We hardly knew ya Ronny
Posted By Jeff Fletcher on March 27, 2009 11:22 pm
If Ronny Paulino ever talks about his days with the Giants, he’ll be exaggerating. Paulino was a Giant for roughly four hours. The Giants just traded him to the Marlins for right-hander Hector Correa.
Don’t ask me to explain this one, because I can’t. (And at 11:17 p.m., I’m satisfied to wait till tomorrow for answers.)
Paulino seemed like a perfect backup catcher, a big upgrade over Steve Holm. Now the Giants unloaded Paulino for a 21-year-old Class-A pitcher. Correa was the No. 3 prospect in the short-season Class-A New York-Penn League in 2007, so there is some talent there. Did the Giants really need another low-level minor league prospect?
Correa is the kind of guy I expected the Giants to get straight-up for Jack Taschner. After they got a steal from the Phillies in Paulino, I’m not sure why the Giants would turn around and trade down, essentially.
Maybe now they’re going to trade Correa for Miguel Cabrera.
It does sound a weird trade. They would have had a good backup catcher, unless they think that Posey is so sure a shot that they can go a season with Holm.
Do you really need more pitching in the minors?
I would be interested if Sabean provides a reason for this.
Yeah that seems stupid
Look at Correa’s K rate, thats why he was traded. They can always go with only 2 catchers on the roster, have Sandoval back up Molina, and thus able to add another pitcher. I doubt Holm makes the roster even with trading Paulino.
You always need more, talented pitching in the minors. Since Paulino hit less than 200 in ST, I think the Giants knew they weren’t going to install him as backup. Between Holm and, potentially, Sandoval, they have that covered.
This trade has to do with a) getting rid of Taschner’s $830K contract, b) saving money on the return, and c) getting something of real value for Taschner (as opposed to just letting him go, either now or after last season). I think this is very well played by Sabean. He gets a young, talented, highly rated pitcher to develop for the future – for next to nothing, clears a roster space, and saves over $600k.