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If we want Alonso to be Olerud without the glove, does that make him Nick Johnson, basically?  I do think he can be Nick Johnson.
He's 23, and has growth left.  If we can forgive Ackley's lack of power at 23, Alonso should get the same benefit of the doubt, especially with the hamate injury.  You don't bust a hamate curl off without holding a bat a certain way, and having the knob of the bat constantly rub on the healing bone isn't especially comfortable.  He's changing his approach in AAA and starting to club for power at the expense of decreased walks and increased Ks (1.100 OPS his last 10 games, with a 9:1 K:BB rate).  That's not what I want him doing necessarily, but there IS power there.  I think he can be what Kotchman could not be at the plate: a patient hitter who has a decent average, good eye and power.  He just has a little more to learn, yet.
Would I trade 3 months of Cliff Lee for a package that included 6 club controlled years of Nick Johnson, 3 of em making the minimum?  Yeah, I think I probably would.  I'd rather get Smoak, but I don't think that's as likely.
Alonso is possible - Votto is making Yonder extremely expendable.  I prefer him to the theoretical package that includes the Twins' version of Michael Saunders circa 2007.  And since we're talking about Alonso PLUS another couple of prospects it gets even better.
Getting a AAA first baseman with a historically good eye, power potential to all fields who is still young enough to have significant growth in his game and is dirt-cheap would be great.  I'd feel better about filling that hole with a trade than trying to get yet ANOTHER catching prospect, or betting on a toolsy A-baller to come through in 2014.
I'd feel better about signing Victor Martinez for a bunch of change to throw out 19% of base-stealers and OPS 110 behind the plate. Victor + Branyan + Ichiro + F-Gut suddenly gives us some decent top of the order hitters, and assuming a Chone rebound, would let us play young kids like Ackley and Saunders in 2011, and Alonso in 2012 when Branyan's gone.
It seems likelier to bear the kind of offensive fruit we need.  And it looks like - according to the rumors - that Jack is stepping up his press for offense.
I wouldn't scream like a schoolgirl if we added Yonder, but I would like it better than some of the alternatives.  Somebody talk the Reds into having some stones on the trade deadline market, for once.
~G