On July 31, 2000, the Padres and Cardinals swung a trade deadline deal that sent Heathcliff Slocumb and prospect Ben Johnson to San Diego in exchange for catcher Carlos Hernandez and minor league utilityman Nate Tebbs. The swap is little more than a footnote in team history, though it could’ve been a far more legendary trade had Johnson been replaced with another prospect who was on the Padres’ radar — Albert Pujols. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch details the intriguing history of that would-be deal, and how the Cardinals front office had to make a decision between including Pujols (a famously unheralded 13th-round pick in the 1999 draft) or Johnson, a much more highly-touted fourth-rounder from that same draft. Pujols showed so much promise in his early pro career, however, that the team ultimately decided to move Johnson and spend more time evaluating a potential hidden gem. “I really didn’t want to give up Ben, either, but that’s why you always have your top guys scout your own system,” said Walt Jocketty, then the Cardinals’ general manager. “You have to know your own, like Pujols. There was no way we could trade him. No way, just based on what our guys had seen in a short period of time. They said, ‘I think he’s going to be something special – or has a chance to be.’ When I saw it myself, it was obvious.”
Here’s more from around the baseball world…
- Even with Rich Hill on the IL for an undetermined period of time, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman isn’t planning to make starting pitching a particular focus at the trade deadline. “I don’t see it being an area where we spend a lot of energy,” Friedman told reporters, including Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. “Could that change? Of course. But I don’t expect it right now. We don’t expect it to be an area of need.” In fact, Friedman didn’t think his team had any obvious weak spots, which perhaps isn’t a surprise given the Dodgers’ league-best 54-25 record. Instead, the front office will look out for “impact players,” since such additions are “what moves the needle in October.”
- In an interview on “The Front Office” on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (audio link), Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto reiterated that his trade deadline efforts will be directed towards moving veteran players. Younger and more controllable members of the Seattle roster are less likely to be moved, since they are part of what Dipoto hopes “is a very quick turnaround” within 12-18 months. “Some of the guys that we do have here that attract the most trade attention, particularly guys like Mitch Haniger, they’re critical to our growth. So at some point, you do have to build around something,” Dipoto said.
- With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cavan Biggio now in the majors, speculation is swirling in Toronto about when Bo Bichette could make his Blue Jays debut. A consensus top-12 prospect in the sport prior to the season, Bichette has a .256/.316/.453 slash line and three homers over 96 Triple-A plate appearances in 2019, while missing over six weeks due to a fractured hand. As a result, Jays GM Ross Atkins told Sportsnet.ca’s Ben Nicholson-Smith that Bichette still needs a bit more seasoning in his first stint at the Triple-A level. “We’d really like to see some time in triple-A and have him get his legs under him and have a good strong foundation before we have that discussion [about a promotion],” Atkins said. For comparison’s sake, Nicholson-Smith notes that Biggio had 174 PA and Guerrero 162 PA for Triple-A Buffalo before getting the call to the Show.
Mr. Friedman seems to be one of the few people in baseball who doesn’t seem to think the Dodgers couldn’t stand some improvements in the bullpen.
Would you prefer Hand or the pirates lefty?
I can see at least four good fits for the Dodgers pen. I just hope Friedman sees it the same way before the best of them are taken by other contenders.
Just noticed my awful double negative. Ugh. Too late to fix it.
He’s already said he’s going to be aggressive in seeking bullpen help.
In article he says that the team has no apparent weak spots. Do you have a quote from him talking about the bullpen?
“Our guys have the stuff and we have enough diversified looks to be really good down there,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. “We’re not doing it. We haven’t done it to this point consistently enough. But we do feel like there’s a potential for us to have a really good bullpen with internal guys. If we’re able to do that, great. If not then we’ll try to remedy it from the outside.”
From two weeks ago. Seems his view isn’t the same now, but who knows?
He knows – he’s just deadpanning it.
In the post he was talking about starting pitching.
Pujols career would’ve died before it started had he been traded to the Padres.
Yeah because it killed Tony Gwynn’s career. Or Trevor Hoffman.
Yea it didn’t kill them but trout killer law chance for a ring with that albatross contract
Trout killed his chance? Is that what you meant? Autocorrect can be a pain in the A sometimes…
Trout killed the LA Angels’ chance?
2 players in all of Padres history…
Benito Santiago … Dave Winfield … Randy Jones … Mark Davis … Ozzie Smith …
Or Adrian Gonzalez.
lol. 2 players in the history of the Padres playing at either Qualcomm or Petco. I repeat, his career would’ve been over if he had been traded to the Padres.
As far as Bichette is concerned, I’d have to agree with the Jays. Leave him in AAA. He is not nearly as good a prospect as Vlad Jr or Biggio.
As said before, his bat will be exposed at the MLB level. He’ll be a below average bat and average fielder, probably 2nd base. #Scoutseyes
You’re going to look really dumb if Bichette is really good as he has a chance to be. Cavan was in A ball and hadn’t hit a HR at bichette’s current age. Biggio was in low A ball at 21 and Bichette is sitting in AAA.
Though I will say Biggio could’ve been a bit overlooked as a college bat because I think he has a good chance to be a solid regular with his advanced plate discipline.
Many scouts are dumb. That has been proven year in and year out. Look no further than the Toronto Blue Jays.
I do agree with Jimmer on the long swing and Bichette profiling better at 2B. However, I do believe Bo will adjust and breakout. Not right away, maybe not year 2. I’d say 2021 is fair. Last couple years he has started slow and I expect more of the same in Toronto.
No one bats .1000 in scouting – simple as that.
But the guys getting paid to do it, and going to get more hits than you or I. So no, they’re not dumb.
If scouts were smart they’d be doctors. Write that down.
.1000 is pretty low. Definitely below replacement level
1.000 on the other hand is a totally different story
10 times as good!
Graciously overlook the typo, with kindness.
Really I would have to disagree that the long swing is going to be a problem when you are known for insane bat speed. On a normal human being I would agree with you but I don’t think he will be exposed as Jimmers scout yes believes.
Bat speed won’t matter if the bat path is not where it needs to be. We have already seen an all-world hitter like Vlad be humbled, and he was mashing AAA pitching. And AA. Bichette didn’t mash in AA. Certainly isn’t mashing with the same authority as Vlad in AAA.
You can have your bat speed. The long swing will be an issue, as it already is in the minors based on Bo’s numbers as he accelerates through the minors.
@trimreaper. I did. With a footnote as the dumbest thing i’ve ever seen on MLBTR and that’s saying a lot
Says the guy that can’t spell Baseball. Well, your comment is the second L you are looking for.
Going to look really dumb? I’m guessing you haven’t read much of Jimmy’s posts.
I assume you’re joking…right?
#eventuallyyoureyesgetglaucoma
Hes a much higher ranked prospect than Biggio is. And his bat is what is carrying him. Not sure where you’re getting your information
Prospect rankings really don’t matter. Kevin Smith was higher than Biggio. Logan Warmoth was higher than Biggio. Anthony Alford was higher than Biggio. Richard Urena was higher than Biggio. All were higher for an extensive amount of time.
The point? Biggio worked his tail off and sometimes the scouts get it wrong.
Isn’t Biggio hitting .210?
Or are we cherry picking where he’s been hot for a week or two and ignoring his entire body of work?
are you still just using BA as an example of hitting? in this day and age? really? step out and look at a few other more important stats.
Yep. But .210 is still .210.
Aah. Now, it is “sometime.”
I loved the part where you actually posted anything at all.
So right now batting average seems to stand
Feel free to post whatever you’d like, just make sure it includes more than the last 10 days is my point.
I think we can all agree .210 is a bad batting average. If someone wants to dispute that they should probably be muted in any baseball conversation. We all can’t force a balk to generate runs.
lol. Balk.
Well Jimmer….that happened yesterday agains the Bosox. Grichuk was prepared to gag with RISP again, and drew that all-important balk call to cash in a run. That extension is an embarrassment.
I saw it too. It was funny. Only the Jays.
Grichuk’s extension can go two ways: one, it is a anchor around the Jays financial neck because Grichuk continues to be a dead pull hitter and swings at the low and away slider for a 3rd strike, or two, he begins to use the whole field and becomes a .279 hitter with 30 bombs/yr and that contract looks like the Bautista deal, a bargain.
Heathcliff Slocumb, other than having one of the most comical names in the history of the game will go down for being involved in the deadline deal involving Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek going to Boston, well after Slocumb’s useful years had passed him by.
Yes, until Varitek retired, Mariners fans were still bringing that up in forums, with good reason. Of course we’ve had a lot to complain about since.
Hoping the Dodgers obtain relief pitcher Will Smith from San Francisco. Then it’ll be enjoyable listening to Joe Davis’ play-by-play: “A bunt out in front of the plate, Will Smith picks it up … and throws it down to Will Smith covering first just in time…”
“As actor Will Smith cheers from behind home plate.”
If there’s a Will, there’s a way.
will you guys just stop… please?
Don’t see Bichette coming up until the Jays get rid of Galvis or someone gets injured. Big concern with Bo is his glove at SS.
As for his bat, he’s had two seasons in a row with a slow start. There will need to be patience with him in Toronto if he has another slow start. The long swing swing might expose him, however I think he works really hard and will work his tail off to be great. I have faith Bo will make adjustments.
As we’ve seen with Vlad, it’s a jump from the minors to the majors. The big leagues are humbling and always providing lessons for young players. I do hope Bichette comes up sooner rather than later to learn what it will take to play in the big leagues.
I doubt they’ll let galvis stand in the way when bichette is ready
Even if Galvis is gone it does not necessarily mean Bichette is up. He should, and the Jays need to begin the improvement process sooner rather than later. This organization could potentially wait until April 2020 and use the “he needs to work on defense” excuse. Would not be shocked by that approach.
The Pujols circus has left St. Louis, and miraculously, my nausea has gone away.
The most interesting observation out of the Pujols celebration came from Matt Vasgersian (I think it was Matt, anyway), He noted that had Albert’s return to St. Louis come nearer in time to his signing with the Angels, the reception would likely have been a whole lot less friendly.
I’m just waiting for the obligatory “Pujols wore a Redbird uniform so he was never that good” type comment. Come on NS, don’t disappoint! Tell us how one-dimensional he was
StanWomanly, please go to your bank, withdraw some money, and go buy a clue.
The Pujols story reminds me of an interview I heard with Roger Waters of Pink Floyd.
He presented the band with two ideas and said “we are going to do one of these as a band and the other will be my solo album.”
One was The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking. The other was The Wall.
“And they, quite cleverly, chose The Wall.”
Pujols hit a lot of baseballs over The Wall.
Maton is the worst PADRES reliever ever! How much longer do we have to watch him block other pitchers in the system? He should be cut today.
It’s interesting going to games with my wife because of her outsider observations. We went last night and saw Pujols’ last at bat in STL. She immediately started calling out Cards fans for cheering for an opposing player during the at bat when their own player was struggling on the mound. While Gant is a big boy and can handle it, I have to say I agree with her. I have no problem with the ovation when he came up to bat, but after that you are trying to get him out. He is loved, but on the other team. Hearing the stadium erupt into “Albert, Albert” was not great to hear.
Cardinals fans have a bad habit of looking through rose colored glasses when viewing history. And we have so much of it there’s an era for every age to cling to. While I am a big believer in history and remembering the good times because they’re not happening all the time, we can’t get sucked into the lie that everything was hunky-dory at those times. All I hear is “Mozeliak is terrible” but we forget that Jocketty gave up more talent for bad trades that we like to remember. We hear “LaRussa” was great but we forget the countless “gut” managerial decisions he made that cost games. I’m not saying that there wasn’t a net positive, but if you’re going to be a baseball fan you have to have a little more perspective and be able to view history as it was. And on that, Cardinal fans have been in short supply lately. There’s a reason the new teams can’t win: we won’t let them.
So you’re saying that honoring a Cardinal legend is the reason why the current team isn’t winning as often as you would like (even though they’re only 2 games out of first in a very competitive division)? That’s an interesting take.
This take brought to you by the John Mozeliak Delusional Fan Club. The division is competitive because the entire division is mediocre, not good.
You sound like an angry, sad individual.
Quite the contrary. Happy, love life, love my wife and kids. Just a realist who understands baseball and the inner workings. I’m not blind to the facts. It’s been stated many times by Bill DeWitt. “Our goal is to be competitive.” Notice it’s not to build a WS champion caliber team. It’s to be competitive so sheeple like you buy tickets because you think that competitive is good enough. One big problem lately. They are going on 4 years of no playoffs.
Cardinals can honor a legend when he retires. Until then, Cards need to handle their business and the fans might want to check in.
So I made it abundantly clear that I love history and honoring old players. I think players can learn a lot from older guys. But Matheny was doomed from the start regardless of his teams. Whoever follows Yadi will be doomed as well. Any Cardinals fan that chanted “Albert, Albert” last night while Gant was struggling on the mound is a bad fan and is one of the reasons this team can’t succeed. They deserve every non-playoff berth they get. Meanwhile, I’m going to focus on the 2019 Cards and stop living in the past.
Bo’s AAA slash line as of this morning is .286/.340/.484 .
His OPS is nearly higher than his .909 fielding percentage at SS this season. That might be a problem.
I live when talking heads on TV say things like, ” due to consistent, perfectly groomed fields in the majors he will probably be a better infielder when called up.”
looking at you Buck Martinez!
Scary lineup if Pujols went to San Diego with A Gon there a little after
Interchangeable names like Nevin, Klesko, Loretta, wouldn’t need the Giles trade so hello Jason Bay and Oliver Perez. Deal an OF and Sean Burroughs (a prospect prior to MLB arrival) for a pitcher to compliment Peavy. Yep, not too bad.
That would have been historically awesome.