Saturday, June 27, 2009

DeRo Out for Perez and PTBNL

Everyone knows by now that Mark DeRosa has been traded to the Cardinals. Old News. So let's do what bloggers do and break down the numbers! (It's all we have really.)

In 71 games this season DeRo has hit .270 with 13 doubles, 13 home runs and 50 RBI. His OPS stands at a respectable .799 and he does have 1 stolen base so far this season. Clearly the Cardinals are getting a quality veteran who can help them in their run for the NL Central crown, and I'm happy that he gets that chance. I don't need to extol the virtues of DeRo's versatility because everyone already knows.

On to how good Perez is!

Chris Perez started the year in AAA Memphis and was quickly promoted to the bigs to help out the Cards 'pen. While in Memphis he pitched four innings, notching two saves and a win while posting a 0.00 ERA.

Since being called up he has gone 1-1 with a 4.18 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and my favorite stat a .195 opponent average against. The kids throws flames, he consistently hits the mid-90's and has been known to reach back and toss a 98+ heater at times. So far this season he has notched a 2:1 strikeout to walk ratio, with 30 and 15 respectively.

My best bet would be that the young righty (he turns 24 on Wednesday) will be the new eighth inning guy to set up Kerry Wood. Though a few more rough outings from Kid K might make everyone call for a role swap between the two. Perez will join the team on Sunday in Cleveland and be activated on Monday. With Carl Pavano listed as the probable for Monday's game against the White Sox it seems like Perez will be able to jump in to the American League right away.

The other part of the trade is the infamous Player To Be Named Later (or PTBNL, stay with me folks). The Indians are notorious for making this move work in their favor, bringing in the likes of Coco Crisp and Michael Brantley by way of the PTBNL.

The most interesting part of this PTBNL is that we have no idea where the player could come from or what stipulations surround the picking of said player. This, of course, means many blogs will be devoted that exact question. Last year the Tribe got to pick Brantley because of a clause that dictated that should the Brewers make the playoffs the Indians would be given the right to select the player. We'll know more in the near future but I would love to see such a clause again because the Cardinals seem very likely to make the playoffs in the weak NL Central.

As for now no Cardinals officials would comment on the PTBNL. Not even so much as what level the player could be selected at, or if he was on the 40 man roster. Just more fuel for the blogging fire.

Stay tuned.

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