Mr. Helton anyone?

by stl3bagger on Mar 5, 2007 12:49 PM EST Comment 14 comments

First let me say I hate when people post outrageous trades that everyone knows has no chance. However I was looking at some information this morning and noticed that the Cards were one of 4 teams that Todd Helton approved to waive his no-trade clause for.

Now clearly we have our 1st baseman and plenty of backups. My question is: Could Helton play any other position? My thinking is the corner outfield spots. I know we have many bloggers here with first hand Rockie experience that could expand on this question.

He just seems like a perfect candidate for hitting infront of Mr. Pujols. Plus we have the capability to eat some of his salary and Jocketty seems to have a good working relationship with the Rockie organization. Of course if Helton has no ability to play anywhere else besides 1st base there is no reason to even talk about this.

Just looking for some experienced info.

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Helton

The guy is an excellent athlete who could likely play a corner outfield spot. However, he is a gold glove calliber first baseman and he has a horrible contract and his skills have faded in recent years. (coincidently, right after Wayne Hagin was bashed extremely hard for implying that Mr. Helton may have juiced a little bit in the past...hmmmm.)

How about handin' me another helpin' of those mashed taters...thank you very much!

by Elvis on Mar 5, 2007 12:58 PM EST reply actions

+1

Elvis is dead on that one. Here's something that makes more sense. Get involved as the third party in the Red Sox and Rockies trade for Helton. The Sox wouldn't give up Delcarmen, Lester, or Hansen for Helton but maybe they would if they were getting Looper.

Rockies
Delcarmen from Boston
Narveson from St. Louis
PTBNL from St. Louis

Boston
Helton
Enc

St. Louis
Manny

Ok, I know his ain't going to happen. But you get my point. I would see what we could shake loose by sticking our noses in this possible trade. Looper would be very attractive to the Red Sox.

by Brock20 on Mar 5, 2007 1:15 PM EST up reply actions

that's a great idea

wouldn't be as simple as you laid it out, but both the sox and the rox need relievers --- and we have too many.

i doubt we get manny out of it, but maybe we get coco crisp?

by lboros on Mar 5, 2007 1:21 PM EST up reply actions

Its not that easy?

That explains why I am a lawyer and not a GM! Please read that with the intended humor Larry.

I was trying to figure out what we would want, and don't have the BA book in front of me to look at the minor league systems. My first thought was Wily Mo Pena, but I looked at his number and they aren't very attractive, the caveat being he hasn't been given a full season's worth of work.

If Looper is excess, then I think it would make sense to get invovled and I'm sure the thought has crossed Walt's mind. I DO NOT want Helton, who has had back problems the past few years and is in a steady decline. With the back injury, I don't believe he could play corner OF.

The one thing the Red Sox have in excess are young arms. They would not give up a Clay Bucholz, but I don't think the next tier in terms of age might be available given the right situation, Daniel Bard or Bryce Cox, would come to mind.

On a somewhat related note, I think Theo's gun shy of trades and of trading the pitchers mentioned above since the Anabel Sanchez trade. He's getting beaten up in the press here for getting Beckett and Mike Lowell but GIVING UP Hanley Ramierez and Anabel Sanchez. Hindsight being what it is, yeah the trade doesn't look as good as people hoped it would turn out, but you still make that trade.

Boston media and fans are relentless and unforgiving and destructive.

by Brock20 on Mar 5, 2007 1:39 PM EST up reply actions

Dead, eh?

I dare say that you agree with me that Helton has a horrible contract and fading skills...so the dead part is that you disagree that he is a great athlete? The Rockies would have to eat half that contract to make it palatable. This 3 way thing you have going down here...that is far fetched.

By the way, anyone see that Larry Bigby is killing the ball for the Dodgers this spring.

How about handin' me another helpin' of those mashed taters...thank you very much!

by Elvis on Mar 5, 2007 1:51 PM EST up reply actions

Sorry mate...

that was supposed to be dead on, about the fading skills part. I totally agree you on that. We agree that he has fading skills. In his prime, or close to it, I think he could have played corner. My concern is the back.

by Brock20 on Mar 5, 2007 2:07 PM EST up reply actions

the rockies will want

rasmus and garcia, or rasmus and hawksworth, or rasmus and wainwright . . . . i don't think we can afford him, talentwise.

by lboros on Mar 5, 2007 1:16 PM EST reply actions

Mid-season dump

Yeah thats what i was thinking if we tried to get him via trade right now.

However I was thinking a trade deadline dump. I'm thinking of a deal like the Larry Walker trade. Maybe we send them a reliever (Faulkenburg?) and a position guy (Stavinoha, Shane Robinson, 1B Mark Hamilton). Of course the Rockies would have to be out of the playoff race and willing just to dump. Could be possible.
My biggest concern is can he and is he willing to play a corner OF spot.

by stl3bagger on Mar 5, 2007 1:30 PM EST up reply actions

Has anyone ever thought...

that maybe the reason Helton listed St. Louis as a destination is because there is absolutely NO WAY that it would happen? Pujols isn't going anywhere. If Helton doesn't want to be traded and then is pressured in to producing a list of teams to which he wouldn't mind being traded, why wouldn't you list a team with simply the most clear-cut firstbase situtation around? I doubt it was because he was hoping to shag flies in New Busch's left field.

I'm just saying it'd be kind of a smart, PR-kind of way to throw a wrench into trade talks by saying you'd be OK to be traded to the team with the best first baseman in all of baseball when first base is the only position you play.

o8o88o888o

by ilillillli on Mar 5, 2007 1:34 PM EST reply actions

That seems like

too big a risk to take. Helton is the one doing the waiving -- he doesn't have to waive the clause for anybody. Plenty of guys only waive for one or two teams. So why wouldn't he be serious about the four he lists?

by jfs on Mar 5, 2007 1:39 PM EST up reply actions

He has a contract that requires that he names four

by Valatan on Mar 5, 2007 1:51 PM EST up reply actions

That's a theory, at least

I have no knowledge. But there are some contracts that require players to name teams that they'd be willing to be traded to.

by Valatan on Mar 5, 2007 1:52 PM EST up reply actions

The other teams

The other teams he listed as acceptable trade candidates were the Yankees, Red Soxs, and the Braves. All three need a first baseman so I dont think Helton is trying not to be traded. I'm sure he would rather stay in Colorado but if he's going somewhere thats the 4 teams he wants to go to.

by stl3bagger on Mar 5, 2007 1:50 PM EST reply actions

i like helton

but again i am not sure he is the right fit. i think he will have a few more good years but i would rather see the cardinals get someone else. maybe a dye or andrew jones at the deadline. but most likley and hopefully the cardinals will not really need a impact bat this year.if the players they have stay heathly they will score runs

SWH

by BRINGBACKWILSON on Mar 6, 2007 5:12 AM EST reply actions