Saarloos Traded To Reds
by Ken Arneson
2007-01-23 12:40

I was just thinking last night that maybe Billy Beane had ceased to actually exist. He hadn’t made a trade involving a major league player since the Juan Cruz-for-Brad Halsey trade back in March 2006. Where’s he been?

Responds Beane, “I trade, therefore I am.

Who the heck is David Shafer? Never heard of him. PECOTA doesn’t think that much of him; it gives him at best a 50% chance of being nothing more than a scrub. Kevin Goldstein doesn’t bother to mention him in his Top Reds Prospects article, while John Sickels ranks him as the Reds 18th best prospect, calling him a “useful bullpen spare part.”

So basically, this was a salary dump. Saarloos just hit arbitration status, and his mediocre production, while valuable at minimum wage, isn’t so valuable at higher prices. Plus, I think the A’s had about 13 pitchers who were either too good for the minors, or were without any major league options left, so someone had to go.

From the Reds point of view, I suppose a ground-ball pitcher like Saarloos would have more value in a home-run launching pad like Cincinnati than elsewhere. My call: a good non-deal for both sides.

Comments: 9
1.   Bob Timmermann
2007-01-23 13:07

1.  The Reds also are not particularly picky when it comes to pitchers.

2.   dianagramr
2007-01-23 13:24

2.  Its also cool to have a guy with 2 double-consecutive vowels in their name ...

3.   Bob Timmermann
2007-01-23 13:24

3.  Ken is just happy to get all the Finns off of the A's.

4.   Ken Arneson
2007-01-23 13:28

4.  OK, looking at Shafer's stats at AA Chattanooga last year:

ERA: 2.36
K/9: 9.42
WHIP: 1.07
K/BB: 3.25

I can see why the A's were intrigued. So, I guess the question is: why was this guy stuck in AA, and why isn't he rated more highly as a prospect?

I suppose the fact that he's already 24 might have something to do with it. But I'm guessing it's because he doesn't throw all that hard (88-92mph fastball, by most reports) that people aren't that impressed.

5.   Ken Arneson
2007-01-23 13:29

5.  3 I thought Saarloos is of Dutch origin. He was eligible to play for the Netherlands in the WBC, but didn't.

6.   Ken Arneson
2007-01-23 13:35

6.  What I'm really hoping is that the PTBNL is Jamie Arneson. He signed last year on June 29, so he'd qualify as someone who'd need to be a PTBNL.

That would be cool.

7.   Ken Arneson
2007-01-23 13:36

7.  No relation, BTW.

8.   Bob Timmermann
2007-01-23 14:06

8.  That's right. I got Saarloos confused with Tim Harikkala!

9.   Borchard504
2007-01-23 18:02

9.  Bob, Reds commentary does not fit you well. The less fly balls at Great American, the better.

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