Dusting Off the Cobwebs Part I: Trades & Free Agency

Well, it's now late March. The long off-season is over, and baseball -- specifically, Fleetwood Walker baseball -- is ready to begin again!

Although this site was dormant through the winter months, the NL Central Champion Fleetwood Walkers were not. As such, it's time to explore the team's "hot stove" action in anticipation of its 2007 season.

This post -- Part One of a two-part series -- will cover Fleetwood's off-season trades and free agent signings. In the coming days, Part Two will review the team's 2007 draft results and its projected roster for the 2007 campaign.

Without further ado, let's explore Fleetwood's off-season trades and free agent signings...

October 2006:
Fleetwood extends the contract of Kelvim Escobar (1 year, $5 million).

Analysis: Escobar was a key member of Fleetwood's bullpen down the stretch and in the playoffs, but this is a high price to pay for a reliever. As such, it looks like Fleetwood plans on inserting Escobar into its 2007 rotation. That makes things crowded, as the team still has all of its 2006 rotation under contract (A.J. Burnett, Esteban Loazia, Mark Buehrle, Greg Maddux, Dave Bush) plus has Curt Schilling ready to go after missing the 2006 season due to injury. A trade or two looks likely, perhaps for a closer or help in the outfield.

Fleetwood trades Curt Schilling, Kenji Johjima, and Fleetwood's 2007 5th Round draft pick to Plaza for Ervin Santana, Chris Iannetta, and Plaza's 2007 2nd Round draft pick.

Analysis: Wow. Fleetwood trades away a 2006 first-round pick in Johjima. Also sent packing was Schilling, who the Walkers signed to a $3.15 million "Y1" contract last spring. Both Johjima and Schilling look to be ready to contribute in a big way in 2007, so it is somewhat surprising to see a potential pennant-contender trade them away. On the other hand, Santana could rival Schilling's numbers in 2007 while being much younger. Iannetta, a top catching prospect, also figures to be a solid (or better) backstop for many years to come...but probably not in 2007. This trade could be a potential win for Fleetwood long-term (especially given the favorable swap in draft picks), but it leaves the team without a potential ace in its rotation and without a solid catcher behind the plate. Risky, but bold.

Fleetwood trades Ryan Zimmerman to Metropolis for Nick Markakis and Metropolis' 2007 2nd Round draft pick.

Analysis: Double Wow. On the downside, Fleetwood trades away its OTHER first-rounder from the 2006 draft, this time the 4th overall pick...a player likely to be a star-caliber third baseman for years to come. On the bright side, third base is a clogged position for Fleetwood (what with Miguel Cabrera and David Wright both in tow) and the young Nick Markakis is no slouch prospect either. This trade might haunt the Walkers if Zimmerman is the second-coming of Brooks Robinson, but it does give Fleetwood the young major-league-ready outfielder it has been looking for.

Fleetwood trades Jim Edmonds to Box City for Jason Bartlett.

Analysis: Following its trend from the last few years, Fleetwood trades a proven (expensive) veteran for a younger (cheaper) player. The loss of Edmonds saps Fleetwood's lineup of much-needed power and also costs it a Gold-Glove caliber defender. Ouch. In return, though, the team picks up a major-league ready middle-infield prospect. Should either Bobby Crosby or Marcus Giles falter for Fleetwood in 2007, Bartlett should be ready to fill in adequately. The Walkers also save a ton of money, as the sometimes gimpy Edmonds is slated to earn $6 million in 2007 and again in 2008.

Fleetwood trades Esteban Loaiza to Metropolis for Willy Aybar.

Analysis: A pattern is emerging. Again, Fleetwood trades a proven veteran (Loazia) for a promising youngster (Aybar). Loazia was a key member of Fleetwood's rotation in 2006, but his departure clears some much-needed room in the crowded rotation mix. Also, Aybar should be ready to help the Walkers right away by adding depth to its infield.

November 2006:
Fleetwood signs Mike Stanton (1 year, $655K), Odalis Perez (3 years, $2.265 million), Cliff Floyd (3 years, $2.775 million) and Mike Redmond (1 year, $800K) to free agent contracts.

Analysis: On the plus side, Stanton provides depth to the team's bullpen. Meanwhile, Perez, Floyd, and Redmond could all fill important secondary roles in 2007 and beyond. On the other hand, the team did not sign any impact players. Especially troubling is its inability to add more quality to a bullpen that many feel is lacking for 2007. A cushy bank account is a nice thing to have, but at some point you need to spend some dough.

December 2006:
Fleetwood trades Derrick Turnbow, Fernando Cabrera, J.D. Closser and Fleetwood's 2007 2nd Round draft pick to Superior for Trevor Hoffman and Juan Rincon.

Analysis: In a move that finally looks fitting for a potential contender, the Walkers pick up some much needed bullpen help...including the proven closer it needs in Hoffman. The cost was not small, though, as the team parts with two of its best young relievers in Turnbow and Cabrera. Closser is a former first-round pick that has not panned out, so a change of scenery could be best for him. The 2nd Round draft pick sweetens the deal for Superior.

Fleetwood trades Mark Buehrle and Cliff Floyd to Windy City for Carlos Gonzalez and Windy City's 2008 2nd Round draft pick.

Analysis: Cliff Floyd, we hardly new you. Add in the trade of Buehrle, and Fleetwood's 2007 rotation finally looks clear (Burnett, Maddux, Escobar, Santana, Bush). Meanwhile, Gonzalez is a top outfield prospect who could make his way to the majors in a couple of years. Nice trade all the way around.

Fleetwood trades David DeJesus, Carlos Gonzalez, and Fleetwood's 2007 1st Round draft pick to Maine for Carlos Beltran.

Analysis: Beltran was a top free agent signing this past off-season, inking a seven-year $50 million contract with division rival Maine. As such, this trade makes up for some of Fleetwood penny-pinching in free agency. The cost was high, though, as the team parts with a solid (but now expendable) center fielder in David DeJesus, a top prospect in Carlos Gonzalez, and a valuable 1st Round draft pick. That said, the Walkers now have an all-star talent in center field who should solidify both the team's rotation and its outfield defense.

January 2007:
No trades. The team catches its breath.

February 2007:
Fleetwood trades Ramon Castro to Windy City for Windy City's 2007 5th Round draft pick.

Analysis: A fine trade for both teams. Fleetwood was set behind the plate with Javier Valentin, Mike Redmond, Ryan Doumit, and the young Chris Iannetta. Meanwhile, Windy City picks up one of baseball's best backup catchers to caddy for the aging (and sometimes offense-challenged) Brad Ausmus. A win-win deal.

March 2007:
No trades.

That does it for Fleetwood's off-season trades and free agent signings. In general, it appears the Walkers are well-positioned to compete in 2007 despite trading away such talented players as Ryan Zimmerman, Curt Schilling, Kenji Johjima, and Jim Edmonds.

Specifically, the team successfully leveraged its surplus of starting pitching and third basemen to plug its holes in the outfield, middle infield, and bullpen. It also opened up its pocket book to help land Carlos Beltran via trade.

Potential weakness remains in the bullpen and behind the plate, but the team seems nicely positioned to focus on the best-available talent in the annual February draft without having to worry about filling holes.

We'll review the results of that draft as well as the team's projected 2007 roster in Part Two. Stay tuned!