Jay Lee Traded For Jeff Kiplinger

[aaronweiner]

(ED: For links, follow the first paragraph with a new browser window. -AW)

In one of the biggest trades in the history of the MBBA, Greenville today dealt starting pitcher Jay Lee, the 1996 and 1998 Steve Nebraska winner, and two other players to Marquette for top starter Jeff Kiplinger and two minor leaguers, including former Marquette closer Hans Velkommen.

"Today I have been traded to the Marquette Suns in exchange for Jeff Kiplinger," said Jay Lee, who called a press conference at his 30-room mansion just outside of the city of Greenville. "I respect the decision of the Greenville management and wish the best for my teammates and the city of Greenville. Remember that while I was born in Chicago, Greenville will always be my home."

Lee had posted a respectable 3.75 ERA this season, slightly above the league average but far below his usual excellence. Lee has a career 98-59 record and 2.62 ERA. Lee had mixed feelings about the move, especially since it will fail to land the righty on a contending ballclub, but understood that with both teams struggling, both sides were looking for some change on their roster.

"Well, obviously, I'm sorry to be leaving Greenville," said Lee, who we called while he was packing his things. "I'm happy to be going back near my parents in Chicago, so I'm definitely excited about that. With the team struggling, though, I told the team I was open to a trade, but I was hoping it would be with a contender. "

Lee may be shortsighted, however. While Lee is unlikely to change the fate of the Suns this season, who currently stand 11 1/2 back in the Frick Midwest and eight and a half back in the wild card race, the deal is likely to establish Marquette as a power in the league for some time, assuming Allen Izatt's full recovery from his rotator cuff surgery in the near future.

"Well, obviously, it'll be a thrill to pitch with Jay," said Izatt. "I just hope that I can hold up my end of the bargain - if we're both healthy we're about the best 1-2 punch in the history of the league."

Jeff Kiplinger, no slouch in his own right, was renting in Milwaukee anyway after being uprooted just two years ago from his native Chicago home and seemed okay with it; Chicago is just a short trip from Milwaukee. Kiplinger, similarly, had posted an uncharacteristic 4-7 record with a 4.13 ERA, also slightly above league average but far above his career 122-95 record and 3.42 ERA. The move to Greenville hardly makes him a happy camper, either.

"Well, I was pretty much okay when they swapped me to Milwaukee, but South Carolina? To a team that's 38-44?" said Kiplinger. "I never dreamed this one in a million years. I've got a contract and I intend to honor it, but this wouldn't have been my first choice of destination. I'll make the best of the move and I'll pitch my guts out for Greenville, but going from Chicago to Milwaukee to Greenville is a long way away from home for this city boy."

Isn't anyone happy about this deal? Well, Hans Velkommen is thrilled to be going to Greenville, where he stands to get a second chance in the bullpen. Velkommen had fallen on hard times with Marquette after performing at an All-Star level from 1994-1997, but sees this move as a - pun intended - welcome change. Velkommen is still highly regarded by scouts, and the team hopes that in Greenville, he'll have a chance to get his career back on track.

"Being in AAA was ripping the guts out of me," said Velkommen, who has been terrible in his last two call-ups to the majors but has a 1.65 ERA in his last two years at AAA Racine. "I mean, I was going to do everything I could to get back, but I just couldn't put it together on the major league level. It was getting to me. I'm thrilled to have a fresh start."

Also going to Marquette: Greenville fifth outfielder William Noel, having a solid season for the Moonshiners and hitting .299 in 67 at bats, and AAA outfielder Scott Jackson, the #6 prospect in the Greenville organization but just the fourth-rated outfield prospect. Greenville will also receive minor league outfielder Howard Donegal.

Marquette is currently 37-44, last in the Frick Midwest. Greenville is currently 38-44, third in the Johnson Atlantic.


Instant analysis:

Velkommen had better be pretty good to save Greenville's butt here, we think. Velkommen hasn't really pitched like a major leaguer for two years, and he's being paid like one. Between 1994 and 1997, Velkommen was one of the best relievers in the MBBA. From 1998-1999, he's been one of the worst. Marquette recently won one of those gambles by signing Rene Arocha; now, Greenville will try to do the same with Velkommen.

That said, the German might not have even received arbitration this year, as $1.6 million is a lot to pay for relief depth. Let's be clear: this deal is all about Velkommen from a Greenville perspective, because we can't imagine they'd have dealt Jay Lee for Jeff Kiplinger in a straight up deal.

The question Greenville should thus be asking themselves is: should I have dealt Scott Jackson for Hans Velkommen straight up? Even if the answer is definitely yes from Greenville's perspective - and it's not from ours - is this kind of deal enough to make up the difference between Kiplinger and Lee? We'd say, no way.

Instant analysis gives this one to Marquette.

[recte44]

[LambeauLeap]

Jokes aside I had hoped you'd do one of your writings up analyzing things. I shouldn't have posted in the prior post since I was twisting the knife a bit. Yes I was apprehensive about what you'd say but still looking forward to it and I obviously was going to read it. Sorry for being harsh before.

[aaronweiner]

Bah. If I took everything you said to heart, I'd have a bunch of blunt daggers hanging off the wall...butter knives, really. Plastic ones. The flexible kind.

[LambeauLeap]

Bah. If I took everything you said to heart, I'd have a bunch of blunt daggers hanging off the wall...butter knives, really. Plastic ones. The flexible kind.

Well I apologize anyway, even if you want to be a douche about it.

[scottsdale_joe]

I think Velkommen will do fine.
I think the trade is fine for both sides although (like all trades) depends on player performance in the new environment.
The sleeper may be Noel. He could possibly be a fine reserve outfielder who can play great defense and do some running.
I wish I had Noel.

[aaronweiner]

Based on just looking at him, I'm really confused how Velkommen has been so bad in the first place. Had the same problem with Arocha, actually.

It'll be interesting to watch at any rate.

I think Velkommen will do fine.
I think the trade is fine for both sides although (like all trades) depends on player performance in the new environment.
The sleeper may be Noel. He could possibly be a fine reserve outfielder who can play great defense and do some running.
I wish I had Noel.

[recte44]

Velkommen's problem was defense. Austin (at the time) had awful defense. Then Brad cleaned it up.

You can see the proof in Adrian Nelson's results before and after 1998. Had Velkommen been given another chance, he would have been successful. Greenville has a great bullpen arm now, but I still think they should have gotten more.

[LambeauLeap]

He had a rought 99 season with me and I just soured on him as much as I should have brought him up. Figured if I put him on the block someone would do well with him.

I soured on Acosta as well and he's doing fine. Hope that "the Hans" can do the same thing.

Honestly I hadn't even really noticed Jay Lee until a discussion earlier in the season about best pitcher. When I compared ratings between Kippy and Lee they're actually quite similar. Open each player page in a tab in your browser and flip back and forth quickly. VERY similar.

[KCCardinalFan]

Velkommen's problem was defense. Austin (at the time) had awful defense. Then Brad cleaned it up.

You can see the proof in Adrian Nelson's results before and after 1998. Had Velkommen been given another chance, he would have been successful. Greenville has a great bullpen arm now, but I still think they should have gotten more.

[aaronweiner]

Yeah, but even then, he was epically bad.

Kiplinger's a year older and signed a year shorter, and he's not quite the player Lee is - but I do agree that Kiplinger is very, very good. We're talking apples and slightly shinier apples here.