DeRosa Deal is Good, but Puzzling

 

Tribe GM Mark Shapiro filled one of his pressing needs yesterday by acquiring infielder Mark DeRosa from the Chicago Cubs for three minor leaguers, most notably right-hander Jeff Stevens, who was a candidate for a bullpen job until the Indians picked up Kerry Wood and Joe Snith in off-season moves.  DeRosa will be 34 prior to the beginning of the ’09 season, and has one year remaining on his contract. 

 

Basically, Shapiro picked up a replacement for Casey Blake at less years and less money than Blake received from the Dodgers as a free agent.  DeRosa has the same versatility as Blake, as he can play 2B, 3B, 1B, and the outfield.  He is a solid bat, a lifetime .279 hitter with an OPS of 770 for his career.  He carries an on base percentage of .348, so he likely will hit in the #2 spot in the batting order, right behind Grady Sizemore.

 

He did have a career year last season, batting .285 with 21 HR and 87 RBI, but over the last three seasons has averaged 15 dingers and 80 runs batted in.  And he’s not a whiff machine, striking out about 100 times in 500 at-bats per year.  He hit .316 at Wrigley Field last season, but over the past three campaigns, which includes one season in Texas, he doesn’t show much of a home/road differential.  He does hit lefties very well, batting .302 for his career against southpaws, compared to a lifetime mark of .275 against righties.  He’s also known as a "grinder", which will play well in the Tribe clubhouse.

 

He’s a solid pick-up, and cost the Tribe two young minor leaguers and Stevens, who is expendable because of the acqusiitions Shapiro made earlier and the move of Adam Miller to the bullpen.  Stevens ranked behind Miller, Jon Meloan, and Tony Sipp in the young reliever pecking order. 

 

The odd thing about the trade is that the Indians have said DeRosa will play 3B for Cleveland, not 2B, as he spent most of his time in Chicago.  A Cub insider said DeRosa’s best defensive position was the hot corner. 

 

However, weren’t we led to believe that one of the team’s objectives was to move Jhonny Peralta to third?  This could have been done by playing DeRosa at second, and moving Asdrubal Cabrera to shortstop.  I’m sure the Tribe will counter that this weakens the team defensively at both 2B and 3B, where Andy Marte was solid with the glove.

 

Still, didn’t Shapiro deal for Luis Valbuena with the idea he would be the Tribe 2B in late 2009, and definitely 2010 (remember DeRosa has just one year remaining on his deal).  When Valbuena is ready, doesn’t the move have to be made then? 

 

Of course, the Indians are very smooth when it comes to these things, and when Opening Day hits, Peralta just may be at third with DeRosa at 2B and Cabrera at SS.  They may have a good reason why they are saying DeRosa will play third.

 

The Indians’ GM now has to address the starting rotation, which still has a hole in the middle of the rotation.  It appears he doesn’t have a great deal of money to spend, which means it may have to be taken care of with a trade.  Remember, I still advocate a deal of Kelly Shoppach, who I don’t believe will repeat his 2008 season.  The organization also has depth at this position with prospects Carlos Santana and Chris Gimenez in the wings.  Also, remember that Shoppach is less than two years younger than Victor Martinez.

 

With six weeks to go before spring training, Shapiro strengthened his hitting and solidified his infield.  I still wouldn’t mind getting a bat in LF, but there is no question the starting rotation is the bigger concern.  A contender can’t go into the season with so many questions in the rotation.  I see another move happening before the Tribe opens its new training complex in Goodyear, AZ.

 

MW