I have always argued that you make a deadline deal not only for the individual position upgrade but for the impact the move will have on the other 24 roster players and the competition. Trading for Cliff Lee or Randy Johnson at the deadline isn't as much about the 10-15 starts that they will make as it is about the message you are sending.
Trading for Chone Figgins to fill a positional need? Meh.
Trading for Ichiro to fill a positional need? Hell yeah.
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I also think that the distinction between dead-weight and impact lead-off hitter has to do with your time horizon. If we look at his performance YTD for 2011, Ichiro's value has been negative, driven largely by, in my opinion, an unsustainably low BABIP. If we look out to the end of the year and next, I think you'd find many a fan, manager or GM who would argue that Ichiro is due for some serious upward regression toward his career averages.
So yes, he can be deadweight for our team today and an impact addition for a contender - all depends on where you think he'll go from here.
My personal take on Ichiro is that he is not a great fit for this team, both because of his performance on the field, and his leadership style off the field. I have nothing against leading by example, however when you are paid superstar money to be the face of the franchise and aren't capable of putting the entire team on your shoulders then you risk your credibility within the clubhouse when you stay in a prolonged slump. You don't need friends when you go into battle day in and day out and produce. You need those friends when you don't produce. Stick Ichiro on a team like NYY, SF, Bos, or Philly and I think he's a great candidate to rebound quickly and start putting up his usual numbers once again. Keep him on this young team only getting younger? No thanks, not for me.
- Ben.
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