Link: Philadelphia Inquirer | 05/15/2005 | Phils trade Byrd for Chavez in a swap of centerfielders.
The Phillies last night traded seldom-used centerfielder Marlon Byrd to the Washington Nationals for Endy Chavez, a speedy lefthanded hitter who may be their centerfielder of the future.
Uh. No.
Endy Chavez is basically Doug Glanville circa 2000 minus the University of Pennsylvania diploma in engineering and the Jayson Stark man-crush. While he might be a nice pinch-runner, late inning defensive replacement (sound familiar?), I highly doubt he will become the Phillies everyday centerfielder someday even if the team were to go into re-building mode.
Let's take a look at what those that follow Chavez regularly have to say about him:
...anyway you look at it, the trade is a steal for the Nats. With Church or Byrd, the Nats will have a legitimate pinch-hitter off the bench. And now they have a legitimate center-fielder to man the spacious RFK outfield.
...this trade can only be positive for the Nats. Clearly, Chavez had played himself into an intractable position this spring; accordingly, anything the Nats could get for him was a bonus. Byrd, the return, is talented enough to turn it around. And he's got the drop on Escobar in the race to force Wilkerson back to left field. Of course, Ryan Church will have something to say about that.
In closing, for now at least, I'll just say that, while Inning-Endy quite a bit more-than-earned his fair share of ripping, he gets something of a clean shot in an organization that could apparently use his help. (Though I wonder what in the world is wrong with Jason Michaels?) I'm assuming he won't be called on to be an everyday player, and he can be something of an asset if used appropriately.
So, good luck, Endy. And I was kidding when I said I wanted you to be consumed by a ball of fire. Sort of . . .
And while Capitol Punishment hasn't commented specifically on the trade, the website does have a "Inning-Endy-O-Meter" in the sidebar which tracks the number of innings Chavez ends with his bat. And finally, Jim Bowden's comments (the Nationals general manager and Ed Wade's trading partner in the deal):
"We tried with Endy, I don't think I can help Endy. I hope Philadelphia can, but I couldn't do it."
That's a ringing endorsement if I've ever heard one.
My guess is that both Wade and Bowden felt that neither player was going to establish themselves with their current team and each felt that a change of scenery would do each player some good. And to be fair, Chavez does possess some skills that Byrd did not that the Phillies are lacking -- mainly speed, good defensive range in centerfield, and a low strikeout ratio.
Chances are, in five years this trade will be meaningless for both teams, but I can't help but wonder if Marlon Byrd's excellent spring training just might have been a prelude of things to come for him.
As with many things in baseball, time will tell for sure.
