As is often the case, this is already being discussed in the Hijack Central thread. Citing "a source close to Escobar," Geoff Baker reports in today's Star that it's a done deal, pending a routine medical examination. Kelvim will be an Angel for $18.75 million over three years. It sounds like the Red Sox were the underbidders at $15 million for three, while the Jays wouldn't budge from their $10 million, two year proposal.
There were rumours about an Escobar trade to Anaheim at least as far back as the 2002 deadline, and he continued to impress his (alleged) new team in 2003, taking a shutout into the ninth on August 3, and pitching five scoreless relief innings in May. The Angels hit just .136 off him this year; no wonder they think he's worth the money. I certainly don't.
I'm not going to call this move "addition by subtraction," but since I never liked the man or the pitcher, I'm glad to see him go. Even before the sexual assault allegations, my perception of Escobar off the field was one of a fun-loving spoiled brat. His performance on the mound alternated between brilliant and horrible, sometimes in the same inning. My observation, which may not be shared by everyone, has been that he frequently didn't seem to care, simply looking perplexed and shrugging his shoulders at another blown save, and that his concentration was easily distracted -- an error, an ump's call or a couple of broken-bat flares often ruined an outing.
Whether we're talking about peewees, high schoolers or major leaguers, I have a preference for players who work hard and use their heads to make themselves more valuable to the team than their physical skills would suggest. That's not to say that I don't appreciate brilliantly talented guys who also have great attitudes; you can't have too many of them. I've never coached a marginal player who is lazy, selfish or undisciplined; they've all been cut. But once in a while you get someone with tremendous skill, who for some reason or combination of reasons, doesn't appreciate their gift. Those are the most frustrating group to coach, and even the ones who are good enough to make the Show are my least favourite players.
Jeff Weaver gets stoned in an airplane washroom, then sexually harrasses the flight attendant who is just trying to do her job. He is found guilty and fined, but is blatantly unremorseful. I really don't care how tight the spin is on his curveball; he's an immature jerk whose failures between the lines are immensely satisfying to watch. Jeremy Giambi's exploits may not be as well documented, but whatever skill he has with the stick seems dwarfed by his negative contributions in the clubhouse. Raul Mondesi has trouble showing up for a day game after a day game. There's a long list of underachievers, and it doesn't just include "party animals".
The uncoachables, who nod their heads but never listen while you're trying to teach them, are equally annoying. Guys who won't look the pitching coach in the eye when he comes to the mound really bug me. Some people can't be helped, but the ones who won't be helped are even worse. When they are sufficiently gifted, or when you're stuck with them, that's one thing, and you make the best of it, but I don't see why any team should go out of their way to aquire headaches.
Almost twenty million bucks over three years is an enormous bet that Escobar has matured, or will mature, into someone who (finally) gets the most from his considerable ability. Good for Bill Stoneman and the Angels if the gamble pays off, but it's way too rich for my blood. If there were no other suitors, and the Jays ended up paying him $5 million in an arbitration award, I would have held my breath and crossed my fingers for another up-and-down season, but I would have been disappointed if J.P. commited more than ten percent of his payroll to another three years of tantalizing potential.
Though I'm happy, this may not be a mistake for Anaheim -- it's certainly not as bad a deal as the Mariners' signing Raul Ibanez at about triple the market rate. A late-blooming 28-year-old harnessing his talent isn't impossible (hence my enthusiasm for Ted Lilly's chances) so maybe Kelvim will be a Cy Young candidate after all. It doesn't matter; the Jays get a nice reward for their restraint -- two high draft picks. A Boston paper reports that the Jays asked for Trot Nixon in a deadline deal for Escobar; now they will "settle" for the equivalent of an extra David Bush and Josh Banks (the last two #2 picks) in the 2004 draft, in addition to the starter they sign.
Whoever replaces him in the Toronto rotation, comparisons will be inevitable. The fact is, Kelvim wasn't close to a "legitimate #2," compared to teams with great pitching, and I don't think the Jays will acquire one. But overall, the rotation will be improved. I would have been content with an Escobar-for-Lilly trade last year at this time, and their 2003 production was fairly similar. So that's already a wash to me, except for the payroll savings, which make it advantage Toronto. I am very confident that Pat Hentgen will have a better year than Cory Lidle just did, again at a fraction of the cost. So whether the next addition is Batista, Sheets, Thomson or a complete surprise, it will be an upgrade to the staff -- not necessarily someone superior to Escobar. The effective difference will be between this new, nominal #2 and the Tanyon Sturtze-Doug Davis-John Wasdin spot, to name three guys who won't be missed.
The 2004 Jays could get a chance to try their luck against Kelvim's arsenal of awesome stuff in a three game series at the Dome May 24-27 and/or in the final series of the first half, July 9-11. Toronto's only visit to the O.C. next year is scheduled for September 7-9. Let's hope it has playoff implications.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20031122110622999