Guardians & Angels
Submitted by: antonetticooks
Guardians
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor Ward | 30 | Majors | OF | Medium | 4 | 41 | 21.4 | 19.6 | 15.7 | 19.6 | 23.6 |
Total Value:
19.6
Angels
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brayan Rocchio | 22 | Majors | SS | 7 | 24.5 | 3.9 | 20.5 | 16.4 | 20.5 | 24.7 |
Total Value:
20.5
Comments
13Get rid of one of the most overrated prospects in baseball who swings a wet noodle at the plate for an outfielder so I never have to see Straw swing a bat again. Sounds like a massive win in my book
@kzeke Cleveland's FO refused to put Rocchio as part of any trade so they have a high value for him... I am not saying his loss of power isn't 100% concerning, but he also significantly lowered his SO rate and he is also super young for AAA so he is going to mature more and likely add more power to hit bat as he ages... Now, I am open to moving Rocchio, but don't forget Ward missed significant time in 23 plus he had to have surgery on his face from getting hit by a fastball. A lot of players have dealt with vertigo and yips after that type of injury. I am not trading Rocchio for him straight up because of those factors... Next, from the Angels perspective... They legitimately didn't a great season overall, but they have significant money in their INF with Rondon, Fletcher, Drury, Rengifo and have inexperienced guys like Paris, Neto, Soto, Stefanic, in the mix as well... If Ward is getting moved, it will be for pitching... They didn't have a single pitcher get to 150 innings... Outside of Ohtani... They are lacking depth at SP and need more talent there in general. Rocchio isn't a fit for the Angels right now when they need more pitching... Ps. Antonetticooks, if you hate Rocchio so much, why would the Angels trade a guy who is supposed to be a mainstay in their lineup for an unproven MIF when they already have 50+ million invested in it with 4-5 near MLB ready players competing for the last spot...
Because they should be selling. They aren’t resigning Ohtani and gave permission for Trout to seek a trade. Half of those guys you listed either never play or just aren’t good. The only one that would be reasonable for them to keep based on the fact they should be selling is Neto. I don’t hate Rocchio. He’s just not good and the Lindor comps for him are lazy. How exactly do you know that they “refused” to put Rocchio in any trade? You’re not a part of the front office lol.
I mean, it was only put in an article that Cleveland wouldn't put Rocchio as part of the Murphy trade... Also, the other guys I mentioned, would be traded before Ward would is cheaper and more time of control... Don't be surprised if Ward is only available for pitching...
Which article was that if you don't mind me asking? From what I recall it was the SP ask that ended the talks, not the inclusion of Rocchio. Everyone wanted Espino and the talks died with that request. My guess is that Rocchio's available because MIF is where the most depth to deal from is in Cleveland's system. If you want something of value then you have to give something of value up. I do agree that the Angels are likely not interested in Rocchio and would be more focused on SP, but if they are going into a rebuild/retool period then pairing Rocchio up with Neto isn't a bad idea. That would also allow the Angels to deal Rengifo, Drury and Fletcher if they wanted.
NEWSLETTER? SURE, SIGN ME UP!
Rocchio wouldn't have been a top prospect with a wet noodle as a bat... Plus his MLB debut, he didn't look like the guy he was in the minors, so you are basing everything off of how he looked in a SSS...
No I’m basing it off of him having 7 homers and .141 ISO at triple A. What he did in the majors has nothing to do with my opinion that he doesn’t make hard contact and that is an extreme red flag. His statcast data(barrel, hard hit rate) was putrid this year in the minors
What about in years prior or are we basing everything off of "what have you done for me lately"? I'm willing to deal Rocchio and I don't think it's a bad idea at all to capitalize on his value, but if you feel this way about Rocchio then you should probably feel the same way about Kwan. Ironically, I'm for capitalizing on his current value as well. Having said that, I would agree to this deal.
I’ve never liked Rocchio’s bat. His ISO’s have never been good. He’s been stuck at this same power since 2021 and regressed this year. That’s a red flag. I worry about Kwan too. Similarities with Straw’s profile. Weak contact quality, good eye, good contact ability. Though Kwan makes more contact than Straw, his quality of contact is worse. I don’t like profiles like Kwan and Straw. I can live with someone not having great exit velo’s but I’m pretty sure Kwan is 1st percentile in barrel and hard hit rate. You have to make quality contact at some respectable percentage.
So a super young player, who significantly raised his BB rate while being one of the hardest minor league players to SO is bad because he wasn't hitting the ball as hard? I would put good money, his adjustment caused some of that lowered ISO and another season, his power should start to come back...
Not sure we can have it both ways here. He’s either gotten better plate discipline while suffering his contact quality or he’s the hitter he’s been the most of his minor league career with average plate discipline, good contact skills and poor contact quality. I don’t care what player you believe Rocchio is because whether he’s the 2023 version or the version he’s been most of his minors, the bat won’t play.
Yes SC, that's precisely correct and that's what I've been trying to tell you and all the other Kwan and Straw fans in Clevelandom. All you guys seem to care about is contact, strikeout and walk rates. Well, we've had those the last 2 yrs and we've had one of the weakest offenses in MLB for the last 2 yrs as well. If you cannot make hard, quality contact on a regular basis then you will not be very productive in MLB.
This guy SC always has some "money ball" comment when you propose a Guardians unproven prospect for a proven MLB outfielder who can hit for power. I like all your trades you have proposed so far, keep them coming!