The long and winding career of Josh Hamilton is taking yet another turn: he's been traded to the Texas Rangers. According to John Fay at the Cincinnati Enquirer, the deal is Hamilton for two minor league pitchers, Edinson Volquez and Daniel Herrera. This is really an interesting swap, mostly because Volquez was the Rangers minor-league pitcher of the year last year. Over three levels (high level A, AA, and AAA) he went 14-6 with a with a 3.67 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP and 166 strikeouts in 144 and 2/3 innings. Perhaps more impressively, he improved at each level. Herrera's a reliever, but he did have impressive numbers in AA last year at the age of 22. The Reds are reportedly still trying to pry Eric Bedard from the Orioles, but if they can't get him Volquez is a good arm to add to their stable.
Meanwhile, the Rangers get a very good young hitter in Hamilton. His exploits are well documented, but last year he slugged .554 in 90 games after having never played above single A. There are some questions about his durability, but 2007 was his first substantial playing time since 2002 because of his injuries and suspensions. He's expected to start in center for the Rangers and if he can stay healthy all year, there's not really any telling what he's capable of. I mean that literally, he's played a half year of baseball above A-ball. Anything could happen.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-21-2007 @ 9:40PM
chris said...
arlington is a hitter's park just like cincinatti. it should give the rangers a hundred homers up the middle between young, kinsler and hamilton. not sure how this upgrades their need for pitching, but who am i to gm...
Reply
12-21-2007 @ 10:10PM
cowboys0511 said...
Congratulations Texas.... We just traded our best prospect for ANOTHER power hitter! I've always wondered why we suck, and now I know. It's not Ron Washington, our players, or even our faithful that struggle to watch the games. It's management that keeps trading away good players. We deserve to suck, and thats coming from a Rangers season ticket holder.
Reply
12-22-2007 @ 4:37PM
Jamie Barton said...
I don't know this young prospect, but if the Ranger fans are right, I'm really impressed with what Reds GM Wayne Krivsky was able to "pull-off" here. If he can acquire Bedard now, he should be up for GM of the year, at least on paper anyway. That would give the Reds a nice starting staff with Volquez,Harang,Bedard,Homer Bailey, and Bronson Arroyo. Stick Beslise back in the pin with Weathers, Burton, Coffey, Bray, and Fransisco Cordero and I think the Reds have drastically improved their most needy positions. Depending on what they have to give up to get Bedard, they haven't really hurt their everyday starting lineup either, and that is a lineup that led the NL in Homeruns last year so I have to say keep it going Wayne Krivsky, get this Bedard deal done and lets get ready for some exciting baseball in Cincy this year!!!
Reply
12-26-2007 @ 10:27PM
fast eddie said...
I think the reds sucks. I cannot believe they traded way Josh Hamilton. After the reception the fans showed towards Josh and then management trades him that shows you how stupid they are. We have other power hitters we could have traded but no they choose Josh. The Rangers are a dam lucky team and I will surely follow them because they got the Reds best young talent we had. I will surely not follow the reds because of how stupid they are. Good luck to Josh he will do good for Texas
Reply