Norichika Aoki traded to Kansas City Royals for LHP Will Smith

[Invader3K]

Breaking news now on Twitter.

 

Smith is 24 years old, 6'5" 250 lb lefty.

[Warning Track Power]

My initial reaction is...is Smith a RP or SP? And if he is an RP, is that really what we should be trading Aoki for?

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=smith-058wil

[Invader3K]

He looks like he could be a starter, but seems to profile more as a reliever.

 

I'm not unhappy with the trade. The writing was on the wall that the Brewers were going to deal an outfielder, and Aoki made the most sense with the rise of Khris Davis.

[patrickgpe]

looks like he was a starter in 2012 and pitched out of the pen in 2013 to much better results.

 

pitcher fits the DM prototype, we will have to see what the brewers will do with him.

[recte44]

http://www.foxsportskansascity.com/mlb/kansas-city-royals/story/Royals-shouldnt-mess-with-success----kee?blockID=938231

 

Looks like he was pretty much a stud as a reliever. Middling results as a starter.

 

He could be the new Mike Gonzalez, only younger, cheaper and better. We needed another lefty in the pen. Thought we might have gotten a little more for Aoki, but there's upside here.

 

We'll see if the Brewers plan to keep him in the pen, or put him back as a starter.

[recte44]

http://www.foxsportskansascity.com/03/01/12/Royals-Smith-is-primed-for-break-out-sea/landing_royals.html?blockID=677692

[djoctagone]

as far as i can tell, will smith had his contract purchased by the royals on 22 may 2012. he was optioned in june of that year, and was optioned in spring training 2013. thus, he should have one minor league option remaining.

[patrickgpe]

the issue that has yet to be brought up, is now who bats leadoff? I don't see a viable candidate on the current starting 8.

[Warning Track Power]

the issue that has yet to be brought up, is now who bats leadoff? I don't see a viable candidate on the current starting 8.

Gennett or Weeks. Like it or not, on December 5, I see a platoon for 2014.

[torts]

SP or RP?

[Warning Track Power]

Breen summed it up well on Twitter:

 

"Will Smith is a nice reliever, but if the Brewers utilized one of their prime trade chips to acquire a left handed specialist, I'm lost"

 

I am underwhelmed by this right now.

[yoyomayoma]

I gotta think he's a SP. Look at our options for the rotation:

 

Gallardo

Lohse

Estrada

Peralta

Thornburg

Smith

Hellweg

Fiers? (if he got back into his 2012 form)

 

Any chance they're thinking of dealing a SP for a 1B? Or are we assuming Hart will be back?

 

I'm underwhelmed as well. I think we could've done better.

[sheetskout]

 

I'm underwhelmed as well. I think we could've done better.

 

I second (or third) this. Although I was FOR trading Aoki, I would have rather waited to see if we could have had something better at the deadline. How many 4/5-types do we need battling it out for mediocrity.

[patrickgpe]

 

I'm underwhelmed as well. I think we could've done better.

 

I second (or third) this. Although I was FOR trading Aoki, I would have rather waited to see if we could have had something better at the deadline. How many 4/5-types do we need battling it out for mediocrity.

i think you are overestimating the trade market for a 32 year old outfielder who will be a free agent in 2015. I'm sure Doug tried to get more and realized that this was the best he was going to get.

[jerichoholicninja]

Everyone was expecting way too much for a guy who was a borderline starter that is just leaving his prime.

[Kelbysdaddy]

With Doug being really high on this kid for a couple years now, I'd be kinda surprised if he's not in the rotation.

[brwrsfan]

While it's a small sample size (only 30 innings or so) but a LHP out of the pen with a 1.78 ERA, almost 1k/inning and a lefty BAA of .140 is nothing to sneeze at IMO.

 

Is this the best we can do for Aoki, I have no idea, but if he produces anywhere close to that, even as a RP, that would certainly be a valuable asset to have. I just hope if they put him in the bullpen, they don't limit him to just lefties. He's only 24 and could also develop further.

[torts]

 

I'm underwhelmed as well. I think we could've done better.

 

I second (or third) this. Although I was FOR trading Aoki, I would have rather waited to see if we could have had something better at the deadline. How many 4/5-types do we need battling it out for mediocrity.

i think you are overestimating the trade market for a 32 year old outfielder who will be a free agent in 2015. I'm sure Doug tried to get more and realized that this was the best he was going to get.

 

Agreed. I think thats a pretty fair assumption to make, i mean, its not like any trades thus far have been crazy

[dacbrewers]

I gotta think he's a SP. Look at our options for the rotation:

 

Gallardo

Lohse

Estrada

Peralta

Thornburg

Smith

Hellweg

Fiers? (if he got back into his 2012 form)

 

Any chance they're thinking of dealing a SP for a 1B? Or are we assuming Hart will be back?

 

I'm underwhelmed as well. I think we could've done better.

 

Maybe they are going to change him to a side-winding lefty reliever since they keep trying to produce one...

[JohnBriggs12]

I love this deal. What's not to like? He was almost exclusively a starter in the minors, so he certainly could be a starter at some point. Meanwhile, he's a heck of a good reliever and he fills a need in that area. He's not really a loogy as he can go multiple innings, but he's been devasting on lefties. They hit just .157 off him last year. Plus, he's just 24.

 

Thanks Nori for two excellent years! Good luck with KC.

[fondybrewfan]

He had a great 2013 as a reliever. If they want him to be a starter than he is probably a 4/5 at best. Less than a 1.00 WHIP and a 11.6 K/9 ratio would look really nice in our bullpen. Plus he only 23 and we have him for a good long while.

 

I thought we would get more for Aoki given his favorable contract. But I suppose he is on the wrong side of 30 and has below average power for a corner outfielder.

 

If Smith turns into a big contributor in the bullpen it is probably a good trade. I would just assume leave him in the bullpen; Thornburg and Nelson appear to be better options for the rotation

[sveumrules]

I suggested in the trade forum on 09/27 targeting some of KC's excess bullpen arms as a possible return for Aoki, and it looks like that is what the market ended up being after all.

[JohnBriggs12]

I love this deal. What's not to like? He was almost exclusively a starter in the minors, so he certainly could be a starter at some point. There's been a few lefties that have done that in recent years. Meanwhile, he's a heck of a good reliever and he fills a need in that area. He's not really a loogy as he can go multiple innings, but he's been devasting on lefties. They hit just .157 off him last year. Plus, he's just 24. Had 143 K's over 122 combined innings last year.

 

Thanks Nori for two excellent years! Good luck with KC. I'm not sure what those of you who are disappointed were expecting, but Smith is a power lefty arm that can start or relieve, and power lefty arms aren't exactly in abundance in this system. He came up at 22 in 2012 and started in the big leagues. I'd think he has a ceiling higher than a 4 or a 5.

[fondybrewfan]

More importantly I want some Fresh Prince of Belair at Miller Park

[bill hAll Star]

Seems like a pretty fair trade. I think Aoki having 1 year left, being a speed guy entering his mid 30s, and already only carrying a .725 OPS and not extremely impressive on defense makes him a modest trade chip...and they got a modest return.