Quick Acquisition Poll

The following two players are both left handed hitting outfielders. Disregarding their defense, as both are about average, who would you rather see the Mariners acquire? One of the following is a guy stuck in the minor leagues behind some decent outfielder depth. The other is a major leaguer who the Mariners have been semi-connected to over the off-season and in the general past and is still rather young himself.

I’m not sure what the cost compairsons would be as both would be acquired via a trade. Who would you rather in this scenerio?

Player A

Age	Lev	PA	R	H	2B	3B	HR	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
21	A-	321	42	98	21	5	2	13	16	37	.338	.390	.466	.855
22	A+	616	87	169	34	7	7	30	39	83	.307	.370	.433	.803
23	AA	381	53	100	22	4	11	19	32	43	.297	.360	.484	.843
24	AAA	272	49	82	19	4	10	12	19	34	.337	.393	.572	.965
4 Seasons		1590	231	449	96	20	30	74	106	197	.316	.376	.475	.851

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com:

Player B

Age	Lev	PA	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
21	Rk-A-	289	52	93	22	4	11	66	9	26	50	.358	.412	.600	1.012
21	Rk	260	46	86	21	3	9	61	9	25	47	.369	.427	.601	1.028
21	A-	29	6	7	1	1	2	5	0	1	3	.259	.276	.593	.868
22	A+	585	87	160	45	6	9	72	5	44	115	.300	.353	.458	.811
23	AA	582	79	154	46	4	15	71	4	51	74	.294	.361	.483	.844
24	AAA	505	68	143	32	6	17	82	7	39	73	.317	.381	.528	.909
25	AAA	303	55	80	16	2	10	53	11	46	46	.323	.426	.524	.950
5 Seasons		2264	341	630	161	22	62	344	36	206	358	.313	.379	.506	.885
AAA (2 seasons)	AAA	808	123	223	48	8	27	135	18	85	119	.319	.398	.526	.924
AA (1 season)	AA	582	79	154	46	4	15	71	4	51	74	.294	.361	.483	.844
Rk (1 season)	Rk	260	46	86	21	3	9	61	9	25	47	.369	.427	.601	1.028
A- (1 season)	A-	29	6	7	1	1	2	5	0	1	3	.259	.276	.593	.868
A+ (1 season)	A+	585	87	160	45	6	9	72	5	44	115	.300	.353	.458	.811

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com:

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maqman

So, who are we talking about? It’s like a blind date, if they don’t show up you don’t if you saved some time and money or really missed out big time. The Commish will not okay a contract made out to Player A or B.
maqman

So, who are we talking about? It’s like a blind date, if they don’t show up you don’t know if you saved some time and money or really missed out big time. The Commish will not okay a contract made out to Player A or B, at least not without a substantial bribe.
maqman

So, who are we talking about? It’s like a blind date, if they don’t show up you don’t if you saved some time and money or really missed out big time. The Commish will not okay a contract made out to Player A or B.
maqman

So, who are we talking about? It’s like a blind date, if they don’t show up you don’t know if you saved some time and money or really missed out big time. The Commish will not okay a contract made out to Player A or B, at least not without a substantial bribe.
Keith_12thMR

From what you’re saying here, it seems like like a bogus question to start with. You’re comparing a solid major leaguer to a prospect but comparing their minor league numbers, yet not giving up the minor league numbers that actually might dictate success at the majors.

There have been plenty of guys who’ve put up good OPS numbers in AAA only to implode against major league pitching. Balentine, Clement, Saunders…So, if this is all the info you’re given then take the guy who’s already proven to be able to hit major league hitting every time.
Keith_12thMR

From what you’re saying here, it seems like like a bogus question to start with. You’re comparing a solid major leaguer to a prospect but comparing their minor league numbers, yet not giving up the minor league numbers that actually might dictate success at the majors.

There have been plenty of guys who’ve put up good OPS numbers in AAA only to implode against major league pitching. Balentine, Clement, Saunders…So, if this is all the info you’re given then take the guy who’s already proven to be able to hit major league hitting every time.
Harrison_Crow

I disagree with that theory. Primarily because you are assuming things about the quality of the major league player that haven’t been provided and you are assuming as well as making compairsons of former minor leaguers of our organization that had holes in their game.

Baletine and Saunders had huge holes in their game. We knew this and still proceeded with our affection. If they ever patched that hole they would become a VERY strong player.

Clement had serious knee problems, that sapped him of his power and has eroded his overall ability at the plate. While his health was a concern it was hardly thought to affect him so greatly. He’s a unique case.

Neither players, whose stat lines were given, have a significant hole in their game. Yet, neither are precieved all-stars or above average players.
Keith_12thMR

@Harrison_Crow I wasn’t trying to assume anything. That was the point. The major leaguer has made the jump from AAA to MLB, the minor leaguer hasn’t. No matter how good the minor leaguer’s numbers, that transition should never be taken for granted.

Like I said, If they appear to be roughly the same player, take the player for which you know what you’re get, over the player for which the best info you have is a projection.
Harrison_Crow

I disagree with that theory. Primarily because you are assuming things about the quality of the major league player that haven’t been provided and you are assuming as well as making compairsons of former minor leaguers of our organization that had holes in their game.

Baletine and Saunders had huge holes in their game. We knew this and still proceeded with our affection. If they ever patched that hole they would become a VERY strong player.

Clement had serious knee problems, that sapped him of his power and has eroded his overall ability at the plate. While his health was a concern it was hardly thought to affect him so greatly. He’s a unique case.

Neither players, whose stat lines were given, have a significant hole in their game. Yet, neither are precieved all-stars or above average players.
Harrison_Crow

There are more assumptions. There is inherent risk in every acqusition. How do you know that the individual comes over from his previous organization and produces the same as before. You don’t, you hope he does, but there is no way of knowing.

That wasn’t the question either. The question wasn’t would you take a major leaguer over a minor leaguer? That’s an easy enough question for the most part so long as it’s in a vaccum.

I admit that the intent of what I want I was trying to establish was that Blackmon was a suitable replacement target for Smith, with both having very similar statlines through similar years. But mainly because neither had outstanding problems in the minor leagues.
Keith_12thMR

@Harrison_Crow I wasn’t trying to assume anything. That was the point. The major leaguer has made the jump from AAA to MLB, the minor leaguer hasn’t. No matter how good the minor leaguer’s numbers, that transition should never be taken for granted.

Like I said, If they appear to be roughly the same player, take the player for which you know what you’re get, over the player for which the best info you have is a projection.
Harrison_Crow

There are more assumptions. There is inherent risk in every acqusition. How do you know that the individual comes over from his previous organization and produces the same as before. You don’t, you hope he does, but there is no way of knowing.

That wasn’t the question either. The question wasn’t would you take a major leaguer over a minor leaguer? That’s an easy enough question for the most part so long as it’s in a vaccum.

I admit that the intent of what I want I was trying to establish was that Blackmon was a suitable replacement target for Smith, with both having very similar statlines through similar years. But mainly because neither had outstanding problems in the minor leagues.
maqman

@Harrison_Crow Blackmon? Smith? The relevance escapes me.
maqman

@Harrison_Crow Blackmon? Smith? The relevance escapes me.