Rays Eyeing Barton?

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 2, 2007 10:12 AM EST Comment 21 comments

I actually mentioned this to Jake last night, interesting stuff, courtesy of MLBTR

Anyway, A reliable source has informed MLBTR that the Rays are eyeing 25 year-old outfielder Brian Barton from the Indians for the first pick.

A quick look at Barton's stats shows he walks, hits for average, and hits for power, an even deeper look reveals he'd make a good platoon partner, but I'm not sure what his exact role on our team would be - smells like another trade is forthcoming, perhaps as earlier as tomorrow - remember the winter meetings begin in about 24 hours.

A University of Miami graduate, Barton struggled a bit in limited AAA action, in fact it was the first time since 2001 that he posted a OPS lower than .900. Here's what BA recently said about him:

Ever the enigma, Barton went undrafted in 2004 after clubs were scared off by his aerospace engineering major at Miami. The Indians signed him for $100,000 and an additional $100,000 in college funds after a brief showing in the Cape Cod League and Barton has not looked back. A five-tool player who can play all three outfield spots, Barton has been hampered by a lingering knee injury since his breakout year in 2006 when he hit .322 with 19 homers and swiped 41 bags in 49 attempts. Even with the knee problem, Barton still turned in a .305/.402/.420 season in 2007, finishing the year in Triple-A. Quiet and leading through example through his 2006 season, some scouts expressed concerns about Barton's demeanor. "I loved him that first year in Double-A," one scout from a National League club said. "But this past year, it was almost like he'd earned this elite status and you saw him have this lackadaisical approach to the game that wasn't there before. Where he was playing with chips on both shoulders with something to prove initially, that part of his game was replaced by some sort of false bravado. He's really tough to get a handle on, but the tools are very real."

That's exactly what this team needs; doesn't he sound a bit like Joel Guzman though? With all of this in mind I took at look at the Rule 5 draft candidates over at BTB.

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Re: Rays Eyeing Barton?

he sounds perfect! Great guy to pinch run when needed, seems like he has the tools to be a solid choice. Who in the logjam gets the shaft???
I have this feeling Dukes, Baldelli or Gomes will be gone at the winter meetings.
But, I am def on board of the Barton bandwagon...

by nittsallgood on Dec 2, 2007 11:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Gotta be Gomer

Should be a very exciting winter meetings though.

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 2, 2007 11:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Rays Eyeing Barton?

also... looking at Barton's stats on baseballcube, it seems like he gets hit by pitches a crazy amount of times doesn't it???

by nittsallgood on Dec 2, 2007 11:11 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

74 times in 3 seasons

He's like Don Baylor.

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 2, 2007 11:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: 74 times in 3 seasons

I wonder why? He must be on top of the plate, and doesn't move at all when ge gets thrown...

by nittsallgood on Dec 2, 2007 11:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Rays Eyeing Barton?

He seems to walk more than Guzman and has been a bit more consistently productive in the minors. He is older, of course.

I am all for it, especially if the Rays can get something back for Dukes/Baldelli/Gomes, maybe a lefty bat.

by bobr on Dec 2, 2007 11:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Rays Eyeing Barton?

I meant in regards to becoming lackadaisical at the higher levels.

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 2, 2007 11:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Chris Duncan?

I wouldn't mind seeing if we can get Duncan from the Cards...

Let's Go Rays!

by thebaddancingraysfan on Dec 2, 2007 12:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What's the worst that could happen?

We lose $25k? He seems like someone that would be a decent pick-up, as a backup at the very least. I'm all for it.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Dec 2, 2007 2:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

He convinces Kazmir to go work on getting

His degree so they both can work for NASA.

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 2, 2007 2:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Rays Eyeing Barton?

Team has to clear a 40 man spot this week if they do intend on picking Barton.

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 2, 2007 2:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Rays Eyeing Barton?

Elliot Johnson seems like the logical choice

by nittsallgood on Dec 2, 2007 5:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Rays Eyeing Barton?

If this is Barton that was a D-Back last season, he tore cover off the ball in spring training last year.

by David Bloom on Dec 2, 2007 9:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Rays Eyeing Barton?

Ok, I'll run for cover, but how about this idea. It presupposes that Cabrera can play right field. And that the Rays would pay to keep him.

The Angels supposedly offered Kendrick, Mathis, and either Santana or Adenhart plus a mid-level prospect. The rumor is that the Marlins turned it down wanting both pitchers.

Suppose the Rays offered Niemann, McGee, Mason, Perez and Brignac. Could that get it done? Would it be worth it to the Rays? (I am assuming that Hanley is not really a shortstop and would be moved to another position.)

by bobr on Dec 2, 2007 10:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

That seems like too much

I don't think they'll get that much for him, but who knows.

Cabrera might become the best player in the game not too long from now - he doesn't add much defensive value, but probably 7 wins and there's nothing wrong with his offensive game.

Assuming he just drops some lbs. I'd be willing to work around McGee, Brignac, and Perez.

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 2, 2007 10:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Rays Eyeing Barton?

I was looking for something that might top the rumored Angel's offer. I agree it is a lot, maybe too much, but wouldn't it be something if the Rays got Cabrera! Even after a deal like that, both Price and Davis would still be in the pipeline as well as Hellickson and Talbot and more. With Garza in the fold, it may allow a bit more flexibility to deal from our pitching depth since we need to fill just 2 rotation spots, and if Sonnanstine is for real, just one.

I know Cabrera played left field for the Marlins until 2005, albeit I don't think he was very good there. Right may stretch him even more, but that offense! Think Manny Ramirez. And he is doing it in a severe pitchers' park.

by bobr on Dec 2, 2007 11:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Rays Eyeing Barton?

If we could lock him down, I'd love to see the Marshmallow Fluff Man in a Rays uni.

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 2, 2007 11:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Rays Eyeing Barton?

Ok, that's settled. Who do we talk to?

Can you imagine the waves that would make in the baseball world? Boston and NY would trade their entire farm systems to get Santana or Haren and then give Andruw Jones, Aaron Rowand and Greg Norton lifetime contracts for $1/2 billion each just to prove they are still the big dogs.

by bobr on Dec 3, 2007 8:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll place a few calls, get this thing rolling

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 3, 2007 3:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd throw gas on that fire if I could

The conventional wisdom says that it can't happen. One of the comments that I often hear about Cabrera is that he plays lazy and would benefit from playing on a veteran, contending team. That doesn't sound like the Rays. And even in arbitration, he stands to make 9-10 mill this season and next. That doesn't sound like the Rays. Especially if they plan to use the budget to lock down Kaz and Carlos.

Still, he is the right guy at an market affordable price. Nobody hits like he does in Dolphin stadium. The Rays can make a package for that can beat anyone's. And he has 100 MLB games in RF. In fact I'd say his skill set profiles best in RF.

And if the Rays can't lock him up, they offer him arb and trade him at the 2009 winter meetings for the like of Kershaw or someone like that.

What a lineup! {OK I'll stop dreaming now}

by ttnorm on Dec 3, 2007 11:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs