Phils trade for 2b Tadahito Iguchi

by dajafi on Jul 27, 2007 5:17 PM EDT in News

For low-A pitcher Michael Dubee (son of big-league pitching coach Rich). Iguchi's numbers this season: .251/.340/.382, with 6 homers in 327 at-bats. Not great, certainly not Utley, but a damn sight better than Abe Nunez.

Tip of the cap to Pat Gillick on this one.

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Re: Phils trade for 2b Tadahito Iguchi

im very happy about this.. love iguchis glove

by char6587 on Jul 27, 2007 5:20 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Phils trade for 2b Tadahito Iguchi

Booyah! And Iguchi has the speed and on-base skillz to slide right into that #2 slot, he may be as close to your boy Polanco as we could expect to see, especially on such short notice. GREAT move by Gillick!!

by das411 on Jul 27, 2007 5:56 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Phils trade for 2b Tadahito Iguchi

Also not to look too far ahead, but could this be one more step towards a run at Fukudome? Or keeping Iguchi's onetime teammate ArRow? Perhaps I'm reading waaaaaaay too much into this, but couldn't this move also be a sign that at least one of those two will be a Phil in '08? And therefore I suppose either Burrell or Bourn is headed out...?

by das411 on Jul 27, 2007 6:02 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Phils trade for 2b Tadahito Iguchi

Well, I can't imagine this will bear on Rowand's situation. I don't know enough about Fukudome and Iguchi to know.

But frankly, who cares. The move makes the Phillies a considerably better team over the next four weeks, and probably will continue to help them after that by virtue of strengthening the bench.

by dajafi on Jul 27, 2007 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Phils trade for 2b Tadahito Iguchi

At least it's a sign they haven't given up...

I'm kinda surprised they got the guy for so little. The White Sox must've felt guilty lol!

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by JasonB on Jul 27, 2007 7:23 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Phils trade for 2b Tadahito Iguchi

It's a salary dump by the White Sox. Iguchi is a non-comp free agent at the end of the year, and he's got a million left on his 2007 contract. The Sox have a decent 2B prospect in Danny Richar (who they got from Arizona) and they want to give him an extended tryout. Some stuff on Richar is here back when he was with AZ.

In a nutshell, the Sox are rebuilding. They were not going to re-sign Iguchi at the end of the year, when they were required to (or else let him go FA). They are just getting something in exchange for someone willing to take some dolalrs off their payroll.

This is not to say that Iguchi is a bad move. On the contrary, for the Phils it's perfect. They give up very little and fill a need with no long-term obligation. It was win-win for both teams.

Remember the Phitans

by RememberthePhitans on Jul 27, 2007 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions

contract status

from Cot's:

[C]ontract includes clause requiring White Sox to sign Iguchi to an extension by sometime in 2007, or release him (effectively granting Iguchi free agency after three years of ML service)

I guess that's why he was so cheap talent-wise--not to knock Dubee, but I'm sure it would have taken well more than him were Iguchi worth two draft picks.

by dajafi on Jul 27, 2007 8:41 PM EDT reply actions

gillick hit #1 on the speed-dial list

a piece offering from ken williams

by gr on Jul 27, 2007 11:43 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Phils trade for 2b Tadahito Iguchi

Even a blind, elderly, mentally challenged squirrel finds a nut every once in a while.

by FTN414 on Jul 28, 2007 12:01 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Phils trade for 2b Tadahito Iguchi

This isn't a "great move" but a good enough move, regardless of the outcome.

by jonk on Jul 28, 2007 9:11 AM EDT reply actions

What qualifies as a great move?

Seriously, I know this was a straight salary dump by the White Sox, but the Phillies got an above-average major league second baseman for effectively nothing (and just as importantly, the Mets didn't).

by phatj on Jul 28, 2007 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Above average by what standards?

Last year or this year?

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by JasonB on Jul 28, 2007 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Above average by what standards?

Career OPS+: 98. With positional adjustment, I think that would be a bit above average. Perhaps I should have hedged a bit and said "average."

His slugging percentage has slipped quite a bit this season, but he still has a .340 OBP, which is solid. If he just gets on base, there's plenty of power in the lineup to drive him in.

Still at great trade.

by phatj on Jul 29, 2007 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions