June 6, 2011

Transaction Analysis Blog

Gordon Arrives, Kouzmanoff Departs

by R.J. Anderson

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IN THIS ISSUE

American League Oakland Athletics

National League Los Angeles Dodgers

OAKLAND ATHLETICS Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart

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Oakland Athletics
Optioned 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff and RP Fautino De Los Santos to Triple-A Sacramento. [6/6]
Promoted 3B Scott Sizemore from Triple-A Sacramento. [6/6]
Activated UT Adam Rosales from the 15-day disabled list. [6/6]

Sizemore was acquired just a week and a half ago from the Tigers and is now on his way to being the Athletics everyday third baseman. Kevin Goldstein wrote then that scouts still believe in Sizemore’s bat and his ability to make it in the majors and there is no time like the present to test their evaluations out. It doesn’t hurt that between Toledo and Sacramento Sizemore has hit .368/.485/.557 in 135 plate appearances. Hitting in Triple-A isn’t always a harbinger of future big league success, but sometimes it is.

As for Kouzmanoff, you have to wonder what went wrong. He hit .263/.309/.436 during his Padres career, but only mustered .242/.279/.387 for the Athletics. Maybe he was done in by American League pitching or the more spacious foul grounds at the newly named O.co Coliseum. Whatever happened, the Kouzmanoff the Athletics got was not the Kouzmanoff the Athletics desired.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart

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Los Angeles Dodgers
Designated OF Jay Gibbons and INF Juan Castro for assignment. [6/6]
Optioned SS Ivan DeJesus and SP John Ely to Triple-A Albuquerque. [6/6]
Activated 2B Juan Uribe, RP Blake Hawksworth, and OF Marcus Thames from the 15-day disabled list. [6/6]
Promoted SS Dee Gordon from Triple-A Albuquerque.  [6/6]

Today might be draft day, but the Dodgers are using it as packing day too.

Gibbons is the most relevant of the departed. He made his return to the majors in 2010 after missing the 2008 and 2009 seasons and going on a journeyman trip through various independent, winter league, and minor league assignments to reach the show once again. In 80 plate appearances, he hit .280/.313/.507 and secured a spot on the 2011 roster. Sadly, Gibbons encountered vision problems in his left eye that caused him to miss the first month of the season. Gibbons returned in early May, but hit only .255/.323/.345 in 62 plate appearances before the Dodgers were ready to move on.

Meanwhile, Gordon is the hottest of the arrivals. Kevin Goldstein ranked Gordon as the third-best prospect in the system, and suggested a perfect world outcome includes Gordon becoming an everyday starter with a high batting average. For those who haven’t viewed Gordon before, keep a close eye on him. Otherwise, his ridiculous foot speed may cause you to lose sight of him. Gordon experienced Triple-A for the first time in 2011 and hit .315/.361/.370 with 22 steals in 25 attempts.

Because Gordon started playing baseball late in his high school days, his development is behind those who are normally his age. There is an argument to be made that Gordon could use more time in the minors, but the Dodgers apparently think otherwise.

R.J. Anderson is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @r_j_anderson
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