Sunday, July 29th, 2007 by Adam Wagner
Wiggy Style
A team in the Pirates’ division has once again traded for a Bucco castoff. This time, it’s the Houston Astros picking up Ty Wigginton from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for failed closer Dan Wheeler. The interesting part about this trade is that both players had been rumored to go to contenders the past few days, Wigginton to several teams that needed 1B/3B type of players (apparently the Yankees had interest) and Wheeler to any team that needed bullpen aid.
This trade signifies not only that the Astros still think that they are contenders, as Wigginton is probably more than a spare part with his 25-home run power, but that either the Astros are beginning to lose faith in embattled 3B Morgan Ensberg or that first basemen Lance Berkman’s injury is worse than originally thought. Wigginton can also play second base, where Craig Biggio is expected to play less as his retirement tour begins, Mark Loretta is potential trade bait, and Chris Burke is apparently viewed as more of an outfielder. The Astros appear to have acquired a valuable, versatile power bat in Wigginton, who Houston GM Tim Purpura apparently thinks will be wearing an Astro uniform for a while. According to foxsports.com, Purpura said that, “We are looking forward to refilling some of our position player needs and this gives up a player in Wigginton that can play third base for us for the next several seasons . . . He can play a couple of positions, although we will use him primarily at third base.”
Wigginton, who was deemed unfit for a Pirate squad desperate for power from the third base spot, has hit 40 home runs over the course of the past season and a half and has developed into a solid hitter. Yep, they’re great at evaluating talent.
The NL Central was the scene of further action Saturday night as the Reds picked up 2B Jorge Cantu from the Devil Rays for minor league reliever Brian Shackleford and future considerations, including a weak-hitting AA OF. Cantu is the Tampa Bay version of Jose Castillo, but they chose to give up on him completely instead of letting him ride the bench. He had one monster season, in 2005 when he hit 28 home runs and had 117 RBI. His downfall began last season, when his OBP dropped below .300 despite his 14 home runs. Cantu is certainly interesting, especially if he can regain his 2005 form, and is almost certainly worth the two minor leaguers that the Reds surrendered for him.
Apparently Wayne Krivsky realized after the God-awful Austin Kearns/Felipe Lopez fiasco of a trade last year that the trick to building a successful team is to stockpile young bats, not young relief pitchers. Maybe the Pirates’ front office should be taking notes.
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