The Daily News mentioned an interesting trade possiblity today. 3B Wes Helms to the San Francisco Giants for LHP Steve Kline. Here's why its a bad idea:
Reason #1: Steve Kline is supposedly a situational left-handed pitcher out of the bullpen (i.e. LOOGY). However, he sucks against left-handed hitters. Of course, to be fair, he sucks against right-handed hitters too but that's what he supposedly is. Over the past 3 seasons, leftys have batted .299 against Kline with an OPB of .356. Last year, at age 34, he was even worse: .318 AVG/.375 OBP. Basically, he turns left-handed hitters into Vlad Guerrero, which is not a good thing. Mind you he pitched more than half his innings in a very pitcher friendly home park which makes his numbers even worse than they already look.
Reason #2: This trade takes away any shot that Travis Blackley has of making the bullpen as the second lefty. If we acquired Kline, there would be no reason to keep a 3rd LHP pitcher in the pen so Blackley would be offered back (ironically) to San Francisco as he is a Rule V Draft Pick. So the trade would essentially be 3B Helms and LHP Blackley for LHP Kline. If the Phillies are really this interested in a 2nd LHP in the bullpen they might as well go with Blackley. He can't be any worse than Kline this year. At least he has the advantage of youth on his side.
Reason #3: Steve Kline Walks more batters than he strikes out. Last year he walked 18 batters and struck out 17. So he's just as likely to come in and make a situation worse by putting another runner on as he is to prevent inherited runs from scoring by striking out the batter. Also his K/BB ratio has declined for 3 straight years. Such a K/BB decline is usually a pretty good sign that a pitchers career is coming to a close.
Personally, I'd rather cut Wes Helms outright than trade him for Steve Kline.
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