Baseball for the Thinking Fan

Login | Register | Feedback

btf_logo
You are here > Home > Baseball Newsstand > Baseball Primer Newsblog > Discussion
Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Thursday, August 28, 2008

FOX: Rosenthal - Sources: Phils get Stairs from Blue Jays [UPDATED]

The Phillies, adding a left-handed hitter to their bench, have acquired outfielder Matt Stairs from the Blue Jays, according to major-league sources. The Jays will receive a prospect in return. The identity of that player has not yet been determined.
...
Stairs is hitting .250 this season with 11 homers and 44 RBIs. He was designated for assignment Thursday to clear a spot outfielder Travis Snider, who is one of the Jays’ top position prospects and will replace Stairs in the outfield.

Snider, 20, was the Jays’ first-round pick out of Everett (Wash.) H.S. in 2006. He began the season at Class A, then jumped to Class AA and Class AAA. In 18 games with Class AAA Syracuse, he was batting .344 with two home runs and 17 RBIs.

AP: Stairs designated for assignment

NTNgod Posted: August 28, 2008 at 11:39 PM | 55 comment(s)
  Related News: GeneralToronto

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

Page 1 of 1 pages
   1. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life.  Posted: August 28, 2008 at 10:51 PM (#2921184)
Geez, what an unlikeable front office. He had to go right now, three days before rosters expand? I don't know how it would be possible to be a Jays fan nowadays without just ignoring everything they do and hoping desperately for new management.
   2. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars  Posted: August 28, 2008 at 10:52 PM (#2921186)
He'll be the new White Sox centerfielder.
   3. NTNgod  Posted: August 28, 2008 at 10:55 PM (#2921192)
He had to go right now, three days before rosters expand?
I'm sure the acquiring team wants him to be eligible for post-season rosters, so, yeah.
   4. Random Transaction Generator  Posted: August 28, 2008 at 10:56 PM (#2921194)
Geez, what an unlikeable front office. He had to go right now, three days before rosters expand? I don't know how it would be possible to be a Jays fan nowadays without just ignoring everything they do and hoping desperately for new management.

If they are attempting to trade him to a playoff contender, I would think that the front office is doing him a favour.
I don't understand how this is "unlikeable" in any way.

I was more upset when Riccardi torpedoed Team Canada's rotation by calling up Richmond for 2 starts, right before the Olympics.
   5. DKDC  Posted: August 28, 2008 at 11:01 PM (#2921199)
Is Snider ready? He's certainly zipped through the system, but this seems like a bit of a rush job.

I guess they were planning to call him up when the AAA season is over in a week, so this isn't that different.
   6. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy  Posted: August 28, 2008 at 11:07 PM (#2921203)
Did they do this in time so that his $10M 2009 option doesn't kick in?
   7. ColonelTom  Posted: August 28, 2008 at 11:08 PM (#2921204)
Stairs couldn't be a better fit for Philadelphia, with Geoff Jenkins sidelined indefinitely and the bench desperate for another lefty bat. Seems like the least Toronto could do to make up for ripping out our hearts in '93.
   8. Cooperstown Schtick  Posted: August 28, 2008 at 11:15 PM (#2921207)
From the title, I thought stairwells at the ballpark were being assigned as strictly "Up" and "Down," and wondered if they had done away with the elevators because they didn't seem to really like going up and down.
   9. mr. man  Posted: August 28, 2008 at 11:26 PM (#2921212)
i could see stairs going to the mets, too.

It's too soon for Snider. his AAA numbers are nice in a small sample but the AA numbers weren't amazing and he strikes out a ton.
   10. Cooper Nielson  Posted: August 28, 2008 at 11:26 PM (#2921214)
The Blue Jays would not reveal which team was attempting to acquire Stairs

How much do you wanna bet it's the Astros? (Hey, the LaTroy Hawkins deal worked out...)
   11. Ryan Jones  Posted: August 28, 2008 at 11:37 PM (#2921220)
It's too soon for Snider. his AAA numbers are nice in a small sample but the AA numbers weren't amazing and he strikes out a ton.


Well, the AA numbers were pretty damn good for a 20 year old (.818 vs a league of .745). That being said, I agree that it's probably too early to bring him up. I wonder what the rush is, and why they couldn't wait until next year to bring him up?
   12. Walt Davis  Posted: August 28, 2008 at 11:43 PM (#2921224)
Is this a way around the waiver deadline rules? If they put him on revokable waivers, then team A can claim him to block him from going to team B. By designating him for assignment, can any team trade for him within the 10 day window? And only after that does he go into the waiver system?

I'm assuming I'm missing something or we'd see this a lot more in August. Obviously there's the risk Toronto would lose him outright so you don't do this with a good player but for someone like a Stairs, if you've got a deal worked out, there's not much risk.
   13. NTNgod  Posted: August 28, 2008 at 11:44 PM (#2921225)
I'm guessing he had already cleared waivers earlier.
   14. Russlan wants Pedro to be a Met again  Posted: August 28, 2008 at 11:45 PM (#2921226)
i could see stairs going to the mets, too.

Why? The Mets already have Church/Murphy/Evans/Tatis to play the corners.
   15. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life.  Posted: August 28, 2008 at 11:49 PM (#2921230)
OK, I retract my statement. The first article made it look like they were just cutting him like they did with Shannon Stewart and Frank Thomas.
   16. AROM  Posted: August 28, 2008 at 11:59 PM (#2921232)
2 years ago Stairs got traded to a contender but the deal was done after September 1, so he was not eligible to play for the Tiger playoff run. Not sure if he wanted to leave Toronto, but if he had to go, I'm sure he's happy to leave now instead of next week.
   17. Scatterbrain  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 12:02 AM (#2921234)
and why they couldn't wait until next year to bring him up?


Maybe J.P. wants to save his job...haha I think I remember him saying a while back that he wouldn't call up Snider. So, does anyone know if this affects Snider's free agency at all? I for one am excited as hell to see him play.
   18. Walt Davis  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 12:19 AM (#2921242)
So, does anyone know if this affects Snider's free agency at all?

Not likley. He gets a little over a month's service time ... and he probably would have gotten a month in Sept anyway. If he's on the ML roster from here on out, he still doesn't become an FA until after the 2014 season, same as if he was on the ML roster as of next April.

There a slim chance that if he's sent up and down a lot over the next few years that this will come back to hurt the Jays, possibly pushing him over the line to be a super-2 or something.
   19. Brandon in MO (Fire Trey Hillman)  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 12:49 AM (#2921252)
Matt Stairs fits in Philadelphia. And that's not even getting into his baseball ability.
   20. The Ghost of Sox Fans Past  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 01:07 AM (#2921258)
Is this a way around the waiver deadline rules? If they put him on revokable waivers, then team A can claim him to block him from going to team B. By designating him for assignment, can any team trade for him within the 10 day window? And only after that does he go into the waiver system?

A player who is DFA'ed is put on waivers at the same time (at least normally), so that dance still takes place. If he clears waivers, which takes 3-5 days, he can be traded or released.
   21. MM1f  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 01:18 AM (#2921261)
Why not bring Snider up?
You have a lot more to gain in letting him get used to the bigs from both an on and off-field standpoint than you have to lose, even if he isn't 100% ready.
   22. 6 - 4 - 3  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 01:19 AM (#2921262)
I don't see the harm in bringing Snider up now and giving him a month in the bigs. The Jays were going to have to add him to the 40 man roster this winter anyway. He'll probably be overmatched, but he's had a great year at three levels and its not like the Jays are either in contention or have anyone better to play for the balance of the season. As Walt Davis points out, he'll almost certainly begin the season in the minors next year (and possibly another year or two after that), so it's unlikely to cut into his reserve years.
   23. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life.  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 02:14 AM (#2921276)
From a Phillies perspective this is eerily reminiscent of August 27, 2006, when Gillick traded for a 40-year-old Jeff Conine. So I guess this is about what we can expect the PTBNL to be.

It will be fun to root for Stairs. The Pierre-Luc LaForĂȘt experience last year left us all unsatisfied.
   24. Padraic  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 05:08 AM (#2921287)
This is fairly big, as far as late August deals go. The Phillies have been rotating AAA filler like Cervanek and Tracy as the last bat on the bench, and Stairs is a big upgrade over that.

Additionally, this hopefully means that Jenkins is relegated to deep on the bench (and off a possible playoff roster), with OBP machines Werth and Stairs in RF. Oh, and they can spot start Dobbs at 3B occassionaly, knowing they still have a decent LH bat off the bench.

Since there are some Jays fans here, my thoughts have been that Stairs is okay as a fielder but with a poor arm. Accurate?
   25. 6 - 4 - 3  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 05:28 AM (#2921288)
Since there are some Jays fans here, my thoughts have been that Stairs is okay as a fielder but with a poor arm. Accurate?

From what I remember of Stairs when he was with the A's in the late 1990s, he was a below-average RF in terms of both range and arm. I can only imagine that his defense has deteriorated further with age.
   26. Autobahn  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 06:24 AM (#2921290)
I saw matt stairs playing against the tigers at the start of the 2007 season and to be honest his range in left was well below-average.

I think stairs is gonna to be used mostly as a PH and when he does play RF i think it's gonna be a case of if the phils are ahead by the sixth or seventh he'll be yanked quickly for a defensive replacement.
   27. Padraic  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 06:57 AM (#2921298)
Thanks. Ugh, yeah the range factors are pretty poor. That lessens his value, making Werth a better fit for everyday duties. For some reason I thought he at least took good routes and positioned himself well, but he looks downright Delllucian out there. Well, he still is a massive upgrade on the bench, and he can DH in the Series.
   28. Edmundo is Super Average Man  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 07:07 AM (#2921299)
Nice pickup for the Phils but they still need someone, anyone to replace So Taguchi. But the Phils seem to love him so it ain't going to happen.
   29. Rusty Priske  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 07:18 AM (#2921301)
Stairs is not good defensively. In fact, when I heard this info with no team announced I assumed it would be to an AL team.
   30. Mike Emeigh  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 08:20 AM (#2921315)
I was listening to the Rays' broadcast last night, and Andy Freed and Dave Wills were wondering out loud why Stairs wasn't pinch-hitting in the ninth. Apparently the news (that Stairs had been DFA) hadn't gotten to them.

I pretty much agree with Padraic's take on this. The Phils' bench has been about as bad as it gets, with Dobbs the only reliable bat on it, and Stairs makes a big difference in that regard. I can't imagine that the prospect will be anyone of consequence.

-- MWE
   31. NTNgod  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 08:32 AM (#2921321)
He didn't get officially DFA'd until after the game, so it was a reasonable question, from their point of view.
   32. Edmundo is Super Average Man  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 08:35 AM (#2921324)
The Phils' bench has been about as bad as it gets
In the beginning of the year, the bench looked pretty good with Werth, Dobbs, Coste, Bruntlett. The only WTF-were-they-thinking player was Taguchi. Coste is fine as a backup catcher, although he's probably played too much because Ruiz has just flat out stunk this year. WIth Bruntlett's being pretty bad and Jenkins flat out stinking up the joint, Werth is a full-timer. The lack of no ready for the ML or any AAAA type position player at AAA has really hurt the team.
   33. Padraic  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 08:55 AM (#2921338)
Agreed Edmundo - the rotating 26th bench spot has been a disaster. Chris Snelling, TJ Bohn, Brad Harman, Mike Cervanek, Andy Tracy...these are not legitimate ML options (except Snelling, who, of course, got hurt). The rest hasn't been so bad, in fact Werth, Coste and Dobbs have been so good that that they have significantly outhit the incumbent starters in RF, C, and 3B. The bench didn't get really bad until Werth, Coste, and (sometimes Dobbs) went into the lineup, and all of a sudden you have the hacktastic quintet of Feliz/Jenkins/Ruiz/Bruntlett/Taguchi.

I probably would have spent a good deal of the season railing against Taguchi's spot on the roster, but the sad fact is that they just don't have a single OF in the system even remotely close to contributing...even as a fifth OF. Stairs probably has about as much value to the Phillies as any NL team.

Keeping the fingers crossed on the PTBNL. Jaramillo?
   34. formerly dp  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 09:31 AM (#2921360)
Snider looks to be awesome. He really proved he's an elite prospect this year. At least there's something to be excited about in Toronto this September, other than Doc continually being the most under-appreciated pitcher in the game.

As a Met fan, I don't like this deal, except that it means the Phils will play Burrell and Stairs in the OF at the same time.

Jason Werth has really become a great player and a huge Met killer. Took him a while to get there, but he's a force to be reckoned with now.
   35. Edmundo is Super Average Man  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 10:56 AM (#2921441)
Jason Werth has really become a great player
Great against LH, improving vs. RH. A very good outfielder, great arm and terrific baserunner. Also gives a tough AB almost every time. He looks awkward when doing so but he's really good at wasting borderline two strike pitches.
I jumped on the bandwagon last year when he got a little playing time -- you could see that he had a broad skill set.
   36. Padraic  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 11:21 AM (#2921488)
Since he's white it doesn't get talked about, but Werth is really a 5 (or 4 1/2) tool player. He has a very good arm, is a plus defender in a corner spot, hits for power, has speed, and is okay for average. Oh, AND he has good plate discipline.

He's also career 762 OPS against RHB (350 OBP), which is perfectly acceptable when you mash lefties at a 900 clip. I'd make him the everyday starter in either LF or RF next year, depending on what happens with Burrell.
   37. slackerjack  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 11:31 AM (#2921506)
Ironically enough, Jayson Werth first broke into MLB as a Blue Jay.

He was dealt to the Dodgers for Jason Frasor a few years back. Early on, when Frasor was closing games, it looked like the Jays had won that deal, but based on what Frasor has done lately think the Jays would be glad to have him back.
   38. Edmundo is Super Average Man  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 11:36 AM (#2921517)
And FWMOIW (MO = My Observation), Werth plays hard every play too. And he looks demonic, so maybe he grow into a feared™ hitter.
   39. slackerjack  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 11:42 AM (#2921524)
Stairs should be a valuable asset off the bench for the Phils. He's patient, and has enough power to hit an outside fastball to the opposite field for a HR.

Coming out of HS, Travis Snider was listed at 5'11", 245. Stairs hit 250 HR after starting his MLB career at the age of 29. Given an 8 year head start, I wonder if Snider has a shot at 500 HR.
   40. Mike Emeigh  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 11:43 AM (#2921530)
Jayson Werth first broke into MLB as a Blue Jay.


...after coming over from the Orioles in a trade for the immortal John Bale. Werth was the subject of a number of fairly impassioned discussions on the Orioles' mailing list, circa 1998-1999, IIRC. David N probably remembers them.

-- MWE
   41. Ryan Jones  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 11:45 AM (#2921534)
Coming out of HS, Travis Snider was listed at 5'11", 245. Stairs hit 250 HR after starting his MLB career at the age of 29. Given an 8 year head start, I wonder if Snider has a shot at 500 HR.


He was a good power hitter in the minors, and he's up at the age of 20. All he has to do is average 25 HR a year until he's 40, and he's in.

More seriously, wasn't he mentioned as one of the best potential power hitters in his draft year? I'd imagine he's got about as good odds as anyone, assuming he doesn't put too much more weight on his frame - 245 lbs on a 5'11" man is a lot of weight.
   42. ColonelTom  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 11:46 AM (#2921537)
Stairs will probably get some starts in RF against RHP when the Phils have a ground-ball pitcher starting. Werth has been excellent this year, though, so I don't see him losing a lot of time to Stairs.
   43. Chase Utley, Shooty's Favorite Robot (Joey Belle)  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 12:05 PM (#2921565)
...after coming over from the Orioles in a trade for the immortal John Bale. Werth was the subject of a number of fairly impassioned discussions on the Orioles' mailing list, circa 1998-1999, IIRC. David N probably remembers them.


I used to have his rookie card. 1997 Bowman, he was a catcher then. I believe it was worth 5 dollars at one point. Nice to see it only took him 11 years to fully come through on his prospect status.
   44. Edmundo is Super Average Man  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 12:18 PM (#2921588)
I've wondered if Gillick, seeing the success last year with the oft-injured Jayson Werth, thought he could catch lightning this year with Chris Snelling. He was off to a good start with his 390 OPS+, but 4 PAs are a small sample size. And yes, Snelling is injured right now.
   45. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life.  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 12:26 PM (#2921602)
Whatever happened to that Brandon Watson guy? Is he seriously not even a fifth outfielder right now?
   46. Edmundo is Super Average Man  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 12:31 PM (#2921612)
Whatever happened to that Brandon Watson guy? Is he seriously not even a fifth outfielder right now?
Crispie, so you like 27 yo AAA LFs with a line of .304/.342/.391, 11/9 S/CS and .964 Fielding %?
   47. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life.  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 12:34 PM (#2921615)
Compared to So Taguchi?
   48. Padraic  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 12:36 PM (#2921616)
Whatever happened to that Brandon Watson guy?

Eh, 733 OPS the last two years at AAA, age 25 and 26. The fact that he hasn't been called up is a little surprising. Bohn and SNelling were already on the 40 man at the beginning of the season, so I can see them getting the first shot, but the fact that they went with Andy Tracy ahead of him is pretty telling.
   49. Random Transaction Generator  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 12:44 PM (#2921622)
And yes, Snelling is injured right now.

A sure sign of the apocalypse would be a game that had Hampton, Pavano, Snelling and Nick Johnson all appearing in the same inning.
   50. Padraic  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 12:52 PM (#2921634)
How about the same month?
   51. Edmundo is Super Average Man  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 01:17 PM (#2921663)
Compared to So Taguchi?
Have you ever seen So and Brandon together? Maybe they are the same person.
   52. formerly dp  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 01:33 PM (#2921685)
FWIW, I was against dealing Werth to the Dodgers from day one. JP really had a huge stock of catching prospects when he came in. Amazing that not a single one stuck...
   53. El Hijo del Ron Santo (Alan Keiper)  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 04:07 PM (#2922062)
Snelling's injured? He just played yesterday, wasn't taken out at any point.

Fabio Castro is the prospect, according to Buster Olney. Of course Castro is warming up this very moment for the Phils, so who knows.
   54. Chase Utley, Shooty's Favorite Robot (Joey Belle)  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 04:11 PM (#2922071)
How about the same month?


Same year?
   55. Padraic  Posted: August 29, 2008 at 04:19 PM (#2922089)
Same year?

2008! All played some major league baseball this year.
Page 1 of 1 pages

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

 

<< Back to main

Support BBTF

donate

Thanks to
Vegas Watch
for his generous support.

My Bookmarks

You must be logged in to view your Bookmarks.

Vivid Seats is a sports ticket broker, concert ticket broker and theater ticket broker offering the best baseball tickets like Yankees tickets, Cubs tickets, and Red Sox tickets, as well as Police reunion tour tickets and Jersey Boys tickets.

We have baseball tickets, the NFL schedule, college football tickets and Cowboys tickets. We have NBA tickets like Celtics tickets and Lakers tickets. Plus, buy concert tickets, Patriots tickets and Colts tickets. Also check out our MLB baseball schedule

Baseball Bats

JustGreatTickets.com provides the best value for Chicago Cubs Tickets, MLB tickets including Red Sox Tickets, Yankees Tickets, SF Giants Tickets, LA Dodgers Tickets, Cleveland Indians Tickets. Get the best concert tickets like Jonas Brothers tickets and more Chicago Tickets.

Concerts Theatre NFL Angels Dodgers MLB Celtics Theater NBA Tickets Venues NHL Lakers Tickets NFL Yankees NHL Phillies NBA Wicked Marlins MLB Concerts Cubs Mets Red Sox Wicked WWE Red Sox Mets Yankees Dodgers

Major League Baseball: All Star Game, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, LA Angels, Washington Nationals, Chicago White Sox, and the Chicago Cubs.

Find terrific deals on Yankees tickets for the new home, Cubs tickets for classic Wrigley, or Red Sox tickets for Fenway with OnlineSeats. We have seats for every baseball game, including Dodgers tickets.

Page rendered in 0.9341 seconds
82 querie(s) executed