Sean Casey Coming Home

[3-2 Changeup]

ESPN reports that the Pirates got Sean Casey from the Reds for LHP Dave Williams. I've always been a big Dave Williams fan, and I don't know what this portends for Craig Wilson, but Littlefield has FINALLY made a move!!!!

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2250330

[Greymire]

I am not sure how I feel about this. I like Dave Williams also, but he was expendable I guess with all the lefties we have. I expected one of them to be dealt. Casey is a great guy and while he is capable of hitting 20 plus Home Runs in PNC with the short porch in right, he only hit 9 all last year despite hitting .312 in 529 AB's. He drove in 58 runs last year and his career high is 99 which he hit twice. He also expressed that he was upset with the trade and wanted to retire a Red. He did add though, that if he had to be traded, he hoped it would be to Pittsburgh. Littlefield more or less stated that he did not think Eldred was quite ready yet and they wanted him to work on defense and cut down on his strike outs. I HOPE they do not platoon Casey and Wilson. That would make this a HORRIBLE move in my opinion. Casey is an everyday player. Wilson will not hit better than .260 to .280, is a defensive liability at first (he is ok in right, but not great). I look for Littlefield to add a right fielder as well and do not be surprised in Wilson is in the deal. Casey only has one year left on his contract so if Eldred appears to be ready, I look for this to be a one year deal for Casey. Sort of a shame to treat him that way.

[00_Agent]

It is sort of a shame to treat him that way, I was thinking the same thing. But I believe it's a pretty good deal for us, even though we had to give up Williams...you have to give up something to get something, and I think will really help the offense. I expect Sean to have a good year.

I do not think they will platoon him. If Wilson ends up in a platoon, it will be in right, but you never know...we might still end up with Milton Bradley, which I personally wouldn't mind.

00

[3-2 Changeup]

Why is Wilson suddenly not an option in RF. I would have thought that penciling him in after Bay and Casey would be a natural. Not that you don't upgrade if you have the opportunity, but it sounds in the press like the Bucs are disinterested in Craig altogether.

[Greymire]

Why is Wilson suddenly not an option in RF. I would have thought that penciling him in after Bay and Casey would be a natural. Not that you don't upgrade if you have the opportunity, but it sounds in the press like the Bucs are disinterested in Craig altogether.


A couple articles on ESPN have mentioned that the Bucs are shopping Craig around and that a couple teams are interested. They also mentioned that a lot of teams are interested in JAck Wilson, but I hope they keep him.

[3-2 Changeup]

You know, I've thought about the possibility of packaging Jack with a pitcher and moving Freddie Sanchez to SS. I had not heard of the interest in Jack but it should not surprise me. Jack is the best defensive SS in the league IMO and I believe Jack will rebound to have a productive year offensively in 2006. At the same time, assuming that Craig's hand is healed, I expect .270 BA 30 HR and 80 RBI this year. There must be more to the story that we don't know.

[Greymire]

Craig is still a very iffy gamble. He has yet to produce well for a full season and he is very streaky. I think adding Casey is huge because it gives us another consistent bat to go with Bay. All hitters will have a minor slump during the year, but Craig seems to be either very hot, or very col, and normally there are more very cold times. Yet his power potential is so intriguing.

[imgreat95]

I am not ready to give pup on Craig just yet. He was hurt for the majority of last season. 2004 having been his first chance to play every day, I was quite impressed with the numbers he put up. I would like to see if he can improve on that any.

[3-2 Changeup]

I also would like to see Craig have a shot at RF. I wonder what Jack and a pitcher or two would bring at 3B, with Freddie moving to SS?

[imgreat95]

I dont like the idea of Freddie playing SS full time at all. As someone on another board said, he would have to hail himself a cab in order to get to many balls up the middle that Jack gets to routinely. The problem with trading for a 3B is simply the fact that as I see it, no one of any value is even available.

[00_Agent]

Right, who could we even bring in? Sanchez will bat around .300 this season and improve upon his power numbers...a few more homers and more doubles. Not that I ever expect him to give us enough power, not for a third basemen...but why waste money when we can't make a major upgrade? Perhaps it would be wiser to try and get that power from some other position and keep the status quo at third for now. I like Sanchez, he can hit.

I don't think he should be at short though either. Jack was playing well towards the end of 05 and I expect him to put together a nice season in 06. And his defense is always magnificent.

00

[3-2 Changeup]

Hey, I don't WANT to see Jack swapped. But since his named was mentioned, wondered what he'd bring. Would you swap Jack's range for 30 HR and 80 RBI at 3B? I think I would.

[00_Agent]

Hmmm...good question. I think I would do that too if we could make it happen.

00