Rosenthal: Rays Will Receive Jesse Chavez in Return For Akinori Iwamura
by R.J. Anderson on Nov 3, 2009 5:38 PM EST
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PrintJesse Chavez is a 26-year-old right-handed reliever formerly of the Texas Rangers organization. He moved to Pittsburgh in the Kip Wells deal of 2006 and has pitched out of their bullpen parts of the last two seasons.
In 82.3 innings in the Majors Chavez has posted a 4.79 FIP and 5.41 tRA. His batted ball profile is similar and he's had issues with home runs. He throws quite hard (an average velocity of 94.4) and features a slider and change-up as secondary pitches. His career contact% against is 78.8% and he's shown affinity for causing hitters to chase outside of the strike zone. He's posted xFIP of 4.1 and 4.48, which is reasonable, albeit a bit presumptuous that his home run issues can be fixed. His fastball appears to be a bit flat, which could be a cause of concern.
Chavez' change-up recorded 13% whiffs and his fastball near 8%. That bodes well, all things considered, and he sort of resembles a poor man's Brandon League. Obviously he's not a sexy name, but baseball knew the Rays were in a difficult position with Akinori Iwamura. There was no way he was returning for that salary and draft compensation was not an option, so the Rays' hands were tied. Chavez has the chance to turn into a nice piece for the 2010 bullpen. In a vacuum, this deal favors the Pirates.
Worth noting is that Chavez' role last year included a MOP of 0.96 - by comparison Grant Balfour's MOP was 1.2 - meaning he was more than just a janitor and a little less than a true set-up man. His career splits to date are expectedly reversed given that great change-up. In 169 plate appearances his OPS versus lefties is .690 and in 191 his OPS against righties is .907. He's Joe Nelson in that regard.
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looks like a mexican homer bailey
Sign lady must die.
by EminenceFront on Nov 3, 2009 5:44 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
He-larious
You can either die the hero or live long enough to become the villain
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Nov 3, 2009 5:47 PM EST up reply actions
Interesting change in profile
Much better walk rate but at the expense of Ks. 40%+ groundballer throughout the minors.Slider 3.16 RAA/100 pitches in 09
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I find it hilarious that there is the meme "I can't wait until we trade him for a reliever"
and then we do that with Aki.
Of course, like it mentions, it doesn’t account for the situation. So what’s the verdict, could the Rays have done better?
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as i stated in the earlier thread
Mission accomplished.
I’d like this trade more with a minor leage positional player in return, but a bullpen-ready arm does fill a need, and the alternative to this was likely nothing, so it’s a winner in my eyes. Usually teams don’t get anything for a player in this situation.
I can't wait until we trade him for a reliever.
by kericr on Nov 3, 2009 8:10 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Definitely was better than option B
Spending money & getting no player versus saving money & getting some, can’t go wrong there.
Nice wrap-up Rodj, hope for the best, I suppose
You can either die the hero or live long enough to become the villain
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Nov 3, 2009 5:49 PM EST reply actions
Rodrigo Juan Anderson finally can root for a countryman.
Officially now the head of the Lobstein bandwagon.
I'm terribly sad we're moving Aki.
But it is what it is. We had no room for him, and at least we got something in return. However, no Aki = :(
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As I was forced to use him at one point on a fantasy team this year, its worth noting that Jessie Chavez possesses
CLOSER EXPERIENCE.
Lead singer, songwriter, and caterer for the band Suicide Phoenix. We play sitar-based anthems on real estate law. Available for weddings, birthdays (13+, please), and LAN parties.
ps
4/4 blown saves
Lead singer, songwriter, and caterer for the band Suicide Phoenix. We play sitar-based anthems on real estate law. Available for weddings, birthdays (13+, please), and LAN parties.
Excellent
You can either die the hero or live long enough to become the villain
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Nov 3, 2009 6:06 PM EST up reply actions
I recall thinking that this could be a massive coup for me, because I watched him throw pretty well (and hard).
Heh…
Lead singer, songwriter, and caterer for the band Suicide Phoenix. We play sitar-based anthems on real estate law. Available for weddings, birthdays (13+, please), and LAN parties.
Eh
That doesn’t necessarily mean he was in as a closer. A blown hold in the 8th still gets credited as a blown save.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Jesse Chavez has never recorded a save in the Majors.
by R.J. Anderson on Nov 3, 2009 6:02 PM EST up reply actions
Irrelevant to my point, Rancid Jackalope Anderson.
Lead singer, songwriter, and caterer for the band Suicide Phoenix. We play sitar-based anthems on real estate law. Available for weddings, birthdays (13+, please), and LAN parties.
Still at work, fella. Paralyzed by the excitement of this trade.
Lead singer, songwriter, and caterer for the band Suicide Phoenix. We play sitar-based anthems on real estate law. Available for weddings, birthdays (13+, please), and LAN parties.
He throws hard, that's great.
Aki wasn’t going to be on this team, so getting a pen arm that throws hard is good enough. Sure the Pirates got the more valuable player, but now we don’t have to pay Aki 250K not to play for us and we get a body who can propel his arm in an overhand motion really hard.
Tools Whore
I was going to read whatever FG had, but this sounds about right.
You can either die the hero or live long enough to become the villain
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Nov 3, 2009 6:07 PM EST up reply actions
Anti-Balfour?
You can either die the hero or live long enough to become the villain
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Nov 3, 2009 6:07 PM EST up reply actions
How much is Aki's buyout
07:$1.8M, 08:$2.4M, 09:$3.25M, 10:$4.25M club option ($0.25M buyout)
2010 option may increase to $5.25M ($0.75M buyout) based on PAs, 07-09
So is it .25? .75?
by raysfaninminnesota on Nov 3, 2009 6:16 PM EST reply actions
Contract was purchased in late August 2008.
So at least one.
by R.J. Anderson on Nov 3, 2009 6:49 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah looks like 2008 is the only year that he went up and down.
I’d have to guess that he has two left.
You can either die the hero or live long enough to become the villain
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Nov 3, 2009 6:50 PM EST up reply actions
Doesn't appear he went back down in 2008.
So all three.
by R.J. Anderson on Nov 3, 2009 6:53 PM EST up reply actions
Excellent
You can either die the hero or live long enough to become the villain
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Nov 3, 2009 6:55 PM EST up reply actions
Well that's great. How long we control him really isn't much of an issue.
He’s a reliever, he’s not going to be here long term most likely. Roster flexibility is the name of the game with relievers.
Tools Whore
does his scouting report hold promise as someone who can contribute in 2010?
seemed to have held his own in his first full year last season. Always tough transitioning from NL to AL, esp AL East. Seems like he might be a decent and inexpensive option, allowing the Rays to pursue quality over quantity in free agency or in their next move.
by raysfaninminnesota on Nov 3, 2009 6:31 PM EST reply actions
Welp.
They are retarded, signed Burrell for WAY too much and they are ditching Aki. Aki is a huge piece of the team’s soul, and he is a really good player. I hate these owners and GM. Hope they rot in hell with Madoff and all their evil NYC wall street pissants.
Posted by: Tone | November 03, 2009 at 06:23 PM
Sign lady must die.
Yes. Everyone who works on Wall Street is basically Madoff.
Not everyone should be allowed to have an opinion.
by R.J. Anderson on Nov 3, 2009 6:38 PM EST up reply actions
A guy I used to work for used to say,
“Your thinking privileges have been revoked.” I never thought that people took him seriously, but apparently they’re breeding.
You can either die the hero or live long enough to become the villain
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Nov 3, 2009 6:46 PM EST up reply actions
Good deal for Rays
I didn’t think they’d get anything, have to NT him. So this is good.
Not sure why the Bucs are acting now – why not wait? There are FA options at 2B. But their IF is just atrocious right now, so I guess they felt a need to act? Wouldn’t be shocked if the Rays were eating some cash here, though I can’t really understand that either, at least not much more than the buyout would have been.
Odd, but then it is Pitt after all. Aki’s a nice player, but 4.85 MM and giving up a guy?
They should go look at the NBA to learn what real salary dumping is
But of course, majority of ppl are idiots so it doesn’t matter.
does this trade hint toward a new stadium?
its obvious our new mexican is skilled at construction
by daveh33 on Nov 3, 2009 7:19 PM EST reply actions 6 recs
Racist with visual aids.
Recs Ryan’d.
Lead singer, songwriter, and caterer for the band Suicide Phoenix. We play sitar-based anthems on real estate law. Available for weddings, birthdays (13+, please), and LAN parties.
I just got a press release confirming the Aki trade
Would it have been sent out to media if it wasn’t the full, completed trade?
The releases usually note if there's other parts, like the PTBNL in the Kazmir deal.
Here’s the PR for those interested:
ST. PETERSBURG, FL—The Tampa Bay Rays have traded second baseman Akinori Iwamura to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for right-handed relief pitcher Jesse Chavez.
Iwamura, 30, hit .290 (67-for-231) with one home run, 22 RBI and nine stolen bases in 69 games for the Rays this season, his third in the major leagues. He missed more than three months (May 25–Aug 28) after suffering partial tears of his left ACL and meniscus, which required surgery. Iwamura was the Rays starting second baseman the last two years (2008-09) after playing third base during his rookie season of 2007. In three years with Tampa Bay he hit .281 with 14 homers, 104 RBI, 29 stolen bases and a .354 on-base pct. He originally signed with the Rays as a free agent on December 15, 2006 after starring for the Japanese Central League’s Yakult Swallows for more than eight years.
Chavez, 26, led the Pirates and all major league rookies with 73 appearances last season. He went 1-4 with a 4.01 ERA (67.1-IP, 30-ER) and held left-handed batters to a .228 avg. (29-for-127). He compiled a 3.19 ERA (36.2-IP, 13-ER) prior to the All-Star break. Chavez was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 42nd round of the 2002 June Draft out of Riverside (Calif.) Community College, and signed the following May. He was traded to Pittsburgh on July 31, 2006 in exchange for right-handed pitcher Kip Wells.
107 days until Pitchers and Catchers report
by R.J. Anderson on Nov 3, 2009 7:31 PM EST up reply actions
That's what I'm suspecting
Unless there’s another, completely separate trade going on between the teams.
PITTSBURGH/TB TRADES STRIKE AGAIN
It’s Jason Bay all over again
And Pittsburgh looks really stupid now
How the fuck is Jesse Chavez worth 2 players?
Lead singer, songwriter, and caterer for the band Suicide Phoenix. We play sitar-based anthems on real estate law. Available for weddings, birthdays (13+, please), and LAN parties.
Tim Beckham, more like.
Lead singer, songwriter, and caterer for the band Suicide Phoenix. We play sitar-based anthems on real estate law. Available for weddings, birthdays (13+, please), and LAN parties.
Thunderthighs.
Lead singer, songwriter, and caterer for the band Suicide Phoenix. We play sitar-based anthems on real estate law. Available for weddings, birthdays (13+, please), and LAN parties.
Dejan has since said there are no other players involved.
Also, for those who want to doubt the Pirates are smart now, consider this Huntington quote, he gets it folks:
“It was tough to give up Jesse, but the bullpen is the most difficult area to predict future performance. In our minds, it was much more difficult to find 600 quality plate appearances than 60 relief appearances.”
Well.
Tim Beckham is still fat.
Lead singer, songwriter, and caterer for the band Suicide Phoenix. We play sitar-based anthems on real estate law. Available for weddings, birthdays (13+, please), and LAN parties.
Trans - you ever read the Fabric of Reality by Deutsch?
Lead singer, songwriter, and caterer for the band Suicide Phoenix. We play sitar-based anthems on real estate law. Available for weddings, birthdays (13+, please), and LAN parties.
Dammit, man.
Lead singer, songwriter, and caterer for the band Suicide Phoenix. We play sitar-based anthems on real estate law. Available for weddings, birthdays (13+, please), and LAN parties.
I just find staring at a bunch of words boring
And I retain none of it, now if it was a visual product, I’d be remotely entertained after about 10 watches so I remembered everything.
They also have Dan Fox and (I think) Victor Wang around.
No wins yet, but they’re coming if that crew gets time.
by R.J. Anderson on Nov 3, 2009 7:49 PM EST up reply actions
Continuing with the Neal Huntington is smart theme, I definitely called this back in August:
They’re pretty high on Argenis Diaz from what I understand.
He’s the defensive oriented SS they got from Boston. Unless they pick someone up in the offseason he’ll probably be up by the all-star break if all goes well. Maybe sooner.
LaRoche’s defense at second would apparently be pretty awful. I’d really like to see Pittsburgh go after Aki.
by Vin on Aug 2, 2009 11:19 AM CDT
I think its a pretty good deal for both teams, personally.
by Vin on Nov 3, 2009 9:39 PM EST up reply actions
Nice call Vin.
Also nice seeing you around.
by R.J. Anderson on Nov 3, 2009 9:42 PM EST up reply actions
i saw the words "aki" and "trade"
and came directly to draysbay….. i missed reading everyday
by Toe Finch on Nov 4, 2009 2:41 AM EST via mobile reply actions
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