A case for Kendrys Morales

by johnnygre on Jan 22, 2012 7:06 AM EST

The injury of Viktor Martinez is a big blow for the Tigers. Any player who hits over .300 with +.800 OPS is a valuable player to any team. But one of the things I value the most in V-Mart is that he is a switch-hitter. There is no particular reason for this other than outside a small group of elite hitters (think Cabrera, Pujols, Mauer, Ichiro, maybe Jeter in his prime) I think it helps if the hitters of the next level can hit from both sides of the plate in order to minimize their platoon splits.

I don't know if Kendrys Morales actually belongs to this next level, but his 2009 and the cut-short 2010 seasons suggested that he might be on his way to join it. What we actually know of him as a hitter is this: a) he hits for a good average, b) hits for power, c) doesn't walk a lot, and d) doesn't strike out much either.

Comparing Morales to Martinez is not easy because the former has only had one full season worth of service and has spent parts of three others in the Majors. That is definitely a small sample size. But from this small sample you can see that he has more power while V-Mart hits better.

Hypothetically Morales might be a steal for Detroit to replace Martinez for a lot of reasons:

1. The Angels might welcome a trade that eases the logjam of 1B/DH-type players currently in their roster. 2. Since he was injured for most of the last two seasons, the Tigers may take him on the cheap. 3. If he can stay healthy from now on, he can DH this year while he tries to regain his shape and then he could play in the outfield from next season thus allowing the team to release Delmon Young.

Certainly there is a big IF here involved but Morales could provide some flexibility and not be a temporary one-year patch.

So what are your thoughts BYB?

PS. If there ever was a possibility for such a trade I would also try to grab Maicer Izturis to play 3rd base and leadoff(but that's just me).

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Bless You Boys writing staff.

Tweet Comment 14 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Morales and Izturis

Attractive players, to be sure, but it’s what the Tigers would need to surrender, and considerations for succeeding years (what happens in 2013 with Victor back?) that give me pause. When the Izturis name has been tossed around, it’s my past impression that he’s overvalued. I’ve read Porcello for Izturis proposals. Sure. Let’s give Ballester and Young for Cole Hamels, while we’re at it. I think Izturis would be better than Tiger incumbents at 2B or 3B, but can a realistic proposal be reached? As far as Morales is concerned, who would you surrender? Why wouldn’t the Tigers just get Prince instead?

by Bigpaw on Jan 22, 2012 9:49 AM EST reply actions

It all depends on cost

I think the Tigers would only go after Morales because adding Izturis to the trade increases the price considerably. Morales could probably be had for a non-Turner/Castellanos prospect, but I don’t like the idea of trading Porcello for Izturis. This creates a huge hole for what would be a marginal upgrade at 3B.

Detroit4Lyfe

by Rob Rogacki on Jan 22, 2012 10:29 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

No way I would trade Porcello for Izturis or Morales

I was thinking a 3-player package with one of Oliver/Crosby (preferably Oliver), one of Schlereth/Matt Hofmann and a position player either Worth (if the pitchers are deemed valuable enough by themselves) or a higher end prospect like maybe Avisail Garcia. Any prospect of the same level as the above may do.

But certainly no Turner/Castellanos/Smyly.

However good they may be and how much I would like to see them in Tigers uniforms, Izturis remains a utility man and Morales a 1B who hasn’t played for nearly two years. I think the above package is fair. Including in it a top prospect would be overpay.

by johnnygre on Jan 22, 2012 10:45 AM EST up reply actions

I don't believe for a moment that the Angels are prospect shopping

They’re trying to win a world series…this year. They don’t have much motivation to trade contributors for prospects.

The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981

by momotigers on Jan 22, 2012 2:12 PM EST up reply actions

complete non starter

Porcello isn’t going anywhere. Maicer at this point has a year left before he can walk. I’m all in favor of trading for Izturis, but the cost should be a decent relief pitcher like maybe a Phil Coke, or a couple of decent prospects, not named Turner or Castellanos. The Angels should be ready to deal him because they’re over loaded with very good infielders.

Morales would be great if he’s healthy, but he’s another first base/ DH type.

"King of Minutiae"

by Tigerdog1 on Jan 22, 2012 3:12 PM EST up reply actions

They have one extra infielder that can play 2B, SS, or 3B

Kendrick has been injury prone. Callaspo is inconsistent. I think it would be prudent to keep Izturis if they have hopes of winning the division against Texas. A reliable utility infielder that covers 3 spots is a pretty valuable piece and I think he’ll get 300 AB’s.

The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981

by momotigers on Jan 22, 2012 3:32 PM EST up reply actions

Plus Trumbo, who is reportedly going to be their 3B this year.

They also plan on promoting Alexi Amarista fairly soon. They’re expected to extend Aybar, but not Izturis, and they’re not sure about Callaspo. The Angels, though would want a player that goes straight onto their major league roster.

"King of Minutiae"

by Tigerdog1 on Jan 22, 2012 6:41 PM EST up reply actions

LA needs Dan Haren in order to win the division from Texas

He is a FA after the season and is going to get a big paycheck. Izturis and Morales will earn more than 6 mil. this season. This is money they could use to extend Haren. They could get back Izturis’ salary at the end of the season but surely they’d prefer to get something in return rather than just losing him. At this point Morales is for the Angels what Zumaya was for the Tigers last season. Plus they already have Wells and Abreu to DH and that other bald guy at 1B.

by johnnygre on Jan 23, 2012 5:18 AM EST up reply actions

I'm so tired of trade talks involving the Angels

What do the Angels need? Prospects, no…Outfielders, no…Infielders, no…SP, no. On paper, the Angels are a better club than the Tigers right now. They might need some bullpen depth, but we’re not exactly brimming with proven bullpen arms to deal. We don’t match up well with them as trade mates, and just because they have things we need doesn’t mean they should give them to us when we can’t reciprocate.

The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981

by momotigers on Jan 23, 2012 10:55 AM EST up reply actions

The only piece I could see going is Phil Coke

And I really hope he doesn’t.

"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz

"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching

by David Tokarz on Jan 23, 2012 11:28 AM EST up reply actions

I like Kendry Morales

but I think Delmon Young has just as much upside. I’m expecting Delmon to have a career year this season, so releasing him and eating his $6.75 contract would be a huge mistake. The kind of mistake that is Matt Millen-esque.

by Keith-Allen on Jan 23, 2012 6:53 AM EST reply actions

I'm holding you to that, Keith.

"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz

"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching

by David Tokarz on Jan 23, 2012 8:47 AM EST up reply actions

No problem.

Guys like him usually have huge career years after a big stink season. I think he’s much like Jose Guillen was in his prime. So he might have 3 or 4 good seasons, mixed in with 3 or 4 bad ones.

I’ll never expect much from him defensively though.

by Keith-Allen on Jan 23, 2012 10:27 AM EST up reply actions