Rockies claim infielder Hodges from Indians
The Colorado Rockies have claimed infielder Wes Hodges off waivers from the Cleveland Indians and will option him to Triple-A Colorado Springs. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Rockies have transferred reliever Matt Daley from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day.
Hodges, 25, a second-round pick by the Indians in 2006, was once considered among the top prospects in the Cleveland organization, ranking as high as No. 4 on Baseball America‘s list of Indians prospects in 2008 before wrist and shoulder injuries and a disappointing 2009 season dropped him to 27th on the most recent list. Hodges was moved to first base this season after spending his minor-league career at third base where he struggled, committing 64 errors in 276 games.
In 94 games this season at the Indians’ Triple-A affiliate in Columbus, Hodges was hitting. 270 with nine home runs and 47 RBI. According to Baseball America‘s scouting report, Hodges “has shown an advanced feel for hitting and the ability to use the whole field with average power.”
Daley was placed on the disabled list June 16 with right shoulder inflammation and was rehabbing in Colorado Springs last month before behind abruptly shut down when the injury flared up.
this sounds like a no risk move. can’t hurt to get a potential 1st baseman with a little youth on his side in the organization. what does this mean for Brad Eldred?
Brad Eldred is a career journeyman, He is definitely not a long term solution, this is someone that could still be developed
To echo what Ray said, Eldred’s a 30-year-old first baseman with his fourth organization in four years. He has a tremendous power, which has never been in question, but he strikes out too much — 103 times in 260 career major-league at-bats — to hold down a regular big-league job, which is why he was able to clear waivers last week when Troy Tulowitzki returned. Eldred was brought into the organization for exactly the situation that occurred this season: the Rockies needed emergency help at first base. Hodges, meanwhile, is an interesting acquisition. At the very least, he gives the Rockies a corner infield prospect at the upper levels of the system, something they were sorely lacking this season.
steve or anyone else,
in the waiver process, is it a question of which team claims a player first, or does the process go in some sort of team order?
thanks.
Obviously, Hodges was the 40th guy on the Indians 40 man roster,. and with their recent trades needed to clear room for others. Doesn’t speak well for him, I expect that he will now be the 40th on our 40 man roster.
On Herrera, it was a surprise to me to read that he still had an option left – I had thought that he would have to be DFA’d, and that would mean his almost sure loss to the organization. Glad that Steve wrote otherwise (in the Helton activated article).
On Herrera’s option: If he didn’t have an option left, he would still be with the Rockies. No way he would cleared waivers and no way the Rockies are going to let him get away from the organization right now.
On waivers, teams put in claims and the team with worst record in the same league as the player being waived is awarded the claim. MLBTradeRumors.com has an excellent primer on how the process works, specifically in August but it explains the whole process very well.
An interesting move. The Rocks have got to start planning for the post-Todd days, even if Todd recovers from this year’s issues, we all know that the 2012 season will be his last. Maybe this kid will come back from his injuries and become a solid 1B. Feel bad for Eldred. Seems like there are always lots of 1B with great power and huge holes in their swings (we see a lot of them down here in COS), but Brad seemed like a nice guy and had a great Spring. Back when he first came up with Pittsburg he was touted by that organization but too much pressure too soon and lets be honest, he was never going to be Ryan Howard or for that matter even the guy now back in Seattle. Still, never easy when Pittsburg gives up on you. Credit due to those career minor leaguerers, which Brad seems to be doomed to become. Maybe he figures out his swing and becomes Garrett Jones.
Steve,
I read on Thursday that the Rockies waived Rodgers and Cleveland reclaimed him back, two days after the Rockies acquired Rodgers. Do you know what happened?