With news that the Los Angeles Angels have designated Brandon Wood for assignment earlier this week, the rumors regarding possible trade destinations have started to emerge.
According to John Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, Toronto could be a potential landing spot.
“The Toronto Blue Jays expressed interest in trading for infielder Brandon Wood as recently as this offseason, sources say.
And there is every reason to believe the Jays will check in on him again… because his former status as one of the game’s elite prospects will make it virtually impossible for him to slip through waivers.”
Primarily a 3B, Wood has the ability to play all four infield positions and with Toronto’s infield in a state of flux (Enacarnacion is back at DH and Hill is injured) this move does make some sense.
However, what about current hot corner prospect Brett Lawrie?
Currently with the AAA Las Vegas 51’s, Lawrie is mashing to the tune of .410/2/10 with an otherworldly 1.110 OPS. The knock on his game has always been his defense, which hasn’t changed as he’s already made six errors this year with an ugly .889 fielding percentage.
Wood, on the other hand, is an above average defender with an offensive pedigree even more impressive than Brett Lawrie’s.
Wood’s best minor league season was back in 2005 when he hit .321/43/116 with a 1.055 OPS. However, he’s still managed to average 28 home runs a season in AAA since 2007, while bouncing back and forth between Salt Lake and LA.
Though like Lawrie, he strikes out far too often which has limited him to a career .168 batting average in 494 Major League plate appearances.
Which begs the question, is it worth moving assets to acquire a player who could be lightning in a bottle while blocking the pathway for prized prospect Brett Lawrie?
I think it is. If Dwayne Murphy can transform Jose Bautista from a journeyman into a premier power hitter, then I say let him take a crack at Brandon Wood.
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