D'backs trade P Jason Bulger to Angels for 2B prospect Alberto Callaspo

by Otacon on Feb 28, 2006 4:49 PM EST

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/060228callaspo.html

Baseball America ranked Callaspo as the 8th best prospect in the Angels organization. John Sickels gave gim a grade of B- and tabbed him as the 10th best Angels prospect. I need to look around for more information but I like this deal and declare it as a minor win for Arizona.

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A farewell to Alex?

Callaspo seems like a cheaper version of Cintron, which makes me wonder if they've got a trade lined up for him [presumably for a pitching prospect of some kind]. Callaspo is on the 40-man roster - not heard of any corresponding moves, so I presume Bulger was too. I think Bulger not being in our top 10 prospects is perhaps partly because our #1-5 are so kick-ass. He'd probably be somewhere 11-20, I'd say. Looks like a win for both teams to me.

by Jim McLennan on Feb 28, 2006 6:43 PM EST reply actions

Both?

"PS - believe neither was on the 40-man roster. . . can anyone confirm?"

Bulger was on our 40 man and Callaspo shows up on the DBacks roster now as well.

While I'll applaud JB for getting great value here, I'm also looking at this from the angle of how many more middle-infielders can we possibly support in the system?

by nihil67 on Feb 28, 2006 6:44 PM EST reply actions

Callaspo and Bulger

Bulger was ranked by John Sickels as the 19 D'Back prospect with a grade of C. He's also 27 years old.

Lets not forget that the Angels system is pretty frickin' good too. Alberto could probably rank top 3-5 in any system besides the D'backs, Dodgers, Angels, and Devil Rays. The more I read about it, the more I like it. We just got a 22-year-old with potential. A better version of Sergio Santos probably at this point.

by Otacon on Feb 28, 2006 7:14 PM EST reply actions

Battle of the Bulger

[ While I'll applaud JB for getting great value here, I'm also looking at this from the angle of how many more middle-infielders can we possibly support in the system? ]

Actually, once you get past Upton and Drew - and remember, Upton has yet to face pitchers who shave - the pickings get pretty slim. Andy Green is too old; Jerry Gil couldn't walk off a pedestrian island; below that, you've got Dan Uggla. No-one else really leaps off the chart at me. It looks like Byrnes continues his campaign to cull the deadwood - or what he perceives that way, at least - from the minor leagues. Santos, Kroeger, now Bulger. If I were Koyie Hill, I'd be looking nervously over my shoulder for men in dark suits.

by Jim McLennan on Feb 28, 2006 7:32 PM EST reply actions

you forgot

Hudson... the centerpiece of that Glaus trade a while back...

by nihil67 on Feb 28, 2006 11:02 PM EST up reply actions

He's

talking about prospects.

by Otacon on Feb 28, 2006 11:52 PM EST up reply actions

and that's fine

But Hudson will be blocking any 2B-man for a while, no?

by nihil67 on Mar 1, 2006 10:27 AM EST up reply actions

Uggla?

Wasn't Uggla picked up by Florida in the rule 5 draft?
Good job by Byrnes. No reason to hold onto a 27 year old pitching prospect who couldn't even crack our pen last year.

by johngordonma on Feb 28, 2006 9:08 PM EST reply actions

Uggla

Yeah, Uggla was picked up by the Marlins and could end up being their opening day 2B. The D'Backs don't, should be didn't now, have a top 2B prospect, with Emilio Bonifacio being the one with the most potential (lots of raw speed but also raw contact skills). Before this trade, they probably would have started Keoni De Renne in Tucson if Andy Green made the major league team.

by William K @ AZ Snakepit on Feb 28, 2006 10:00 PM EST up reply actions

Oops.

I stand corrected. Basically, I just went back to the "prospects" sections of my Hot-Stove articles and pulled names off that. :-) Had forgotten that Uggla had since been snapped up - makes the cupboard even barer beyond Upton and Drew. Mind you, I'm not sure our pitching prospects are in much better shape. Is there anyone in the organization about whom we are genuinely excited?

by Jim McLennan on Mar 1, 2006 5:27 AM EST up reply actions

well...

Nippert...

I guess Torra, but he's hurt.
Mock had a nice year in Lancaster.
Owings struck out 30 in 22 innings at Lancaster, so that's pretty good I guess.
Matt Chico also had a nice Lancaster season.
Enrique Gonzalez in Tennessee had a nice year.

Outside of those 6, not too much brewing. Definitely not a whole lot above the AA level.

by nihil67 on Mar 1, 2006 10:49 AM EST up reply actions

i forgot

Ross Ohlendorf, who had a decent South Bend season last year. Koley Kolberg on the same team looked strong as well.

by nihil67 on Mar 1, 2006 10:53 AM EST up reply actions

Pitchers of Snakes...

Yes, there's a bit of a chasm between Nippert and Lancaster, but I expect us to go pitcher-heavy in the draft again this year, and we'll hopefully see some progress up from the Lancaster crew.

Obviously, while Hudson has the inside track on 2B, we'll need backup. Next year, all being well, should have Hudson and Drew starting, and Callaspo would be able to give us pretty much what Cintron does, at a fraction of the cost. I still think it's a bit of a shame Green looks unlikely to get any kind of shot, barring injury.

by Jim McLennan on Mar 1, 2006 3:02 PM EST up reply actions

i wouldn't say it's impossible

But completely improbable. He'd have to beat out Drew, for one, and he's questionable on defense for another.

by nihil67 on Mar 4, 2006 11:02 AM EST reply actions

The stakes are too high

If he plays great in ST and could have broken camp and they send him down, all that happens is they miss a few months or a season of a great player. If he plays great and they bring him up and he gets overwhelmed and loses confidence and gets rattled, he could spend four years in the minors getting his head screwed on. Chances are still at 0%

by andrewinnewyork on Mar 6, 2006 5:05 PM EST reply actions