Rangers Trade for Josh Hamilton

[Melmart1]

According to Evan Grant and Jamey Newberg of The Newberg Report:

Texas has traded righthander Edinson Volquez and minor league lefthander
Danny Ray Herrera to Cincinnati for center fielder Josh Hamilton, according
to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.

Wow.

More in the next Newberg Report.

WHOA!!

Right off the top of my head, I love this trade. We needed a CF bad and Hamilton is miles and away better than I thought we could get.

I am glad they did this rather than overspend on overrated CFs like Torii Hunter or Andruw Jones. Volquez was much improved on his return to the majors and will do much better in the NL and out of Rangers Ballpark, I think. So its really win-win if you ask me.

I am actually a little surprised the Rangers didn't have to give up more, to be honest.

[TheTruth]

Good trade both ways, but as Red's fan I'm really like this trade more for us. The Rangers are gonna get a young CF with huge potential, but he's proven to be injury prone. And that isn't a good thing for someone with a past drug problem. He's gonna be playing hurt his whole career.

Volquez is another piece to the Red's '09 puzzle. He now gets clumped with Bailey and Johnny Cueto to give the Reds 3 B+ and higher pitching prospects.

This move also opens up an OF spot for the #1 prospect in all of baseball, Jay Bruce. The Reds have finally started to build through prospects, and it is starting to show returns. I'm very happy right now.

[monosylab1k]

from a pure talent viewpoint, Volquez was the best young pitcher we had. but even when he showed his ability to blow batters away, you could never really tell if he had it beween the ears, or if he really cared that much. I'm positive he'll be a great pitcher elsewhere, but I just don't know if he ever was going to play to his potential in Texas.

overall I sorta approve of this trade, but I hate that we had to give up Volquez.

[K-State Spur]

That's an example of the Reds selling high.

Could work out wonderfully for the Rangers, Hamilton's already a productive player with the upside to be even better, but he's going to have to fight that addiction (to crack!?!?) every day from here on out.

If he has any kind of a relapse his value drops to nothing, so the Reds got as much talent for him as they could.

[BeerIsGood!]

so the Rangers traded pitching for a crackhead CF? Seriously?

[atlfan25]

It's nice how Truth still has faith in his Reds to compete again one day. They better hope to their God that the Griffey has a great first half this coming season so they can sell him high for some solid players for this great '09 plan.

I hear some braves fans(not myself) are upset that Rangers got him so cheap. Only for a piece of lazy mediocre pitching prospect. Since the ATL has so many of those to shop around it seems.

So here is asking if anyone knows of this assclown(other than mel) if he is worth a damn? I am speaking of volosequez or whoever. I have forgotten his name already.

and yes, scrolling to see it is too hard

Hamilton may have been a crackhead but he is a of a player.

[K-State Spur]

i would take the Reds' farm system over Atlanta's right now in a heartbeat.

[atlfan25]

After attending 10 minor league games at each level next year for both the Reds and Braves, I will get back to you on that comment.

[timvp]

That's an example of the Reds selling high.

Bingo. Josh Hamilton was a good feel good story ... but you don't trade away your top pitching prospect for an injury-prone reformed crackhead. If Hamilton is still in baseball in three years I'd be surprised.

Typical Ranger trade though. Never have good pitching because they always either trade away young pitching talent or let it walk.

[atlfan25]

After only watching a bullpen(of 5 pitches) of volsequezez on youtube and reading some stuff about him at a site that claimed his changeup to be one of his main pitches this would worry me because what I saw of his bullpen was he telegraphs his changeup somethin fierce. And he seems to have command problems. Command will improve but he will definitely need to improve his arm action off of what I saw to be a force for any long term.

[K-State Spur]

After attending 10 minor league games at each level next year for both the Reds and Braves, I will get back to you on that comment.

Bruce, Bailey, Votto, & Cueto are better than anybody in the Braves system.

I like Jordan Schaffer, but he wouldn't be in the Reds' top 4 prospects.

The Braves' system is as thin as its been in a long long time (maybe since Scheurholtz took over), but when you trade your top 3 prospects for Tex, few teams have the depth to take that hit and still maintain a good system.

That said, it's still probably a middle-of-the-pack group of farm hands, but the Reds have one of the best systems in baseball right now.

[TheTruth]

I've read the same things about his command Atl, but he's young. I have faith in the reds minor league pitching staff to correct whatever problems he has with his changeup. The dude drops 20 mph from his low 90s fastball. That is insane. His curveball is a negative pitch right now, hopefully he can get that fixed and bring a 3 pitch arsenal to the next leval.

'09!!!!!!

[Melmart1]

Bingo. Josh Hamilton was a good feel good story ... but you don't trade away your top pitching prospect for an injury-prone reformed crackhead. If Hamilton is still in baseball in three years I'd be surprised.

Typical Ranger trade though. Never have good pitching because they always either trade away young pitching talent or let it walk.

Volquez isn't even close to being our top pitching prospect. That would be Eric Hurley, who may compete for a spot in the rotation now with Volquez gone.

Even after the Roy Halladay treatment, he was still fairly inconsistent in his stint in September with the Rangers. His stay in Single-A was supposed to be 5 starts, but he ended up staying 2 whole months cus he got tossed from a game for arguing and had other issues. Then, two days before he was to be called up to the Rangers in August, he skipped a scheduled bullpen session and so had to wait till rosters expanded as punishment. His ERA in the majors is well over 7.00 despite the fact he finished September with an ERA in the fours, if I recall correctly.

So, he still has head issues. He has five pitches he can throw but has command issues as a result. If the Reds are smart, they will throw him in AAA and pick three of those pitches to work on. Five is apparently spreading it too thin for him.

Basically, you traded one question mark for another. I will miss Volquez but I don't mind this trade at all. I would rather an actual CF manning center field next year rather than a RF like Murphy playing out of position. Minus defense in CF in Arlington is not desirable.

And hey, atlfan ... why do you want to know from others besides me if Volquez is any good? What the is the matter with my opinion?

[monosylab1k]

Volquez isn't even close to being our top pitching prospect. That would be Eric Hurley, who may compete for a spot in the rotation now with Volquez gone.

From what I've seen, Volquez had the best arm of all our prospects. By far. But his command & possibly mental issues hindered him. If he ever could figure that part out, he would be an incredibly good pitcher capable of a Cy Young Award season. But who knows if he would ever get his command right. If Hamilton can get on base and start playing ball the way Ron Washington wants, then this trade is definitely worth it.

[Horry For 3!]

Bingo. Josh Hamilton was a good feel good story ... but you don't trade away your top pitching prospect for an injury-prone reformed crackhead. If Hamilton is still in baseball in three years I'd be surprised.

Typical Ranger trade though. Never have good pitching because they always either trade away young pitching talent or let it walk.

I remember they had the rights to Johan Santana....

[atlfan25]

And hey, atlfan ... why do you want to know from others besides me if Volquez is any good? What the is the matter with my opinion?

BECAUSE I ONLY SKIMMED THROUGH YOUR FIRST POST I THOUGHT YOU ALREADY STATED YOUR OPINION OF HIM.

AFTER REREADING I WAS MISTAKEN.

LAZY IS AS LAZY DOES, YOU CAN TELL BY MY CAPS.

[atlfan25]

Bruce, Bailey, Votto, & Cueto are better than anybody in the Braves system.

I like Jordan Schaffer, but he wouldn't be in the Reds' top 4 prospects.

The Braves' system is as thin as its been in a long long time (maybe since Scheurholtz took over), but when you trade your top 3 prospects for Tex, few teams have the depth to take that hit and still maintain a good system.

That said, it's still probably a middle-of-the-pack group of farm hands, but the Reds have one of the best systems in baseball right now.

UNTIL YOU HAVE ATTENDED 10 GAMES AT EACH MINOR LEAGUE LEVEL FOR

BOTH TEAMS YOUR OPINION IS SIMPLY HEARSAY.

[K-State Spur]

between their minor league stats (which are translatable to the majors) and baseball america's rankings (they have a pretty good track record), i'll stay with that opinion.

[atlfan25]

I know. I trust my eyes better though when it comes to baseball. It's why I have no opinion. I've seen none of these guys play.

[K-State Spur]

not to go too 'moneyball' on you. but minor league stats have proven to be a better a indicator of major league success than scouts' eyes.

(although, ideally you'd like a combination of both)

[atlfan25]

Funny enough I trust my eyes over scouts.

I agree, a combination is the best.

[FirebatMIV]

I remember they had the rights to Johan Santana....

1) That's the Astros

2) I despise people who insist on commenting on events clearly out of their element, and that's what a lot of people are doing on this thread.

Firstly, the Reds minor league system is far and away better than the Braves. A good argument can be made that their minor league system is currently the 2nd best in Baseball, behind the Devil Rays and ahead of the Dodgers, Rangers and Red Sox. They make up for what they lack in depth for what they have in impact talent, and I'm pretty sure that most people will tell you Jay Bruce is the best prospect in Baseball right now.

Secondly, Volquez is not and has not been since 2006 the best prospect pitching or otherwise, in the Ranger's system. In fact, right now, a good argument can be made that he's not in the top 5 pitching prospects.

This was just a trade that had significant risk for both teams, but the thing that makes it a good deal for the Rangers is as follow. If Hamilton and Volquez both hit their absolute highest cielings, this trade will be a big win for the Rangers. If both hit their mid-tier 50th percentile cielings, the trade will still be a win for the Rangers. The only way this trade bites them is if Hamilton's injury history turns out to be big and Volquez reaches his highest cieling, something that is a possibility, but not a great one.

[atlfan25]

will you be my IBFF firebat??? please????????????????

[K-State Spur]

1)
Firstly, the Reds minor league system is far and away better than the Braves. A good argument can be made that their minor league system is currently the 2nd best in Baseball, behind the Devil Rays and ahead of the Dodgers, Rangers and Red Sox. They make up for what they lack in depth for what they have in impact talent, and I'm pretty sure that most people will tell you Jay Bruce is the best prospect in Baseball right now.

Hrmm, I don't think too many people would put Cincy's system ahead of the Dodgers.

LA can match the Reds at the top and have much better depth. Nothing against Stubbs, but you see a drop-off after the top 4 in the Reds' system.

[timvp]

Didn't Volquez have a sub two ERA in AAA last season? I'll admit to not following the Dallas Rangers minor leagues closely but I am pretty damn sure he was good in OKC last year. Plus he's Dominican which means he'll be a stud.

Either way, you don't trade a top pitching prospect for yet another bat. Especially a bat that is attached to a guy who is both injury prone and drug prone. Pitching has always been the Rangers problem. When is the last time they were in the top half of the league in ERA? 1990?