Jay Lee Traded For Jeff Kiplinger
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 1:36 pm
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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.
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.
