Around The Web: George Sherrill Trade Reaction

Dodger Thoughts: Jon doesn't like adding a bullpen arm to what is already a good bullpen.

This is just part of my ongoing curiosity about paying a premium for someone who probably won't have a big impact and isn't overwhelmingly better than most of the former homegrown minor leaguers and non-roster invitees he'll largely be joining.

Yeah, pretty much.

Minor League Ball: John thinks the Orioles did well.

George Sherrill to the Orioles for Josh Bell and Steve Johnson. I've never been a big Sherrill guy, so I think the Orioles did very well here to pick up a couple of prospects for him. Bell is a solid Grade B guy...his home run power is still developing and I'm not sure what position he plays long run, but I like his strike zone judgment and he's young. Johnson doesn't have blazing stuff, but could be a good inning-eater type, perhaps similar to Brad Bergesen down the road. I'd rate him as a Grade B- prospect right now.

Wow, Sickels does rate them as B and B-. That's about the same as me.

Baseball Prospectus: Christina Kahrl might dislike this trade as much as I do.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Turning that into a pair of prominently mentioned Dodgers prospects is nothing short of outstanding. So far in 2009, Bell delivered a .296/.386/.497 at Double-A as a 22-year-old, just the additional cream on a pudding the Orioles should be more than happy to have ordered. The danger is that Bell might outgrow third base and have to move to first or the outfield, but even there his production against right-handers so far this season (.335/.425/.600) is good enough to make him at least a quality platoon option if he failed to develop further, which at his age seems unlikely. Johnson's a nice add-on to boot, a power righty who gave up just 4.7 runs per nine in the offense-oriented Cal League while striking out 102 in 96 2/3 IP, but also walking 46. He's perhaps still more of a pitchability guy than a prospect, but as a native son of Maryland (his dad was Dave Johnson the former Orioles pitcher, not the second baseman/skipper), he makes a decent little legacy-oriented add-on to a deal that brought them Bell for a 32-year-old arbitration-eligible lefty.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Ouch, ouch, and ouch. Not that Sherrill isn't a useful pitcher as one of the 30 best pitchers in the majors with a FRA below 3.00 in 30 or more IP, but he's an arb-eligible thirtysomething, and dealing Bell seems to be a follow-on mistake born of the decision to deal Carlos Santana to get Casey Blake, deal away Andy LaRoche, and thereby stick with Blake at third. So why invest all that much in Bell's future, since they're "set" at the hot corner through 2011 after re-signing Blake last December? That doesn't seem likely to look well historically, any more than peddling Santana for him in the first place, and never mind what Bell or Johnson, both playable prospects, turn out to be. From among the club's collection of quality southpaws, Kuo, Leach, and Elbert all have talent and track records that suggest their employability, but this move seems more about Joe Torre's desperate need to turn to people he's heard of in his pen. Sherrill's been around long enough that Torre can use him with fully-formed preconceived notions without any chance that anyone will blame anyone other than Sherrill if it doesn't work out in any particular high-leverage ballgame, and that's the kind of cover the veteran skipper's grown accustomed to over his long years of service. Bleeding talent for players Torre doesn't have to sweat developing was one of those intinsically accepted costs of employing the man in the first place, but that doesn't necessarily mean that Dodgers fans have to like it.

Sigh.

Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness: At first, Mike thought the trade was fair, but after talking it out a bit, he ended up liking the trade.

I say that I hate things so often around here that I'm thrilled to be able to take the other side: this is a good, solid trade that's going to help the Dodgers without killing them in the future. Even better, Sherrill's only arbitration-eligible, so he can't just walk away. Job well done by Ned Colletti on this one.

I do hope it's worth it.

True Blue L.A.: Phil seems torn on this deal. While he knows it helps the bullpen now, he wonders about giving up Josh Bell.

From the current major league team you have to like the addition. For the future, we may regret this deal.

That's my feeling as well. I actually like Sherrill, but I just wonder about the cost of getting him, and how much impact he'll really have. We'll see.

Baseball America: Matt Forman thinks the deal helps both teams.

Through 94 games, Bell had smacked 30 doubles. As he continues to grow into his power, Bell has the potential to hit 25-30 home runs at the next level. He still has a high ceiling.

Given the success he's had this year between high A and Double-A, Johnson projects more as a back-of-the-rotation starter, or a bullpen arm. But, he's an interesting guy to follow if he can continue to strikeout as many batters at the higher levels.

This is a trade that makes sense for both teams. For Baltimore, trading Sherrill allows them to add a quality third-base prospect, something that was somewhat of a weakness in the farm system while also picking up another arm. In return, Los Angeles gets another piece to gear up for the playoff run.

Meh.

Dodger Blues: He thought the Dodgers needed bullpen help, but wondered why they gave up so much to get Sherrill. Like me, he questioned why the Dodgers couldn't have packaged prospects to get a higher impact player instead.

Fan Graphs: R.J. doesn't really seem to have a strong opinion on the deal either way, but he does mention that the Orioles did well.

The two seem like a nice coup by the Orioles in exchange for a two years and a third of Sherrill as they continue to build with impressive young talent.

I guess.