as well, though his OBP (.334) and slugging (.335) are significantly lower against same-handed pitching.

Lindblom, 26, has primarily served as a reliever in his big league career, but Passan notes that the A's are planning to use him as a starter (Twitter link). Lindblom has a career 3.82 ERA with 8.1 K/9, 3.8 BB/9 and a 34.3 percent ground-ball rate. His flyball tendencies should be much better suited for Oakland's O.Co Coliseum than Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Choice is a 24-year-old outfielder who played all three positions for the Athletics' Triple-A club this year. The 10th overall pick by the A's in 2010, Choice made his big league debut in September this year. Prior to the season, Baseball America ranked him second among A's prospects, praising his power and bat speed while noting a propensity for strikeouts and fringy arm strength. Choice went on to hit .302/.390/.445 with 14 home runs in 600 Triple-A plate appearances. He's a native of Arlington, Texas.

Bostick, 21 in March, was a 44th round pick out of high school by the A's in 2011. A second baseman, he hit .282/.354/.452 with 14 home runs in 555 A-ball plate appearances this year. Prior to the season, BA ranked him 20th among A's prospects, citing sneaky power and the potential to become more than a utilityman.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Beane looks intent on improving the back end of the bullpen without paying FA prices. It will work for a year but they will have to pay to bring back Johnson and Gregerson. Only one of them is likely to get a contract extension I think.

Still, to basically give up Jemile Weeks and Seth Smith for both relievers are excellent moves. Props to Beane for trade-raping the Orioles especially #salarydump #AngelosPocket

 

[Villain]

Beane looks intent on improving the back end of the bullpen without paying FA prices. It will work for a year but they will have to pay to bring back Johnson and Gregerson. Only one of them is likely to get a contract extension I think.

Still, to basically give up Jemile Weeks and Seth Smith for both relievers are excellent moves. Props to Beane for trade-raping the Orioles especially #salarydump #AngelosPocket

Isn't Johnson coming in way overpriced? Hence the urge for Baltimore to trade him?

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Isn't Johnson coming in way overpriced? Hence the urge for Baltimore to trade him?

One year at $10 million is probably better than three years at $24 million right now. See what Gregerson and Johnson do for you, and then extend one of them.

 

[MVPete]

Seth Smith? Why should anyone be a Padres fan?

 

[Villain]

Seth Smith? Why should anyone be a Padres fan?

They are like beaner hipsters. "I'm a Mexican but I don't like the Dodgers or the Raiders. I'm so alternative, look at me go to Petco in my LaDainian Tomlinson shirtsey."