Junior Griffey headed to Chicago

Ken Griffey Jr. has accepted a trade that effectively makes him a member of the Chicago White Sox. He joins a crowded outfield situation, with Carlos Quentin and Jermaine Dye already entrenched at the corners and Nick Swisher in center. Further complicating the impending depth chart is incumbent DH, Jim Thome. I’m sure the Sox would have no problem sitting Swisher (.230 avg) or 1b Paul Konerko (.214) based on their swooning production, but Griffey is a career outfielder who has yet to play centerfield this season.

The Reds acquire reliever Nick Masset and minor league 2b Danny Richar. Exactly who those guys are doesn’t mean nearly as much as what the trade itself signifies; which, is that Cincy is running up the white flag and thinking about next season. With the Reds not likely to pick up Griffey’s option for 09’, moving him makes sense.

Junior gives the White Sox a solid left-handed bat, as well as a serviceable 4th outfielder and DH. He’ll likely be used more as a stopgap for struggling starters than as an everyday player. His power numbers shouldn’t be affected by the change of venue, as both Great American Ballpark and U.S. Cellular Field rank in the top-10 hitter’s parks in the league.

Ramirez to L.A., Bay to Boston, bundle of talent to Pittsburgh

The ‘Manny just being Manny’ show has found another circus tent to call home: Dodger-town, U.S.A. After pow-wowing with fellow conspirators, L.A. and Pittsburgh, the Red Sox have agreed to send Ramirez to L.A., and prospects Brandon Moss and Craig Hansen to Pittsburgh. The Dodgers will send prospects Andy LaRoche and Bryan Morris to Pittsburgh, as well. The Pirates, in turn, will send Jason Bay to Boston.

Now, the repercussions: Boston is moving the anchor of their order, in Ramirez, and acquiring the anchor of the Pirates’ order, in Bay. Their stat lines are similar, and although I don’t think Bay ever becomes the hitter Ramirez was in the past, the only con I see has nothing to do with talent, but lack of pressure experience. If anything, the Red Sox gained a player who won’t be a liability in the field, and whose behavior likely won’t raise as many red flags.

The Dodgers are parting with two high level prospects for the chance to get front row tickets to the existential experience that is Manny Ramirez. I do think his power numbers will take a slight hit, as Dodger Stadium is annually one of baseball’s best pitcher’s parks, but he remains a force to be reckoned with at the dish. His addition, however, does create some complications in L.A. It’s a well known fact that there is no DH in the NL, meaning Manny will have to play in the outfield if they expect him to bat. The first problem is obvious; Manny stinks on defense. Fenway’s peculiar dimensions (Green Monster, wall bordering LF foul line) have masked his limited defensive prowess for years, but he won’t be able to hide it in L.A., where there’s just as much foul ground as there is fair. The 2nd problem is that Manny will technically be the 5th outfielder. The other 4 have had to fight one another for playing time, and the addition of another player leads me to believe the Dodgers have finally decided to sit a certain $60.2 million centerfielder.

The Pirates, again, are made to bear the brunt that only economic inequality could provide. Jason Bay was one of their top offensive players, and because he was scheduled to make $7.5 mil next season and likely walk if not traded, the Pirates were forced to ensure they’d receive some type of compensation for him by trading him. This only serves to refuel the process of developing players that they will likely have to trade down the road for the very same reasons. I’m sure the players they received are solid prospects, but that’s beside the point. Unless a reasonable salary cap is implemented, we will see mid-market teams like the Pirates trade their best players to the economic powerhouses every single season.