KIDWCKED
07-15-2010, 08:21 PM
c/p from sportsnet
THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays' acquisition of Yunel Escobar from the Atlanta Braves for fellow shortstop Alex Gonzalez in a five-player swap Wednesday appears to be a classic case of buying low and selling high.
Escobar is a wildly talented 27-year-old who appears to have fallen out of favour with the National League East leaders amid a down season. Gonzalez, on the other hand, is a 33-year-old veteran who is performing well above his career norms and was unlucky to not be named an all-star.
So Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos was able to parlay the immediate impact Gonzalez can make on a roster into a young player with huge potential upside that he'll have contractual control of through at least the 2013 season.
The three prospects in the deal -- Toronto gets left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes, who was optioned to double-A New Hampshire; Atlanta gets phenom lefty reliever Tim Collins and speedy infielder Tyler Pastornicky -- may still swing the trade's final tally toward either team.
But as it stands right now, it looks like Anthopoulos has pulled off another coup, similar to the one he accomplished in prying blossoming starter Brandon Morrow from Seattle last December.
"It's fair to say that if Yunel Escobar was performing like he did last year, it would have been a much more difficult deal to make," Anthopoulos said in an interview.
"I certainly believe Alex Gonzalez is going to continue to have a great year and help the Braves get to the playoffs, their aspirations are to win the World Series, but Yunel Escobar, long-term, is a guy we think is equally as talented ... and he certainly has greater upside."
The key for the Blue Jays will be in ensuring Escobar fits in smoothly, something that didn't happen in Atlanta. Anthopoulos and his staff closely examined the persistent whispers about the Cuban's behavioural issues, and came away satisfied there won't be any problems in Toronto.
Among the people he asked about the matter was outfielder Jose Bautista, who knows Escobar and gave the player a ringing endorsement. At Anthopoulos's request, Bautista will act as a bridge to help integrate Escobar, who speaks limited English, into the clubhouse.
Cultural issues may have also been part of the problem in Atlanta.
THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays' acquisition of Yunel Escobar from the Atlanta Braves for fellow shortstop Alex Gonzalez in a five-player swap Wednesday appears to be a classic case of buying low and selling high.
Escobar is a wildly talented 27-year-old who appears to have fallen out of favour with the National League East leaders amid a down season. Gonzalez, on the other hand, is a 33-year-old veteran who is performing well above his career norms and was unlucky to not be named an all-star.
So Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos was able to parlay the immediate impact Gonzalez can make on a roster into a young player with huge potential upside that he'll have contractual control of through at least the 2013 season.
The three prospects in the deal -- Toronto gets left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes, who was optioned to double-A New Hampshire; Atlanta gets phenom lefty reliever Tim Collins and speedy infielder Tyler Pastornicky -- may still swing the trade's final tally toward either team.
But as it stands right now, it looks like Anthopoulos has pulled off another coup, similar to the one he accomplished in prying blossoming starter Brandon Morrow from Seattle last December.
"It's fair to say that if Yunel Escobar was performing like he did last year, it would have been a much more difficult deal to make," Anthopoulos said in an interview.
"I certainly believe Alex Gonzalez is going to continue to have a great year and help the Braves get to the playoffs, their aspirations are to win the World Series, but Yunel Escobar, long-term, is a guy we think is equally as talented ... and he certainly has greater upside."
The key for the Blue Jays will be in ensuring Escobar fits in smoothly, something that didn't happen in Atlanta. Anthopoulos and his staff closely examined the persistent whispers about the Cuban's behavioural issues, and came away satisfied there won't be any problems in Toronto.
Among the people he asked about the matter was outfielder Jose Bautista, who knows Escobar and gave the player a ringing endorsement. At Anthopoulos's request, Bautista will act as a bridge to help integrate Escobar, who speaks limited English, into the clubhouse.
Cultural issues may have also been part of the problem in Atlanta.