De La Cruz traded to the Rangers

February 21, 2012

The Indians today completed a trade today where they sent minor league left-handed pitcher Kelvin De La Cruz to the Texas Rangers in exchange for cash considersations. De La Cruz was designated for assignment last week to make space on the 40-man roster for first baseman Casey Kotchman.

De La Cruz, 23, struggled in a return trip to Double-A Akron last season where in 23 games (16 starts) he went 5-6 with a 4.19 ERA. While he only allowed 70 hits and had 95 strikeouts in 86.0 innings pitched last season, his problems with command got worse as he walked 57 batters (6.0 K/9). In 179.2 innings the last two seasons at Akron he really struggled with his command and walked too many batters with 121 walks (6.1 K/9). He still has loads of potential, but with his age creeping up and his command problems the past two seasons, he was no longer a high profile pitching prospect. Now he is a project, one that the Rangers will delightfully try and see what they can make of him this season.

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User Comments

Tony Lastoria

February 22, 2012 - 8:31 AM EST

Yeah, I am not sure I ever understood why De La Cruz was rostered to begin with. But that is a clear sign of how important to them he was at the time and also they put out feelers and had the impression he had a decent chance of being selected. Same was the case this year it seems with Salazar, a guy that was more valuable to the org than originally thought and scouts saw him up to 98 MPH this fall. Problem with guys like Salazar and De La Cruz is now they bog down the 40-man as they are not really ML options the next few years, will probably blow through their option years before they are ML ready....so it really limits what the Indians can do with them when they get their big league shot since by then it is prob one shot or none since they are out of options. And yeah, I think had the Indians cleared De La Cruz off the 40-man in November that he probably would have cleared waivers. The trade was likely made yesterday because teams were calling on him so they probably believed there was no chance to him clearing waivers, so made the deal.

Jersey Wahoo

February 22, 2012 - 1:28 AM EST

When you are at the mature state of our 40 man roster the tribe is currently facing, tough decisons have to be made. What kind of difference was there between option KDLC between the rule 5 and now? Aren't we splitting hairs at this point?

Seth

February 22, 2012 - 12:39 AM EST

He shouldn't have been on the roster in the first place. The idea that he could've been claimed in the rule 5 and survived on a major league roster when he was coming off the elbow injury was ludicrous. Even with his poor performance, I'd still rather have him them not have him. If they don't roster him and Rivero, both guys are still in the Indians organization (and Rivero had a decent year last year, better than Diaz) ... plus they wouldn't have had to jump through as many hoops the last couple years with their 40-man moves.

When I think of the team the Indians currently have I like the potential, guys like Kipnis, Chisenhall, Jimenez ... but when they make boneheaded roster moves, I turn pessimistic. How can we expect them to upgrade the team successfully, or make any reasonable decision, when they can't even avoid repeatedly shooting themselves in the foot?

Tony Lastoria

February 21, 2012 - 9:21 PM EST

There are some things that can't be shared publicly, but I know there was some frustration with some of the coaches with De La Cruz's lack of progress with his command. It is one of those things where at 23 years old and pitching like that where his delivery and command are pretty much what they are. Not showing any improvement whatsovever. You just eventually move on. Me personally, I am surprised he survived on the roster as long as he did. As for why the trade was consummated, my best guess is a claim was made. Otherwise, I am not sure I see the point in dumping him in a trade as they still could have controlled him this season and had one last go around with him.

Seth

February 21, 2012 - 8:22 PM EST

What's the reason for the trade? Was someone going to claim him? The Indians are specialists at hoping projects turn into something, I don't get why they'd drop him rather than stashing him in AA and seeing what happens. Losing Judy and De La Cruz due to bad roster management ... these hopefully aren't big losses,, but a team in the Indians situation can't afford to let pitchers with potential, even if it's just relief potential, just walk for nothing. I remember when they rostered DLC and Carlos Rivero I thought it was absolutely nuts. Unfortunately under Antonetti it seems to be worse so far. It doesn't take a baseball genius to realize that adding Juan Diaz to the roster for no good reason, ultimately in favor of an MLB ready reliever like Judy, is a stupid move.

rogerfoosball@aol.com

February 21, 2012 - 7:58 PM EST

lefties who consistently throw in the mid 90's dont grow on trees i have no idea why the tribe is so in love with that shortstop they got from seattle that he has cost them judy and now DLC.

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De La Cruz traded to the Rangers

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