Re: 2006-2007 Hot Stove Thread
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I think this is a nice coup for Shapiro. 23 years, five tools. Kouzmanoff's numbers last year were nuts, but he's two years older with less experience than Barfield.
[/ QUOTE ] I disagree. This was a very even trade. The Padres want to upgrade at 2nd anyway (Giles or shift that Japanese 3b to 2nd). Kouz is likely to better than Barfield for the next year or two if he is healthy, and the Pads need a 3b. Plus, the pitching prospect they got in the deal could become the next great Padres set-up man.
Barfield gets neutered by righties and destroys lefties. Obviously, he could improve on this. But I don't think he's that much better than the inhouse options at 2nd for the Indians; although he has more upside.
OBP is the most important basic stat, and he had a .318 OBP last year. I see Barfield as an average regular. He'll be cheap, and the Indians needed to trade Kouz or Marte.
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