Jayson Stark is reporting that Casey Blake is heading to the LA Dodgers in a deal that would net the Indians two minor leaguers, RHP Jon Meloan and C Carlos Santana. Meloan is playing for the Dodgers' AAA affiliate in Las Vegas, while Santana plays in A-ball for Inland Empire.
Much more on this as the parties are firmed up, but here's a little bit on each prospect that is reported by Stark to be coming to the Indians' organization:
RHP Jon Meloan (Age 23)
2008 (AAA): 5-10, 4.97 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, 99 K, 60 BB in 21 games (20 starts)
If those numbers look bad, they are - but examining his B-Ref page tells a different story as Meloan, until this year, worked out of the bullpen exclusively with phenomenal results:
2007 (in AA and AAA): 2.03 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 91 K, 27 BB in 66 2/3 IP over 49 games
2006 (in A and AA): 1.90 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 91 K, 16 BB in 52 IP over 21 games
That K rate and K/BB ratio is INSANE and I have no clue as to why the Dodgers would convert Meloan to a starter after so much success in the bullpen and only 9 previous starts in his 84 career minor league games entering 2008. He reportedly has a fastball that sits around 92-94 and has touched 97 with a curveball as his secondary pitch.
C Carlos Santana (Age 22)
2008 (single-A): .323 BA / .431 OBP / .563 SLG / .994 OPS with 14 HR, 96 RBI, and 34 doubles in 99 games
He leads the California League (which is about at the same level as Kinston in the Tribe farm system) in RBI and OPS. He has 69 BB to 59 K on the year and has tallied 3 triples and 7 SB and plays one hell of a guitar...oh, it's a different one...my bad. THIS one was actually a 3B/OF who was converted to C by the Dodgers two years ago, something the LA organization did with their current C Russell Martin, who was a 3B when he was inked by the club.
At first glance, it looks like the Indians fortified their bullpen depth with a hard-thrower with a history of strikeouts (something we haven't seen out of an Indians' pen in some time) who may be ready to contribute this year, while essentially trying to replace C Max Ramirez in the system (he was dealt for K-Love, if you remember) with a low-level hitting C for Blake.
Much more as details emerge and the muddied waters clear a bit going forward.
Right now, I have to go figure out how I'm going to break this one to the DiaBride.