Giants Trade Taschner, then Flips for Hector Correa

The Giants traded Jack Taschner to the Phillies for Ronny Paulino, and promptly flipped him to the Florida Marlins for Hector Correa.  Paulino had a nice first season as a good hitting catcher, prompting thoughts that the might be our new backup catcher, but then he was traded for Correa.

Minor League Baseball Analyst had this to say about Correa:

Tall/projectable  pitcher with a quick arm that produces late life to FB and gives him ability to mask change-up.  Slider is improving, but doesn't like to use it in tight spots.  Needs to pitch more aggressively, especially in establishing inside part of the plate and prevent hitters from sitting on FB.

He rated his potential as #3 starter and his talent level as an average regular pitcher who is still far away from the majors.

Baseball America had this to say about Correa, who they ranked as Marlin's 22nd best prospect:

Correa ranked right behind Mike Stanton and Gaby Sanchez at No. 13 on this list a year ago, but he mistakenly tried to extend that momentum by pitching through a shoulder problem that wound up costing him four months of mound time in 2008.  His rehab path was bumpy at times, though for the most part he showed the necessary discipline.  Team officials believe he learned his lesson after trying to conceal an injury.  Correa manged to return for a fall minicamp and showed only slightly diminished velocity.  Intead of humming fastballs at 91-94 MPH and touching 95 MPH like he had in 2007, he worked mostly at 90-92.  He has a low-80's slider that shows good bite, but he remains more comfortable using a changeup that shows excellent action.  The shoulder problems came as a surprise because he has a loose arm and smooth, easily repeatable delivery, which allows him to throw strikes.  his frame is lean and projectable.  He's a good athlete with plus makeup.  Correa will open his third straight season in low Class A, with hopes of finally advancing in 2009.

Giants Thoughts

I have mixed feelings about the trades.  Paulino, just in 2006, hit .310/.360/.394/.754 as a regular, then hit .263/.314/.389/.703 the next season, then sunk to .212/.277/.305/.582 last season.  He also jacked 6 HR in 2006, 11 HR in 2007, then 2 HR in 2008, so he has a bit of power and being only 28 years old for 2009 season, he's hitting his physical prime and typically career peak period.  He would have been a great option as backup for us, plus if he regained his hitting stroke, could have been traded for more value.

Still, Hector Correa isn't that bad either.   If he can hum it in at 94-95 as a starter, as a reliever he would be capable of more.   That is great velocity.  And with late life on his pitches and the ability to hide his pitches, he could strike out a lot of guys.   I think I like the trades overall, as I suspect that despite trading Paulino, Steve Holm is not a sure thing to be backup.

Recent reports say that Sandoval is starting to get some playing time as a catcher.   He could become the backup catcher for Molina because both Aurilia and Uribe could play 3B in his stead.  I suspect that Holm might be sent down because a lot of our potential bench players are playing well.  

At 2B, both Burriss and Frandsen has done enough to earn the job (Burriss more so) so the player who doesn't start would get a bench spot now, when I thought it would end up with Frandsen starting and Burriss starting at SS in Fresno.  In the outfield, Andres Torres has been great, but Velez hasn't done anything to say that he should not be there either.  Plus Nate Schierholtz is a sure thing, as well as Uribe and Aurilia, for the bench.  That's 6 bench players, leaving no space for Holm.  

If there were not so many doing so well, Holm probably would have gotten a spot by default.  But with so many players doing so well, the Giants appear to feel that they need to open up spots, including going with only 11 pitchers in the pitching staff, in order to reward the good play with starting the season on the major league roster.  

Of course, there is still the possibility that this was the plan all along, that they would start Sandoval strictly at 3B during the spring, then near the end give him some reps at catching to prepare for the season as backup, pushing out Holm.   Either way, it is a good idea to include another useful player on the bench plus reward them for their good play in spring.  

However, the clock will be ticking, because when Romo is ready for the team, they will probably bring him and drop down someone off the bench, namely Torres, Velez, and perhaps the 2B backup.  Also, there has been rumors that Velez could be on the trading block as well.