2016 Trade Candidate: Geovany Soto

[AngelsWin.com]

By Robert Cunningham, AngelsWin.com Staff Writer - 

Recently reactivated from the disabled list, Geovany Soto was having an impressive offensive season while providing quality defense behind the plate.

Below are Soto’s 2016 splits:

So clearly Geovany is destroying left-handed pitchers and basically hitting slightly below League average (79 wRC+) against righties.

The Angels signed Soto to a one-year deal for $2.8MM at the beginning of the season and it has proven to be a solid free agent signing and now, subsequently, a decent trade chip to move at the deadline.

In order to understand which teams might be good suitors for the Angels we need to examine which teams, based on our initial list of contenders found in the first article of the series, might have a need for a primary backstop and also which teams could potentially use a catcher who hits left-handed pitching well. The short list is below:

• Nationals
• Orioles
• Indians

There are other teams that are borderline trade suitor candidates that include the Red Sox, Royals, Cardinals, Blue Jays, White Sox, Astros, Rangers, and Marlins. Any of these teams could be the dark horse in a Soto deal but they are comparatively remote compared to the three primary teams listed above.

Let us take a look at those three best fit candidates to see if they are really a match.

Nationals

Primary Need(s): Back-up Catcher and Center Fielder

Secondary Need(s): Closer or Quality Back-End Reliever

When you pull up the list of Weighted Runs Created Plus, for team catching, on FanGraphs the first thing that catches (no pun intended) your eye is the Nationals at the very top of the list with the best overall offensive production, from the catcher position, in baseball.

So why would they need Geovany Soto?

Well it is pretty clear that Wilson Ramos has, in his last year of arbitration control before he becomes a free agent, established himself as the primary catcher in Washington, picking up the bulk of at-bats through excellent defense and wRC+ of 112 and 154 against LHP and RHP respectively.

The lesser problem is Jose Lobaton who has, in limited at-bats, played above average defense combined with poor offense including wRC+ of -81 and 91 against LHP and RHP respectively.

Clearly there is a scenario here where the Nationals would want a more experienced catcher to back up Ramos that can mash left-handed hitting while providing at least average or better defense.

Soto would be such an acquisition. It would allow Ramos to pick up most if not all of the at-bats against RHP with Geovany picking up all of the at-bats versus LHP creating even better and more consistent offense out of the catching position and giving the Nationals additional firepower in a playoff run.

Additionally if Ramos were to get injured Soto and Lobaton could split catching duties with the former hitting against all LHP’s and some RHP’s and Lobaton could focus primarily on hitting against RHP’s without losing a ton of production (Losing Ramos would be damaging to Washington though).

Nationals Likely Target(s): C Geovany Soto, RHP Huston Street, RHP Fernando Salas, and RHP Joe Smith

Angels Likely Target(s): A+ OF Victor Robles, AAA RHP Reynaldo Lopez, A+ RHP Erick Fedde, AA OF Andrew Stevenson, AA 2B Wilmer Difo, A LHP Taylor Hearn, AAA RHR Koda Glover, A 3B Kelvin Gutierrez, AAA RHP Austin Voth, A OF Telmito Agustin, A+ 2B Max Schrock, A RHP Andrew Lee, and AAA RHP Paolo Espino

Trade Scenario(s):

1) Angels trade C Geovany Soto to the Nationals in exchange for AA 2B Wilmer Difo

Difo is a near-ready MLB 2B with excellent contact skills, speed, and solid defense at the keystone

2) Angels trade C Geovany Soto and RHP Joe Smith to the Nationals in exchange for A+ OF Victor Robles and AA 2B Wilmer Difo

Difo is as above. Robles is a young OF with excellent contact ability, above average all fields defense, and on-base skills who could be ready for big League action by 2018

Orioles

Primary Need(s): Starting pitching, LH Starter, RH Starter, LH Middle Reliever, RH Middle Reliever, and Back-Up Catcher

Secondary Need(s): None

Another team you might not think immediately needs help in the catching department is the Orioles.

However when you scrutinize further you see how badly both Wieters and Joseph have hit against left-handed pitching. In fact their combined wRC+ is negative against lefties! Yikes!

Someone like Soto would be a solid boost to their backstop offense. Joseph is a good defender but if you move him into a reserve defensive role it will allow Wieters to play against RHP and Geovany against LHP mostly creating better offensive balance and not losing much on defense.

The Orioles need help with their rotation and bullpen, the most, but picking up a backup catcher that can mash lefties would be a boon too.

Orioles Likely Target(s): LHP Hector Santiago, C Geovany Soto, LHR Jose Alvarez, RHP Matt Shoemaker, RHP Tim Lincecum, RHP Jhoulys Chacin, LHP Tyler Skaggs, RHR Joe Smith, and RHR Fernando Salas

Angels Likely Target(s): RHP Dylan Bundy, A- RHP Hunter Harvey, RHR Mychal Givens, AA C Chance Sisco, A+ OF D.J. Stewart, AAA 1B Trey Mancini, A+ C Jonah Heim, A+ LHR Tanner Scott, RHP Tyler Wilson, RHR Oliver Drake, AAA LHP Ariel Miranda, AAA RHP Joe Gunkel, and AA LHP John Means

Trade Scenario(s):

1. Angels trade C Geovany Soto to the Orioles in exchange for RHR Oliver Drake

Drake is a potential back-end reliever that could become a candidate for closer duties in Anaheim

2. Angels trade C Geovany Soto and LHR Jose Alvarez to the Orioles in exchange for RHR Oliver Drake and A+ LHR Tanner Scott

Drake is as above. Scott is a reliever that spits hot fire at 100 mph as a lefty with back-end bullpen written all over him.

3. Angels trade LHP Hector Santiago, C Geovany Soto, LHR Jose Alvarez, and RHR Joe Smith to the Orioles in exchange for RHP Dylan Bundy, RHR Oliver Drake, and A+ LHR Tanner Scott.

Angels absorb Santiago’s and Smith’s remaining $2.5MM and $2.75MM 2016 salaries. Bundy is a former top prospect that has been used primarily in the bullpen due to being out of options (although he will make a start soon) but if he were to be traded now would be the time to ask with the Orioles so close to a pennant (it’s a long shot). Drake and Scott are as above

This is another example of the Angels trading more players than they get back in return to increase quality

Indians

Primary Need(s): Corner OF and Catcher

Secondary Need(s): 3B and Middle Relief

Here we are again circling back around to the Indians in the Trade Candidate series.

Previously we spoke about their need for relief but found them to be a less likely candidate in trade talks for Huston Street.

Defense has been the cornerstone of the Indians success this year and Yan Gomes is a great defensive backstop and Gimenez isn’t too shabby as well.

However looking further into their catching situation they face an abysmal hole with their offensive production that could use rectification.

Geovany would make a useful addition to the club splitting time with Gomes behind the plate particularly against LHP.

The only real problem with this scenario is that Gomes hitting issues have come primarily against RHP. Either way Soto would be an upgrade offensively over Gomes giving some needed firepower for the Indians playoff hopes.

Indians Likely Target(s): OF Kole Calhoun, C Geovany Soto, RHR Huston Street, RHR Joe Smith, and RHR Fernando Salas

Angels Likely Target(s): AA OF Bradley Zimmer, AA OF Clint Frazier, A+ LHP Justus Sheffield, RHR Mike Clevinger, AA LHP Rob Kaminsky, A+ 1B Bobby Bradley, A+ C Francisco Mejia, A- LHP Juan Hillman, A+ OF Greg Allen, AAA RHP Adam Plutko, RHR Shawn Armstrong, A+ 2B/SS Yu-Cheng Chang, A+ RHP Dylan Baker, and A+ 2B Dorssys Paulino

Trade Scenario(s):

1) Angels trade C Geovany Soto to the Indians in exchange for AA LHP Rob Kaminsky.

Angels absorb Soto’s remaining $1.4MM 2016 salary. Kaminsky is left-handed starter with mid-rotation upside

2) Angels trade C Geovany Soto and RHP Joe Smith to the Indians in exchange for A+ LHP Justus Sheffield and RHR Shawn Armstrong

Angels absorb Soto’s remaining $1.4MM 2016 salary. Sheffield is a young lefty with good control as a mid-rotation starter. Armstrong has already pitched at the Major League level and has excellent potential in the back-end of the bullpen

Conclusion

The odds are nearly 100% that the Angels will trade Soto before the deadline on August 1st, 2016 considering his contractual control through the end of the season.

Geovany really fulfilled the promise on his short-term contract with the Halos and should provide a reasonable prospect back in trade or something better as part of a larger package if we find a trade partner that wants more than just a catcher.

As stated in the opening there are certainly several other teams that should have some level of interest in trading for Soto but the three listed above appear to be the best fits and have the greatest need to improve offensively at catcher.

All three of those teams should have a great deal of interest in Soto specifically with the Orioles and the Nationals being the most likely followed closely by the Indians mainly due to the fact that Geovany crushes left-handed pitching and the former two fit that profile best.

Angels fans should say their goodbyes to Soto now because by August 1st he will be playing for another team based on the eleven teams that should have some level of interest in his services.

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[Slegnaac]

I would hate to see Soto go. He caught an excellent game tonight and he isn't a black hole in the line up.

[case]

Bandy caught tonight's game. Soto is a Free Agent at the end of the year. Trade him for something decent if you can.

[totdprods]

I would trade him for just about anything, let Bandy and Perez duke it out for the rest of the year, and depending on what happens, explore signing him again this offseason.

[kevinb]

Keep him this team has chemistry and ready for that playoff push. We should be buyers. Trade for a left fielder, SP and Relief. 

[TroutField]

5 minutes ago, Kevinb said:

Keep him this team has chemistry and ready for that playoff push. We should be buyers. Trade for a left fielder, SP and Relief. 

Dude stop with this "playoff push" talk. 

 

That ship sailed a month or two ago. 

[Oz27]

Yan Gomes just got carted off the field for Cleveland with a shoulder injury. They could definitely be a trade partner for us, unless Soto's latest issue is anything more than minor.

[ettin]

1 minute ago, Oz27 said:

Yan Gomes just got carted off the field for Cleveland with a shoulder injury. They could definitely be a trade partner for us, unless Soto's latest issue is anything more than minor.

Yep. Depends on how much the Indians want to spend. Preferably they want Lucroy I'd think but Soto would be a reasonable consolation prize on the trade market that wouldn't cost them nearly as much.

[Oz27]

12 minutes ago, ettin said:

Yep. Depends on how much the Indians want to spend. Preferably they want Lucroy I'd think but Soto would be a reasonable consolation prize on the trade market that wouldn't cost them nearly as much.

Soto's issue from Cleveland's perspective is they really don't have an MLB level catcher for him to share time with and Soto has significant durability issues. If they strike out on Lucroy, they could bring in Soto and look for another similar cheap option for him to share time with.

[kevinb]

4 hours ago, TroutField said:

Dude stop with this "playoff push" talk. 

 

That ship sailed a month or two ago. 

No way Angels are making the playoffs. We need a relief pitcher maybe trade for the Yankees guy not the wife abuser B starting pitching one guy and left fielder. Angels are gonna win 18 of their next 20

[Vegas Halo Fan]

18 hours ago, case said:

Bandy caught tonight's game. Soto is a Free Agent at the end of the year. Trade him for something decent if you can.

For just that reason we aren't going to get "something decent" for him unless the trade partner is totally desperate.

[DailyHalo]

This team won't be a major player at the trade deadline this year. Maybe a pen piece or a backup player here and there might be shipped out for pieces but Escobar isn't going anywhere and neither will any of the SP. The focus will be on pitching and corner outfield this off-season. The Pen will be a major point of emphasis and can see a total re-haul, with power as the new norm. A large portion of salary is coming off the books and the most effective way is to build from the back forward. Next year has the potential to be the first year this franchise goes over the luxury tax and starts righting our wrongs with a little money, at least at first. This team has minor league depth issues but that is not the most pressing concern for the major league club right now. Every organization wants a fruitful minor league system but the goal is to win a ring at the highest level. It will be years before our minor league system recuperates and supplements the big league club in tandem. Anyone who thinks this team is years away from competing though is sad and why even bother being a fan, if there is no hope in sight? Not every point of concern can be addressed in a single off-season. Be happy this isn't a small market team with no budget. We have an owner who has more money than he knows what to do with and has a burning desire to hoist a trophy in his lifetime. Money can't fix everything but it sure can build a foundation for the future. It's gotten to the point where spending a few extra dollars might be worth the happiness in the end and could lead to some real fun and competitive baseball for us all in the near future.

[ettin]

To assume DH that Moreno will spend this offseason when he didn't do it last offseason would not be a smart idea. If he wasn't willing to bite the bullet then I think he'd be pretty hesitant to do it in a weak free agent market devoid of the "right players".

[totdprods]

10 hours ago, Vegas Halo Fan said:

For just that reason we aren't going to get "something decent" for him unless the trade partner is totally desperate.

Like Cleveland, now that Gomes is out?

[DMVol]

7 hours ago, ettin said:

To assume DH that Moreno will spend this offseason when he didn't do it last offseason would not be a smart idea. If he wasn't willing to bite the bullet then I think he'd be pretty hesitant to do it in a weak free agent market devoid of the "right players".

I don't think he has morphed into Jeffrey Loria or Donald Sterling but I agree to the extent that I don't think we are ever going to see the old Arte again....even with Weaver, Wilson, Smith and others off the books, we aren't going to make a splash this offseason....not a good year to do that anyway.....

[Angel Oracle]

Bandy and Perez are fine behind the plate.   If only Soto had appeared in more games to build more trade value.

[John Smith]

Pedro Moura ‏@pedromoura 18m18 minutes ago

The Angels called up a catcher named Juan Graterol and placed Geovany Soto on the 15-day DL with an inflamed left knee.

•  

  Jeff Fletcher ‏@JeffFletcherOCR 18m18 minutes ago

  The Angels placed Soto on the DL with a left knee inflammation. Juan Graterol promoted. Cliff Pennington moved to 60-day DL.

[Troll Daddy]

17 hours ago, ettin said:

To assume DH that Moreno will spend this offseason when he didn't do it last offseason would not be a smart idea. If he wasn't willing to bite the bullet then I think he'd be pretty hesitant to do it in a weak free agent market devoid of the "right players".

Just curious as who you thought we missed the boat on last off season? 

[ettin]

2 hours ago, Troll Daddy said:

Just curious as who you thought we missed the boat on last off season? 

I explained that point of view and targets in the Offseason Primer series late last year TD.

[ettin]

2 hours ago, Troll Daddy said:

Just curious as who you thought we missed the boat on last off season? 

I explained that point of view and targets in the Offseason Primer series late last year TD.

[Troll Daddy]

2 minutes ago, ettin said:

I explained that point of view and targets in the Offseason Primer series late last year TD.

I remember ... good stuff as always. As it turns out ... it might of been a blessing not  signing a big name contract in 2016. 

 

[ettin]

Just now, Troll Daddy said:

I remember ... good stuff as always. As it turns out ... it might of been a blessing not  signing a big name contract in 2016. 

 

The debate about what we should have done is over of course. Hindsight is always 20/20 so the fact that Richards and Heaney were injured now makes it look like a blessing in disguise from a certain perspective. I will continue to maintain that not signing one of Heyward and Upton and Zobrist were strategic mistakes. The thing we really don't know is if any of them even wanted to come to the West coast but money usually talks in these situations so I think we just got super gun shy. It's over though time to focus on the present and what is in front of us!

[Vegas Halo Fan]

13 hours ago, totdprods said:

Like Cleveland, now that Gomes is out?

The Indians are too well run to overpay for a guy whose contract ends this season.

[Mark68]

This team is cursed. As soon as we might have something resembling trade collateral, our depth takes another (two) goddamn dumps.

[Angel Oracle]

Or is it the man upstairs testing Arte, to see if he will flinch and spend recklessly in the face of these injuries in the off season or steadfastly continue with the new course of the franchise (more put into development and focusing spending on strategic acquisitions and not just for star name power)?