Proctor Swapped For Betemit

[Dr. FLK]

From Rotoworld:

ESPNews reports that the Yankees have traded RHP Scott Proctor to the Dodgers for infielder Wilson Betemit.
A Proctor-for-Betemit swap has been talked about dating back to last season, when Betemit was still a Brave, but the Yankees were already rumored to be looking for bullpen help, which makes the timing odd. Proctor's arrival in Los Angeles could signal the end of the Dodgers' interest in Octavio Dotel. Betemit is deserving of more playing time than he received from the Dodgers, but doesn't figure to find regular at-bats behind Alex Rodriguez.

I guess this shows us the value of an RP. Bradford should have more value than Proctor, but not enough more to land someone like Milledge.

[square634]

Is it possible that Chris Ray (if he hadn't had the injury) had even more value than we thought?

[Sports Guy]

I always thought Ray had similar value to what he had in the offseason.

BTW, very solid trade for the Yanks IMO.

If/when AROD leaves, they have his repalcement.

[TGO]

I always thought Ray had similar value to what he had in the offseason.

BTW, very solid trade for the Yanks IMO.

If/when AROD leaves, they have his repalcement.

They also have the option of moving Cano at some point (either to another position or in a trade). From what I've heard Betemit should be able to handle 2B.

[Shopay]

That's a wash in by book.

[orioles119]

And has nothing to do with what the Orioles could get for Bradford.

[tywright]

MFY still need relief pitching

[Sports Guy]

Proctor has thrown a lot the last 1.5 years...You have to wonder if maybe the Yanks think he could wear down and struggle down the stretch??

[olehippi]

Proctor was definitely outhouse material in the minds of MFY management and fans. But the question begs, why are the Yankees, and other teams, able to trade away their crap, and the O's can't?

[blueberryale77]

They also have the option of moving Cano at some point (either to another position or in a trade). From what I've heard Betemit should be able to handle 2B.

Moving Cano other than when he's approaching free agency and getting expensive would be pretty silly of them, besides, Betemit's getting a little old to learn a new position and 2B is not the defensive throwaway some people seem to treat it as. Cano is not a great 2B but he's improved with each year and is decidedly better than a converted 3B would be. What I'm hearing from Yankee fans is that Betemit will get some at bats at 1B and serve as insurance in case ARod leaves after this year.

[Shopay]

Proctor was definitely outhouse material in the minds of MFY management and fans. But the question begs, why are the Yankees, and other teams, able to trade away their crap, and the O's can't?

I think Proctor has a pretty good arm but has simply been overworked the last couple of years. Plus, Betemit is not a huge upgrade.

[Camden_yardbird]

Proctor was definitely outhouse material in the minds of MFY management and fans. But the question begs, why are the Yankees, and other teams, able to trade away their crap, and the O's can't?

I was thinking this a few minutes ago. When I saw that trade went down, and that some think Boston has 4 really, really good pitching prospects, I thought - how could they do something by trading their okay prospects and we couldn't right now.

Part of the answer is, I think, that our FO has not been could at framing the value of our prospects too much. They often overvalue our prospects and that leads teams to believe our prospects are not as good as we say they are (even if they really are).

The second answer, I think, is that winning breeds confidence. Since Proctor came from a winning team, it inspires other teams to have confidence in not only what they say, and how they value their players (because they had to value them correctly to be winning), but also the credence that team has.

I see this trade roughly the equivalent of us trading Parrish for Betemit. But Parrish coming from the O's looks like a bad team getting rid of a worse player. Proctor coming from the MFY's looks like a good team getting rid of a player who is not a star, but still is above average.

[mikezpen]

Another thing that may be slowing the Orioles is how the John Maine trade backfired. Makes them more hesitant to deal pitching when, in reality, that's about all they have that's valuable.

[TGO]

Moving Cano other than when he's approaching free agency and getting expensive would be pretty silly of them, besides, Betemit's getting a little old to learn a new position and 2B is not the defensive throwaway some people seem to treat it as. Cano is not a great 2B but he's improved with each year and is decidedly better than a converted 3B would be. What I'm hearing from Yankee fans is that Betemit will get some at bats at 1B and serve as insurance in case ARod leaves after this year.

The guy came through the minors as a shortstop. He should, theoretically, be able to handle second. When the Braves moved him to third there were people saying he might have been better going to second, but at the time the Braves hadn't soured on Giles yet.

He will not hit enough to be a starting third baseman, I will tell you that right now. I'm not saying they should make the move now in the middle of a pennant race, just that it gives them the option in the future in the event they re-sign Rodriguez. Personally I think Betemit's best role is utility infielder. I don't like his bat as much as most. Still a pretty good deal for the Yankees, though.

[section34]

What's the 411 on Betemit? Seems like the Yanks could use the solid bullpen arm reather than this guy...

[Ruzious]

The guy came through the minors as a shortstop. He should, theoretically, be able to handle second. When the Braves moved him to third there were people saying he might have been better going to second, but at the time the Braves hadn't soured on Giles yet.

He will not hit enough to be a starting third baseman, I will tell you that right now. I'm not saying they should make the move now in the middle of a pennant race, just that it gives them the option in the future in the event they re-sign Rodriguez. Personally I think Betemit's best role is utility infielder. I don't like his bat as much as most. Still a pretty good deal for the Yankees, though.
I don't agree with that point. In the limited chances he's gotten in the majors, he's hit well and shown some power - .442 lifetime slugging percentage at age 25. If given the opportunity, I could see him coming on in the same fashion that Brandon Phillips has with Cincy. I would have liked to see the O's get Betemit - just as I said I would have liked to get Phillips when he was struggling before Cincy rescued him.

[TGO]

What's the 411 on Betemit? Seems like the Yanks could use the solid bullpen arm reather than this guy...

He's versatile. Hasn't hit this year in LA but if you look at his MILB stats and some of his time in Atlanta you might project him to be a decent hitter. He'll be a good utility guy at the least and as blueberry said he's the fallback plan in case Rodriguez leaves and they don't get anyone else.

As a hitter he's actually sort of similar to Cano, but I don't think he's nearly as good. He's in the swing at everything mold that Cano is, and occasionally Betemit has hit for .300+ and shown flashes of power, though not quite the pop that Cano has. I don't think he will hit .300 in extended time, though, and that's what he needs to do to be a good hitter because he doesn't walk all that much.

As for Proctor, it's pretty clear the Yanks wanted to get rid of the guy. Betemit is probably the best offer they had. You're right, you'd think they would want more relievers and not fewer, but they wanted Proctor out of there. They want Farnsworth gone, too. Those two are buddies so it might be a clubhouse thing. It could also be that Joe has pitched their arms off and they're terrible now.

[TGO]

I don't agree with that point. In the limited chances he's gotten in the majors, he's hit well and shown some power - .442 lifetime slugging percentage at age 25. If given the opportunity, I could see him coming on in the same fashion that Brandon Phillips has with Cincy. I would have liked to see the O's get Betemit - just as I said I would have liked to get Phillips when he was struggling before Cincy rescued him.

I should amend that to say I don't think the Yankees will be pleased with his production at third if they play him there everyday. Not after ARod. ;) (and especially if they don't have a slugger at first base) He would be an option for a team like us. With enough ABs he would likely outhit Mora. But I think that's probably the top end of his projection.

[RayFink1e]

Why would they trade their best pitcher other then Rivera in the bullpen?

[Baltimoron]

Why would they trade their best pitcher other then Rivera in the bullpen?

Wilson Betemit (.231/.359/.474) > a middle reliever with the same service time.

Joba's (the K machine) is on the way up. He would have been the best non-MO reliever anyway.

[Ruzious]

I should amend that to say I don't think the Yankees will be pleased with his production at third if they play him there everyday. Not after ARod. ;) (and especially if they don't have a slugger at first base) He would be an option for a team like us. With enough ABs he would likely outhit Mora. But I think that's probably the top end of his projection.
Fair enough. It sounds like you know what you speak of. And actually, I was thinking the Mora comparison as well - that his career could run somewhat similarly.

[Ruzious]

Well, Betemit is off to a heckuva start for the Yankees. I think they flat out stole him. This trade was 1 of 3 examples of relievers being way overpriced at the trade deadline. Boston made a horrible trade, and Atlanta screwed up giving up a talented young starter for Dotel.