Marlins Acquire Wade LeBlanc from Padres, Trade John Baker

by Michael Jong on Nov 22, 2011 7:54 PM EST in News and Rumors

According to a San Diego Padres press release, the Miami Marlins and Padres have agreed to a deal that sends John Baker from the Fish and returns lefty starter Wade LeBlanc (H/T MLB Trade Rumors). Baker was the Marlins' primary catcher for the latter half of 2008 and all of 2009, sharing a platoon role with Ronny Paulino. He was injured for most of 2010, having suffered an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. The Fish were likely to non-tender Baker this offseason, and so a trade does not hurt the Fish much. It will be sad to see Baker go, as he was such a nice guy and I've had a chance to speak to him and his father via Twitter at times. Good luck to you sir, and all the best.

What are the Marlins getting back in LeBlanc? Not a whole lot, honestly, although given the players involved that should not surprise anyone. LeBlanc is a lefty and the Marlins have been coveting a left-handed pitcher for a while. However, in 293 1/3 career innings with the Padres, he has not managed to do anything of interest. He has a career 4.54 ERA and 4.85 FIP while playing half of his games in the most pitcher-friendly park in baseball. He is also an extreme fly ball pitcher; for his career, he has only gotten ground balls in 34.7 percent of his balls in play. With a non-elite strikeout or walk rate, LeBlanc was simply a spare part in San Diego, and there is a good chance he will just be a spare part in Miami.

Perhaps the only advantage of this move is that LeBlanc has only two years of service time total in baseball despite playing in parts of four seasons in the majors. This means that unlike newly expensive options such as Chris Volstad (who is also a non-tender option), the Marlins will not have to pay LeBlanc a whole lot of money to be a fifth starter or long man out of the bullpen. He may not be a good pitcher, but he is a warm body who can pitch to major leaguers without being a complete embarrassment, and sadly the Marlins were missing pitchers of that type after numerous 2011 injuries depleted the team's pitching depth. This resolves nothing, but it does provide said depth.

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Bill James 2012 projections has his ERA to rebound

And be under 4.00 next year. I imagine he is an upgrade over Chris Volstad because he is cheaper and left handed. If for some reason we get Gio, Buehrle, or Wilson then I guess he’ll be a long reliever.

by tedhill on Nov 22, 2011 8:04 PM EST reply actions

That projection may include him playing in San Diego

His numbers are bound to get worse in Florida. Plus he has never struck out as many guys as James is projecting. Color me absolutely skeptical.

Fish Stripes, a Florida Marlins blog
Author, Baseball Prospectus Fantasy

by Michael Jong on Nov 22, 2011 8:10 PM EST up reply actions

Can’t blame you.

And what’s with some of the beat writers saying “he adds organizational depth?” He’s out of options. If he doesn’t make the team or needs to be sent down midyear, he has to go on waivers and he’s gone.

by tedhill on Nov 22, 2011 8:28 PM EST up reply actions

he does have options apparently

https://twitter.com/#!/FollowThePadres/status/139155601501589504

by rideallnide on Nov 23, 2011 12:17 AM EST up reply actions

If he does have options, then I like this trade a little bit better.

by tedhill on Nov 23, 2011 8:12 AM EST up reply actions

Oh well

Atleast we got something for baker

by PhinPhan910 on Nov 22, 2011 10:09 PM EST reply actions

i like this trade!

sad to see baker go, but obviously the front office never really liked him all that much, and he never would’ve gotten enough at bats competing with the buck/hayes combo to justify keeping him if something could be got for him.

i was kinda shocked by james’ projections too, and clearly those are way out of wack. leblanc’s career road xFIP is 4.97, altho that has been steadily decreasing every years, so who knows. but as a long reliever and 6th starter i’m sure the marlins could do much worse, and to begin the season at least i think it makes more sense to have someone like leblanc on the team instead of brad hand who could use the work in the minors most likely.

by rayrayrayrayrayrayrayray on Nov 22, 2011 10:54 PM EST reply actions

i guess

it depends on how they want to use him. we know they’re desperate for a lefty starter, so maybe they’re signaling that javy is actually going to retire and they’re finally done w/ volstad and leblanc will go into the fifth spot in the rotation to go along with whoever is signed in FA?

i would rather them give volstad one more go at it, but if the cameron maybin situation is any indication, that’s probably not the case. tho maybe they’ve learned their lesson.

by rayrayrayrayrayrayrayray on Nov 22, 2011 10:56 PM EST up reply actions

It's tough with Volstad having no options

He pretty much has to make the team out of Spring and show immediate improvement.

by tedhill on Nov 23, 2011 8:13 AM EST up reply actions

Not to mention that Volstad will be earning $2 million or so this season

from arbitration. LeBlanc is still on the cheap.

Fish Stripes, a Florida Marlins blog
Author, Baseball Prospectus Fantasy

by Michael Jong on Nov 23, 2011 8:43 AM EST up reply actions

that sucks, i really like baker

by FishNFinz on Nov 23, 2011 1:05 AM EST reply actions

this trade makes a lot of sense for everyone

at best this guy is our number 5 starter or long reliever. at worst he goes to new orleans or gets released. obviously we werent keeping baker. Im sad to see him go but happy for him because he is on a team that wants him in his home state. I think he could put p some decent numbers over there. i dont know much about leblanc but he sounds like a classic soft tossing lefty. He doesnt seem to have much upside but adding a guy like this can never hurt. He appears to be a very good hitter, so maybe we want to get a long reliever and a lefty bat off the bench in one! lol

by rideallnide on Nov 23, 2011 3:18 AM EST reply actions