Lost in the shuffle of the Dukes move was this tidbit from Barry Svrluga
A source with knowledge of the situation said the Nationals traded reliever Jonathan Albaladejo to the New York Yankees in exchange for right-hander Tyler Clippard, pending physical examinations of both players. The 22-year-old, who went 3-1 with a 6.33 ERA filling in for the Yankees this year, has a 3.52 ERA over five minor league seasons. He should immediately be a contender for Washington’s rotation. Bowden did not return messages seeking comment on the deal.
I really do not understand this deal.
From a Yankees point of view.
Tyler Clippard has average stuff (88-91 mph FB; avg CB & C/U). He is not overpowering but (a) he throws strikes and (b) is quite durable. In 609 1/3 minor league innings, he’s struck out 640 and walked only 173. He immediately becomes a favorite for a #3 spot in the rotation.
Albaladejo was a welcome surprise for the Nationals. He was picked up after being released by the Pirates. He is honestly a fungible RHRP.
A great deal for the Nationals.
Fernando | 04-Dec-07 at 1:18 am | Permalink
Brian, gotta agree with you here, this seems like a great deal to me. What other young pitchers will be competing for a spot and who will be given a spot (if healthy)?
I’m thinking we package Cordero with Kearns for a starting pitcher and maybe a 5th outfielder which would allow us to send Langerhans to AAA and Maxwell to AA in order to develop.
Thanks for the info!
jon | 04-Dec-07 at 1:32 am | Permalink
After we come home with our loot from these meetings, we need to start looking for more Albaladejos, because if they’re worth a Clippard, we need to keep going this route.
Ben K. | 04-Dec-07 at 1:38 am | Permalink
I think two things here:
No one in the Bronx liked what they saw from Clippard this year. His fastball doesn’t really get up into the 90-mph zone, and his breaking pitches aren’t good enough to fool too many Major League hitters. He’s also an extreme flyball pitcher which is never good.
He was so far down on the Yankees depth charts at this point that they basically just traded a spare part for a spare part. There was no demand for Clippard, and I think they actually made off well all things considered.
Don’t get seduced by his Minor League numbers. His stuff just isn’t that good, and there’s a reason why he’s been ranked as a C+ prospect by a few people.
Ben K. | 04-Dec-07 at 1:38 am | Permalink
Er, sorry about that formatting. I was just trying to make a list!
hartmanbirge | 04-Dec-07 at 1:43 am | Permalink
It’s now crystal clear - Nationals brass has set out to do a radical makeover of the team at the major league level. Thus far we have become a lot younger. We are more athletic. We have more speed. We have a lot more power. I show a #3 or #4 starter in Clippard. We’re probably going to sign a FA pitcher (Hernandez?) to add another. And all of this has been done without touching perhaps our most tradeable commodities - Cordero, Rauch, Lopez, Colome, Ayala etc. If we sign a guy like Hernandez and acquire another starting pitcher in some form of trade for the above that will then be 3 new starting pitchers, and a whole new outfield. It’s pretty cool to compare what we’re going to have entering next season vs. what we entered last season with - I still shudder at the thought that Church and Logan were both in our starting OF.
Hartmanbirge | 04-Dec-07 at 4:44 am | Permalink
Here’s what Baseball America had to say about him last year - he was ranked as the Yankee’s #7 prospect which is saying a lot… how the heck we got a talent like this for what we gave up just baffles me….
Drafted: HS–Trinity, Fla., 2003 (9th round) • Signed by: Scott Pleis
Background: In his third full pro season, Clippard did what he has done every season–get better. He got off to a rough start at Double-A Trenton but recovered with a dominant second half that included the first no-hitter in the Thunder’s 13-year franchise history. He led the Eastern League in strikeouts and ranked fifth in the entire minors.
Strengths: Clippard has figured out how put hitters away at every level without “wow” stuff. He frequently pitches backward because he can throw his curveball and changeup, both slightly above-average pitches, for quality strikes. His long arms and lanky body add deception to his delivery.
Weaknesses: Though he has filled out his frame to around 200 pounds, Clippard hasn’t added fastball velocity. In fact, while he used to touch 94 mph, his fastball usually topped out around 92 in 2006 and sat at 88-90. When he misses, he misses up in the zone and is prone to giving up home runs.
The Future: Clippard still could use polish to tweak his mechanics and improve his fastball. He won’t be an ace, but he should be a solid option as a No. 4 starter in the near future. He’ll continue to move up one step at a time, heading to Triple-A in 2007.
Three more months | 04-Dec-07 at 5:49 am | Permalink
It seems Clippard already is what Glenn Gibson might become. What a deft move.
Jscape2000 | 04-Dec-07 at 7:37 am | Permalink
Clippard was pretty bad in his time with the big club, showing an awkward motion and an average fastball. He got hit pretty hard.
He’s also buried on the depth chart, as Ben says. I count 8 or 9 starters ahead of him, including mediocre pitchers like Darryl Rasner (who is out of minor league options).
A spare part who might have been useful for a young, hard to hit reliever (our area of need).
A good trade.
Three more months | 04-Dec-07 at 8:10 am | Permalink
Brain-
I’m thinking ahead to the Rule 5 draft. Since we traded two for one for Milledge, got Dukes for a non-roster player, traded 40-men roster players in getting Clippard, and signed Ray King to a minor-league deal, we have one more spot open on the 4-man roster than before, yes? Or is King on the 40-man?
Brian Oliver | 04-Dec-07 at 8:48 am | Permalink
From my count, the Nationals are 38/40. They were at 38/40 before all of the trading. Schneider/Church for Milledge drops it to 37/40. Dukes for Gibson brings it back up to 38. Clippard for Albaladejo leaves it at 38/40. King is a minor league free agent.
Three more months | 04-Dec-07 at 9:00 am | Permalink
Right, right. I didn’t even follow my own logic there. Do you think the Nats are willing to take a chance on two Rule 5 draftees this year, if there are still two spots open by Thursday?
Brian Oliver | 04-Dec-07 at 9:02 am | Permalink
Given how free and loose the Nationals are playing right now, it could easily happen.
Louis J. | 04-Dec-07 at 9:27 am | Permalink
Trader Jim is having a good Winter Meeting accumulating talent with very little to work with.
First, he acquires a young potential super-star (Milledge) that a lot of teams wanted and gave up only Church & Schneinder and no prospect. That’s a 5 star deal
Second, he traded Gibson (who is 4/5 years away from the ML) for problem child but potential super-star Dukes. Since I liked Gibson and I’m worry about Dukes’ very short temper and unpredictable behavior, this deal is a 1 star deal at the moment!!
Third, he trades Albaladejo (who he signed as a free agent in 2007) to the Yankees for tall & slender 22-year old Clippard. I agree with “Three More Months” who said that Clippard is already what Gibson might become. This is a 3-star deal (Clippard is no Cy Young) because of what the Nats gave up and Clippard age & potential and makes me feel better about losing Gibson!
I can’t wait for the rest of the week!
P.S. Clippard does not look “pretty” pitching. He was 6-4,170 lbs and gained some weight to about 190 lbs. He is very young (age 22) and while he has added weight, he didn’t add any muscle or fastball velocity. Detwiler is also tall & slender but does have velocity because of his mechanics. Clippard will need to adjust his mechanics (use the lower half of his body- butt & legs-better) to become a #3 starter. At the monent, he’ll compete for the #5 spot for the Nats in 2008 and could get beat-out by the “new & improved” Garrett Mock.
Jane | 04-Dec-07 at 10:10 am | Permalink
I also disagree with this move! What is Jim doing…..
Will | 04-Dec-07 at 10:12 am | Permalink
I really like this move. I saw both Albaladejo and Clippard pitch, I think we got a steal on this deal. Albaladejo did not impress me while in Harrisburg this year. Clippard has good stuff and should get a chance to make the rotation next spring.
Brian Oliver | 04-Dec-07 at 10:16 am | Permalink
Jane - I’m curious what is it you disagree with?
Marcus | 04-Dec-07 at 10:57 am | Permalink
Gr8 deal. Theres going to be tough competition for the back of the rotation. Chico, Lannan, Mock, Clippard, Ballester, Hannrahan just to name a few. Hopefully Hill and a FA will be ready to be our number 1 and two guys.
Louis J. | 04-Dec-07 at 11:29 am | Permalink
So far, it’s Santana and the Yankees vs. the Red Sox AND the Nationals as the big players at the Winter Meetings. And the Nationals are still considering trading Kearns, Lopez & Cordero and/or Rauch.
Three things appear to be happening with the Nationals at these meetings:
1. The 2008 team is looking younger, faster and more athletic. Are they
using the Winter Meetings to rebuild the team through trades & not from
within?
2. They are unloading salary, again such as : Schneidner-$4.9M, Church-
arbitration eligible, Cordero-$4.15M, Lopez-$3.9M & Kearns-$5.0M.
If all of these players are traded, that’s a decrease of $17.95M + the
arbitration amount for Church. Look out Nick Johnson ($5.5M) when you
get healthy!!! Kasten indicated that they would probably add to the
current $38M payroll (do we believe him); therefore, does this mean a
free agent (type B) signing.
3. These and future deals have been in the works for months which means
that Kasten & Bowden had begun this grand scheme in May/June after
that terrible start of the 2007 season assuming that the experts were
right about the poor performance of the Nats in 2007. I guess they
under-estimated the abilities of Manny Acta.
Jane | 05-Dec-07 at 5:59 am | Permalink
I disagree with this move (Albaladejo for Clippard)….
Brian Oliver | 05-Dec-07 at 7:08 am | Permalink
What specifically do you not like about the deal?
pat niles | 17-Dec-07 at 8:09 pm | Permalink
I loved Tyler Clippard and as an avid Yankee fan I am very disapointed that they traded him. I think they made a big mistake