Brewers deal LHP Doug Davis to DBacks in 6 player deal

[jacksonianmarch]

Johnny Estrada, Greg Aquino, and Claudio Vargas to the Brewers for Doug Davis and two prospects. This is a big deal and what I think is a huge steal for MIL.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061125&content_id=1745907&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[ORS]

DRays? Looks like the DBacks to me. I figured Davis was on the block due to him being FA after next year.

[jacksonianmarch]

yeah, I meant the DBacks. Crap. How do I change the title again?

[jacksonianmarch]

there we go

[example1]

Estrada is a good player. Too bad the Sox can't get him.

[jacksonianmarch]

Varitek is signed for 2 more yrs. Estrada will be 31 this season. By the time Estrada would get the spot, he'll be declining as a C. He's a nice catcher, but he is nohing special due to his age.

[example1]

I kind of feel like there are somewhere between 5-10 "special" catchers in baseball. The rest are guys who will hopefully give you one category that is above average and will play at least average defense.

[jacksonianmarch]

there are much fewer than 5. Mauer, McCann....... Posada and Vtek were special, vtek has declined and Posada will soon as well. Estrada is borderline special, but not really and he is too old to really be special.

[Gom]

Posada is still elite, there is this guy in Cleveland who is pretty good, lol...and the Detroit catcher isn't that bad, but he has a noodle for an arm....

 

Come to think of it, all the good catchers are in the AL. There really aren't any good ones in the NL.

[example1]

there are much fewer than 5. Mauer' date=' McCann....... Posada and Vtek were special, vtek has declined and Posada will soon as well. Estrada is borderline special, but not really and he is too old to really be special.[/quote']

 

Pudge is still a special catcher and for their leadership and defensive abilities I would definitely consider Varitek and Posada in that class. I think Jojima is going to be there by next season. I would definitely say that Victor Martinez is a special player, for as long as he remains a catcher--which may not be too long. Ramon Hernandez had 23 HR and 91 RBI for Baltimore last year too.

 

I'm sticking with my 5-10 "special" players, with "special" being in reference to your "he is nothing special" comment above. I think you're right that he's not special, but there are 5-10 catchers that I would say ARE special (i.e., worth going after specifically or being content to have them producing on your team; not run of the mill).