Pirates Trades (Grabow, Gorzelanny)

[Andy]

<!--quoteo(post=54174:date=Jul 31 2009, 09:16 AM:name=Coach)-->QUOTE (Coach @ Jul 31 2009, 09:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Baseball America's take on the trade at the time

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->Ramirez, 25, broke through as one of the game's top young third basemen when he hit .300-34-112 in 2001. He hasn't approached those numbers since, however, batting .234-18-71 in 2002 and .280-12-67 in 96 games this year. He has power to all fields and makes reasonable contact, though he could draw more walks. He doesn't move especially well on the bases or at third base, but he does have soft hands and a strong arm. In 559 big league games, Ramirez has hit .263-76-316 with a .312 on-base percentage and .435 slugging percentage. <b>He'll slam the door shut on the Cubs' revolving door at third base, where Mark Bellhorn, Lenny Harris, Hernandez and Ramon Martinez were unable to seal a starting job this year.</b> Chicago also had pursued Florida's Mike Lowell without success.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
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I think the bolded portion of that quote gives the ultimate feeling most people had on the trade. We knew we were getting a long term solution to 3rd base. It wasn't a given that he was going to be as good as he's been, but I recall just about everyone talking about him as the next player to hold the position for a while.