Trade: Diamondbacks get Prospects for Cruz

[Diamondback Jay]

Source

BOSTON -- The Red Sox acquired outfielder Jose Cruz Jr. and cash considerations from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night in exchange for minor league infielder Kenny Perez and minor league right-hander Kyle Bono.

The 31-year-old Cruz is a career .248 hitter with 187 homers, 563 RBI and 102 stolen bases in nine major league seasons with the Mariners (1997), Blue Jays (1997-2002), Giants (2003), Devil Rays (2004) and Diamondbacks (2005).

Cruz has topped 20 home runs five times, including four of the last five seasons. He registered consecutive 30-homer seasons in 2000 and 2001, and joined the 30-30 club with a career-best 34 homers and 32 steals for Toronto in 2001.

Perez, Boston's sixth-round draft pick in 2000, has split 2005 between Double-A Portland (.285, four homers, 28 RBI and seven steals in 66 games) and Triple-A Pawtucket (.167 with a homer and five RBI in 14 games).

The 23-year-old switch hitter is a career .265 hitter with 21 home runs, 223 RBI and 60 stolen bases in 545 minor league contests over six seasons.

Bono, 22, is 2-2 with a 4.07 ERA in 24 relief appearances for Class-A Wilmington in 2005, his second professional season. An eighth-round draft selection in 2004, Bono is 2-3 with a 3.86 ERA in 28 games (five starts) in his minor league career. He has struck out 73 and allowed only 43 hits in 60 2/3 career innings.

Not bad at all.. Frankly, I'd have been satisfied if Arizona would have acquired some used gloves and a handful of stale sunflower seeds for Cruz.. Both are in need of some work, but anything is better than what they're giving away.

 

[devilalum]

Bring up Carlos.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Sweet. Better than getting noting at all like I had expected.

 

[Evil Ash]

Like everyone else has said I'd be happy getting a bucket of balls in exchange for Cruz.

But just out of curiousity does anyone know anything about the prospects we got in return (ie a scouting report)?

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Like everyone else has said I'd be happy getting a bucket of balls in exchange for Cruz.

But just out of curiousity does anyone know anything about the prospects we got in return (ie a scouting report)?

I havent been able to find much on them yet. I have found that Bono was considered the #14 prospect in the Boston system according to On Deck Baseball, but all the actual information I could find on him was that Baseball America said that he had an impressive 2004 campaign (his first pro year) and that he throws hard. Kenny Perez is ranked #27 by BA (and not in the Top 40 by On Deck Baseball), and I did find one article that mentions him a few times. Sounds like an absolute steal to me.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/050407pulse.html

 

[thirty-two]

goodie

 

[AZZenny]

Bono is their #22 prospect and Perez #27 for BA's 2005 rankings. I have to say - I couldn't believe we got this much for Cruz, though it sounded from ESPN like we're paying some $ from Cruz's salary.

They let Jay Payton go, picked up a probably injured Cruz (assume we sold him "as is") for way more than he's worth - Wow. What are they smoking in Beantown?

2005 Prospect Handbook: Bono got a record signing bonus for an 8th rounder last year, based on 0.0 ERA in 12 appearances in the very competitive Cape Cod League, 5 college shutouts in 2 years and 1.66 college ERA after converting to a pitcher from 3B as a HS senior. Heavy 88-91 mph sinker and a good changeup; to remain a starter he has to improve his so-so slider. Good location, very aggressive. BA called him a pretty polished pitcher.

Perez (drafted 2000) came in as SS/2B but is probably a utility infielder, way down on their depth chart from Hanley Ramirez and Dustin Pedroia. Switch-hitter, good arm, good defensive instincts. Good plate discipline, decent raw power, good contact but needs to be a bit more selective. Average speed, but smart on the bases. injury-prone - sore hammy and a wrenched back in late 2004.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Bono is their #22 prospect and Perez #27 for BA's 2005 rankings. I have to say - I couldn't believe we got this much for Cruz, though it sounded from ESPN like we're paying some $ from Cruz's salary.

I am pretty sure we are paying money to cover some of the remaining money on Cruz's contract, which isnt too big of a deal since we'd be paying him anyways even if we just released him.


GREAT trade!

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Hmmm...on the other hand, this link says we are the ones getting cash, but that doesnt make much sense to me.

http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com...t_id=1151650&vkey=news_ari&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari

 

[Brian]

Like everyone else has said I'd be happy getting a bucket of balls in exchange for Cruz.

But just out of curiousity does anyone know anything about the prospects we got in return (ie a scouting report)?

From watching them on South Park, I'd say Kenny gets killed every episode , but Kyle is more of a central figure.

 

[devilalum]

From watching them on South Park, I'd say Kenny gets killed every episode , but Kyle is more of a central figure.

You're a legend in your own mind.

 

[Brian]

You're a legend in your own mind.

I wish I had your sense of humor.

 

[Mulli]

From watching them on South Park, I'd say Kenny gets killed every episode , but Kyle is more of a central figure.

That is post of the weekend. Good job soldier.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

From watching them on South Park, I'd say Kenny gets killed every episode , but Kyle is more of a central figure.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Bono is their #22 prospect and Perez #27 for BA's 2005 rankings. I have to say - I couldn't believe we got this much for Cruz, though it sounded from ESPN like we're paying some $ from Cruz's salary.

They let Jay Payton go, picked up a probably injured Cruz (assume we sold him "as is") for way more than he's worth - Wow. What are they smoking in Beantown?

2005 Prospect Handbook: Bono got a record signing bonus for an 8th rounder last year, based on 0.0 ERA in 12 appearances in the very competitive Cape Cod League, 5 college shutouts in 2 years and 1.66 college ERA after converting to a pitcher from 3B as a HS senior. Heavy 88-91 mph sinker and a good changeup; to remain a starter he has to improve his so-so slider. Good location, very aggressive. BA called him a pretty polished pitcher.

Perez (drafted 2000) came in as SS/2B but is probably a utility infielder, way down on their depth chart from Hanley Ramirez and Dustin Pedroia. Switch-hitter, good arm, good defensive instincts. Good plate discipline, decent raw power, good contact but needs to be a bit more selective. Average speed, but smart on the bases. injury-prone - sore hammy and a wrenched back in late 2004.

Not bad.. Not bad at all..

Sounds like both Bono and Perez are raw yet, and could be a couple years away from making it to the majors, but still, for Cruz this is a steal..

Thanks for posting this Zenny