Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star is reporting (via Twitter) that infielder Alberto Callaspo has been dealt from the Royals to the Angels in exchange for right-hander Sean O'Sullivan and minor league left-hander Will Smith.
Callaspo has a modest .275/.308/.410 line in 373 plate appearances this season, though that still represents a big upgrade over the .411 OPS of Brandon Wood, who has seen most of the action for the Halos at third base. Callaspo was originally signed by the Angels as a free agent in 2001, and spent four years in the club's system before being dealt to Arizona for Jason Bulger in 2006. With Callaspo now in L.A., it potentially opens up a spot at third base for Mike Moustakas should the Royals want to give their top prospect a look over the last two months of the season. Moustakas has an OPS of 1.067 in 326 plate appearances at Double-A and Triple-A this season.
O'Sullivan, 22, has spent most of his year at Triple-A Salt Lake City, where he has posted a 4.76 ERA in 15 starts. A third-round pick in the 2005 amateur draft, O'Sullivan was the Angels' organizational pitcher of the year in 2007 and has a 5.15 ERA in 17 career major league games (11 of them starts).
The Royals rejected a previous offer for Callaspo two days ago that consisted of O'Sullivan and "a fringe prospect," so presumably K.C. was more attracted to Smith, a seventh-round pick in the 2008 amateur draft. Smith has a 4.24 ERA and a 3.47 K/BB ratio in 55 games (52 of them starts) in the Los Angeles minor league system, though his numbers have worsened this season as he's been elevated from high-A ball to Triple-A.
Oh snap! The Fresh Prince just left Bell Air!
Texas adds Cliff Lee.
Angels add Alberto Collapso.
Seems even.
If you infer that this will be the only move… But when you assume you make and ass out of u and…. ooo wait just you.
Try waiting til after the deadline to make your judgements. Also don’t forget the angels schedule was much harder the Texas the first half. The roles switch here in the second half. Being 6 games back it is Texas’s to lose but if they cool off that lead will shrink fast. Why deplete the system when you still have a window of opportunity.
Should have went with Jaden Smith… he’s a better long-term solution
Pretty sure the point was to not get a long term solution.
Terrible.
Not sure how Callapso is different than Aybar and Izturis. A little pop, a little speed, a little versatility. I wouldn’t be shocked to still see the Angels go grab someone like LaRoche.
At least now Brandon .185 OBP Wood can be put out to pasture.
talk about busts. who would have figured.. I’d like to see the jays get wood, give him some time and a change of scenery
I’ll get wood if given time. Wait…. Errrr….. not the right place for stupid humor.
lol. im surprised and disapointed i didn’t go there myself
u mean like edwin encarnacion and yunel escobar? are the blue jays like the rehab of baseball?
u mean just like edwin encarnacion and yunel escobar? are the blue jays the rehab of baseball?
Jeez, how can anyone be THAT bad at hitting? He makes Jake Fox look like Mickey Mantle.
I have a higher OPS than Wood. ive never played baseball.
Callaspo has no speed at all
He has 3 SBs…that’s something, even when compared to Aybar (15 SB) and Izturis (4 SB). My point was that he does no one thing well…
Yea, but Izturis has been injured for a big part of the year so the 4 SB is a little off.
Touche’
He does 1 thing well, make contact.
He does walk, does play good defense, doesn’t run well, and doesn’t have much power. Well, the power comes and goes. He hit a lot of doubles last year and then started this season with a lot of pull power from the Left-side. All of that has gone away since May.
I think they are done with acquisitions with Callaspo.I think it will be a good fit, but I also think O’Sullivan will be good as well. He is young and affordable as a SP in KC.
Done? If that’s the extent of their buying, they don’t have a chance.
Wouldn’t say they don’t have a chance. After all, they’re competing with the Rangers. It’s not like being in the A.L. East. Historically, Texas tends to fold late in the year.
Hullo has said it; don’t bother playing anymore games now.
The Royals are now gettin jiggy with it.
I’d have to say no, but I think “Na Na Na Na Na Na Na” might be more fitting
Welcome to Miami has been changed to Welcome to Kansas City, and now Here Come the Men In Blue.
mediocrity defenders?
They won’t let you remember.
Many Royals fans would be grateful if they couldn’t remember the last 20+ years…
…
You’re right…I apologize. Being raised a Cubs fan, and occasionally rooting for the Royals (mostly b/c of the ’85 WS), I know all too well the pain of habitual ‘waiting for next year.’ I meant no true ill will…
Not a bad acquisition for the Angels considering they gave up very little. It’s going to take a bit more time for the Royals to shape these two pitchers.
The Royals didn’t give up much either. Callaspo is an average player. He doesn’t play 2nd very well but is average at 3rd. He is a contact hitter with sporatic power who has hit every single home run of his career in the last season-and-a-half. If pitching is the currency of baseball this was a pretty decent move by the Royals imo.
The Royals didn’t give up much either. Callaspo is an average player. He doesn’t play 2nd very well but is average at 3rd. He is a contact hitter with sporatic power who has hit every single home run of his career in the last season-and-a-half. If pitching is the currency of baseball this was a pretty decent move by the Royals imo.
Moore sold a bit too low on Callaspo since he wasn’t hitting so well this season. Still, two young arms who have had some success is nice. Now I have to wonder who plays 3B on a daily basis since Gordon is playing LF in AAA. Please not Willie Bloomquist.
Enter Wilson Betemit.
That’s who I was thinking too.
I would guess Wilson Betemit will man 3B the rest of the way.
Betimit or Bloomquist will hold it for the rest of the season until Moose can get in there next year.
Ding Ding Ding… Bloomquist will be at 3B rest of the season unless they bring up Moustakas…
Way too early for Moustakas, he’s just getting his feet wet in Omaha. Let’s not rush him like we did our last hot prospect 3B. I really hope The Spork gets traded for crap.
What happens to Brandon Wood now?
DFA?
why do i get the feeling that he wont fully hit his previous expectations until he leaves and joins another team?
This guy<<<<< is still surprised at just how bad Brandon wood sucks, so much talent
Brandon Wood is the model AAAA player.
Callaspo’s eh. He used to kill the White Sox on a consistent basis. Glad he’s not on the Royals anymore.
Didn’t Callaspo use to be a good prospect? What happened?
He tanked in Arizona.
Had a good year in KC and is now back to mediocrity.
I’m not sure how to feel about this move. dbeer23 said it best “he does no one thing well”. I guess this will mark the end of the Brandon Wood trial. A shame to say that but we can’t have him on the team if we want to make a run.
I think this is better than jamming a ton of top tier talent for Fielder or Dunn. I actually think that now that Arizona has made it open that Haren is available, the Angels will make a strong push at acquiring him. It has been made clear in the past that the Angels admire him and they would have the money to sign him to a long term deal. Not to mention they wouldnt need to worry about the transition to the AL because haren has played there before.
You cant plug one leak with the best glue available and leave the rest of the holes to leak….youll still have a problem. Your better off using some good glue and plugging multiple holes.
mlbtraderumors.com/2009/12/as-royals-had-failed-ta…
Really gotta wonder how much (assuming) worse a package they turned down for him back in December….Dayton Moore isnt known for making sound moves or trading when players are at their peaks. He probably turned down a much better package from Beane.
I wouldn’t say that at all. If there is one thing I have learned as a Royals fan is never trade with Beane. If he wasn’t to part with the player, well, then they just aren’t any good.
I’m sick right now.
Look O’Sullivan and Smith are nothing more than organizational arms. That said, there is value in having those guys around.
Callapso is not an upgrade. With Izturis back I just don’t see how everyone is going to get AB’s. Frandsen isn’t a long term answer but he hasn’t been the problem either. Wood now has a full half-season of consistent starting under his belt. No way would I write him off yet.
I just don’t get it. If you are going to make a move that benches Wood and makes Izturis a super-utility then you have to go big. This is not a big move. I just don’t get it. Frankly I wouldn’t have traded O’Sullivan straight up for Alberto, let alone include Smith.
Assuming they hold on to Izturis or Frandsen, dont forget that Maicer is a free agent after the year is over. They could trade him for some relief pitching, a starter or even another bat should they find the need.
Maicer signed an extension last offseason and is under contract for another two seasons after this one.
You’re right, I was mistakenly thinking of his brother Cesar. Either way Maicer would be a very attractive piece. With Callaspo we may be able to afford parting with Izzy. I look at the addition of Callaspo as the Angels’ version of Texas getting Molina. Its just to seal a hole and improve on a position no just for this season but for multiple seasons. After this series with Texas is over I see the Angels making a large contention move should they still be within striking distance. If they are not I see them riding out what they have and shooting for next season.
Well Hot damn diggity Will Smith plays baseball now too.. for the Winter he gains 250lbs to play RT for the New Orleans Saints
The Royals got hosed. Callaspo is a solid hitter who is an adquate third baseman. He lacks speed, but is a good clutch hitter who would fit in well in the 6 or 7 hole. O’Sullivan and Smith don’t project as anything more than mediocre middle RPs; the Royals have better on their staff now.
I disagree…O’Sullivan was the Angels minor league P of the year in ’07. He’s not going to supplant Greinke as team ace, but I think he can be a very good #3 SP. Solid, not spectacular.
It’s not a bad trade. Sullivan is 22, regarded as an Angels top prospect for years..
The reason why I would’ve liked to keep Callapso is because he can also play second and left. The return is solid though. He would’ve gotten a nice bump in salary next year as well.
The start of the fire-sale. People shouldn’t regard it as a Neal-Hungington like fire-sale though. Callapso is replaceable in every position.
We’ll see what we do about DeJesus. He’s not as replaceable, but he has some real value. If we can get O’Sullivan out of Callapso, we should be able to get a nice return from DeJesus.
Basically, if we trade Callapso, Farnsworth, Bloomquist, Chen, possible Davies, and Bannister, and Gullien (gone next year anyways), we’re going into next year in better shape than this year. Ideally, if we keep DeJesus, I assume next year will be Dayton’s mission at competition. Moustakas a 3B, Colon at SS, Aviles/Getz at 2B, Butler at 1B, Ka’aihue DH. Gordon, DeJesus, Maier/Free Agent/Parraz/Trade in the outfield..Greinke/Meche/Hochevar///Bannister-Davies-Crow-Duffy-Bullington-Free Agent in the outfield. The next two years will define Dayton Moore, as they should be the Moustakas-Crow-Hosmer-Duffy-Montgomery-Myers-Lamb years.
Moustakas will start the year in AAA, next season, and Hosmer may join him or still be in AA. The Royals are not going to rush these guys. KC is stacked with talent in the minors and it will all just get here when it get’s here. They are particularly loaded with top level LHSP prospects. We could easily have an all lefty rotation in 2 years if we wanted to. But of course you don’t do that, so that’s one of the reasons why O’Sullivan has value as a ML ready RHSP. That and the fact that he’s not a power pitcher, so he offers a contrast of style which is always good.
Wilson Betemit has been a steal of a pickup. Here’s a former cream of the crop prospect, who will get a chance to play everyday. It took him a long time to get it all figured out, but he like Callaspo is a switch hitter, who will be more productive as an RBI guy, while also playing a great 3B.
Lastly, the Royals will probably make another trade very quickly, because they have to make a roster move, and it’s likely to be a OF, either Podsednik, Guillen, DDJ, Ankiel, or Bloomquist. IMO, DDJ is untouchable. And just like this trade, the Royals really don’t have an organizational need, and are already loaded with pitching….A RH power hitting corner OF, is the one thing they lack.
Yeah, I know the farm system. If Moustakas continues to dominate AAA like he’s been doing the last few days, there’s a pretty good chance he doesn’t start the year at AAA. Hosmer on the other hand is younger, and still developing, so he will start at AA or AAA.
Betemit is nothing special. Yuniesky, Bruce Chen, Bryan Bullington, and Phillip Humber, as well as many of the pickups we made in hops of restoring players, were all projected to be great. He’s been a steal of a pickup because of the numbers he’s put up so far, but please don’t get too excited about him. Just like no one should be getting too excited about Kyle Farnsworth, and how no one should’ve gotten too excited about Bruce Chen’s ERA lasting, or Jason Kendall hitting 300, or Yuniesky OPSing 720.
DeJesus isn’t untouchable at all. His value (hoping his injury isn’t too bad) is the highest it will probably ever get in his career. Dayton’s made some darn solid pickups since the year started (Ray Navarro, Texiera, and you can even count Edgar Osuna, and now O’Sullivan), DeJesus could fetch us a future piece. If we’re planning on doing a Wilson Betemit/Josh Fields platoon at 3B next year, it’s basically saying we’re not planning on getting very far, so trading DeJesus is the way to go for 2012 when there’s a pretty good chance Moustakas, Hosmer, Duffy, Colon, Crow will be up, and a possibility to have Montgomery, Lamb, Myers, and Dwyer up, and stuck in between could be Tyler Sample as well.
Personally, If Moustakas does what he did in AA in AAA, He’ll be here opening day next year, along with Kila Ka’aihue. If Colon keeps hitting Wilmington, there’s a chance he can make it on opening day as well.
Thankfully by opening day next year, Jeff Bianchi, Danny Duffy, and hopefully Aaron Crow can be on the track we were hoping they would during this past off-season.
Banny I think it also speaks to the depth we have in this org that Will Smith who is #15 BA prospect in a thin Angels system barely squeezes into the Wilmington rotation. He was scheduled to start for the Travs (Angels’ AA) tomorrow night.
Meanwhile we got Dwyer going Saturday night in one game of a twinbill. I feel like he’s kind of flying under the radar with all the talk about Lamb and Montgomery and Crow and what not, but this kid is real good.
Totally agree with everything you said on who should be dealt. Same thing we’re thinking down here, will be interesting to see who stays and who goes. Take care of our friends Woody and Lash up there!
I follow every minor league game from Burlington A to Omaha, so Dwyer hasn’t been flying under any radar for me haha. The media doesn’t know much about the minors anyways.
What I find most ironic is earlier in the season when he was struggling in Wilmington, the Wilmington announcers themselves said he was overpaid and shouldn’t be in High A during one of the games.
I’m excited Ray Navarro is starting to hit, along with Christan Colon in Wilmington.
Danny Duffy today was great, hopefully he hits AA soon (Picollo had said he’d go straight from Arizona to NWA earlier..I guess he’s taking him slow)..Meche was solid last night..
I think Moose will start in the majors next year. Dayton said that he wants his prospects will have a chance to compete for the ROY when they come up. Spending a couple of months in AAA won’t let him compete.
Well somebody like Tommy Hanson came in June. Somebody like Chris Coghlan in May. If he makes it before July, he has a chance for ROY. Nevertheless, I think he’ll start the year in the majors to have a set 3B.
Dbreer23. I think ur right on the money and to complete a deal they should go get a first baseman that hits lefty
LaRoche would seem to be a likely fit. If the Giants weren’t feeling competitive this year, Huff would be another fit. Maybe they can get Branyan on the cheap.
Mark kotsay Adam laroche there r a few sick deals we. Can. Make
I don’t see why the Royals wouldn’t give Moustakas a shot at big league pitching. The difference between talent at AA and AAA isn’t anything like the jump from A or A+ to AA.
Moustakas isn’t like Gordon. He doesn’t post the high K rate that Gordon did even in the minors. While there’s definitely room for improvement, I don’t see any harm in having him challenged with big league pitching. If KC really is going with a very young starting 9 next year, then it would do them good to have some guys acclimated to the big leagues a bit more.
The reason they wouldn’t give him a shot at ML pitching is they want to control him longer. You don’t bring up a prospect just because the fans are itching (if you’re smart you don’t.)
If DM does this right we’ll suffer through another lousy season next year and let the minor league talent continue to develop. Then in 2012…maybe later in the year, we should start seeing some of them popping on the roster with expectations that a whole crop of them will emerge in 2013, making the Royals competitive. That’s the plan I think and I support it.
Bloomquist has played 3 games at third this year. Betemit or Chris Getz will be the everyday guy, I still think Betemit will be traded too…
Reagins sucks.
Derrek Lee’s probably next, giving the Halos quite a push to the 2nd the half to overtake the Rangers. People don’t know it, but Callaspo, as it is, put into the Halos lineup will make them that much better for their style of offense. Like a glove!!
If the Halos tank against Texas in the next few days I would consider moving any and all of the following players …– Abreu (salary relief only)– Rivera (salary relief + B level prospect)– Kendrick (salary relief + couple B level prospects)– Wood (since they won’t play him at 3B – won’t get jack for him though)– Saunders (salary relief + B level prospect)– Matsui (salary relief but not much since the team would have to eat a chunk of the remainder)– Napoli (salary relief + A level prospect – hate to trade him but the Angels are hell bent on him not catching)– Then you have the refuse that people wouldn’t take regardless of how much money you kicked in … Kazmir and Shields. That’s $30-35m in savings from this year and next. Izturis can play 2nd. Callapso can play 3rd. Morales will be back to play 1st. That leaves holes at P, DH, and OF. Bourjos can man one of the OF positions (hopefully CF and have Torii move to LF or RF (yeah right I know). You take the $35m and fill one corner OF spot + the DH + a starting pitcher. That’s a lot of money for those positions. You can use the left over to focus on adding depth.I really hope that the Angels consider moving into seller mode if they are out of it. They need to start focusing on 2011. Frankly, this team is just not good right now and things need to change.
Normally I agree with your musings, but Kendrick needs to stay and I think Rivera has value. The rest doesnt piss me off.
Agree. Losing Kendrick would be a major mistake. The Angels have to make a decision as to who their DH will be next year. If it’s Abreu, then they can trade Napoli. If it’s Napoli then they can trade Abreu or Rivera. I say trade Rivera.
Not to mention the fact that Izzy can’t stay healthy for a full season and would need to platoon at 2B with someone. Kendrick’s untouchable. Losing him for anyone not name Cliff Lee would be cutting off your nose to spite your face.
i agree with everyone u say but maybe abreu and kendrick
i like nap too..but we need a 1rst baseman pure and simple
i agree with everyone u say but maybe abreu and kendrick
i like nap too..but we need a 1rst baseman pure and simple
This is a terrible move …no matter which way you look at it. Another base hitting guy that from what I have read and seldomly seen cant even really run that well? Osullivan just pitched great against the yankees, and it seems to me that our pitching really sucks this season…(bullpen esp. and excluding guys like weaver) Pinerio has been decent but shakey…Im with the guy that said “i just dont get it”. You have to wonder what the hell they are thinking up in the big offices. We dont need another guy like him, we need a bat at first and an ACE. Haren would be good to add. Fielder? Yea sounds good but he would just pull a mark texteria and leave at the end. It would be cool go get morales back throw him at 3rd and fielder at first…or vise versa…..that would assure good power…then you could use isturus/aybar for SS kendrick would be fine still at second. Like I said though I have been so let down recently by the angels decisions on what players to buy my head is spinning…
only time will tell..
“It would be cool go get morales back throw him at 3rd and fielder at first…or vise versa…..that would assure good power.”
Uh, Morales at 3rd? Fielder at 3rd? Both are first basemen. I couldn’t see Fielder playing third anyways, since he is listed at 5’11”, 270. That would be pay-per-view type stuff.
wow, let’s use our brains. Callaspo would move to third. Morales isn’t going anywhere.
I think this was a good deal. The infield is stocked with useful tools in Aybar Izturis Kendrick and Callaspo and the Angels gave up a back of the rotation starter at best.
Kinda what I was thinking.
And the deal is kind of underrated. Callaspo can win a few games with his bat, and is pretty versatile (although he isn’t great at any position).
I just hope that this O’Sullivan guy sticks around at least as a back of the rotation starter. I don’t know a whole lot about him. Dayton Moore hasn’t exactly been winning over fans with the moves he has made…
so basically they traded for another Brandon Wood? that’s awesome….not.
Brandon Wood has hit about 100 points lower in the majors than callaspo. Callaspo has proven himself the last two years as an everyday player who will help, not hurt, his team.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see him hit better in a lineup that gives him more opportunities to knock in runs and put pressure on the opposing pitcher.
One thing wrong with this trade is they got a glorifed second baseman playing third. He cannot hit for power, and the angels need power.