Tony Graffanino Traded to Red Sox

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/story/8658733

 

The Royals pulled off their first trade of the season Tuesday afternoon when they sent veteran infielder Tony Graffanino to the Boston Red Sox for two minor-league players.

 

The deal came together in the last 24 hours when the Red Sox sought a replacement for injured second baseman Mark Bellhorn.

 

The Royals received left-hander Juan Cedeno from Class A Wilmington and outfielder Chip Ambres from Class AAA Pawtucket.

[RedSoxRooter]

Strange... I used to know his sister when we both worked at a Steak & Ale in Athens GA about 10 years ago. He was with the Braves at the time.

 

I guess I'm special.

[trotmanNixon]

What is this all of a sudden? Three trade related posts in like a matter of minutes, its pandemonium.

[DrewDaGreat]

I was about to post this. Good pickup.

[vegassoxfan]

great news. bad for soxiefangirl. bye bye bellhorn

[CrespoBlows]

Graffanino is hitting .298/.377/.398 so far this year.

 

Only 28 K's this year.

[yeszir]

I guess I'm special.

But we already knew that.

 

Career stats through last year:

Year Ag Tm  Lg  G   AB    R    H   2B 3B  HR  RBI  SB CS  BB  SO   BA   OBP   SLG   TB   SH  SF IBB HBP GDP 
+--------------+---+----+----+----+---+--+---+----+---+--+---+---+-----+-----+-----+----+---+---+---+---+---+
1996 24 ATL NL  22   46    7    8   1  1   0    2   0  0   4  13  .174  .250  .239   11   0   1   0   1   0
1997 25 ATL NL 104  186   33   48   9  1   8   20   6  4  26  46  .258  .344  .446   83   3   5   1   1   3
1998 26 ATL NL 105  289   32   61  14  1   5   22   1  4  24  68  .211  .275  .318   92   1   1   0   2   7
1999 27 TBD AL  39  130   20   41   9  4   2   19   3  2   9  22  .315  .364  .492   64   2   0   0   1   1
2000 28 TBD AL  13   20    8    6   1  0   0    1   0  0   1   2  .300  .364  .350    7   0   0   0   1   1
        CHW AL  57  148   25   40   5  1   2   16   7  4  21  25  .270  .363  .358   53   1   1   0   1   1
        TOT AL  70  168   33   46   6  1   2   17   7  4  22  27  .274  .363  .357   60   1   1   0   2   2
2001 29 CHW AL  74  145   23   44   9  0   2   15   4  1  16  29  .303  .370  .407   59   4   3   0   1   4
2002 30 CHW AL  70  229   35   60  12  4   6   31   2  1  22  38  .262  .329  .428   98   4   2   1   2   2
2003 31 CHW AL  90  250   51   65  15  3   7   23   8  0  24  37  .260  .331  .428  107   3   1   1   3   1
2004 32 KCR AL  75  278   37   73  11  0   3   26  10  2  27  38  .263  .332  .335   93   4   2   0   3   5
+--------------+---+----+----+----+---+--+---+----+---+--+---+---+-----+-----+-----+----+---+---+---+---+---+
9 Seasons      649 1721  271  446  86 15  35  175  41 18 174 318  .259  .330  .388  667  22  16   3  16  25
+--------------+---+----+----+----+---+--+---+----+---+--+---+---+-----+-----+-----+----+---+---+---+---+---+
162 Game Avg        430   68  111  21  4   9   44  10  4  43  79  .259  .330  .388  166   5   4   1   4   6
Career High    105  289   51   73  15  4   8   31  10  4  27  68  .263  .332  .428  107   4   5   1   3   7

[MC Hammer]

I guess this makes sense and all but I dont understand why Theo had to give up Ambers. We traded a top prospect for an average 2B. I know Bellhorn is bad but, again, we need to sure up the bullpen before we do anything else. Doesn't make sense in that aspect.

[trotmanNixon]

Graffanino is hitting .298/.377/.398 so far this year.

 

Only 28 K's this year.

 

Good, now I can watch a second baseman that does not strike out every at bat. It will be nice not seeing Bellhorn strike out every time. I like the majority, were getting a bit tired of him to say the least.

[Sox fan in Tex]

What? Chip Ambres is gone? :rant: As long as it's best for the team.

 

[edit: YAY! a second baseman that won't strike out]

[Tek4pres]

Grafanino is pretty patient too. 22BB's and 3.88 pitchs/ab. Doesn't have too much of a drop off against RHP (actually better against righties this year). Seems to fit in really well to the Sox lineup.

 

Interesting splits:

Avg at home this year: .224

Avg on the road: .358

 

Kaufman Stadium is a pretty big park so his numbers could go up at Fenway. (Though he hasn't actually had an AB in the past three years there.)

 

Probably looking at a platoon when Bellhorn comes back.

[CrespoBlows]

I guess this makes sense and all but I dont understand why Theo had to give up Ambers. We traded a top prospect for an average 2B. I know Bellhorn is bad but, again, we need to sure up the bullpen before we do anything else. Doesn't make sense in that aspect.

 

Chip Ambers isn't a top prospect at all. He's one of those AAAA players.

[riverside sluggers]

Adam Stern is an all star compared to Chip, im surprised we didnt have to give up much. "Tony G" welcome to Red Sox Nation. and by the way Alan Embree, heres your pink slip and dont let the door that says 7.76 ERA hits your ass when it slams shut My wish list is being fulfilled past several weeks, mantei, foulke and bellhorn all sudden goin on DL, Alan Embree being cut, Tony G is coming to beantown to take over second base with not worrying about Alex Cora as a starter. Ok once Curt and foulke are healthy, halamma is cut, and gabe kapler is back. It'll be us saying to the yankees "You hear those footsteps?"

[Tek4pres]

Tony G has played a number of games at 3B. Could this be a setting up an eventual move with Mueller going to the Twins?

[Soxfan1]

So embrees been released and graffinino is going to start even when beelhorn gets back?

[riverside sluggers]

hope not, billys my favorite sox player--kinda ironic the time the trade deadline comes, sox will be wrapping up a three game series with the twins.

[riverside sluggers]

sox fan #1, i think thats indicating towards either cora or bellhorn would mostly likely be traded off/designated for assigment

[CrespoBlows]

From ESPN.COM

 

Hitting, Baserunning & Defense

 

A patient hitter, Graffanino shows good strike-zone judgment and makes average contact. He has trouble with righthanded power pitchers. Still, Graffanino handles the bat well; he can bunt or be used on either end of a hit-and-run. Because he reads pitchers' moves well, Graffanino is a successful basestealer despite merely average speed. Although he lacks range to be a regular shortstop and his arm is mediocre for third base, he provides a steady glove anywhere around the infield.

[riverside sluggers]

Tony G has worked all 4 infield positions this season. I read that former Sox prospect Adam Hyzdu, who was sent to the padres but traded back so padres could have scott cassidy, Adam Hyzdu will join the team for tonights game and serve as the 5th outfielder.

[BoSox21]

they're putting minor pieces in place but we need that big trade. we need that A.J. Burnett trade

[riverside sluggers]

dude aj burnett is just about to sign on the dotted line for the orioles. Them gettin embree gone and adding a 2nd baseman capable of playing all infied positions and batting avg of .298 is big changes for the sox, filling some holes

[CrespoBlows]

they're putting minor pieces in place but we need that big trade. we need that A.J. Burnett trade

 

Forget about that, he's on the verge of being traded to the Orioles.

[BoSox21]

are any of you seriously comfortable with our rotation against playoff teams? what we have is NOTHING close to a 1-2 punch of Schilling and Pedro and even with that, we were 3 outs away from being swept out of the ALCS

[stevece80]

Let's be real, the Red Sox don't NEED AJ Burnett, they NEED to address other holes like infield depth (check), and they're going in the right direction with addressing the bullpen by acquiring Bradford and at least addressing Embree's "situation".

 

Hell, the Red Sox "need" to address 1B before another starter.

 

The Red Sox, regarding Burnett, needed to up the cost for the Orioles, and whether they did or not is anyone's guess. All I know is the O's are giving up quite a bit of depth on their team in hopes that Burnett is the ace they're lacking.

[CrespoBlows]

Let's be real, the Red Sox don't NEED AJ Burnett, they NEED to address other holes like infield depth (check), and they're going in the right direction with addressing the bullpen by acquiring Bradford and at least addressing Embree's "situation".

 

Hell, the Red Sox "need" to address 1B before another starter.

 

The Red Sox, regarding Burnett, needed to up the cost for the Orioles, and whether they did or not is anyone's guess. All I know is the O's are giving up quite a bit of depth on their team in hopes that Burnett is the ace they're lacking.

 

Hey, welcome back, and how about them A's, nice to see them back from the dead.

[stevece80]

I don't really like the A's, but it's pretty incredible how much they've turned around. Shades of 2001.

[yeszir]

I don't really like the A's, but it's pretty incredible how much they've turned around. Shades of 2001.

Didn't that whole thing stem from someone accusing you of being an A's fan?

[stevece80]

Certainly did, though I still think that av is pretty funny.

 

For what it's worth (regarding the trade), Juan Cedeno was one of Zen's faves, I never got the obsession.

[CrespoBlows]

Didn't that whole thing stem from someone accusing you of being an A's fan?

 

Yeah it did, but you got to give someone credit when their right. They said the A's would compete, I didn't. They might have a shot at the West if their pitching can hold together.

[CrespoBlows]

Certainly did, though I still think that av is pretty funny.

 

For what it's worth (regarding the trade), Juan Cedeno was one of Zen's faves, I never got the obsession.

 

Probably the "Pedro" comparison he got on soxprospects, and the fact that he could throw hard. I saw him pitch once down in Sarasota, he threw hard, but couldn't locate anything.