A's Trade Jack Hannahan to the Mariners

The A’s traded Jack Hannahan to the Mariners today for Double-A pitcher Justin Souza. 

This is a real money ball trade for the A’s, where they got rid of one money ball player who didn’t pan out for a second, younger money ball player.

The A’s originally obtained Hannahan from the Tigers because of his high on-base percentages at Triple-A Toledo.  He was good player in limited time in 2007, but in 2008 the A’s were forced to use him regularly at 3B due to yet another Eric Chavez injury, and AL’s pitchers quickly proved that Hannahan had no business as an everyday player. 

He’s a better than average defensive thrid baseman, but he just can’t hit enough, even with the walks to justify playing him regularly.

The Mariners apparently wanted Hannahan to platoon with right-handed hitting Chris Woodward until Adrien Beltre returns from surgery on his left shoulder in mid to late August.

Souza is a 23-year-old, right-handed pitcher who the Mariners apparently didn’t regard highly, but he’s got great K/9 and K:BB ratios, which is almost certainly why A’s GM Billy Beane wanted him. 

This year, used mostly as a starter for the Double-A West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, he has a 3.35 ERA with 73 hits allowed, 18 walks and 62 strikeouts in 78 IP.  Over his minor league career, his numbers are 280 IP, 306 hits allowed, 64 BB and 264 strikeouts.

Souza is something of a local boy.  He’s from the Central Valley (born in Stockton, high school in Galt and college in Sacramento).  That’s more or less A’s territory, so Souza is probably thrilled about the trade. 

Of course, he’ll be sent to Double-A Midland, Texas to start his A’s career.

This is obviously an excellent move for the going-nowhere A’s.  They trade a 29-year-old marginal major leaguer for a legitimate young prospect.  The odds are probably less than 50 percent that Souza will be a solid major league contributor for the A’s, but considering the cost to obtain him, even a 20 percent chance that he will develop into a star is a good move. 

At age 23 and pitching well in Double A ball, Souza’s got at least a 20 percent of being a solid major league contributor for the A’s down the line.