Going Green? Looks like the Angels got a good start.
In addition to drafting Hunter Green last month, Jerry Dipoto has flipped the oft-overlooked Alberto Callaspo to division rival Oakland in exchange for AAA infielder (and top prospect) Grant Green.
What does Green mean for the team?
Green is going to be under club control for six years. That means for him to be here, someone ELSE will have to go, unless he absolutely falls flat and rides pine until he's forgettably non-tendered.
Yeah, right.
Green is having a KILLER season thus far in AAA Sacramento. I took the liberty of adjusting his stats to Anaheim (thank you, Minor League Equivalency calculator) over the spread of 144 games (a full PCL season). Here's what it yielded:
641 AB, 89 R, 182 H, 39 2B, 4 3B, 14 HR, 67 RBI, 34 BB, 125 K, .284/.327/.422
Ladies and gentlemen, we have acquired a second Howie Kendrick, except this one is cheaper and under our control longer. Thus meaning the old model could very well be on his way out--but not necessarily.
I have heard Green compared to Ben Zobrist, in that he is versatile. He is capable of playing second base, shortstop and third base, and some have even hypothesized a first base move in his future if his power improves. But for now, let's examine what happens if Green cements himself at either 2B, SS or 3B:
IF GRANT GREEN GOES TO SECOND BASE
Howie Kendrick is a guarantee to be on the move. This winter, when teams throw briefcases of money at Robinson Cano and Chase Utley, Howie Kendrick will be the team-friendly alternative, and the Angels will be able to rake in the prospects. The Royals, Orioles, Blue Jays and Dodgers were all connected to him this deadline, and all could be players for him this offseason.
IF GRANT GREEN GOES TO SHORTSTOP
Kendrick stays, but Erick Aybar will be the hot commodity in trade talks. The shortstop market is almost perpetually thin both in free agency and in trade, so Aybar's availability will make demand for him EXTREMELY high. The Angels could be in position to demand a top prospect from any team he goes to. The Cardinals, Red Sox and even the Athletics once again could be in pursuit of Aybar, and names like Mike Wacha, Allen Webster and Sonny Gray (respectively to their teams) could ALL be in play.
IF GRANT GREEN GOES TO THIRD BASE
Then we are no longer sellers, and here is why: Kendrick and Aybar are more likely to stay. However, our top two minor league third basemen, Luis Jimenez and Kaleb Cowart, are blocked. Both become trade chips--and big ones. Grant Green at third base puts us in prime position to use the likes of Jimenez, Cowart and Cron to bag a top pitcher in trade. Green at third very likely puts us right back in buy mode. Rightfully so? Maybe not, as our system is still thin. However, Cowart becomes a very big trade chip, unless the team simply shifts Grant to shortstop or second base once Cowart is ready.