Renteria Trade Good for Both Sides

October 31, 2007 @ 06:45:54

By Rob McCarthy
Edited by Ryan Dodson

Let the games begin! The battle lines have been drawn, and the Detroit Tigers dropped the first hot stove bomb of the offseason on Oct. 29 when the Tigers acquired former Atlanta Braves shortstop Edgar Renteria for former Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens and minor league outfielder Gorkys Hernandez.

As the 2007 regular season slowly wound down for the Tigers, the revelation that acquiring a top-tier hitting, Gold Glove-caliber shortstop in the offseason was a crucial need. To facilitate the move, the Tigers promptly announced that 2007 Detroit Tigers shortstop Carlos Guillen would begin the 2008 season at first base, thus creating yet another quality first baseman to consider in next season's drafts.

The addition of Renteria to the Detroit lineup sends a major ripple through the American League Central, although the 32-year-old Renteria is likely on the decline from his best season in 2003 with the St. Louis Cardinals. In that season, Renteria won a Gold Glove and hit a lusty .330 with 13 home runs, 100 RBI, 96 runs scored, 34 stolen bases and a career-best .874 OPS in 587 at-bats.

Last season, Renteria was limited to 124 games due to a lingering ankle injury, his lowest total since his rookie season in 1996 with the Florida Marlins when he played in only 106 contests. However, Renteria did hit .332 with 12 home runs, 57 RBI, 87 runs scored, 11 stolen bases and an .860 OPS in 494 2007 at-bats. 

Renteria's presence in Detroit only boosts his value in the coming year, and if healthy, he should be good for a .300 average with 10 home runs, 70-plus RBI, 95 runs scored and 10-plus stolen bases with one of Major League Baseball's most potent offenses. 

On draft day, consider the five-time All-Star if you miss out on one of the top-five stud shortstops like Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez, New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. It is safe to think of Renteria as a top-10 option on your 2008 draft board.

Guillen's move to first base will be something to keep tabs on in the spring as well, especially in regards to his position eligibility in fantasy leagues. There is a slight chance that, in some leagues, he may be eligible at both first and shortstop, which would increase his draft value significantly. 

Down south at Turner Field in Atlanta, the new heir to the shortstop throne will be soon-to-be 25-year-old shortstop Yunel Escobar. During his first stint in the majors in 2007, Escobar hit .326 with five home runs, 28 RBI, 54 runs scored, five stolen bases and a .837 OPS in 319 at-bats. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Cuban defector is considered a phenom prospect at the position in big league circles and will be given every opportunity to succeed in the Atlanta heat. 

A potential powersurge is indicated by 24 percent of Escobar's 104 hits resulting in 25 doubles. So, expect him to hit somewhere around .300 with 15 home runs, 75 RBI, 100-plus runs scored and 10 stolen bases in a full-time role next season. He should be thought of as a top-15 shortstop next year and most likely won't be on any waiver wires come early May.  

In Jurrjens, the Braves inherit a 21-year-old righty that started seven games for the Tigers last year and went 3-1 with 13 strikeouts, 11 walks, a 4.70 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP in 30 2/3 innings. In addition, Jurrjens limited opposing hitters to a nasty .220 batting average and was considered the No. 4 prospect in the Tigers' minor league system entering 2007.

In 2007, with the Double-A Erie SeaWolves, Jurrjens started 19 games and went 7-5 with 94 strikeouts, 31 walks, a 3.20 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP in 112 2/3 innings. 

Jurrjens showed flashes of brilliance with the Tigers last season, exemplified by his Sept. 16 start against the Minnesota Twins when he recorded his first major league win in a two-hit, six-strikeout performance in 5 1/3 innings. Owners will need to be very cautious and patient with him as he develops under fire. 

Expect Jurrjens to compete for a spot at the back end of the rotation in the spring and pitch like a young and inexperienced kid for most of the year. However, it is possible that Jurrjens will shine and reach 10-12 victories with 100 strikeouts, a 4.00-plus ERA and a 1.25 WHIP in roughly 185 innings. Someday, Jurrjens may be spectacular, but I wouldn't invest a pick in him unless you're in a deeper league.

In Hernandez, the Braves bring on a 20-year-old outfielder that was considered the No. 7 prospect in the Tigers' system entering 2007. In 2007 with the Class A West Michigan Whitecaps, Hernandez hit .293 with four home runs, 50 RBI, 84 runs scored, 54 stolen bases and a .735 OPS in 481 at-bats. I doubt fantasy owners will see Hernandez any time in the near future. Most likely, he will be spending most of his time with the Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach Pelicans and could possibly move up in the system sometime during the year.

Coming into the season, expect Renteria and Escobar to be the main producers out of this trade for the time being. They are quality fantasy plays on a nightly basis, barring any injuries, with Escobar possibly developing into something special as the season moves along. I wouldn't invest anything major in any of them, or expect anything great either, but the addition of each of them to your squad will undoubtedly have a positive impact on your league standings at the end of the year. 

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Rob McCarthy
Rob has been with KFFL since 2007.

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