I trust Mark Shapiro. The Indians GM has done a marvelous job judging talent. He traded Roberto Alomar in his first major trade, and Alomar never played at an All Star level again. He declined to give Jim Thome an extra year on his contract, and Thome hurt his back the third year into the deal with the Phillies. After signing Matt Lawton and Ricky Gutierrez to long term deals in his first year, Shapiro’s resume is impeccable.
However, trading Coco Crisp for what amounts to prospects is a strange decision. If the Tribe had finished last season with an 84-78 record or around that area, it would be a good trade. But, the Cleveland Indians were arguably the second best team in the American League in 2005. Trading an established player for prospects is not the direction the Tribe should be heading in.
I realize Andy Marte is one of the best prospects in baseball. He has been compared as a hitter to Florida Miguel Cabrera and if he is anywhere close to that, he will be a perennial All-Star. But, Marte probably will not start the season in Cleveland. The Indians are supposedly acquiring outfielder Jason Michaels from the Phillies for reliever Arthur Rhodes (hopefully it is David Riske instead) to replace Crisp, but the rightfield problem still remains.
Michaels is a good player and he gets on base more than Crisp, although Coco has more extra base pop. But, the right handed hitting Michaels is three years older than Crisp. I’m sure that the front office feels minor leaguers Brad Snyder and/or Franklin Gutierrez will be in the starting line up in 2007, but this is supposed to be the year to make the playoffs. Planning for the future is nice, but the Tribe missed the post season by ONE GAME in 2005.
Getting Guillermo Mota and perhaps Boston prospect Manny Delcarmen, a hard thrower, will allow Shapiro to replace Bobby Howry, who went to the Cubs as a free agent, and strengthen the bullpen for 2006. However, the Tribe still needs a proven right handed hitter, and they still do not have one.
Another reason the deal looks bad from a public relations standpoint is that Crisp is eligible for arbitration, which means he will receive a healthy raise for 2006. So, the cheap tag will be hung around owner Larry Dolan’s neck again. Now, no team should be run based on the fans’ thinking, but when you base your budget on attendance, driving people away from the team hurts in the long run. This trade will not be embraced by Tribe fans.
Will Marte be able to contribute to this year’s squad? If so, where will he play? The Indians committed an extra year to Aaron Boone towards the end of ’05, so Marte’s primary position is not an option for ’06. If the rookie is the real deal, he will help form a deadly middle of the order with Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez. Marte could be the next Cabrera or he could be the next Gregg Jeffries, a team who is as good as the 2005 Cleveland Indians should not be taking such a huge risk.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 