Anthony Gose traded to Tigers for Devon Travis

[burlingtonbandit]

2014 Splits

 

Vs. LHP .256/.322/.465

Vs. RHP .313/.371/.450

 

Interesting. A right handed hitter that hits righties well.

 

Not nearly large enough of a sample size. His career numbers have him

 

Vs lhp 7.7 BB%/12.1 K%/.187 ISO

 

Vs. RHP 9.1 BB%/11.9 K%/.156 ISO

 

Thats pretty even to me and even then thats a small sample.

[RealAccountant]

Not nearly large enough of a sample size. His career numbers have him

 

Vs lhp 7.7 BB%/12.1 K%/.187 ISO

 

Vs. RHP 9.1 BB%/11.9 K%/.156 ISO

 

Thats pretty even to me and even then thats a small sample.

 

I dont really understand the numbers you have put up, so I cant really comment on them. However I do believe that 400ABs is at least a large enough sample size to make some observations from.It may not be the perfect sample, but its something to go on.

[Laika]

A week into the 2014 season, Travis suffered an oblique injury that kept him on the disabled list for six weeks and lingered into May. After shaking off the rust, from June 1 onward he batted .312/.379/.481.

 

Interesting. The .817 OPS + peripherals are pretty solid for a 23 year old infielder hitting AA for the first time, but his stats look even better if you punt the first two months and consider that he was almost a .900 OPS hitter after getting past that oblique injury. And it was consistent too:

 

wOBA by month

June - .401

July - .387

August - .377

(season total .365)

[RealAccountant]

So tigers are also looking to trade Avila, who imo is better at pitch framing than Martin

[Terminator]

He also just had knee surgery and won't pick up a bat until mid-December.

 

I'd like to point out that I like the trade from the Jays perspective...I just don't think Travis is the answer. It does in my mind mean that the Jays have their OF situation figured out.

 

I thought it was just a "core" injury and that he started jogging 2.5 weeks after surgery.

[FireAlexAnthopoulos]

Considering our recent history in trades, I'll wait and see if this Travis guy is any good before I get excited.

[burlingtonbandit]

MLB.com has Travis ranked #9 on the prospect list.

 

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2014/index.jsp?c_id=tor#list=tor

[Terminator]

It's not that I don't like Pompey. It's that you want guys like that stepping in as depth mid-season. If Pillar and Pompey struggle/get hurt, who steps in? There's nobody else after them.

 

That is true that we don't have any depth at CF next season but on the flipside we can now start a non-turd at 2B.

 

Starting 2B > AAA CF Depth

 

And I know if it were up to you you wouldn't be starting a turd (Kawasaki, Goins, etc.) at 2B, but for now the move is an improvement.

 

I also bet that the organization feels that Pompey has passed Gose, thus making Gose even more expendable so getting a guy who can start at 2B is a nice move in their eyes.

 

And I don't disagree with the FO, I do like the move. But it's not very inspiring. Talent wise it's damn near a wash we just traded someone who was somewhat expandable for a similarly talented player at a position of need.

[Laika]

Keep in mind that Dave Dombrowski is generally regarded as a guy who knows when his own players are about to break, or his prospects aren't going to work out.

 

The takeaway: Dombrowski has crushed his trading partners overall, and he’s done so with amazing consistency. In every season but one, he acquired more talent than he traded away.

 

Year/ Trades Made/bWAR Traded/bWAR Acquired/Difference

2001 1 4.2 6.7 +2.5

2002 9 0.8 16.4 +15.6

2003 3 5.1 7.0 +1.9

2004 3 7.7 18.0 +10.3

2005 5 1.0 30.5 +29.5

2006 3 -0.7 2.3 +3.0

2007 12 33.4 24.7 -8.7

2008 6 13.0 16.3 +3.3

2009 4 19.4 38.2 +18.8

2010 2 -0.6 9.0 +9.6

2011 6 -0.1 9.0 +9.1

2012 4 1.3 10.8 +9.5

Total 58 84.5 188.9 +104.4

 

Rany Jazayerli

[Terminator]

Keep in mind that Dave Dombrowski is generally regarded as a guy who knows when his own players are about to break, or his prospects aren't going to work out.

 

 

 

Rany Jazayerli

 

This is a good point although Dombrowski seems to have a different motive this offseason in which he appears hellbent on winning in 2015.

[burlingtonbandit]

Keep in mind that Dave Dombrowski is generally regarded as a guy who knows when his own players are about to break, or his prospects aren't going to work out.

 

 

 

Rany Jazayerli

 

yeah but Travis was blocked by Kinsler so it made sense to get Gose who probably outperforms Travis in CF next year. I think this was a case of dealing a strength for weakness for both teams.

[Laika]

This is a good point although Dombrowski seems to have a different motive this offseason in which he appears hellbent on winning in 2015.

 

Yup.

 

Like any trade, wait and see. Prima facie, looks solid for Toronto and a bit desperate for Detroit though.

 

But, if Travis tests positive for HGH in the spring and then is diagnosed with fibromyalgia, none of us should be shocked.

[Frag]

I'm surprised Travis was the return. Fills a major hole in the team's 2B depth chart.

[Vdubfan]

2B Steamer 600 Leaders

Cano 4.8

Pedroia 4.4

Betts 4.1

Zobrist 4.1

Kinsler 3.5

Walker 3.4

Kendrick 3.2

Utley 3.1

Altuve 2.9

Dozier 2.6

Travis 2.5

Kipnis 2.5

Phillips 2.5

 

Works for me!

[Laika]

Just some players that Steamer600 has Devon Travis being better than:

David Ortiz

Matt Kemp

Xander Bogaerts

Shin Soo Choo

Melky Cabrera

 

Better than those guys, but still just the Jays 6th best positional player, behind:

 

Bautista

Edwin

Lawrie

Reyes

Martin

 

The Steamer offense should be deep, especially if they can get rid of both Navarro and Thole and clean up LF/DH in some smart way.

 

The Steamer World Series will be ours!

[Abomination]

I love this trade! Seems fair for both teams too, which is always nice.

[Candy Maldonado]

I found Gruber's twitter.

 

[shortstop]

Def Pompey as the starter for 2015...

 

Don't think anyone has any issues with this - just that AA needs to get a legit Major League LF.

 

Aoki - 2 years, $16M - I wouldn't think twice. Relatively low risk - only 2 years.

 

Sign Martin, trade Navarro & somehow get a legit major league 2B - ie Kendrick

 

Happ for Kendrick makes sense as the main pieces in a deal - Happ will be seeking a long contract & high $ value come next offseason - I don't see Happ being resigned with other LF prospects knocking on the door.

 

Reyes

Aoki

Bautista

Encarnacion

Martin

Kendrick

Lawrie

Pompey

 

And stick the DH somewhere in there. That's a balanced lineup & all 3 of JB, EE & Martin can hit right handed pitching.

[shortstop]

*lf = lhp

[TwistedLogic]

Very positive report written by Clint Longenecker from a year ago this time; information still pretty much relevant, looks even better after another great year in the minors.

 

---

http://i.gyazo.com/70c2753a0bdff7770cf0344ab30d7df8.png

 

PHOENIX—A year after being drafted in the 13th round, Tigers second base prospect Devon Travis posted one of the top statistical seasons in the minor leagues this year, narrowly missing out on the minor league batting title. His cumulative .351/.418/.518 line across both Class A levels was 65 percent (weighted runs created) better than the league averages and the second best of any full-season middle infielder.

 

A three-year starter at Florida State, Travis exemplified the Seminoles’ offensive approach—as Florida State has led the ACC in walk rate six of the last eight seasons—with just as many walks as strikeouts and an ACC-leading 50 doubles over his final two seasons in Tallahassee, despite battling injuries.

 

Despite his consistent offensive production, Travis went in the 13th round, signing for an above-slot $200,000, in part because of a tough profile as a 5-foot-9, 185-pound righthanded-hitting college infielder likely limited to second base.

 

Travis, 22, began the 2013 season in the Midwest League, where he walked more than he whiffed and struck out in less than 10 percent of his plate appearances, posting a .352/.430/.486 line.

 

Upon a promotion to the Florida State League, Travis, who has a strong, compact build, posted an isolated slugging percentage (.210) nearly twice the league average (.115) and hit 10 home runs in 237 plate appearances. Although some scouts grade his power as a 30 in the 20-80 scouting scale, Travis finished with 16 home runs in home run-suppressing ballparks in two pitcher’s leagues.

 

Travis, an above-average straight-line runner with good instincts, stole 25 bases in 30 attempts.

 

Travis earned the Tigers minor league player of the year honors for his strong first professional campaign and was sent to the Arizona Fall League.

 

He has made a substantial overhaul to his hitting since college that helped enable his season. Before Wednesday’s AFL game, I had the opportunity to sit down with Travis to discuss his season and his altered mechanics. Travis looked at side-by-side photos of his collegiate and professional swings in three separate phases—his stance, his load/stride and his swing/follow through—and described the differences in the following interview.

 

Stance

 

Differences as a professional: Travis has a much narrower, more upright stance with a more even weight distribution in his lower half after being more spread out in college. His hands are starting well below his shoulder after starting significantly higher in school, and he ditched his open stance in favor of one squared with the pitcher

 

“The most difficult adjustment to pro ball was getting to the inside pitch. So I had to figure out a way to help me to get there. I couldn’t figure it out last year when I got to Connecticut (the Tigers’ New York-Penn League affiliate). It was like everybody was throwing 90-plus on the inside corner and I couldn’t get to it. So this offseason I went home to my hitting coach and I told him I was really struggling to get to the inside pitch with the wooden bat. So he asked me how I have been holding my hands and I showed him up here (shoulder height). And he said ‘That’s tough.’ So the first thing he told me was to lower my hands and make my barrel more vertical to the ground. It was a little weird at first and my hands would drift up a little bit.

 

“Instead of focusing on trying to pull the inside pitch, I focused on the middle of the field, and the barrel will take care of itself. Still to this day it is a pitch I struggle with, but I am thinking more about the middle of the field. When I tried to pull the inside pitch my front shoulder flied open pretty quick, and if I don’t get the barrel there, I struggle. I squared my stance to work on keeping my front shoulder closed. I used to be open and wider and it made more sense with the metal bat because you can still get a little juice on it even if you don’t hit it well. Now with a wooden bat if you don’t get it on the barrel, especially with them throwing 95, you are in trouble. Getting ready on time and getting ready early is something I shoot for.”

 

Load/stride

 

Differences as a professional: Travis’ load is not as deep, his bat angle is now more vertical, pointing at 1 o’clock, as opposed to 2 o’clock in college, and his stride is shorter, softer and more direct to the pitcher

 

“As you can see in college, that fastball was in there and that pitch was pretty tough because I almost wrapped a little bit. My (front) arm was a little locked and it was tough to get to the inside pitch. If I did get to it, it was more luck than anything. So instead of trying to go so far back with my load, I am trying to go more upright than anything, so it is a quicker path to the ball. The bat angle is more vertical. So that is definitely the biggest adjustment.”

 

Swing/follow through

 

Differences as a professional: Travis’ bat path is more direct, as it had length in college because of his deep load. His front foot is getting down earlier, and his lower half has better balance with a better weight transfer. He would occasionally hit with a soft front side because of how wide his stance was, but his front side is much firmer as a professional.

 

“In college my load would get so far back that everything would have to fly forward and open. But here, because guys are throwing harder, I wanted to minimize the motion and get my hands going back a little. For me now it’s just a matter of getting my hands ready in a comfortable position and taking a direct path to the ball. I was not as balanced in college.”

 

Although his walk rate fell in the FSL, Travis maintained a high contact rate and attributes his advanced approach to his tutelage in Tallahassee.

 

“The biggest thing at Florida State is that they get their guys to believe in the system that is in place,” Travis said. “If I am not being patient and getting good pitches, especially being a smaller guy, I can handle (that) I am going to struggle a lot because I don’t have the extra pop of the bigger guys to be able to hit pitches that are out of the zone and get them through holes.”

 

His offensive outburst was complimented by strong keystone defense. Although minor league error totals only tell part of the story defensively, Travis displayed soft, dependable hands, finishing among the MWL (.982) and FSL (.979) league leaders in fielding percentage. Couple Travis’ soft hands with his above-average speed and range, and average arm, Travis could be an above-average defender.

[burlingtonbandit]

Def Pompey as the starter for 2015...

 

Don't think anyone has any issues with this - just that AA needs to get a legit Major League LF.

 

Aoki - 2 years, $16M - I wouldn't think twice. Relatively low risk - only 2 years.

 

Sign Martin, trade Navarro & somehow get a legit major league 2B - ie Kendrick

 

Happ for Kendrick makes sense as the main pieces in a deal - Happ will be seeking a long contract & high $ value come next offseason - I don't see Happ being resigned with other LF prospects knocking on the door.

 

Reyes

Aoki

Bautista

Encarnacion

Martin

Kendrick

Lawrie

Pompey

 

And stick the DH somewhere in there. That's a balanced lineup & all 3 of JB, EE & Martin can hit right handed pitching.

 

Problem is we aren't in playing MLB 15 the show.

[Maahfaace]

While I like the trade, I warn people here against highly rating this Travis guy. It scares me to think that with a veteran team in its contention window, we will be going with a rookie 2B who at best case scenerio will hit for league average.

 

At the same time, Gose was only slightly better than Dwayne Wise. Nothing is lost, and small probability something good is gained.

 

I wonder how the veterans on this club feel right now. Rookie 2B, doesn't sound like a team trying to win a championship.

 

 

Who knows, maybe Miggy teaches Gose a thing or two about hitting and the Jays regret this trade in a few years

[jaysblue]

Yeah I like the trade as well but reading some posts on here it sounds like AA just traded for an all-star second baseman lol. It's nice how AA brought in someone who could compete at 2B, though lets not get out of hand here.

[jaysblue]

Well Keith Law also said on PTS in 2010 that Jose was a one year wonder, and that the Blue Jays should trade him for whatever they could get while they could. lol

 

I would take anything he says with a grain of salt.

 

He wasn't the only one.

[Caper]

Yeah I like the trade as well but reading some posts on here it sounds like AA just traded for an all-star second baseman lol. It's nice how AA brought in someone who could compete at 2B, though lets not get out of hand here.

 

f*** that... lets get out of hand!!

[jaysblue]

f*** that... lets get out of hand!!

 

http://25.media.tumblr.com/a2da8785d6c1e39ad0d84fa6f24316f1/tumblr_mfyr3swKPg1qf5do9o1_400.gif

[G-Snarls]

WTF???

 

We got the Tigers #1 or 2 prospect for Anthony Gose???

 

YES YES YES

[G-Snarls]

THANK YOU DALTON POMPEY

 

cff

[Governator]

What a nice start to the day.

[KingKat]

Yeah so this guy isn't an A+ prospect but we weren't getting that for Gose anyways. When was the last time AA traded for someone who was legitimately on the upswing career wise? That alone is reason for celebration.