Cliff Pennington Added from the Diamondbacks

ldnk · Post #1 » by **ldnk** » Sat Aug 8, 2015 7:03 pm

http://fueledbysports.com/blue-jays-acquire-cliff-pennington-from-d-backs/

The Jays give up infielder Dawel Lugo in return for Pennington. Pennington has a stat line of .237/.318/.281 in 157 plate appearances this year. He can play most of the infield positions with his best spot at SS. The Diamondbacks will retain Pennington's salary in this deal (875K).

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=lugo--000daw&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com

UN-Owen · Post #2 » by **UN-Owen** » Sat Aug 8, 2015 7:12 pm

We're going for 9th!

Left Side Drive · Post #3 » by **Left Side Drive** » Sat Aug 8, 2015 7:33 pm

A real baseball rat

North_of_Border · Post #4 » by **North_of_Border** » Sat Aug 8, 2015 8:03 pm

I realize it cost almost nothing. Lugo is a long shot to become anything. Though, the question is.... Why?

Valencia was MUCH better and could play all the same positions as this guy. This guy would be the Valencia replacement. So why did they let Valencia go for nothing. Coulda just kept the better baseball players.

Post #5 » by **Schad** » Sat Aug 8, 2015 8:05 pm

North_of_Border wrote:I realize it cost almost nothing. Lugo is a long shot to become anything. Though, the question is.... Why?

Valencia was MUCH better and could play all the same positions as this guy. This guy would be the Valencia replacement. So why did they let Valencia go for nothing. Coulda just kept the better baseball players.

Not terribly fond of this trade, but Valencia plays the same positions as Pennington in the same way that a morbidly obese offensive lineman getting clocked in the 40 at the NFL Combine is performing the same role as Usain Bolt.

hyper316 · Post #6 » by **hyper316** » Sat Aug 8, 2015 10:57 pm

At backup SS: Pennington > Kawasaki > Valencia

I would rather have Goins backup SS, but too bad Travis is injured

rarefind · Post #7 » by **rarefind** » Sat Aug 8, 2015 11:32 pm

Has to signal that we won't be seeing Travis anytime soon. Pennington is practically the closest thing you can get to Goins.

Michael Bradley · Post #8 » by **Michael Bradley** » Sat Aug 8, 2015 11:44 pm

Pennington is a solid bench player. He's not having a good season in 2015, but for what the Jays are likely going to use him for, he's a good option to have off the bench. Can play 2B, SS, and 3B and good defender. He's a more useful bench piece than Valencia for this team, however, the argument people were making was Valencia vs. Colabello. I think the team is better with Pennington and Valencia off the bench rather than Pennington and Colabello. The difference obviously isn't anything significant, but simply from a roster construction and versatility standpoint.

BigLeagueChew · Post #9 » by **BigLeagueChew** » Sun Aug 9, 2015 12:13 am

rarefind wrote:Has to signal that we won't be seeing Travis anytime soon. Pennington is practically the closest thing you can get to Goins.

A change in Travis' swing mechanics for 2016 may help, although it was originally injured on a ground ball hitting it, that shoulder takes alot of pressure on his one handed finish of a swing. Switching to both hands may help him.

Randle McMurphy · Post #10 » by **Randle McMurphy** » Sun Aug 9, 2015 12:14 am

Michael Bradley wrote:Pennington is a solid bench player. He's not having a good season in 2015, but for what the Jays are likely going to use him for, he's a good option to have off the bench. Can play 2B, SS, and 3B and good defender. He's a more useful bench piece than Valencia for this team, however, the argument people were making was Valencia vs. Colabello. I think the team is better with Pennington and Valencia off the bench rather than Pennington and Colabello. The difference obviously isn't anything significant, but simply from a roster construction and versatility standpoint.

Would you still think that if Edwin's finger continues to be a problem and he has to go on the DL? A hitter like Colabello (136 wRC+ in 2015) could be even more useful then.

North_of_Border · Post #11 » by **North_of_Border** » Sun Aug 9, 2015 2:08 am

Michael Bradley wrote:Pennington is a solid bench player. He's not having a good season in 2015, but for what the Jays are likely going to use him for, he's a good option to have off the bench. Can play 2B, SS, and 3B and good defender. He's a more useful bench piece than Valencia for this team, however, the argument people were making was Valencia vs. Colabello. I think the team is better with Pennington and Valencia off the bench rather than Pennington and Colabello. The difference obviously isn't anything significant, but simply from a roster construction and versatility standpoint.

I liked Valencia but he is strictly a bench guy. less than average hitter, horrible fielder. Thats all he will be. nothing to mourn over.

Colabello is a MUCH better hitter. His fielding is worse, but you get away with that in LF or 1B. Those are normally spot you can play your weak defenders. Plus Colabello could start at 1B for many weak teams. Valencia would still be a bench warmer on a bad team.

Post #12 » by **Cyrus** » Sun Aug 9, 2015 4:05 pm

WE gave up our 12th rated prospect for this scrub? lol

kayliecee · Post #13 » by **kayliecee** » Sun Aug 9, 2015 4:14 pm

Not sure myself about this trade. They mustn't have thought much of Lugo. It seems like a minor upgrade over Kawasaki.

spikeslovechild · Post #14 » by **spikeslovechild** » Sun Aug 9, 2015 8:16 pm

I'm not a huge fan of the deal.

Komodo · Post #15 » by **Komodo** » Sun Aug 9, 2015 8:20 pm

It also boosts the already very good chemistry which never hurts when you're after a WS.

Lateral Quicks · Post #16 » by **Lateral Quicks** » Sun Aug 9, 2015 8:42 pm

Komodo wrote:It also boosts the already very good chemistry which never hurts when you're after a WS.

Wasn't Kawasaki the very definition of a good clubhouse guy though?

Lugo is a lot for 1-3 months of a Goins-level player.

Randle McMurphy · Post #17 » by **Randle McMurphy** » Sun Aug 9, 2015 9:17 pm

Lateral Quicks wrote:
Komodo wrote:It also boosts the already very good chemistry which never hurts when you're after a WS.

Wasn't Kawasaki the very definition of a good clubhouse guy though?

Lugo is a lot for 1-3 months of a Goins-level player.

Lugo was the cost because the DBacks are footing the bill for him. Rogers won't let the team add salary.

The Flying Gent · Post #18 » by **The Flying Gent** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 5:43 am

Cyrus wrote:WE gave up our 12th rated prospect for this scrub? lol

12 rated according to one place. Other places didn't have him even top 20.

And scrub? I mean, just because he's not an all-star, that doesn't mean he's a worthless scrub.

Komodo · Post #19 » by **Komodo** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 11:26 am

Lateral Quicks wrote:
Komodo wrote:It also boosts the already very good chemistry which never hurts when you're after a WS.

Wasn't Kawasaki the very definition of a good clubhouse guy though?

Lugo is a lot for 1-3 months of a Goins-level player.

Kawasaki, while also good for the clubhouse, was more of a cheerleader. Pennington does all of that plus has lengthy discussions with David Price. He's literally the most interesting man in the world.

Michael Bradley · Post #20 » by **Michael Bradley** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 11:48 am

The Flying Gent wrote:
Cyrus wrote:WE gave up our 12th rated prospect for this scrub? lol

12 rated according to one place. Other places didn't have him even top 20.

And scrub? I mean, just because he's not an all-star, that doesn't mean he's a worthless scrub.

Agreed, Pennington is a solid, above replacement infielder. Not someone a contending team would start, but a more than capable back-up who can play good defense at a number of positions (mostly 2B/SS, but can also backup 3B). depth is a good thing.

If Travis is out for longer than expected, then the Jays needed an infield upgrade. Lugo, even if he doesn't amount to much, seems like a steep price as Pennington is someone the Jays should have gotten for a PTBNL or equivalent, but Rogers apparently sets a payroll and refuses to budge from it, so you're left with having to overpay in prospect capital to make the other team willing to pay the money.