Backed into a corner the Chicago Champions traded Vernon Wells to the Upperdeckers in exchange for Felipe L
opez. Ever since I first got into the Illowa APBA League nearly 35 years ago, secondbase has always seemed to be a problem spot. We started off with Rennie Stennett, went to Jorge Orta, Bobby Randall, Johnny Ray, Bump Wills, Ron Oester, Quilvio Veras, & Josh Barfield. We also had Joe Morgan & Lou Whitaker, both at the end of their careers. The only quality secondsacker in the history of the club has been steroid-meister Bret Boone.
When I drafted Josh Barfield, Howie Kendrick had just been taken, I didn’t want to miss out on Barfield and get stuck with either Ian Kinsler or Dan Uggla. I remember having a discussion with a writer for Baseball America, while at the Arizona Fall League. He told me, “Kinsler’d be a utility infielder and Uggla couldn’t field well enough to handle the keystone spot in the majors”. Then I ran into a bartender at Hi-Tops in Pittsburgh who showed me a picture of the guy she was sleeping with, passed out in her apartment, it was Dan Uggla. So I drafted Josh, which is kind of how I ended up having to trade the now healthy outfielder Vernon Wells for the scrappy, at best, Felipe Lopez. Did I tell you I’d traded Lance Berkman to get Wells? Good thing we’ve got Justin Morneau at firstbase.
In fact the Chicago Champions are pretty much set every place, other than secondbase, with Morneau at 1B, SS Jimmy Rollins, ARod at third, Victor Martinez behind the plate, and an outfield of Carlos Lee, Grady Sizemore, & B.J. Upton. Our rotation is so loaded with quality arms that we may trade a couple, Tim Lincecum, Mark Buehrle, Josh Beckett, Matt Cain, Greg Maddux, A.J. Burnett, & Brett Myers. Burnett & Myers might be dealt along with backup catcher Miguel Olivo to the Northside Hitmen for catcher Ryan Doumit, who’ll fill in nicely for injured Martinez behind the plate, reliever Jon Rauch, and SS Edgar Renteria. Rauch would join Matt Capps & Jose Valverde, along with a couple of rookies, in the pen.
Without any viable secondbase candidates in the rookie draft, the Champs were forced to trade for Lopez, while the Upperdeckers were more than eager to add Wells to a lineup that already features batting champs Chipper Jones & Joe Mauer, not to mention Carlos Quentin.
We are currently in first place, trying to reach the 100 win plateau for the first time in franchise history, along with our tenth championship (haven’t won in over 10 years). These trades will not take place until after the season is over, as there is no in-season trading.
never heard the passed out Uggla story. if i ever need to hire someone to vet my prospective draft picks, you’re my man :)
Seriously, your story is a good case study in trade dynamics and surplus and demand. i heard about the trade from the Upperdeckers manager over the weekend and my first reaction is that he got a good deal. And he probably did.
But it sounds like you did too. Not because Lopez is that great but he fills a real need. From the looks of your OF, Wells is probably your 4th OF. By trading him and getting Lopez you fill your need at 2B and save yourself a draft pick which could be used elsewhere.
The fielding ratings & pitching grades came out from APBA today. Felipe Lopez was rated a 6 at 2B, for reference, B.J. Upton was a 6 at 2B last year, Ron Gant was a 2B-5 before he was moved to the outfield. Vernon Wells was rated the highest possible in the outfield OF-3, plus he can hit.
It looks as if the Ryan Doumit deal will have to be reworked, if it’s to take place at all. The Champs were talking about swapping two grade C starters (A.J. Burnett & Brett Myers) for Doumit & Jon Rauch grade C*Z reliever, well it turns out Myers is a D. Back to the drawing board.
There were other grades which didn’t go the Champions way, Mark Buehrle was graded as a CZ starter & Matt Capps is a C*ZZ reliever, both were predicted to be Bs. On the plus side, Carlos Lee was rated a 2 defensive outfielder, rather than his usual rating of 1.
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