Bernie on the Scene: Rockies' Return for Arenado is Uninspiring

The  Cardinals likely cemented the weak National League Central with the acquisition of Nolan Arenado.

St. Louis also picked jeff Bridich's pocket. That isn't too hard, though.

Some may say that leaving Coors will have a profound negative impact on Arenado's offense. He does, however, pick up Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati and a good hitters' park in Pittsburgh. But make no mistake, Busch is not paradise for a hitter.

So the Rockies dumped Arenado's salary and added some young "talent" to their roster.

Here's my take on their haul. In a word — uninspiring  (a distant cousin of meh).

This trade reminds me of when the Marlins jettisoned Giancarlo Stanton. The Yankees sent them back-bench players Jorge Guzman and Jose Devers along with Starlin Castro for the over-priced and then dynamic Stanton. But Stanton's salary was gone, with the exception of $30M the Yankees assumed. The Marlins rejoiced. 

Each scouting grade I have provided is probably a bit too high. But there is some potential in a couple players. I could have graded them lower with ease. I just gave them the benefit of potential growth in their games.

The New Rockies

Elehuris Montero
3B/1B
6-3, 235
Age 22
Signed by Cardinals as an international free agent out of Dominican Republic

He is the headliner in the trade for Colorado. I think he'll end up playing first base for the Rockies when all is said and done. The Cardinals invested a $300,000 signing bonus in him.

Until 2019, he had been really stinging the ball. Wrist (broken hamate bone) and hamstring injuries hurt him. He finished with a .188 batting average and .235 OBP in 238 at-bats.

He has the power and strength to be a 25-homer guy with Coors as his home park. He has hit as many as 16 in the minors, but he was only 19 at the time. I do think maturation will add even more strength to his solid frame.

A free swinger, Montero may extend the length of his swing and shoot for the moon when he makes the big club. That could translate to strikeouts. But even so, he has the goods to make an impact.

I saw him in the Arizona Fall League and he really struggled. He tried way too hard. But I did see the frame and the upside. He just has to learn how to hit against good pitching. That will take some time.

A weak defender, it is likely they try him at third base and then shift him to first. Or, if the DH becomes permanent in the NL, he's a good candidate for that role.

Conclusions: He has potential. He has all the tools to succeed, and he could be a real flyer in a dynasty league. But for me, he is a long way away from the big leagues. He has to be less aggressive at the plate and stop trying to be Babe Ruth.  GRADE: 50 (borderline)

Austin Gomber
LHP
6-2, 220
Age 27
Cardinals 2014 fourth-round draft pick out of Florida Atlantic

Words no pitcher wants to hear: "Hello Austin, this is Jeff Bridich of the Colorado Rockies. We have just traded for you. Welcome to the Colorado Rockies."

Oh, my. 

Gomber has been hanging around the Cardinals development program for as long as I can remember, or so it seems. He made his debut in 2018 and has pitched only 104 innings in parts of two seasons at the big-league level. But he did start four games last season, and pitched well.

Gomber's problem? Command and control. He is the left-handed pitcher we see with trouble throwing strikes. He walked 4.7 hitters per nine last year, while striking out 8.4.

He throws a low-velocity fastball that he has trouble commanding. It usually sits in the low-90s. He also has improved his curveball and throws a quality changeup. The problem is the lack of velocity on the fastball to the changeup. His slider may be his best pitch, and it helped him finally make the big club. Gomber's four-seam fastball seems to be deceptive, even without velocity.

I see Gomber as a back-end starter for Colorado or as a long man out of the bullpen. And I think he may get clobbered.

Conclusions: He's improving. But. But he'll be pitching in tough parks, including Coors as his home and Chase Field. He could get rocked. I'm not on board. GRADE: 50 (borderline)

Mateo Gil
SS/3B 
Right-handed hitter
6-1, 180
Age 20
Cardinals 2018 third-round draft pick out of Timber Creek (Texas) High School

Gil is the son of former big leaguer Benji Gil, so the genes are promising.

An average player with average tools, Gil profiles as a utility-type infielder if he makes the big leagues. Even though he signed for $900,000, which was over slot, I'm not over the moon at all for Gil.

Due to his slow speed and limited range, he's more likely to get his chance by playing third base for Colorado.  Gil will get a boost playing at both Coors and Chase, but he just doesn't profile as a power hitting third baseman. He might reach 15 homers in a good season, which is not enough to win a regular job.

Gil does have quick hands and a good sense for the game. He knows how pitchers try to get him out, and he has a good knack for finding the barrel. I like that in him.

Conclusions: Gil is a good player with good baseball instincts, but I wonder if he has enough to stick at shortstop. I'm betting he doesn't in today's game. He has only reached high-A as a professional, so he has time to grow physically and develop. GRADE: 45

Tony Locey
RHP
6-2, 239
Age 22
Cardinals 2019 third-round draft pick out of University of Georgia

Locey threw in 59 games at Georgia, starting 28. He finished his complete three seasons throwing to a 3.92 ERA and 1.30 WHIP.

Locey reached single-A for the Cardinals and faces a complete development program in the Rockies system. He has a stout frame and probably has to shed some of the weight. He has struggled so far with command and control in his brief professional opportunities.

Locey throws his fastball in the mid-90s, hitting 95 regularly. It is reported that his slider is his best pitch. But he needs a lot of work on commanding all his pitches, including his secondary repertoire. His curve and changeup really have to be taught from the beginning. 

Conclusions: Locey is seen as a reliever, but things can change in development. I think he has a good chance to make the Rockies pen at the conclusion of his development. GRADE: 45

Jake Sommers
RHP
6-2, 193
Age 23

Cardinals 2019 10th-round draft pick out of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Sommers had a four-year career at Wisconsin. He threw 132 innings, starting only 15 of his 73 games. He finished with a 5.59 ERA and 1.73 WHIP.

He has one minor league season behind his belt. He pitched for Johnson City in the Appalachian Rookie League, and it wasn't great. He was used as a starter in 10 of 12 games he worked. He walked 3.3 hitters per nine and struck out 9.6. He yielded 51 hits in his 51.2 innings.

I have not seen video of Sommers and can't make a judgement without seeing him work.

Overall Summary

Arenado got a year and an additional opt out year added to his contract. The additional year is worth $15M.

The Rockies will absorb $51M of Arenado's remaining contract. Arenado is now signed thru 2027 at the handsome sum of $214M. Because the Rockies are choking down $51M, the return for Arenado did not include any of the Cardinals top prospects.

Frankly, I thought Arenado would fetch at least Nolan Gorman, a hard-hitting third baseman who could be lights out in Colorado. But no. No Gorman. No Dylan Carlson. What they got was a basket of fringe players who could fill out Triple-A or major league rosters without impact.

I feel badly for Rockies fans, who, like fans of many other clubs, sit back and watch ownership deteriorate their teams.

I feel excited for Cardinals fans. They are getting a terrific baseball player. He may not be the hitting machine of the past, but he's very, very good. Not to mention he's still a great defensive third baseman.

Consider Arenado and Goldschmidt hitting in the middle of the same lineup. It works. And having Arenado also makes Paul DeJong and Dylan Carlson better as well. They'll likely see more pitches to hit.

So rejoice Cardinals fans. This is very good for you. And Rockies fans — losing Trevor Story is your next heartbreak.

Heading Home

When free agency began, on Twitter I mentioned four possible landing spots for Trevor Bauer. In this order they were: Angels, Dodgers, Mets, Blue Jays.

I then remembered the problems Bauer had with Mickey Calloway, the current (maybe) pitching coach of the Angels. So I crossed the Angels off my list. I then turned to the rest of the list, in order.

The Dodgers made the most sense for me. Bauer is from the area. Bauer wants to win. Bauer knew the money would be there. BUT … will the Dodgers let him be who he wants to be? I think the honeymoon could be short. I just don't see Dave Roberts and Bauer in harmony.

I'm just sayin'. Did they work it all out before he agreed to sign. Probably. BUT … talking and walking the walk are different. Time will tell. It will be fun to watch. NOBODY is like Trevor Bauer. Talented, bright, articulate, opinionated, stubborn and now … very rich.

You can read my take on Bauer signing with the Dodgers here.

Note: BERNIE ON THE SCENE fantasy baseball leagues return this season with new rules and some format changes. If you played in either league last year, you will get an invitation to return from Commission Derek Simon. There is a deadline to respond for returning team managers. After the deadline, the leagues will be opened to new players if vacancies exist. Watch this space and my Twitter account @BerniePleskoff.

Have a great week. Stay safe. Be well.  I love the word jettisoned. It says so much.