but as we said discussing this rumor in the gamethread, we need something a little more than a Tweet before something like this goes on the front page.

Don’t make a FanPost with your link to news. Just add them here. A mod can add the links to this FanPost.

Any other FanPosts on this topic will be deleted until trade is official. THEN we can all offer our individual analysis.

He’s struggled late, but we all know his arm is far superior to anybody else we have in that pen. He deserves it.

So is this 3B a guy to be excited about?

Bell has many scenarios that could play out:
1. Stays at 3rd base and learns to hit LHP then we were screwed.
2. Stays at 3rd base, never learns to hit LHP, we are still screwed.
3. Moves to first base and learns to hit LHP , then we are still screwed.
4. Moves to first base, never learns to hit LHP – still bummed
5. Stays at 3rd, never hits either arm – okay
6. Moves to 1st, can’t hit either arm – okay

The latest skinny on Steve Johnson from Baseball Prospecus Kevin Goldstein:

        Sleeper Alert!

Steven Johnson, RHP, Dodgers (Double-A Chattanooga)
        Monday’s stats: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K
        A 13th-round pick in 2005 and the son of former big leaguer and Orioles broadcaster Dave Johnson, Steven has taken a slow-but-steady rise through the Dodgers system. He has taken a big step forward this year, striking out 102 in 96.2 innings for High-A Inland Empire and now 15 in 10 2/3 frames over his first two Double-A starts. He’s not a monster by any stretch, but his fastball and breaking ball both rate a tick above average and there’s some deception to his delivery. Scouts think he could fit in the back of the rotation when all is said and done.

Says his boy is in it, wad told by Roy Firestone weeks ago Steve might be involved.

seem to think they gave up two pretty good prospects, so that makes me like this trade more

But thanks for everything, George, you were a consummate professional.

Fordin:

A strange scene played out in Baltimore’s home clubhouse on Thursday, moments after the Orioles had completed a 7-3 win over Kansas City. Several writers began seeking comment from closer George Sherrill, who had reportedly been traded to the Dodgers.

Sherrill was unaware of any development, and he left the clubhouse without resolution. On his way out the door, the veteran southpaw was asked by teammate Nick Markakis if he’d see him tomorrow. “Let’s hope,” said Sherrill, who then continued walking out the door.

One Baltimore official said that the deal isn’t quite done yet, but prospects Josh Bell and Steve Johnson are being named as the principal return. The Orioles are known to covet Bell, and Johnson has a tie to the organization through his father Dave, a Baltimore broadcaster.

mostly because McPhail has said numerous times “We grow the arms, buy the bats.” Especially, give all the money that comes off the books this year for the Birds. He must love this 3b kid, Bell. I like that for some reason. That and I don’t care how hard you throw, but a strikeout per inning? I’ll take that anyday – 102 ks in 96 innings. Keep it up Steve Johnson.

Even when you made it interesting I always liked watching you. Hope you win a WS ring this year.

You can now add Johnson/Bell to our haul for Bedard.

To Seattle – Bedard

To Baltimore – Jones, Tillman, Bell, Mickolio, Butler, Johnson

The o’s have an article up on their site saying both Sarfate and Ray are ready to come up in the next couple days (Ray moreso) but they don’t know how that’d work out with a lack of room on the roster, and then there is Kam. I think they are looking to bring up Ray, but who knows? Guess we’ll know for sure around this time tomorrow.

I liked Sherrill as an Oriole, even if he was Mr. Excitement some of the time. The cold calculus, however, is that he’s 32 and much more valuable to a contending team this year than to the Orioles, who are looking to be competitive in a couple of years. Hopefully we’ve gotten a future corner infielder in Bell (though his defense is rumored to be horrible) and another pitching prospect to fill the farm system.

It’s always sad to lose a fan favorite, but I’m happy with what MacPhail got back for him. Now go and dominate the NL West, George.

Johnson was ranked 15th among Dodgers prospects by Baseball America to start the year.
Bell was ranked eighth in the Dodgers system by Baseball America.

thats good, right?

Is that even though it’s not a lot of money, it does save us some cash. The rest of Georgie’s salary for this year and then he’s arbitration eligible after this season right?

….strikes again.

Props to you O’s. Looks like you’re adding a good bat to the line-up and fixing that left side of the infield.

Hope that Matusz-Tillman-Arrieta trio is tearing it up in the minors

the funny thing about this trade is we gave up better prospects then the phillies did for cliff lee. the phillies got a cy young award winner.. we got a reliever…

Josh bell is a better prospect then anyone in the cliff lee sherill deal. Steve Johnson is a better prospect then Marson and Donald. Sad……

by matthewmafa on Jul 30, 2009 4:15 PM EDT

From the article:

So what did the Dodgers give up to avoid a replay of last year’s back-breaking Stairs homer? Too much.

Steven Johnson is a solid if uninspiring right-handed starter who, at age 21, has continued to impress having just made the jump to Double-A. He’s not a big loss for the Dodgers, who have a tremendous young duo in their rotation in Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw and the money to fill in behind them with reliable veterans, and he’s not guaranteed to make a dent with the Orioles, who despite their dreadful major league staff have a farm rich with pitching prospects. Still, he’s a decent throw-in and adds to the pitching depth in the Baltimore system.

The reason the Orioles should be clicking their heels over this deal, and Dodgers fans should hot under the collar, is Josh Bell. He’s not true blue-chipper, but as a 22-year-old switch-hitting third baseman who was hitting .296/.386/.497 in Double-A this season, he has a high ceiling and fills a big hole in their organization. Bell’s defense at the hot corner could use some work, but he’s already shown an ability to improve in the field. Meanwhile, he receives top marks for his power, which suggests he could carry first base should he need to slide across the diamond. With top young talent in the outfield and behind the plate, Bell gives the O’s a big bat for their infield and gets them that much closer to a lineup that can swing with the big boys in the AL East. Similarly, the Dodgers just lost a player who appeared to be on his way toward filling an organizational hole, be it in the wake of the 35-year-old Casey Blake at third or in place of the disappointing James Loney at first base. For a player who projects as a major league starter and potential middle-of-the-order bat in the near future, the Dodgers didn’t get nearly enough, nor did they address a significant need. Before this trade, a playoff exit would have been disappointing, now it will be unacceptable.

I have heard he is portly and I wanted to see a good picture of him.

Could he technically be put in their game tonight?

If we get the 3rd baseman of the future out of this, in a continuation of the bedard deal, the andy is a genius. Seems like a good deal.

They are to busy with their knee pads on worshiping the Pink Hat and MFY teams.

but it seams like we just gave up an All Star closer for, at best, another Brandon Snyder and a bottom of the order pitcher.

the move. I plan on going to Bowie at least two more times this year to see Matusz pitch, which will allow me a close up view of our new 3B prospect.

Wouldn’t that be awesome if he and Snyder both developed into MLB talent. Potentially, we could see this sometime late next year:

Roberts-2B
Markakis-RF
Reimold-LF
Jones-CF
Wieters-C
Scott-DH
Bell-3B
Snyder-1B
Izturis-SS

There is a few ‘ifs’ in there, but all-in-all a solid lineup. Still wouldn’t mind seeing a huge power bat slotted in the cleanup spot…but we can’t be too greedy I suppose.

I think we all now know how MacPhail works trades by now. He’s not going to trade guys just to trade them, especially a guy like Sherrill that still has a couple years left on his contract. MacPhail isn’t going to pull the trigger unless he gets value back. I don’t think he makes this deal if he’s not fairly certain that Bell will be the 3B when we are ready to compete. I just don’t see him taking a gamble like that, at least for a guy like Sherrill.

I’m not saying there’s no risk with Bell. I’m just saying that its a little too early to be worrying that he’ll be a below average 1B.

Trades like this are always rough early on. We gave up a proven high end reliever for two minor league prospects. In the sort term we are going to lose more games because of this. Relievers Johnson, Meredeth and Ray aren’t going to adequately replace George Sherrill. Sadly I would guess we may lose an additional 3-6 more games this season that we may have won with Sherrill. The upside is we could end up with a higher draft chioce… maybe… if the team uses it wisely… perhaps…

Bell does improve our situation at 3rd base in the minors that is for certain. However what will he be in 3 years is the real question. Right now we don’t know.

Johnson if he really comes on and developes into even a #5 starter for a year or two then this is a successful trade for the club. Right now we don’t know.

What I do know… Is that the club needs improvement at 3rd Base and needs as many quality pitching prospects as it can get.

Not trying to say Jim Johnson is a scrub, so please don’t misunderstand me. However lets look at some basic pitching stats

NAME E.R.A. I.P. WHIP HITS HR
Sherrill 2.40 41.1 1.137 34 3
Johnson 3.17 48.1 1.241 44 5

The stats do not conclude that Johnson will be a complete bust as a closer. However it is a different role. Try to remember its the beginning of August. There are still 59 games to be played and some good teams are in the Orioles schedule that will have pressure on them to win. I really think losing an additional 3-6 games because of the loss of Goerge Sherrill is fair and conservative.

Let’s hope I am wrong and Chris Ray and Jim Johnson seize roles for themselves and give us something to feel good about.

I forget you cannot edit posts here. sorry tried to compare stats