Juan Gonzalez traded to Tigers

Juan heads up the road to Detroit

The Rangers pulled off a huge trade yesterday – probably the biggest trade since I’ve been a fan of the team, that’s for sure (the Sosa trade was before my time here in Texas). Anyways, I felt that this deserved a special page on my site, not just a short story…
One amusing thing.. When the Rangers official site was updated with info on the trade, they slapped the news story up on the main page. Check out this amusing screenshot of the Rangers site when the news first broke:

As a professional web designer, I realize why this showed up this way, but it is still amusing – Juan’s trade announcement with a graphic of a huge smile by Gonzalez right under it. :)
I have several sections to this page, they are:

• The Players
• The Story
• The Rangers’ take
• Sportswriters & Player remarks
• What I’m saying
• What you’re saying

The Players in the Trade:

To Detroit:

Juan Gonzalez	Danny Patterson	Gregg Zaun

To Texas:

Frank Catalanatto	Francisco Cordero	Bill Haselman	Gabe Kapler	Justin Thompson	Alan Webb

The Story

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Juan Gone is long gone.
Juan Gonzalez, a two-time AL MVP and one of baseball’s most feared hitters, was traded by the Texas Rangers to the Detroit Tigers in a nine-player deal Tuesday.
“We’ve been working the last couple of years to acquire a marquee player,” Tigers general manager Randy Smith said, calling Gonzalez “a franchise player and future Hall of Famer.”
Going with Gonzalez to Detroit were pitcher Danny Patterson and catcher Gregg Zaun.
The Rangers received pitchers Justin Thompson, Alan Webb and Francisco Cordero, outfielder Gabe Kapler, catcher Bill Haselman and infielder Frank Catalanotto.
Gonzalez, known as “Juan Gone” for his home runs, was the AL MVP in 1996 and 1998. The Tigers have until Saturday to exercise a $7.5 million option on him for next year, and the sides spoke shortly after the trade was made.
Gonzalez, 30, is eligible for free agency after the 2000 season.
“We just weren’t prepared to … go into next season with that over our heads,” Rangers general manager Doug Melvin said.
“I guess it heated up over the last couple of days,” Melvin said. “We had talked about it at length. Randy Smith has been on vacation in Hawaii, so it was a long-distance call trying to get the deal done.”
Smith, celebrating his wedding anniversary in Maui, said: “If you’re going to deal with premier players, there’s always a chance they’ll walk. But you have to dare to be good.”
“It’s very difficult to entice a free agent to come to a city that hasn’t won recently,” he said. “Most players have to experience Detroit to see how good it is to play here.”
Gonzalez, a two-time All-Star, hit .326 with 39 home runs and 128 RBIs this year. He led the Rangers to the AL West titles in 1996, 1998 and 1999, yet all three seasons ended in disappointment as each time they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the eventual World Series champion New York Yankees.
“The trade hurts my feelings, because it’s after 13 consecutive years with one organization, giving them my best,” Gonzalez told Puerto Rico television station Teleonce.
Nonetheless, he commended the Rangers organization for the way he was treated.
“I thank the Rangers organization for giving me the opportunity to be a professional,” Gonzalez said. “It’s a great organization, and they treated me like a king.”
Detroit went 69-92 last season and finished third in the AL Central, 27 1/2 games behind Cleveland in their final season at Tiger Stadium.
The Tigers hope for a fresh start next season when they move into new Comerica Park under newly hired manager Phil Garner.
“Over the last few years, we have worked hard to develop a farm system with a high talent level and strong depth,” Smith said, without which “we could not have made today’s deal.”
Melvin said Thompson is highly regarded, although the left-hander underwent arthroscopic surgery on his pitching shoulder Aug. 26. At the time he was put on the disabled list, then manager Larry Parrish said Thompson was “mentally beat up.”
“Whenever there’s surgery, there’s a certain amount of risk involved,” Melvin said. “He was pitching hurt, and that was affecting his last few performances.”
Thompson, 26, was 9-11 with a 5.11 ERA. He was an All-Star during his first full season in 1997, but has been slowed by injuries.
In 11 seasons with Texas, Gonzalez batted .294 with 340 home runs and 1,075 RBIs.
Gonzalez played in 49 games combined for the Rangers in 1989 and 1990 before spending his first full season in the majors in 1991.
He batted .314 with 47 home runs and 144 RBIs in 1996 as Texas won its first division title, and batted .318 with 45 homers and 157 RBIs in 1998.
The Puerto Rican native put up more big numbers last season, but his production was somewhat overshadowed by his refusal to play in the All-Star Game and the strong offensive production from teammates Rafael Palmeiro and Ivan Rodriguez.
Gonzalez and the hard-hitting Rangers also were criticized after getting swept by the Yankees in the opening round. Texas has scored a total of only two runs in their last 60 postseason innings, and lost nine in a row to New York.
Gonzalez was considered a lock to be one of the reserves chosen for July’s All-Star game in Boston, but he told reporters that he would not play in the classic unless he was voted in as a starter by the fans. Melvin and Rangers manager Johnny Oates said they disagreed with Gonzalez’s decision, but never criticized him publicly.
“Changes are positive, now I have to give my best. I can’t say I’m going to sign with Detroit, because I still have a year left (in my contract),” Gonzalez said.
Kapler, 24, became the Tigers’ center fielder once Brian Hunter was traded to Seattle early in the season. Kapler hit .245 with 18 home runs and 49 RBIs.
Cordero, a 22-year-old righty, made his major league debut and was 2-2 with a 3.32 ERA in 20 relief appearances.
Catalanotto, 25, hit .276 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs as a second baseman. Haselman, a 33-year-old backup, hit .273 with four home runs and 14 RBIs.
Webb, a 20-year-old lefty, was 9-9 with a 4.95 ERA at Double-A Jacksonville.
Along with Gonzalez, the Tigers got Patterson and Zaun, both 28. The right-handed Patterson was 2-0 with a 5.67 ERA in 53 relief appearances and Zaun hit .247 with one homer and 12 RBIs as a backup to Rodriguez.
HERE IS A SECOND WIRE STORY:
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Trading Juan Gonzalez wasn’t a huge surprise to Texas Rangers fans. But they must have thought the Rangers would get a big-name player in return.
Maybe a Ken Griffey or a Bernie Williams?
Instead, the Rangers sent Gonzalez and two other players to the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday for left-handed pitcher Justin Thompson, outfielder Gabe Kapler, right-handed reliever Francisco Cordero and three other players.
“I don’t know what the fan reaction will be. Juan Gonzalez was a popular player, and he will go down as one of the best players in franchise history. But probably, it helps us that we traded him,” Rangers general manager Doug Melvin said.
“If we’d had to sign Juan, with what we’d have to pay him, we’d probably have been a stale club for two or three years,” Melvin said.
Although Gonzalez, 30, is one of the most feared hitters in baseball, he is eligible for free agency after the 2000 season. The Tigers have until Saturday to exercise a $7.5 million option on Gonzalez for next year.
“We just weren’t prepared to … go into next season with that over our heads,” Melvin said. “We didn’t want to take the chance of losing him without getting anything in return.
“If you’re not able to get your free agents signed, you’re forced into total rebuilding. That’s what happened to San Diego, losing Kevin Brown, Steve Finley and Ken Caminiti, and we didn’t want that to happen to us.”
Melvin said when he informed Gonzalez of the trade, “he was surprised and shocked.”
Gonzalez told Puerto Rico television station Teleonce, “The trade hurts my feelings, because it’s after 13 consecutive years with one organization, giving them my best.”
Nonetheless, he commended the Rangers organization for the way he was treated.
“I thank the Rangers organization for giving me the opportunity to be a professional. It’s a great organization, and they treated me like a king.”
Texas also lost backup catcher Gregg Zaun and right-handed pitcher Danny Patterson in the nine-player trade. Detroit’s other players in the trade were backup catcher Bill Haselman, infielder Frank Catalonotto and minor league pitcher Alan Webb.
Gonzalez batted .314 with 47 home runs and 144 RBIs in 1996 as Texas won its first division title. In 1998 he batted .318 with 45 homers and 157 RBIs.
The Puerto Rican native put up more big numbers last season, but his production was somewhat overshadowed by his refusal to play in the All-Star Game and the strong offensive production from teammates Rafael Palmeiro and Ivan Rodriguez.
Gonzalez gives the Tigers the superstar they wanted going into brand new Comerica Park under newly hired manager Phil Garner.
In 11 seasons with Texas, Gonzalez batted .294 with 340 home runs and 1,075 RBIs.
“We’ve been working the last couple of years to acquire a marquee player,” Tigers general manager Randy Smith said, calling Gonzalez “a franchise player and future Hall of Famer.”
The Tigers face the same risk as the Rangers did in Gonzalez — he might leave after one year.
“If you’re going to deal with premier players, there’s always a chance they’ll walk. But you have to dare to be good,” Smith said from Maui, where he’s celebrating his wedding anniversary.
“It’s very difficult to entice a free agent to come to a city that hasn’t won recently. Most players have to experience Detroit to see how good it is to play here,” he said.
Detroit went 69-92 last season and finished third in the AL Central, 27 1/2 games behind Cleveland in their final season at Tiger Stadium.
Melvin said Thompson is highly regarded, although he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his pitching shoulder Aug. 26.
“Whenever there’s surgery, there’s a certain amount of risk involved,” Melvin said. “The doctors say he should bounce back after surgery, and we hope he’ll be ready by opening day. But we won’t rush him, even though he was the key player in the trade for us.”
Thompson, 26, was 9-11 with a 5.11 ERA. He was an All-Star during his first full season in 1997, but has been slowed by injuries.
Melvin said Thompson and Cordero “make our pitching better today than yesterday.” The Rangers look upon the 22-year-old Cordero as a future closer. He twice was voted the outstanding closer in the minors, the first time at age 18.
The Rangers won’t expect Kapler, 24, to drive in as many runs as Gonzalez, but Melvin noted that Kapler was the consensus minor league player of the year in 1998, hitting 47 doubles and driving in 146 runs.
Thompson, who is from the Houston suburb of Klein, told Houston television station KRIV when he learned of the trade, “I was really shocked … because I’ve been with the Tigers so long. But it’s set in now. I’m coming back home to Texas and I am excited.”

The Rangers’ Take

(This is a press release issued by the Texas Rangers on Tuesday afternoon)
November 2, 1999
TEXAS RANGERS COMPLETE NINE PLAYER TRADE WITH DETROIT TIGERS; ACQUIRE PITCHERS JUSTIN THOMPSON, FRANCISCO CORDERO, AND ALAN WEBB; CATCHER BILL HASELMAN, INFIELDER FRANK CATALANOTTO, AND OUTFIELDER GABE KAPLER FOR JUAN GONZALEZ, DANNY PATTERSON, AND GREGG ZAUN
FOR RELEASE: 6:00 p.m. (CST), Tuesday, November 2, 1999
The Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers completed a nine-player trade this evening with the Rangers receiving six players in exchange for outfielder Juan Gonzalez, righthanded pitcher Danny Patterson, and catcher Gregg Zaun.
The Rangers will receive lefthanded pitchers Justin Thompson and Alan Webb, righthanded pitcher Francisco Cordero, catcher Bill Haselman, infielder Frank Catalonotto, and outfielder Gabe Kapler.
“It is very difficult to part with Juan Gonzalez as he has been one of the top players ever in this franchise’s history,” commented Executive Vice President-General Manager Doug Melvin. However, we feel that we have made ourselves a better team with this move.
“We have improved the pitching with the acquisitions of Justin Thompson and highly rergarded Francisco Cordero, two young pitchers who will help us right away. Gabe Kapler was the Minor League Player of the Year in 1998 and is an outstanding outfield prospect. We also received two good role players in Frank Catalonotto and Bill Haselman and a fine young pitching prospect in Alan Webb. The fact that we received some good young players, including two strong pitchers, made this a trade we felt we had to make.”
Thompson, 27, was 9-11 with a 5.11 era in 24 starts with the Tigers in 1999. The lefthander won 26 games for Detroit in 1997-98, leading the team in innings pitched and strikeouts both seasons. His 1999 season was cut short due to surgery for a torn labrum on his left shoulder on August 24. Thompson earned American League All-Star honors in 1997, going 15-11, 3.02 to become the first Detroit lefthander in 21 seasons to post 15 victories.
Cordero, 22, was 4-1, 1.38 with 27 saves in 47 appearances at Jacksonville and 2-2, 3.32 in 20 appearances with Detroit in 1999, his major league debut. The righthander was selected as the Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year by Howe Sportsdata and was a Southern League All-Star, topping the league in saves. Cordero was recalled by Detroit on August 2 and pitched ten scoreless innings in his first 11 appearances. He earned his first big league win on August 31 versus Texas.
Kapler, 24, batted .245 with 18 homers and 49 rbi in 130 games with the Tigers this season. The righthanded batter was Detroit’s regular centerfielder and ranked third among A.L. rookies in homers and rbi. Kapler was a consensus Minor League Player of the Year and Southern League Most Valuable Player at Jacksonville in 1998, leading the minors with 146 rbi and 47 doubles while batting .322.
Haselman, 33, spent 1999 as the Tigers’ backup catcher, hitting .273 with four homers and 14 rbi in 48 games. The righthanded batter signed with Detroit as a free agent in December, 1998 after hitting .314 in 40 games with the Rangers in 1998. Originally selected by Texas in the first round of the June, 1987 free agent draft, Haselman has a career major league average of .256 with 35 homers and 141 rbi in 407 games with Texas, Seattle, Boston, and Detroit.
Catalanotto, 25, batted .276 with 11 homers and 35 rbi in 100 games with the Tigers in 1999, his first full major league season. He saw action at first, second, and third base and as a designated hitter and batted .292 (7-24) with an A.L. best four doubles as a pinch-hitter. The lefthanded batter has a career major league average of .280 in 202 major league games.
Webb, 20, was 9-9 with a 4.95 era in 26 games/22 starts with class AA Jacksonville in 1999. Detroit’s fourth round pick in the June, 1997 draft, he was the Tigers’ minor league pitcher of the year in 1998 at West Michigan, going 10-7, 2.93 with 202 strikeouts in 172 innings in his 27 starts.
Everyone except Webb has been assigned to the Rangers’ major league roster. Webb has been assigned from Jacksonville of the Southern League to Tulsa of the Texas League.
Gonzalez, 29, batted a career high .326 with 39 homers and 128 rbi in 144 games with the Rangers in 1999. It was the fourth straight season and seventh time overall he has produced at least 30 homers and 100 rbi. The American League’s Most Valuable Player in 1996 and 1998 is the Rangers’ all-time leader in eight offensive categories and leaves Texas with a .294 average, 340 homers, and 1075 rbi in 1248 games beginning in 1989.
Patterson was 2-0 with a 5.67 era and two saves in 53 games with Texas and 1-0, 0.00 in two appearances with Oklahoma in 1999. The righthanded is 14-11, 4.26 in 170 games lifetime with the Rangers. Zaun batted .247 with one homer and 12 rbi in 43 games as Texas’ backup catcher in 1999, his first season with the club. His career major league average is .234 with 13 homers and 90 rbi in 307 games with Baltimore, Florida, and Texas.

Sportswriters & Player remarks

ESPN’s Peter Gammons:
In order for the Rangers to re-sign Juan Gonzalez, who is going to be a free agent after next year, they were going to have to pay him $15 million per season right now and they weren’t going to do that with Rafael Palmeiro and Pudge Rodriguez there. There’s only so much payroll and they made the best deal they could. They found Detroit needing a star going into their new ballpark after a miserable year this season and frankly I think Texas made a fabulous trade.
What Doug Melvin has done here is turn that Rangers team over and I think ensured that they are going to be competitive for the next five years, especially in the AL West. They now have Ruben Mateo, who is one of the best young players in baseball, to play center field and Gabe Kapler to play right. And understand the economics here. If they had to pay Gonzalez $15 million a year over the next five years, fine and good. But over the next five years because of what they can make until their free agents, Mateo and Kapler each will make approximately $13-15 million. That’s how important it is to get good young players. You can save a ton of money that way and be very competitive in the process.
Maybe now with the money saved from Gonzalez they can attempt to re-sign Aaron Sele and/or go out on the market for Chuck Finley because as it’s proven over the last several years the way to go against the Yankees is with left-handed pitching and with having Justin Thompson and possibly Finley they very well could have a better team than they had this season.
Detroit Tigers pitcher C.J. Nitkowski
We get that big threat we lacked all year long, but I think we gave up too much. The biggest loss for this team, Francisco Cordero, trust me. He has just 2 months in the big leagues, which means he makes no money and he throws 97-98 mph, 97-98 mph strikes, with a pretty good slider to go along with it. He’s a good kid, just 21 years old, I would have been very reluctant to trade him. If he stays healthy, we may regret this. This was a favor to Bill Haselman, and well deserved (we’re pretty good buddies), I am happy for him. Catalanotto is another guy who will save you on salary and he is versatile, plays anywhere and the infield and is a good left-handed hitter. He knows how to hit. I think this is not a good move personally for Kapler, he may lose some serious playing time in Texas, unless he shows early that he is an everyday big league outfielder. The margin for failure is much smaller when you are on a winning team. He was a tradeable guy. As far as JT, I am surprised, he had some arm problems this year and didn’t think the Tigers would be able to move him, if it wasn’t him, it would have been me. I am sure he is thrilled to be pitching next season in his home state of Texas. With the support he will get from that offense, look for JT to win at least 15 games if he gets 35 starts.
Mike Dodd, USA Today
How trade affects the Tigers: Detroit was looking for a power hitter for the middle of its lineup and a big-name star to herald the new era with the debut of Comerica Park. Gonzalez supplies both, at least for one year (although the Tigers will push to sign him to a long-term deal). The two-time MVP, who hit .326 with 39 homers and 128 RBI this year, should make slugging 1B Tony Clark better (if Clark isn’t traded) and be a positive influence on young OF Juan Encarnacion. Patterson fills a slot in middle relief (2-0 with a 5.67 ERA in 53 games for Texas).
How trade affects the Rangers: After being swept by the Yankees in the playoffs again, Texas will try to get over the hump with an influx of young talent. Kapler, the USA TODAY minor league player of the year in 1998, had an up-and-down rookie season but is still considered a top prospect. He’s a body-builder with self-made power, good speed, an above-average arm and all-out style. A center fielder in Detroit, he probably will play right. Thompson is coming off arthroscopic shoulder surgery Aug. 26 and an off-year, but he’s left-handed, 26, and two years removed from a 15-win season. If healthy, he will add a quality lefty to the rotation. Cordero, who had a promising rookie year (2-2, 3.32 ERA in 20 appearances) adds depth to an already-solid bullpen. Webb was Detroit’s minor league pitcher of the year in ’98.
Tim Cowlishaw: Dallas Morning News
We learned Tuesday that Juan Gonzalez’s road to Cooperstown will go through Detroit. The best, the very best the Rangers can hope for is that one or two future All-Stars are bound for Texas in return.
Until Tuesday afternoon, Gonzalez was merely the only local team athlete to win two most valuable player awards. Now he’s the biggest local star player ever traded in the prime of his career.
Without even going to Canada, general manager Doug Melvin turned a dollar into 70 cents, then claimed to have improved the Rangers. It takes a substantial leap of faith, particularly in the ability to rehabilitate a pitching shoulder, to buy that line of thinking.
The Rangers would like to think this is baseball’s version of the Herschel Walker trade 10 years later. It isn’t close.
Walker was no MVP, and the players leaving Michigan do not bring with them the potential the seven high draft picks provided the Cowboys.
A nine-player trade that would baffle the imagination of Rotisserie owners brought three key players to the Rangers – left-handed pitcher Justin Thompson, minor league reliever Francisco Cordero and outfielder Gabe Kapler, who at least adds muscle to the lineup even if he can’t replace Gonzalez as an RBI machine.
“There’s risk for both sides,” Melvin said. “Our risk is probably with Justin Thompson and the risk of adding young players.”
No to mention the risk of subtracting 911 RBIs in the ’90s from the heart of the Rangers’ lineup.
Melvin spoke of “hoping” the left-handed Thompson, who has a history of arm problems, could be ready by opening day. “If not, we aren’t going to rush him,” Melvin said.
Sounds promising. But give Melvin credit for being ahead of the curve. Like everyone else, he can see where superstar salaries are going. Gonzalez’s agent rejected a contract to match Colorado’s Larry Walker’s deal (six years, $75 million), and that was enough to tell Melvin it was time to make Juan gone.
“This is not a knock on Juan Gonzalez,” Melvin said. “It’s the system of free agency that we’re in.”
The Rangers sent Gonzalez packing on the same day Seattle’s Ken Griffey officially became available. But when asked specifically about Griffey and in general about not getting a “star” in return for Gonzalez, Melvin talked mostly of avoiding future salary headaches.
“It’s tough, but if you get a guy of Juan’s caliber in return, then you’re in the same predicament,” Melvin said. “The numbers are getting a little out of line.”
President Jim Lites insisted he hasn’t even received a 2000 budget from owner Tom Hicks, but if the Rangers are interested in holding the line on last year’s figure of $75 million, this was the only way to do it.
Melvin was hamstrung by a no-trade clause that prevented him from dealing Gonzalez to almost any of the big-market clubs that could have been interested – the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Braves, Orioles and Angels among them.
Basically, that left Detroit, moving into a new stadium and hoping to boost ticket sales, as the interested party.
And just think how this trade is playing in the Motor City.
The Tigers trade a pitcher (Thompson) who finished the year on the disabled list after shoulder surgery, an outfielder (Kapler) who hit .245, a utility infielder (Frank Catalonotto), a backup catcher (Bill Haselman) and two minor league pitchers (Cordero and Alan Webb) to land Gonzalez, reliever Danny Patterson and backup catcher Gregg Zaun.
From the other side, that has the suspicious look of getting something big for spare parts and broken hearts.
The Rangers will spend the next five months trying to sell you that Thompson can get back to the 15-win level he achieved in 1997. That Cordero will be the next John Wetteland by 2002. That the Kapler physique, which has appeared on the cover of muscle magazines, will one day translate into 40 home run power.
They will sell you on the notion of gaining increased spending power for next off-season when sluggers such as Cleveland’s Manny Ramirez, Toronto’s Shawn Green and Seattle’s Alex Rodriguez could be on the free-agent market.
The truth is the Rangers do have the flexibility to build the pitching staff they need if they are ever to achieve post-season success – flexibility that would have vanished had they locked up Gonzalez long term.
And it’s also true that the Rangers are not as good a team today as they were yesterday. No one has ever questioned Melvin’s creativity, and certainly after Tuesday’s trade, no one questions his courage to act boldly.
“I don’t view this as a shakeup,” said Melvin, who acknowledged, “it may look that way.”
The only Rangers hitter who has ever produced in the playoffs is now a Tiger. If the Rangers are ever to beat the Yankees or anyone else in the post-season, Melvin’s work is just getting started.
Officially, it began Tuesday afternoon with the digging of a large hole in right field.
Keith Gave: CBS Sportsline Senior Sportswriter
Two-time American League MVP Juan Gonzalez might have been an unsignable player, but he certainly wasn’t untradable.
And the slugging right fielder ultimately made it easier for the Texas Rangers to trade him by constantly setting little brush fires teammates and management were forced to douse. The latest was when he took himself out of the lineup the day after the Rangers clinched a playoff berth in late September. Texas was still in a battle for home-field advantage, and a high-ranking team source said Gonzalez was overruled in no uncertain terms by manager Johnny Oates.
Tuesday, the Rangers traded the petulant superstar to the Detroit Tigers in a nine-player deal. Going with Gonzalez to Detroit were pitcher Danny Patterson and catcher Gregg Zaun. The Rangers received pitchers Justin Thompson and Francisco Cordero, outfielder Gabe Kapler, catcher Bill Haselman, infielder Frank Catalanotto and minor league pitcher Alan Webb.
In the end, Gonzalez forced Texas’ hand by his unwillingness to negotiate a contract. He has one season remaining on his current deal, after which he will become a free agent intent on getting fair market value for his services. Problem is, Rangers general manager Doug Melvin couldn’t get a feel for what’s fair from the Gonzalez camp.
“We feel this was a deal we couldn’t turn down because we did not know where the market was going,” Melvin said. “We keep hearing about the Ken Griffey and Alex Rodriguez numbers and where they were going. That was something I just wasn’t prepared to do at this time.
“I didn’t feel we would be able to put a good, competitive ballclub together by paying those kinds of numbers to one individual. That’s not a knock on Juan or his agent. That’s the system, and sometimes you have to make a decision. The toughest part is you never get numbers from agents. All you hear is ‘fair market value.’ You hear words, but never numbers. And I have to read into that.”
And he didn’t like what he was reading. He’d seen Boston get nothing when Mo Vaughn left in free agency. He saw the Chicago White Sox get zip for Albert Belle when he walked away.
“I could have stood pat,” Melvin said, “but I didn’t want that hanging over our heads going into next season if we weren’t going to be able to sign Juan.”
So he swallowed hard and made a trade that bolster’s a strong team’s depth and probably improves its chemistry in the process. And the Rangers aren’t through yet, either.
The trade not only adds six players to the Texas roster but gives Melvin options to make more moves in the off-season to improve a team that was unceremoniously swept two consecutive years by the World Series champion New York Yankees.
“As we all know, we have to do something to try to catch New York,” Melvin said. “This gives us the flexibility to do some things now. Not only does it give us some cost certainty to pursue our own free agents — Todd Zeile and Mark McElmore have indicated they’d like to stay here — I’m hoping we can sign some more players. We’d still like to add another pitcher.”
That’s because there’s no guarantee that Thompson, a widely coveted left-hander just reaching his immense potential, will be ready by Opening Day after undergoing surgery Aug. 26 to tighten his shoulder.
“We’re prepared to be patient with Justin because we feel he’s a big part of our future. But Cordero can step in immediately and strengthen our bullpen, which was one our bright spots last season. And Gabe Kapler is a highly regarded outfielder who can step in and be our everyday right fielder. He’s a hard-nosed ballplayer, a well-conditioned athlete with a plus throwing arm, good speed and power. We just like the way he plays.”
Catalanotto is a versatile utility infielder with a good bat, giving Oates more options when he needs a pinch hitter, and Webb is a youngster with great promise who will continue his development in the minors.
“I’ve been trying to add a little more left-handed pitching to the organization,” Melvin said. “Lefthanders are difficult to find in the free agent market. Now we’ve added to our inventory of left-handed pitching.”
And they’ve reduced their inventory of headaches.
Among some of Gonzalez’ antics: refusing to dress for the Hall of Fame exhibition game because of baggy uniform pants; ignoring teammates’ congratulations for an RBI because he had grounded out; and trying to take himself out of the lineup on a whim.
Detroit certainly can use the immense talents of its new right fielder. Only when measured against himself did Gonzalez have a down year, with just 39 home runs (barely missing 40 for the sixth time in his career) and 128 RBI, his lowest total since 1995. The Tigers are a team hoping to improve as they move into their new ballpark next spring, and he’ll certainly help fill seats.
If they plan to keep Gonzalez, owner Mike Ilitch will have to write some huge paychecks. He’d be wise to salt a few bucks away for a steady supply of aspirin.
Tom Gage: The Detroit News
Heading into their new ballpark, the Tigers traded for a marquee player Tuesday. They landed prolific run producer Juan Gonzalez of the Texas Rangers.
At what cost, though?
In a stunning nine-player deal, the Tigers acquired Gonzalez, a two-time American League Most Valuable Player, along with backup catcher Gregg Zaun and right-handed reliever Danny Patterson, for six players.
They are pitchers Justin Thompson, Francisco Cordero and minor-leaguer Alan Webb; catcher Bill Haselman; infielder Frank Catalanotto and outfielder Gabe Kapler.
Thompson always had promise, but along with his potential has come a steady parade of injuries. This was clearly a deal of potential for production, though.
“I think this sends a pretty clear message,” Tigers catcher Brad Ausmus said, “that management wants to win going into the new park because Juan Gonzalez is one of the premier hitters in all baseball.
“But I don’t think it’s the last trade you’ll see the Tigers make this winter.” Tigers closer Todd Jones agreed.
“I don’t think we’re even close to being done,” he said.
“But I’m 100 percent excited about this trade. On two different clubs, I’ve been part of a young nucleus for the last six years. Finally, my club is saying it wants to compete now.
“That’s what I like about this trade. We get a premier player. That should tell Detroit this team no longer wants to wait. You hate to trade part of your future, but sometimes you have to do that.
“The only name on the list of guys we gave up that surprises me is Cordero. He could be a fine major-league closer someday.”
General Manager Randy Smith, who made the deal while vacationing in Hawaii, said last week that he expected the Tigers to be active in the off-season. But there was no indication he meant this active this soon.
Gonzalez, 30, who is signed only through this season, hit 39 home runs with 128 RBI this season. The Tigers inquired about him midway through the year but couldn’t work out a deal.
He’s an adequate outfielder, but defense has never been his trademark. Offense has been, and is. He was the MVP in 1996 and 1998, posting prodigious numbers both years. In 1996, Gonzalez batted .314 with 47 home runs and 144 RBI. In 1998, he batted .318 with 45 home runs and 157 RBI.
Gonzalez wasn’t a huge fan of The Ballpark in Arlington because of its dimensions. And Comerica Park will be even larger.
But he has the power to reach seats anywhere and is the proven run producer the Tigers hoped to land.
Jamey Newberg: The Newberg Minor League Report
Well, one thing is clear: This one was an epitaph trade for Mr. Melvin. Will he be Jimmy Johnson or Mike Lynn? Remains to be seen, but I am far, far more optimistic as a Ranger fan than I would be as a Tiger fan. We’re now cheaper, deeper, and younger. And probably not done dealing.
Juan gone. To Detroit. And for Texas to have exacted as much young talent as it did for him is astounding to me. Gonzalez is a great player, one destined for the Hall of Fame. But he is also a player whose two AL MVP awards have translated to one playoff win for the Rangers, and he is a player whose $7.5 million salary stands to double in a year. And if the Rangers, who were planning on going with a couple rookies in the everyday lineup in 2000 plus a kid in the rotation anyway, don’t feel they can go any further next year than they did this season, then the decision comes down to this: You sit down and hammer out a deal with Gonzalez to lock him up long-term now, or you deal him for an advance on your retooling effort. In other words, if 2000 is a retrenching year of sorts with the bonanza free agent market looming in 2001, what good is one year of Gonzalez? Especially after a season in which he reportedly alienated some teammates with his All-Star Game and Hall of Fame Game shenanigans.
We learned from Melvin that the teams that were specified in Juan’s no-trade clause were the Mets, Yanks, Dodgers, Angels, O’s, Braves, Bosox, Jays, Phils, and D-Rays. Wow. He did not want to be shipped to a big market team, obviously. (Why not?) And once you subtract the Mets in particular (many of us were keying in on Octavio Dotel and Roger Cedeno) as a potential trade partner, how many teams had truly indicated any interest in Gonzalez? If Detroit was virtually alone in coveting Juan in his contract year, how was it that we were able to squeeze so much for him?
Big risk, of course. You don’t just replace Juan’s offense, and his absence from the lineup stands to affect Palmeiro’s and Greer’s numbers as well. Can’t pencil in 130 RBI any longer in RF. But again, if this team was not going to pay him $15 million a season for half a dozen years, then you were going to be without him after 2000 anyway. Far, far bigger risk for Detroit. What if Juan decides to test the market and leaves the Tigers after one season? That’s a huge chunk of talent close to the core of the developing Tigers that they have moved to Texas. Zaun and Patterson are negligible additions. They are rolling serious dice in Detroit, and if I were a Tiger fan I would *hate* this deal.
The immediate key is Justin Thompson. If healthy, he can be as effective as Kenny Rogers ever was. But is he healthy? After exploding onto the scene in his first full season (1997) with 15-11, 3.02 numbers, making the AL All-Star team at age 24, there was not a hotter young pitcher in the game. He followed that with an 11-15, 4.05 season, not poor by any stretch for a club that lost 97 games, and he tossed 222 innings (after 223.1 in 1997). But arm problems set in to cripple Thompson’s 1999 season (9-11, 5.11), and suddenly he is a question mark. Which of course made him available. Arm problems made Tim Crabtree and Aaron Sele available to Texas as well. He may be a six-inning pitcher in 2000, which is not a huge problem in Texas . . .
. . . because the Texas bullpen, a strength in 1999, is suddenly even more imposing. Crabtree and Zimmerman and Venafro setting up John Wetteland was one of the main reasons Texas won 95 this year, but Francisco Cordero steps right into the mix (ahead of Zimmerman) as the heir apparent to Wetteland. His 97 mph heat is as close to Armando Benitez-like automatic when he throws it over the plate, although that might be a problem at first. He walked nearly a batter an inning during his 19-inning look with Detroit late this year, but his minor league numbers suggest his control will settle in just fine. In 1997, he was plain dominant in Class A, posting a 0.99 ERA, saving 35 games, winning six, and fanning 67 in 54.1 innings while issuing only 15 walks. He had arm problems in 1998 (a stress fracture in his shoulder), but showed no ill effects this year. In 1999 at AA, the 21-year-old (now 22) fanned 58 in 52.1 innings while walking just 22. He saved 27 games, won another four, and had a 1.38 ERA, and was the Howe Sportsdata Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year. Does this free up Zimmerman or Crabtree for another deal? More on that in a bit. To me, while Thompson might be the key to the deal at the moment, Cordero is the deal-maker.
Gabe Kapler is a doubles machine, and we all know how much Melvin loves the two-bagger. The 1996 57th rounder (there’s only 50 rounds in the draft now) made himself a run producer in the minors, and in 1998 he was Baseball Weekly’s Minor League Player of the Year. Kapler’s numbers in his three full minor league seasons:
YR TEAM G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB AVG OBP SLG
96 FAYET A 138 524 81 157 45 0 26 99 62 73 14 .300 .378 .534
97 LAKEL A 137 519 87 153 40 6 19 87 54 68 8 .295 .361 .505
98 JACKS AA 139 547 113 176 47 6 28 146 66 93 6 .322 .393 .583
Serious numbers in the doubles and RBI categories. Right-handed hitter, enough speed to play CF and enough arm to play right (making Mateo and Kapler interchangeable in center and right). Don’t be fooled by the solid OBP numbers. His upside is not as a leadoff hitter, but he could make a terrific #3 type a couple years down the road if he continues to develop. Kapler was probably rushed a bit this year by the Tigers, with whom he hit .245 with 18 jacks in 416 at-bats, hitting 22 doubles, driving in 49 runs, and stealing 11 bags. He walked 42 times and fanned 74 times. He might struggle a bit this year, but the organization was so thin in the outfield beyond Greer and Mateo (Craig Monroe and Juan Piniella are fair prospects but at least two years away) that the addition of Kapler does well to add someone who can be counted on to play solid defense and drive in 60 runs at less than Roberto Kelly money.
Melvin told the press that he could have had Juan Encarnacion rather than Kapler. Encarnacion is a legit prospect, but his walk/strikeout numbers were frightening this year. Still, he has Vlad Guerrero/Ruben Mateo tools, and for Texas to have preferred Kapler, the club’s scouts must believe Kapler has a real shot to break out. Similarly, Texas could have taken Matt Anderson (the first overall pick in the 1997 draft out of Rice) instead of Cordero, but Anderson took a step back this year, and Cordero has the better upside for the moment. The presence of Cordero and Anderson, and Kapler and Encarnacion, made it possible for Detroit to trade one from each pair, but I am very surprised they did so in the same deal — especially one involving Justin Thompson as well. You’d think there were half a dozen teams driving up the price on Gonzalez.
A contending team can use a guy like Frank Catalanotto. The left-handed-hitting 2B/3B/1B can play defense and scrap around in the Alicea role, and he will be better and cheaper than Luis was. The folks at Baseball Prospectus, whose projections I put stock in, compared Catalanotto two years ago to a poor man’s Craig Biggio as far as his skill set is concerned. A little excessive, of course, but you get the idea. When I wrote a couple weeks ago about the kind of guys you want on your team when facing a better team like the New York Yankees, Catalanotto fits the profile. Jeff Frye. Jim Leyritz. Joe McEwing. Frank Catalanotto. By the way, with the way this team is shaping up, it’s not out of the question that Catalanotto starts at second base next year and bats eighth. I don’t think he’s all that much different a player from Warren Morris, to be honest.
That leaves two guys: Bill Haselman and Alan Webb. Why deal arb-eligible Zaun for Haselman, who will make over $1 million this year? Well, Detroit probably preferred Zaun as a left-handed complement to Brad Ausmus since Haselman hits right-handed. Plus, Haselman was extremely unhappy after he signed with Detroit last winter based on the promise he’d finally have a full-time gig, and weeks after he signed Ausmus was acquired. I think this was more of a concession by Texas than an insistence on its part, but it doesn’t hurt to bring Haselman back, where he was Aaron Sele’s frequent catcher (might that help to convince Sele to re-sign here?) and a solid hitter in his limited role. The question is whether he’ll be content to get just 100 at-bats in Texas.
And then there is Webb. Few have heard of this guy. But he is a solid enough pitching prospect that under no circumstances would he have been a toss-in, a sweetener, slapped onto the back end of the deal by the Tigers. This is clearly a guy Melvin insisted on in the deal. (I might have misheard this, but I think Melvin said at his press conference that Catalanotto and Webb actually turned out to be the two haggling points of the deal, well after the principle players had been determined.) With Weaver and Cordero and Anderson having made it to the bigs, Webb was the Tigers’ top farm arm. Left-handed and small (5’10”, 165), Webb was taken out of a Las Vegas high school as the first pick in the 4th round of the 1997 draft, and he was special in his first full season in 1998. In Class A, he went 10-7, 2.93 with 202 strikeouts in 172 innings (only five minor leaguers fanned 200 hitters in 1998), allowing only 110 hits and 58 walks. In 1999, he pitched all season at age 19 in AA — extremely unusual for a starting pitcher not named Ankiel — and he was outstanding in the first half, going 9-4, 3.38, but lost his last five decisions and finished with a 4.95 ERA. Expect him to pitch in Tulsa in 2000, and here’s another key: Webb does not need to be protected on the 40-man roster yet. In a winter that finds Texas having to make 40-man roster decisions for the first time on guys like Mike Lamb, Jason Grabowski, David Elder, Spike Lundberg, Tom Sergio, Travis Hafner, Trey Poland, R.A. Dickey, and several other legitimate prospects, the fact that Webb doesn’t reduce the available spots by one is a good thing, and should not be overlooked. He is a change-up/curve guy, the classic “crafty lefty,” but apparently one with an attitude (John Tudor comes to mind.)
As for Zaun, his loss is meaningless unless Haselman becomes a clubhouse problem. And Patterson? I think his 40-man roster spot was in serious jeopardy this winter anyway with the depth in right-handed relievers and the near-readiness of Danny Kolb and Ryan Glynn, not to mention David Elder and Matt Miller, who are coming almost as quickly as Jeff Zimmerman did a year ago.
By the way, here’s something that was critical to this deal that you may not hear anywhere else: According to the Rangers media guide, Juan had nine years and 65 days of service time once the 1999 season concluded. When a player becomes a “10/5” man — one who has ten years of big league service and at least the last five with his current team, he has the right to void any trade. (Jim Sundberg voided a deal by invoking his 10/5 rights in the early 1980’s, when Texas and LA had agreed on a deal that would have brought minor leaguers Orel Hershiser and Candy Maldonado to the Rangers for Sundberg. Thanks, Sunny.) That’s important, because had Gonzalez qualified as a 10/5 man, my guess is he would have voided the deal. Think he wants to play in Detroit? (If you are unsure of your answer, consider this quote from Juan after the trade was announced: “The trade hurts my feelings.” And Comerica Park’s dimensions will evidently make Juan long for the fences in Arlington that he regularly complained about.)
One last effect on the Texas roster: the chemistry has been altered. Whether it will be for the better is unclear, but it has been altered nonetheless. And after the third doormat playoff effort in four years, something in the clubhouse had to be shaken up as well. The team did not believe in itself in October, and a new chemistry has a good chance of being a better one. And, of course, the trade clears up serious cash to go hard after Sele or another starting pitcher, which Melvin hinted at his press conference is still on the wish list.
A thought: With Wetteland, Zimmerman, Crabtree, and Cordero all having 8th/9th-inning stuff, and with Elder and Miller barreling in, might another deal be in the offing as Melvin heads to the GM meetings? Crabtree is a coveted pitcher. Something I floated when I was on the Hardline last night assessing the deal was off-the-wall but worth breaking down: What about offering Crabtree and Mateo to Seattle for Griffey, who demanded a trade yesterday? Throw in Carlos Pena? Sure. Griffey will likely end up in Atlanta or Cincinnati, and I cannot imagine Seattle would trade Junior within the division, but which team would not make that deal? Crabby is no longer indispensable with the addition of Cordero, Mateo would be the key to the deal but either he or Kapler would have to sit while the other played RF if Griffey were here, and Pena is blocked by Palmeiro for a few years. (Plus, Gallagher, Hafner, and Jason Jones give us other power-hitting first basemen to develop.) And from Seattle’s angle, all three would fill gaping holes, and inexpensively. Still, a longshot. What about Crabtree for Fernando Vina? There’s your leadoff-hitting second baseman for a year or two while Jason Romano puts the finishing touches on his development. And Milwaukee would move him because Ronnie Belliard is their man at second base now.
I just don’t understand the deal from the Detroit perspective (some would tell you that Cordero, Kapler, and Webb were the team’s three top prospects), and I love it for Texas. Two guys under contract and four who are not yet arbitration-eligible. A lot has to happen right to make this a *great* deal for the Rangers — Thompson has to return to health, Kapler has to develop rather than stall, Cordero has to find the plate — but given the fact that the players are all inexpensive and young, the risk is low, and if two of those three hit their reachable upsides, and if Webb develops . . . . then you have the baseball equivalent of all those number one draft picks that Jimmy stole from Minnesota for Herschel.
Incidentally, I wrote the following in the August 5 edition of the NMLR:
“How about all these Juan-to-Detroit rumors starting to invade the papers? The Tigers are looking for a way to make a splash offensively and expect to have a huge revenue boost as they move into their new stadium next year. What would it take? Texan lefty Justin Thompson will be the name tossed around most frequently, but you would expect it would take more than just Thompson, who has already made an All-Star team at age 26 but has had a rough season thus far (one could read that whole sentence and just as easily insert the name Andy Pettitte, eh?). Detroit wonâÇÖt deal Jeff Weaver, of course. What about Rice Owl Matt Anderson, who hits 100 on the gun, or fellow closer prospect Francisco Cordero? A trade of Gonzalez would leave a hole in either CF or RF, with Mateo inheriting the other. So what about power guy Gabe Kapler, tools guy Juan Encarnacion, or right-field porch threat Bobby Higginson? There could be a match with these two teams, and this off-season might be the right time to take advantage of a team with Diamondback Syndrome: an imminent infusion of bigtime profit on the way and a big head to match. Trading Juan for, say, Thompson and Kapler would save the team a ton of cash and arguably improve the team, as the loss of run production would be offset by the addition of a front-of-the-rotation lefty, not to mention whatever the extra millions would mean âÇ” another legit starter, probably.”
Seems to me that Detroit could have taken the foursome of Thompson, Cordero, Webb, and Kapler, split them into two pairs, and made two significant trades for themselves. (And I’m not sure I wouldn’t have pulled the trigger for Cordero and Kapler alone.) But the Tigers were bitten by the Big Name bug, driven to acquire a marquee name to put butts into the seats as they open Comerica Park, and Texas was the beneficiary, in my opinion, much as the Cowboys capitalized on Minnesota’s belief that it was a Herschel away. Despite the fact that Texas has traded away a likely Hall of Famer and two-time MVP, in the long run I believe this day will be remembered as one of Doug Melvin’s, and the organization’s, finest.
Kevin Lonnquist / Arlington Morning News
Maybe Rangers general manager Doug Melvin is crossing his fingers after the shocker of a deal he pulled on Tuesday.
By sending two-time American League MVP Juan Gonzalez to Detroit, the Rangers may not know how good their deal with Detroit will turn out until the 2001 season.
Lefthander Justin Thompson, a Texas native, had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder and may or may not be at full strength when the season starts in April.
Melvin maintains the theory that it will not be known how much a pitcher has recovered from an arm injury until the second year. The first year involves too many highs and lows.
If Thompson can bounce back and recover, then the trade looks good. If he never gets it together, then the Rangers will have received several non-impact players.
But owner Tom Hicks’ mission is clear. He wants as many left-handed pitchers he can get to overtake New York for American League supremacy. Yet Hicks understands a younger club next year may take a year before find its niche.
“I’m not looking for this year mainly but for next year,” Hicks said. “When you go younger, you run the risk [of going backward] that could happen. I’d like to believe it won’t.”
By trading Gonzalez, the Rangers have some extra cash available to make a serious run at righthander Aaron Sele, who is expected to file for free agency, and maybe add another pitcher.
The Rangers could sport a revamped pitching staff. But Hicks wants to beat the Yankees and wants lefthanders for the task. Thompson is a start and adding a Yankee-killer like Anaheim’s Chuck Finley could be another great addition.
The Rangers still need to address their situation at third base and second base and find a respectable leadoff hitter if they don’t put Rusty Greer there. Manager Johnny Oates said those are the four areas they still have to address.
But to be sure, this trade will not offer the same Rangers that took a bludgeon-a-team-to-death approach into every game for the past four years. That method translated to a 1-9 record in three playoff appearances.
A good model to copy is the world champion Yankees. Their pitching was the second best in the American League, their defense was more than respectable and they didn’t need power to win. First baseman Tino Martinez led the team with 28 home runs.
“It’s just the facts,” Hicks said. “We’ve had three chances in the past four years and our best success was the first game [in 1996]. It’s clear this group did not have the ability to go to the next level. We had to change the components.”
So let’s look at what the Rangers got in return. If Thompson regains anything close to his form, the Rangers have a real diamond.
“I said a couple of years ago that he was the second-best lefthander in the game behind Randy Johnson,” Rangers designated hitter Rafael Palmeiro said. “It’s very unlikely we can replace those numbers that Juan put up, but we have to start winning some 2-1 games. If Justin gets close to where he was, then it’s great boost.”
Outfielder Gabe Kapler is a great physical specimen who will patrol right field with the same reckless abandon Rusty Greer does in left field. Kapler hit .245 with 18 home runs in 130 games in his rookie season and called it a learning experience. He knows he will be under some scrutiny his sophomore campaign.
“I hope [people] are watching,” Kapler said. “They will expect something out of me, and I expect a lot from myself. But I take pride in the way I play.”
Utility infielder Frank Catalanotto could be the starting second baseman but will likely replace Luis Alicea as the reserve infielder. He has power and the ability to play several positions.
Righthander Francisco Cordero is the wild card. The Rangers remember him on Aug. 12 when he struck out all four batters he faced and needed only 17 pitches. He went 2-2 with a 3.32 ERA and was wild. He walked 18 and gave up 19 hits in 19 innings but also struck out 19. The Rangers view him as a potential closer but for now a great compliment to their bullpen stacked with John Wetteland, Jeff Zimmerman and Tim Crabtree.
Lefthander Alan Webb is an intriguing pitching who is still about another year away from making an impact. But the Rangers like his potential.
Catcher Bill Haselman is making his third tour of duty with the Rangers. He always has been well-regarded as one of the most knowledgeable players in the game.
Clearly, the 2000 Rangers will sacrifice home runs for strikeouts. The philosophy is changing. Manager Johnny Oates’ mantra since he arrived in 1995 was preaching pitching and defense, pitching and defense.
Now, he gets a chance to prove it.

What I’m Saying

Well, it’s still a bit shocking to think of the fourth spot in the Ranger lineup not having Juando occupy it (that’s probably Palmeiro’s spot now), but I have to like the trade as a baseball fan. The knee-jerk reaction is to say that this will be bad for the Rangers (trading a 2 time MVP like Juan), but I grew up in Philadelphia, a team that’s perennially bad. I have lived with “don’t look at the short term value of this” for a lifetime, and with that in mind, I really like this trade.
(I’ll have more comments later – as I write this page, it’s 12:30AM, and I’m kind of tired :) )

What You’re Saying

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