Colorado Rockies/Tampa Bay Rays Deal Could Center Around Aneury Rodriguez

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 4, 2009 3:08 PM EDT Comment 41 comments

There is growing momentum for a trade to transpire between Tampa Bay and the Rockies involving right-hander Jason Hammels. The Rays heavily scouted the Rockies this past week, keeping a close eye on Double-A starter Aneury Rodriguez.

First thing you notice about Rodriguez is his stature. He's a 6'3" and slender. He's also young and advanced for his age as a 21-year-old in Double-A. As for stuff an arsenal, here's what a Rocky Mountain News story said about him in 2006:

Rodriguez throws an 89-90 mph fastball and on a few occasions has touched 93 mph. His repertoire also includes a curveball and changeup. Linton said a priority with Rodriguez has been getting him to use his height to his advantage and deliver the ball on a good downhill angle.

I would expect that his velocity has clicked up a few ticks, especially given what John Sickels said:

Note: His fastball velocity is closer to 92-93 nowadays than the 89-90 mentioned above.

8) Aneury Rodriguez, RHP, Grade C+: What am I missing here? Why don’t other people like him? He’s young, has a live arm, and has pitched well.

In three seasons, Rodriguez has shown the ability to strike hitters out while avoiding walks and homeruns. FIPs of 3.15, 3.86, and 3.38. He seems like a quality pitcher, and one I wouldn't mind having in Montgomery. Rodriguez also fits the bill of what the Rays seem to accomplish with a trade. A) Clearing a logjam, B) replenishing a future talent wave.

Comments

Ok, so who needs to sign the paperwork. Let's get this deal done.

www.draysbay.com

by Tommy Rancel on Apr 4, 2009 3:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I've heard he throws harder than the 89/90 and is more of 92-93 now.

Flyball pitcher. “Hittable” but throws strikes and doesn’t walk much(hmmm sounds familiar)

I’d be please with this. Remember, we are talking about Jason Hammel here.

www.draysbay.com

by Tommy Rancel on Apr 4, 2009 3:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

sonny?

by walkoffwalk on Apr 4, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sonny doesn't throw that hard.

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 4, 2009 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rodriguez throws an 89-90 mph fastball and on a few occasions has touched 93 mph.

too many different reports about velocity

by walkoffwalk on Apr 4, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That report is from 2006 when Rodriguez was ~19.

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 4, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And I just posted something in your other thread saying I doubted you'd get Aneury

While this was being posted. Doh!

Nice pick-up if you do get him, but he’s basically a repeat of Hammel only at a lower level.

by Rox Girl on Apr 4, 2009 3:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That would be fine.

Hammel can be useful, just wrong time, wrong place for him. In two-three years, who knows how things would be different.

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 4, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that's cool, it'll be like taking a rain-check on Hammel then?

by walkoffwalk on Apr 4, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

exactly...

And there’s an outside chance he could be better. The Rockies have been trying to coach Rodriguez to develop a better off speed pitch and elevate his status, but he just hasn’t caught on to anything. His FB and curve should be just enough to get him to the MLB but he’s going to need a changeup to stick.

by Rox Girl on Apr 4, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

His FB and curve should be just enough to get him to the MLB but he’s going to need a changeup to stick

Sounds like if that third pitch doesn’t come around he could still be useful in the pen down the road. However, at age 21 it’s hard to project that far down the road.

www.draysbay.com

by Tommy Rancel on Apr 4, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shields could do a thing or two for him in that department.

As for Hammel — flat fastball jokes aside — his minor league track record suggests he should be better than this. I think he can be a league average starter.

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 4, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's going to be a reliever with the Rockies for now

Franklin Morales has been looking like his old self this Spring and Jorge De La Rosa has been looking like old Franklin Morales since the middle of last season, so those two will get the opportunity to start at the beginning of the season. Given the mental issues both have faced in the past, I think the Rockies are looking at Hammel being the safety net in case things start heading south. If not, I think Hammels’ best path back to the rotation this year will be by being better than Jason Marquis, and really, how hard can that be?

by Rox Girl on Apr 4, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How the fuck did we get a decent spect for Hammel?

Congrats Niemann! Congras Cormier! Congrats us!

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Apr 4, 2009 3:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

(if it does happen, dont mean to jynx....)

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Apr 4, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Easy there. There's no trade yet.

www.draysbay.com

by Tommy Rancel on Apr 4, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

haven't we learned not to do this

after the Bay saga

by Sveet on Apr 4, 2009 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

rec'd

by walkoffwalk on Apr 4, 2009 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here another scouting report

Body Type – long and lanky

Stuff

Fastball – sits comfortably between 92 and 94, touching 95 and can throw it for strikes

Curveball – potentially an MLB average pitch, has a slurve like action and he needs to tighten it up…another pitch he can throw for strikes

Change-Up – pretty fringy, but the pitch will most likely determine his fate as a starter

Scouting Report

Rodriguez is often lumped in with the handful of mid-level right handed pitching prospects that include Brandon Hynick, Chaz Roe, Conor Graham, and Cory Riordan. The advantage he has over each of them is age.

He’s always been young for his level and that trend will continue next year at Double-A Tulsa. He misses a healthy amount of bats, but is far from overpowering. He also throws strikes and his control has improved in each of the last two seasons.

A problem for Rodriguez has been how hittable he’s been. He’s a fly ball pitcher so he’s always going to give up his fair share of homeruns, but his BABIP rates have always been high. At Modesto last year, it was a .311, which was an improvement, but he was likely helped from the ball park he played in.

Best Case Outcome – No. 4 starter or possible set up man…his stuff could play up if moved to the bullpen

More Likely Outcome – moved to the bullpen and becomes a 4th or 5th reliever type

by BossmanJunior333 on Apr 4, 2009 3:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

not a bad return for Hammel...

assuming the deal gets done.

AL East 2009:

1. Rays
2. Sox
3. Yankees

by FloridaownsFSU on Apr 4, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This vibes with what I've heard from other people

www.draysbay.com

by Tommy Rancel on Apr 4, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sounds good to me.

by Lurch's Lobbyists on Apr 4, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where are all these pitchers going to play?

by Raymondo on Apr 4, 2009 3:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Either in place of the pitchers we can no longer afford, or on other teams when we trade them in exchange for needs.

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 4, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shouldn't we be getting at least, I don't know, TWO mid-grade prospects for Hammel?

by yeseggs on Apr 4, 2009 3:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Quality means more than quantity.

Rodriguez looks like quality.

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 4, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good point RJ

two or three prospects sounds great, but when they’re released couple years down the line, what are you left wit?

by Raymondo on Apr 4, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm actually surprised your team is getting somebody as good as Rodriguez

Tomorrow at this time you’d have nothing for giving up Hammel and the other 29 teams know that, so they aren’t going to go too far out on a limb to obtain him.

by Rox Girl on Apr 4, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, there's always the chance the Rays would waive Lance Cormier instead.

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 4, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know if the Rays will waive Cormier over Hammel

First of all, I think Cormier is better than Hammel and wouldn’t the Rays also have to pay a lot more money to Cormier if they released him than Hammel?

by rays1234 on Apr 4, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's remember we're talking about Jason Hammel.

Most teams aren’t going to go out on a limb for him as a general rule.

by yeseggs on Apr 4, 2009 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd like to point out

while it might be a good deal for us because we have no where to put Hammel, it is very unlikely we “win” this trade. Rodriguez’s ceiling isn’t very high and as you said, his ceiling is becoming what Jason Hammel already is.

Again, this is the type of player we should be going after, but on a value basis, we lose this trade.

Tools Whore

by Tyler on Apr 4, 2009 4:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps, but compare it to the alternatives, and I don't really see it as a plain ol' loss.

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 4, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're absolutely right.

It’s not a loss, if the trade is made, we’ll clearly get a talented baseball player. But this isn’t a situation where we’re getting great value in a trade or even one we’re likely to win. It’s a good potential deal given the situation.

Tools Whore

by Tyler on Apr 4, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, if it happens it certainly works.

Any idea on where Rodriguez ranks in our system?

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 4, 2009 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Looks like its just about a done deal

From MLBtraderumors.com

“5:01pm: Tracy Ringolsby of Inside The Rockies has learned from a Tampa Bay source that the sides are currently working out the details of the deal. He has confirmed that the Rays would get Rodriguez in return.”

www.insidetherockies.com/2009/04/04/details-holding-up-hammel-trade/

by Tamparays01 on Apr 4, 2009 6:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

In terms of value, one should consider the worth of option years

The Rays may be getting someone of similar talent, but with more team control and more time to decide what to do with him. That’s mad valuable at this point

I could be wrong though

by staplemaniac on Apr 4, 2009 6:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I like this.

A-Rod > bag of balls

Do what you love to do and give it your very best. Whether it's business or baseball, or the theater, or any field. If you don't love what you're doing and you can't give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short. You'll be an old man before you know it.

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on Apr 4, 2009 6:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs