Today in Blue Jay History: Glaus/Rolen Trade

by Tom Dakers on Jan 11, 2011 1:28 PM EST in Toronto Blue Jays Analysis

It was 3 years ago today that the Jays traded Troy Glaus for Scott Rolen. At the time, as Hugo noted in his post on the trade, both the Jays and the Cardinals were getting rid of a player who was unhappy on his respective team. Both were aging, often injured players with large contracts who appeared to be on the decline.

After the trade, Glaus was with the Cardinals for 2 years, he had a great season in 2008, hitting 27 home runs and a WAR of 3.7. Then he missed most of 2009 with various injuries and left the Cardinals as a free agent. Last year he played with the Braves and he is currently a free agent.

Rolen, we all know, had a good season and a half with the Jays, becoming a fan favorite. Despite missing time with injuries, he accumulated a 7.3 WAR with the Jays before deciding he wanted out of Toronto. JP Ricciardi sent him off to the Reds for Zach Stewart, Edwin Encarnacion and Josh Roenicke starting the rebuilding of our minor league system.

It is a trade that Ricciardi won. Not only did we get better play out of Rolen but we were able to trade Rolen for some useful pieces while Glaus just left as a free agent, giving the Cards nothing in return. If Zach Stewart turns out, then the trade will look even better.

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And it should be noted, that when Rolen wanted out of Toronto, he did it in a very classy manner. It was quietly done and wasn’t done like our basketball brothers have had to endure.

I think you'll find I'm universally recognised as a mature and responsible adult.
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by JohnnyG on Jan 11, 2011 1:42 PM EST reply actions

True

This might be the first time that a Rolen trade didn’t start because of mutual loathing.

In honor of the Jays 2nd Baseman who played with fire in more ways than one.

by Damaso's Burnt Shirt on Jan 11, 2011 1:45 PM EST up reply actions

Very True... Class act all the way around

Rolen always went out and gave everything he had, and very quietly went about looking to get out of Toronto, while it sucked he wanted out, he left the organization in a great position to trade him as it wasn`t made public, and for that I will always Respect him… Trully a great player and person..

by Lanky07 on Jan 12, 2011 1:01 PM EST up reply actions

Rolen

Moved for family reasons – had nothing against the city of Toronto

by Paul Chicago on Jan 12, 2011 5:56 PM EST up reply actions

I won't ever miss Glaus' statue like D.

At EE can get to a ball that’s hit in his general direction.

As for Rolen, I’m of mixed feelings. I do miss what he can do with D, but he didn’t want to be here.

In honor of the Jays 2nd Baseman who played with fire in more ways than one.

by Damaso's Burnt Shirt on Jan 11, 2011 1:44 PM EST reply actions

I won't ever forget the games where we saw him, 6'5/240 guy, used as a shortstop

by Minor Leaguer on Jan 11, 2011 2:21 PM EST up reply actions

Rolen wanted to be closer to his home. I don't think he had anything against Toronto.

Festina Lente

by HESS2479 on Jan 11, 2011 2:34 PM EST up reply actions

That and turf seems to wreck havoc on older guys.

Again he did it in a completely good way. Didn’t announce it to the public and force the teams hand, behind closed doors with a mutual respect it seems.

I think you'll find I'm universally recognised as a mature and responsible adult.
Twitter is the thing with all the tweets...

by JohnnyG on Jan 11, 2011 3:32 PM EST up reply actions

Glaus

platoon 1B/DH with Lind?

Just throwing it out there as possible conversation.

by hrv2010 on Jan 11, 2011 2:10 PM EST reply actions

His legs are too broken for turf.

HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THEM, I PRESS DOWN MAH GUNS!

by BenjiDoc on Jan 11, 2011 2:33 PM EST up reply actions

He will be at 1B and DH.

by hrv2010 on Jan 11, 2011 7:30 PM EST up reply actions

He won’t be stepping on turf.

by hrv2010 on Jan 11, 2011 7:31 PM EST up reply actions

he'll be steping on the turf

when he plays 1st and every time he has an at bat, its not going to happen

by jaysfan100 on Jan 11, 2011 8:38 PM EST up reply actions

not enough of it to make a significant impact on his health I’d think especially when he’s not going to play 3rd.

by hrv2010 on Jan 12, 2011 1:16 PM EST up reply actions

Instead of RHP/LHP it can be an away/home platoon :P

by Minor Leaguer on Jan 12, 2011 1:19 AM EST up reply actions

Glaus is too injury-prone to consider it.

by bleh on Jan 11, 2011 2:34 PM EST up reply actions

Glaus

Has everyone had a brain-freeze and forgot he was mixed up in the steroids scandal? One of the reasons he was happy to leave town…

by Paul Chicago on Jan 12, 2011 5:58 PM EST up reply actions

He was happy to leave a low media coverage market during a steroid scandal? Doesn’t make much sense.

I remember the reason he wanted out had everything to do with injury concerns and playing on concrete everyday.

I think you'll find I'm universally recognised as a mature and responsible adult.
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by JohnnyG on Jan 12, 2011 7:57 PM EST up reply actions

Glaus for 7.3 WAR

AND Zack Stewart, E^5, and Roenicke is already a big win for us.

Thats $35MM in value in WAR standards
Stewart, who has performed admirably in AA (As good if not better than Drabek).
E^5 who has provided some everyday help.
Roenicke who was used as a decent arm in the bullpen.

For a guy who had one good season left in him, albeit a close to 4 WAR season.

Proud member of the AL North

by Vagabond13 on Jan 11, 2011 5:20 PM EST reply actions

to get a true money value of this trade

you need to subtract Glaus’s WAR form Rolen’s and EE’s combined in there tenure with the club, and Rolen’s and EE’s salaries for the three years from the WAR values, and finally add the money we saved on those three years with Glaus

for now Stewart and Roenicke are just nice throw ins

by jaysfan100 on Jan 11, 2011 5:35 PM EST up reply actions

I did the math

and along with Zach Stewart and Josh Roenicke for prospects (value them at what you want), the Jays got/saved 17.258 million in FREE WAR value (value of WAR they receive minus the salaries of they players (it was a negative for Glaus in this time saving us about 10 mill and positive 7 mill between Rolen, EE, and limited service time of Roenicke), totaling out at 17.258 million

by jaysfan100 on Jan 12, 2011 8:10 PM EST up reply actions