Bags Make First Trade in Over a Year; Get Goyer From Cleveland

GM Swain has never been known for his knee jerk reactions or long winded traded talks.  In fact Jersey Shore had not made a trade in over a year, the last coming when they brought Jerry Burgess in from El Paso for a handful of prospects.  On Tuesday the Bags completed their first trade since then.  According to sources talks went swiftly and were very concise which resulted in Catcher Warren Goyer, formerly of Cleveland coming to Jersey for 3 players.  Those players were MR Chris Woodruff, 3B Williams Seppings and former 1st round pick 3B Richard Coker.

Goyer is 27 in his 3rd year in the BSA.  He came up through Reno's system before being traded to Cleveland in 2015 where he got his first extended playing time.  In 429 AB, he hit a paltry .219, but did slug 18 2B, 18 HR and drove in 62 runs.  This season thus far he has seen the bulk of the playing time and in 353 AB, he has matched his totals from last year in doubles and has 17 HR while bring up the average to .238.  He has always had big power potential and Jersey thinks with their hitter friendly park they may have brought in a guy who can start and hit 30 HR.  Not bad for a team which already has the power in their lineup.  Current catcher Luis Antonio Duran who has been in the organization since 2011 and starting catcher for the past 4 is without a contract next season and rumors have it trading for Goyer was to replace Duran.  That will set to be seen, but with Duran looking for a big deal, that could be a possibility.

Leaving Jersey is MR Chris Woodruff who was claimed off of waivers before the season.  He could never get it going and demoted to AAA where he pitched decent.  He is 31 years old and has good pitches, he could put up decent numbers in Cleveland.

The 2nd player traded is 3B William Seppings.  He is 29 and been with the team since the inaugural draft, but hasn't seen much playing time in AAA the last couple years.  He is more or less just organizational filler and was included in the trade because he was on the 40 man roster and had a 400K contract.

The 3rd and last player going was the main piece.  Former 1st round pick, 1B/3B Richard Coker.  We recently did our prospect breakdown on Coker, which can be found: here.  Coker in his 4th year with the team was having his best year in AA and was on pace to be called up soon to AAA.  He was currently hitting .293/.391/.434. He has a high contact rate and hits the ball to the gap.  He lacks power and his walk rate has been going up while his K rate has been going down.  Scouts have compared him to a slightly less version of 3B Alberto Perez, who is on pace for 200 hits and hit the game winning single in the All Star game this season.  We here at the Bag Report will be keeping tabs on Coker and wish him the best in Cleveland.  

Will this be the only trade the Bags make until the deadline later this week?  Nothing is on the hot stove right now, but that could change in an instant.  Stay tuned Bag fans!

GO D-BAGS