July 28, 2002 – Transaction Analysis
The more baffling question is what they’re going to get from the Reds beyond David Espinosa. Espinosa has been an ugly blend of interesting and appalling in the California League. He’s patient, about his only worthwhile offensive trait in a league that favors hitters. He doesn’t have much power, but at 20, he’s young. He doesn’t hit for average, but he’s young. He gets caught stealing a lot, but he’s young. He commits an error every third night or so, which makes him remarkably similar to another shortstop-turned-second baseman-turned–well, who knows?–Hiram Bocachica. Hopefully, the Tigers will get value in the other two players in the deal, because otherwise they have a 40-man roster slot invested in somebody who may not be ready for Double-A next year. Espinosa’s development is a long-term commitment, to say the least, and if the Tigers have one thing in spades, it’s time.