Chin-Lung Hu, Going to KC?

July 27th, 2007

Chin-Lung Hu, Going to KC?

by spliao

As trade deadline approach, everyone is eager to find out if any big names will switch jersey. KC closer Octavio Dotel is one name that’s being tossed around and is more certain to be traded than others. His destinations are Dodgers, Indians, Brewers, Cubs and the Yankees, according to Jayson Stark (Insider subscription may be needed). Considering Brewers just got Scott Linebrink from the Padres and Indians got Kenny Lofton this morning, it is not clear whether these teams will continue to pursue Dotel. So Dodgers appeared to be the most possibly scenario. Both Stark and MLB Trade Rumors mentioned that Taiwanese SS Chin-Lung Hu is a likely candidate, since the MVP of the Future game have the tools to have a fine career as a big league SS and KC is rather thin in the SS department in their minor league teams.

If the trade goes through, will Hu have a chance to make an impact on the Royals’ roster? Hard to say. Current SS Tony Pena Jr is doing alright during his first full season with KC, Pena Jr. is batting .282 with an amazingly low OBS of .299. As of 7/26, Pena Jr. got his 7th walk of the season, first one since MAY 5th. Pena does not appear to be a long time solution at short, not with the way he gets on base (or the lack of) and Royals’ top SS prospect Jeff Bianchi struggling at level A this year. Comparing to Bianchi, Hu is only 2 years older, already reached AAA level, picked as #10 of the Top 10 Prospects and Best Defensive Infielder of the Dodger organization by Baseball America in 2006, and already mentioned MVP for the Future game. Obviously the Dodgers is a great organization, full of young talents, but Rafael Furcal should remain the starting SS for years, and recently drafted Preston Mattingly is climbing the organization’s talent chart like crazy. Seriously, how do you compete with the son of Donnie Baseball!?

So perhaps a trade to KC will give Hu the opportunity to the next level, something Chin-Feng Chen never had. KC is not the best city, nor the best organization. However, their new GM Dayton Moore is taking the organization on the right tracks. I think this will be a good thing. Also KC being an AL team, he will have chance to face Chien-Ming Wang, just imagine how amazing it would be for Taiwanese baseball fans all over the world.

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