Another huge trade in baseball last night. Did I say huge? I'm sorry, I meant boring. Is it just me, or does every single trade being made this season involve a catcher? This isn't exactly the kind of late-July deals I'm looking for here.The Yankees, however, were looking for a little backup for Jorge Posada. So they sent minor league reliever Jeff Kennard to the Angels for Jose Molina.
"He's a better hitter and he's a better defender, all due respect to Wil [Nieves]," New York general manager Brian Cashman said of Molina, "so I think he upgrades us on both ends."Molina was completely caught off guard by the trade.
"Really it's still a shock," Molina said after going 0-for-2 in the Angels' 5-2 loss at Minnesota on Saturday night. "It's hard sometimes to take it because you have been here for so many years. But the way I have to see it is it's a new opportunity."Molina will replace Wil Nieves who has been optioned back to Columbus. Nieves was hitting only .164 this season, with an OBP of .190. There are dead baseball players who could get on base more often than Nieves right now.
The Angels were able to part with Molina thanks to the return of Mike Napoli, and the emergence of 24-year old Jeff Mathis.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-22-2007 @ 5:18PM
Ralph Garcia said...
Finally,we(I'm a Yankee fan) should have made this trade a couple of months ago before Jason "Steroids" Giambi tore the muscle on the bottom of his foot. The trade was to be Molina and Chone Figgins for Giambi. Figgins can almost fly when he runs. Now the Yanks had to give up a good minor league arm to get Molina. Don't get me wrong, Molina is very good with a very strong throwing arm. He'll keep Posada fresh. Another plus was when Molina was with the Angels and he played against the Yankees, he hit like Babe Ruth. At least he's familiar with what Yankee pitchers throw.
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7-22-2007 @ 6:45PM
vericgordon said...
Mr.Garcia,
I was surprised by the trade a tad myself, I am not completely sold on Jeff Mathis as his replacement.
Stoneman is known as much for the trades he DOESN'T make as for the ones he completes. I was ecstatic he didnt accept Giambi or trade Figgy. IMO his versatility and speed are crucial in a somewhat punchless lineup nowadays
Just wondering, when you mentioned Molina hit like "Babe Ruth" vs the Yankees....were you referring to Jose or his brother Benjie (left for the Giants)?
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7-22-2007 @ 9:54PM
Big Bill said...
A VERY TIMELY TRADE. JORGE IS SHOWING SIGNS OF WEARING DOWN ALREADY. THIS WILL ALLOW HIM TO REST AND STILL ALLOW THE YANKEES TO HAVE A NMAJOR LEAGUE DEFENSE.....OR MAYBE NOT. THE YANKEES NEED TO GET A CENTER FIELDER. CABRERA IS EMBARASSING OUT THERE. EVERY CATCH IS AN ADVENTURE. HE HAS COST THE YANKEES A LOT MORE GAMES WITH HIS LACK OF ABILITY IN THE OUTFIELD THAN HE HAS WON FOR THEM WITH HIS BAT. HE NEEDS TO HAVE A MANAGER THAT WILL DISCIPLINE HIM. TORRE WON'T.
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7-23-2007 @ 12:18AM
bmilt said...
I'm not an FSU fan, but Jeff Mathis is the best qb they signed in the last few years and better than Mauer. Better at baseball and football.
He was the top qb in Florida and that is why the Angels picked him in the first round. He is one hell of an athlete. Florida has some good players. Mathis is from Marianna, Casey Kotchman's dad and sister played there as well as Russell Martin of the Dodgers.
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