Trade Blurb from BP on Kline and Wes Helms

by xanthan on Mar 17, 2008 11:38 AM PDT

Let the speculation begin!

NL Rumors and Rumblings: While the Dodgers have been linked to the Tigers' Brandon Inge and the White Sox’s Joe Crede in trade rumors, their more realistic third-base target is Philadelphia’s Wes Helms, who is also reportedly drawing interest from Atlanta and Florida. The Phillies would like a left-handed reliever in return for Helms, and could have interest in San Francisco’s Steve Kline. … The Giants also have at least cursory interest in Inge and Crede.

Even if Helms isn't much, I would take him for Kline. He had a flukey year in 2006 but for his career he's hit lefties pretty well (.835 OPS). I think turning Kline into anything is somewhat amazing.

Also, BP noted that the Giants are leaning towards starting Durham at 2B over Frandsen. That shouldn't shock anyone.

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Meh

Helms for Kline would be pretty OK -:)

The Giants trade $1.75M, free up a bullpen spot, and pick up $2.15M for 2008, with a 750K buyout in 2009.

My adopted son Matt Downs. He's sort of like Bill Mueller without the "two flap" helmet.

by nvsfg on Mar 17, 2008 12:00 PM PDT 0 recs

I'd rather have Helms than Kline, I guess, but I'm not sure what we'd do with him. He can't really play third, and we already have two lefty-mashing first basemen ("mashing" is too strong a word here, but whatever) but no one to hit against right-handers.

by Evan on Mar 17, 2008 12:01 PM PDT 0 recs

Yeah, he's a bad defender at 3B but I guess the Giants could swap him between 1B/3B when playing against lefties. Aurilia had hit well against LHP for his career but last year he "mashed" them to an OPS of .676!

http://www.baycityball.com

by xanthan on Mar 17, 2008 12:04 PM PDT up 0 recs

Today there was an article on SFGate from the AP stating that the #1 seeds in the men's NCAA Tournament (other than North Carolina) have poor academic track records in terms of graduating their players.

To which I said, "is it news if it makes you go 'duh'?" Similar reaction to Durham over Franny at 2B.

Though this Kline thing, I like it.

Democracy is lovely but baseball is more mature. BVCE supports Manny Burriss and SF Dugout.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Mar 17, 2008 12:01 PM PDT 0 recs

Yes please.

If we can trade a junk left handed reliever for a junk 3B/1B, we'd be foolish not to. There are plenty of candidates to replace Kline at no cost.

2008: My previous assessment may have been overly optimistic.

by EliminateMe on Mar 17, 2008 12:01 PM PDT 0 recs

That looks like it's just people guessing.

I'm reminded of the "Pat Burrell to the Giants" rumors from acouple offseasons ago.

I looked up Steve Kline in the dictionary. He wasn't there. If he was, it would have said "pretty okay"

by groug on Mar 17, 2008 12:03 PM PDT 0 recs

That looks like it's just people guessing.

Hence the tag, rumors and rumblings!

http://www.baycityball.com

by xanthan on Mar 17, 2008 12:05 PM PDT up 0 recs

Also, the Burrell rumor was somewhat credible because Burrell said he would waive his NTC to play in SF.

http://www.baycityball.com

by xanthan on Mar 17, 2008 12:06 PM PDT up 0 recs

Yeah, but the organizations never talked about it. I mean, this is just as credible in that it's possible and seems like a fit for both teams. Hence my comparison.

I looked up Steve Kline in the dictionary. He wasn't there. If he was, it would have said "pretty okay"

by groug on Mar 17, 2008 12:08 PM PDT up 0 recs

We don't know if they talked about it or not. Unless your Brian Sabean, if so, I want my money back!

http://www.baycityball.com

by xanthan on Mar 17, 2008 12:08 PM PDT up 0 recs

I thought there was a report afterwards that they never talked about it. If not, oh well, but the person who asked Burrell about it was a reporter, not his agent or a team official.

I looked up Steve Kline in the dictionary. He wasn't there. If he was, it would have said "pretty okay"

by groug on Mar 17, 2008 12:27 PM PDT up 0 recs

Notice that while the quote

mentions that Helms is drawing interest from Atlanta and Florida, it does not say so about the Giants, All it says is that he would be more realistic.

Reads like random speculation. Who is this from? Link please?

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Mar 17, 2008 1:05 PM PDT up 0 recs

I really wish that Burrell to SF rumor had been trufax. :(

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Mar 17, 2008 12:08 PM PDT up 0 recs

Me too. Players with high OBP's and nice power, who needs 'em!?

http://www.baycityball.com

by xanthan on Mar 17, 2008 12:09 PM PDT up 0 recs

Not Philadelphia apparently. :(

And yet they hoard him for themselves. And don't appreciate him.

I WOULD APPRECIATE YOU, PAT!

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Mar 17, 2008 12:10 PM PDT up 0 recs

"Me appreciate you long time!"

2008 Giants: A steaming pile of scrap!

by Goofus on Mar 17, 2008 12:38 PM PDT up 0 recs

Re: guessing

I thought the same thing of this Chronicle article about Aurilia starting at first. I was about to rant about it in a separate fanpost, but thought to myself: "They couldn't be giving up on Ort already, right? Right?"

by ResDog on Mar 17, 2008 12:13 PM PDT up 0 recs

Can't we just give them Kline? We already have enough mediocre corner infielders.

Adopted Giant Brian Wilson: Your 2008 closer.

by sfgreg on Mar 17, 2008 12:05 PM PDT 0 recs

I would be fine with that too. What I would most like about this is that it opens a 'pen spot for Threets/Valdez/etc.

http://www.baycityball.com

by xanthan on Mar 17, 2008 12:07 PM PDT up 0 recs

C'mon...

...you can never have enough mediocre corner infielders. They're like speedy light-hitting center fielders that way.

2008: My previous assessment may have been overly optimistic.

by EliminateMe on Mar 17, 2008 12:37 PM PDT up 0 recs

and if it opens a spot for 40 yr old Yabu?

by allfrank on Mar 17, 2008 12:26 PM PDT 0 recs

He couldn't be any worse than Kline.

I don't think Yabu has a good chance to make the team but you never know with these crazy Giants.

http://www.baycityball.com

by xanthan on Mar 17, 2008 12:31 PM PDT up 0 recs

I don't really get it..

Kline wasn't that bad. He litereally was pretty ok. A 4.70 ERA, not bad but not good. OK. A positive WPA (which is interesting for most players but for relievers it's actually something you can measure them by) for the year. His K rate did go down, but his walk and home run rates went down as well.

Coming to you from the Land of Many Beers

by WalrusMan on Mar 17, 2008 8:40 PM PDT up 0 recs

I'm sick and tired of pretty okay, though. There's "good" and there's "bad," alright Kline. Pick one and stop being so wishy washy!

He is Vengeance. He is the Knight. He is Dave Righetti. PRAY TO HIM!

by howtheyscored on Mar 17, 2008 8:46 PM PDT up 0 recs

Good or bad, Kline. Pick a side. We're at war.

I looked up Steve Kline in the dictionary. He wasn't there. If he was, it would have said "pretty okay"

by groug on Mar 17, 2008 9:06 PM PDT up 0 recs

he was bad.

ERA means nothing for a starting reliever. And betting on a 35 y/o lefty specialist to keep his walk and home run rates down is a bad idea. Kline was hot at the beginning of the season, keeping an unusually high amount of inherited runners from scoring, but he regressed back to mediocrity the rest of the year. Maybe I shouldn't call him a lefty specialist, he hasn't been used as one the last three years, and he hasn't shown he can get lefties out any better than righties. But he's an aging lefty on decline who is in the way of younger relievers with more potential.
And a 4.70 ERA in a pitchers park is bad.

Southern California: Water thieves and Dodgers fans.

by jasomack on Mar 19, 2008 1:11 PM PDT up 0 recs

Wake me up...

...when we're talking about Wes Hodges for Steve Kline...

Delaying the disappointment: I adopt Hector Sanchez because he's only 17.

by tedfordfan on Mar 17, 2008 12:54 PM PDT 0 recs

Why acquire Helms?

I'd rather trade Kline to some team that thinks it needs him like Philadelphia, but in return for a minor leaguer. How about a young 3B or C?

Your 2011 SF Giants: the 2008 Augusta Greenjackets!

by Lyle on Mar 17, 2008 4:50 PM PDT 0 recs

Helms is probably the best the Giants will get for Kline without just plain out releasing him.

I really don't think anyone would give up a prospect for Kline, despite getting something for Michael Tucker 4 years ago or whenever it was.

http://www.baycityball.com

by xanthan on Mar 17, 2008 5:13 PM PDT up 0 recs

Young 3B? Those exist?

Durham? I hardly know 'im!

by Natto on Mar 17, 2008 5:42 PM PDT up 0 recs

Yeah

But only in a pot at the end of a ranbow in the depths of the loch in the middle of the woods in the center of the North Pole, and only around Easter when you lose a tooth.

He is Vengeance. He is the Knight. He is Dave Righetti. PRAY TO HIM!

by howtheyscored on Mar 17, 2008 5:53 PM PDT up 0 recs

So that's why Brian hasn't found one! I had no idea...

Your 2011 SF Giants: the 2008 Augusta Greenjackets!

by Lyle on Mar 19, 2008 3:09 PM PDT up 0 recs

profile pic

what is that? a muscle fiber or something?

by sfgiants114 on Mar 17, 2008 5:23 PM PDT 0 recs

It's a picture of skin tissue! I think it confuses everyone, I'll probably change it one day.

http://www.baycityball.com

by xanthan on Mar 17, 2008 5:45 PM PDT up 0 recs

haha thats cool, I knew it was some type of tissue.......I am taking anatomy and its controlling my life....ITS EVERYWHERE!! haha

by sfgiants114 on Mar 17, 2008 6:13 PM PDT up 0 recs

A live body at a position of need for Kline? In a heartbeat.

Matt Cain, cleanup hitter or starting pitcher?

by cain1rstballothof on Mar 17, 2008 6:08 PM PDT 0 recs

a dead body at a position of need for Kline? In a non-heartbeat!

I'm an ESPN Insider!

by The Thrill on Mar 17, 2008 9:26 PM PDT up 0 recs

Kline for Helms

Why not? Only Betemit might be a better possibility right now and the Yankees aint taking Kline-o for Wilson.

Don't believe everything you think.

by wcovington on Mar 17, 2008 9:29 PM PDT 0 recs

MLB Trade Rumors...

says that the Phillies would like Kline but the Giants aren't interested.

by marklar on Mar 18, 2008 11:06 AM PDT 0 recs

Must be holding out for Chase Utley.

http://www.baycityball.com

by xanthan on Mar 18, 2008 1:09 PM PDT up 0 recs

oh ffs.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Mar 18, 2008 5:21 PM PDT up 0 recs

Why would we be... If we don't have Kline, who fills the all important fat-ass not very good pitcher role that has been a part of every Giants team I've ever followed. It just wouldn't be Giants baseball without some sore arm shitbag oozing out of the bullpen to piss away whatever chance they might have at a win. It's okay though 'cause Kline's a gamer!

by mikeivie on Mar 19, 2008 11:49 AM PDT up 0 recs