Quote:
Originally Posted by Sal, The Barber
Sal would like to know what the plan is for Hartman. He is the 4th OF, no? But he is too good to be the number 4, n'est pas? Is he the piece you ship at the trade deadline for whoever is injured at the moment? Or do you foresee a revolving outfield? Sal would like to know if you can guarantee his client at-bats.
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As of right now, he is the fourth outfielder. I don't foresee a revolving outfield, but I do see Hartman getting decent playing time as a sub. I like to substitute frequently to keep my bench sharp, especially early in the season. Yes, he is too good to be a fourth outfielder, plus he expects to be in the starting lineup. Maybe he will be if I have an injury, but I don't want to think about that.
If I have a pressing need at mid-season and he is still the fourth outfielder, then he could be traded. He is especially vulnerable if Sweeney and Valdez develop rapidly. I am not giving Hartman away for nothing though. Good leadoff hitters are hard to find.
Since we are talking about smart trades, let's don't forget the dumb ones. I traded RF Juan Moran to Cleveland for Hartman. Moran has developed into a great player. He hit .303 with 46 HR and 116 RBI for the Rockers in 2007, making the All-Star team for the first time. I drafted Moran in 2004 (2nd round) and badly under-estimated his development.
Moran is worth a lot more than Hartman right now.