Adam Jones for SS

[Sports Guy]

I am starting to think this is the way to go.

There aren't many good SS prospects out there and the ones that are there are either far away or will be starting for their teams very soon.

My idea here revolves around the Pirates.

The Pirates are in need of a catcher....So, let's say we get Clement and Jones in a Mariners deal.

I think what may be best for us is to put Adam Jones back at SS and trade Clement to the Pirates in a deal to get McCutchen or McLouth.

I like the idea of Brignac for Clement and do think that is possible but Brignac did see a big drop this year AND he may end up at third anyway.

So, we may be better off using Clement to get a very good young CFer and putting Jones at SS.

[erb8472]

I'm just not sure about Jone's defense at shortstop. Our young pitchers could be in a lot of trouble with Jones at SS, and Patterson at 2b.

Not really building Defense up the middle with those two.

[TyCobb]

I don't think the Pirates will trade McCutchen. I think our best case would be to find a team in need of a Catcher and trade for something the Angels would want so we can get Wood. Another Idea would would be to trade with the dodgers for Pierre and Hu. I rather the LAA idea.

[erb8472]

If we can actually have above average offensive numbers at LF and 1B then I wouldn't be against trading for a defensive SS (thinking Aybar or Cedeno).

[Frobby]

I can't see MacPhail and Trembley having a SS with a questionable glove. Wasn't that half the reason they were so eager to trade Tejada? They may stomach Patterson at 2B, but they will go find a guy who can field with Luis Hernandez and hit a bit better.

[TyCobb]

I have no clue why we aren't trying to offer Payton or Bradford with Roberts for Cedeno. AM has to have a plan somewhere right?

[erb8472]

Let's wait until the Roberts deal is announced before we decide Cedeno is not a part of the package.

I'm hoping that he is in there, but you never know.

[PeteCanes]

I'm sure this has been posted in some other thread long ago, but what was the reason for the Mariners switching Jones to the OF? Poor SS defense? Better fit in the outfield in their system?

[El Gordo]

I don't see why we can't target Hu. Surely we must have something the LAD's could use. Liz, Penn, Olson? You always need pitching.

[erb8472]

Depends who you talk to.

Some say it was because they already had Betancourt at Short, others will tell you it was because he committed 78 errors in 275 games at shortstop.

I'd say it's because he averaged an error every 3.5 games.

[mweb]

1970 posted some reports from Baseball America or Sickels or something like that said he had poor hands for a SS. So if that's the case, and considering he hasn't played there recently, I don't think it's a good idea.

And we would need to add something to Clement to get McCutchen.

[PeteCanes]

Depends who you talk to.

Some say it was because they already had Betancourt at Short, others will tell you it was because he committed 66 errors in 245 games at shortstop.

geesh... that's a lot of errors.

He was 18 at single A and 19 at AA so perhaps that has a lot to do with it. Regardless, that's pretty ugly. I'm sure Betancourt at SS made the move a no-brainer for the M's. I figure he would have improved though if they had kept him at Short. Probably a lot to think about being 19 at AA.

Looking at his ages and numbers throughout the minors makes this guy look pretty sick. I say keep him in the outfield if they are able to get him and let him worry about just mashing the baseball.

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/J/Adam-Jones.shtml

[erb8472]

1970 posted some reports from Baseball America or Sickels or something like that said he had poor hands for a SS. So if that's the case, and considering he hasn't played there recently, I don't think it's a good idea.

And we would need to add something to Clement to get McCutchen.

IMO opinion you are hurting his offensive value by asking him to switch back to shortstop because you've now got him worried about his defense and not his offensive approach at the plate. It's not worth it in my opinion to mess with his head and move him to ss.

[Lucky Jim]

I think there's zero chance the O's do this. I also think that they're right in not considering it.

[NoVaO]

From John Manuel's chat today:

Mark (NY,NY): Which prospect package do you prefer? Adam Jones and Jeff Clement; Adam Jones and Brandon Morrow; or Johnny Cuetto and Votto?

John Manuel: Jones is the best player in any of those deals. I'd love to know if Jones could still play SS; he moved there two years ago b/c of Betancourt's presence and Bavasi's desire to speed him to the majors to take Jeremy Reed's place. If he can still play SS he has even more value. I'd prefer him and Morrow.

Based on past scouting reports, he should be able to make the transition, but I doubt he would be anything more than above average if even that.

However, what you do when you move him to SS is that you take away an elite defender at a premium position. I believe some have estimated that he has the potential to save somewhere between 10-20 runs a year.

So unless you have a CF option that really makes sense (like Pie), leaving Jones in CF is probably for the best.

And I doubt the Orioles would do it anyway. Not that its of much concern to me, but he didn't hit much as a SS in the minors so the line of it isn't broke, don't fix it applies here.