Making the case for a Shin-Soo Choo trade
After agreeing on a team-friendly one-year, $3.975 million contract for the 2011 season in January, Shin-Soo Choo and his agent, Scott Boras, were still working hard with the Cleveland Indians trying to figure out a contract extension.
Less than two weeks later, reports surfaced that Choo said he would be open to discussing a contract extension during spring training, but not during the regular season, setting an Albert Pujols-style deadline for contract talks.
With spring training already underway and still no news of any progress on a contract extension, could it be possible that Choo is close to playing his final season in an Indians uniform?
After having Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in 2007, Choo returned to baseball better than ever in 2008, posting a .309/.397/.549 slash line in 94 games with the Indians.
Regardless of how impressive Choo’s return was, the Indians were understandably hesitant to offer him an extension back then. It was unclear whether or not he could maintain that kind of production long-term, and there was also the looming possibility that he would have to serve two-plus years in the South Korean military, since any able-bodied Korean male is obligated to do so before the end of their 30th year.
Fast forward two years to the end of 2010 and both of those issues have addressed themselves.
Choo has established himself as one of the premier right fielders in Major League Baseball, managing at least a .300/.394/.484 line in each of the past two seasons. In addition to his keen eye at the plate and his ability to hit for average, Choo has eclipsed 20 home runs, 20 stolen bases, and 10 outfield assists in each of the past two seasons as well.
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After getting to a point where having to serve in the South Korean military was a realistic scenario, Choo earned an exemption from military service after he won gold at the Asian Games in November, 2010. According to Korean military regulations, athletes who capture a gold medal in the Asian Games receive an exemption from 30 months of military service.
The Indians now face a daunting decision going forward in terms of how to handle Choo.
On one hand, Choo is a 28-year-old, five-tool player that would be coveted by many if available. The Indians have said repeatedly that they would like to lock him up to an extension, but Boras has a knack for getting nothing but top dollar for his clients, something that might not bode well for the franchise.
Choo has three years of arbitration eligibility remaining, meaning he’s guaranteed to be under club control until the end of the 2013 season. That factor – not to mention that Choo was one of just three players in baseball to hit .300, hit 20 home runs, and steal 20 bases in 2010 – is the main reason why the Indians would be able to demand a king’s ransom in a trade.
Pitching is what wins ball games, and pitching is something the Indians could use. They were one of the worst teams in the American League in virtually every major pitching statistic last year, including having the worst K/BB ratio in all of baseball. Trading Choo, their most valuable asset, would be the best way to acquire young, controllable pitching.
On the other hand, Choo is perhaps the lone bright spot in an otherwise depressing Cleveland sports market, and shipping him out of town could definitely have negative effects on the Indians’ fan base and the city overall.
In basketball, the Cavaliers – a team that has never won a championship – were crippled when they lost the face of their franchise LeBron James last year. They currently sit last in the NBA with an 11-49 record and, with only 22 games left, remain 16 games out of a playoff spot.
The NFL’s Browns haven’t won the Super Bowl since 1964, haven’t made the playoffs since 2002, and finished with a 5-11 record last season.
After trading their ace C.C. Sabathia in 2008, the Indians sent another ace packing one year later in Cliff Lee. That 2009 season, the Indians limped to a fourth place finish in the AL Central and a 65-97 record. It was more of the same this past season in 2010, when the Indians finished fourth in their division with a 69-93 record.
In addition to trading their ace in consecutive years, the Tribe have seen their star players Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner battle injuries off and on over the last few seasons.
The franchise does have some good, young players on their current roster like catcher Carlos Santana and pitcher Carlos Carrasco, but it will take some time for them to develop and reach their potential.
Like the development of young players, it would also take time for fans to recover from Choo being traded, but it’s something that seems inevitable for the Indians and the main way to improve their team.
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