Kottaras is key to Wells trade
Well, it didn't happen last night like the Astros' announcer had suggesed, but this morning brings with it some clarity as to who the San Diego Padres would be willing to part with to acquire pitcher David Wells from Boston. According to ESPN, catcher George Kottaras is the player the Padres are dangling.
Baseball Prospectus has glowing words about the minor leaguer:
With apologies to Josh Barfield, here's the best prospect in the system. A native Canadian grabbed out of junior college as a 20th-round pick as a draft-and-follow, Kottaras showed a precocious batting eye, intriguing doubles power and great defensive instincts behind the plate. The Padres compare him to Brad Ausmus with the glove, Jorge Posada with the bat. If you're in a deep dynasty league, feign ignorance, grab him, and you'll be gloating four years from now.
GM Kevin Towers raved about Kotteras in this quote from a spring issue 2005 of the Toronto Star:
"We see him in the big leagues within two or three years. He's come a long way already. To me, he can be like a Jason Kendall (of the Oakland A's), hitting for average with a little power. Behind the plate, he's quiet, with soft hands. Doesn't jab at the ball. And he's got great makeup too, like a lot of the Canadian kids. I don't know if it's due to the hockey mentality or what, but they're pretty tough. They handle adversity well."
I especially like Towers' sizing up of us "Canadian kids"! (Psst, it's not the hockey, it's the weather!)
Even Wikipedia is reporting that Kotteras will be a member of the Sox!
He is expected to be traded to the Boston Red Sox any minute now.
This sounds like a pretty level headed deal for all parties. Shortly after trading away Josh Bard to re-acquire Doug Mirabelli from the Padres, Boston's Jason Varitek went on the DL (and Bard was tearing it up at PETCO!) leaving Boston with a sizable hole behind the plate. Now that the Padres have Bard and Piazza sharing catching duties, I'm not surprised that they're willing to part with one of their top prospects. Of course, the sanity of the deal will rest upon the impact that Wells' is able to make as the Padres push for a playoff spot. If he stinks, they'll be cries about how the Friars traded away one of their best for a short term rental. Such is the risk of any trade.
For more about Kotteras and this likely trade, check out this spring 2006 Q&A from BaseballAmerica.com with the young catcher, or MLBTradeRumors' deal breakdown.
