Oakland Athletics
Traded 2B-R Mark Ellis and cash to the Rockies for RHP Bruce Billings and a player to be named later. [6/30]
Ellis, now 34, had a stellar run with the Athletics. He came within a game’s worth of plate appearances from reaching 4,300 trips to the plate in his A’s career, and hit .265/.331/.397 in those he did amass. Once park factors are considered, that line becomes a little more impressive. Offense was never Ellis’ forte anyways, but defensively, the man could pick it. No second baseman in baseball has as many fielding runs above average since the 2002 season as Ellis—who holds a three-run lead over Orlando Hudson, the two of whom are separated from the pack by nearly 10 runs.
Rather than sticking his toe into the free agent waters after the 2008 season, Ellis decided to re-sign with the Athletics. At the time, the decision drew ire. After all, why should Ellis, the best defensive second baseman in baseball, forego the chance to get ma...
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