Charleston Statesmen and Tempe Knights

July 31st, 2009

Tempe receives:
SS Cipriano Carnossi (35, ML) - $4.0/$4.0/$4.0
LF Waylon Whaley (29, ML) - $4.9/$4.9/$5.5
C Jerry Miller (22, AA) - minor league contract
$4,000,000 cash

Charleston receives:
MR Vaughan Farris (24, ML) - $1.8/$2.0
CF Dan Lewis (29, ML) - $9.8
3B Sergio 'Boot' Rosales (20, ML) - $0.39/$0.39/$0.39/$0.39/arbitration/arbitration/arbitration
Tempe's 3rd round 2010 draft pick via Crystal Lake (LF Miguel Martínes - 23rd pick)
Tempe's 7th round 2010 draft pick (CL Jason Brooks - 8th pick)

Since Then:
Carnossi batted .228 with 4 homers and 31 RBIs in '09 with Tempe in 55 games. At the tail end of his career, there is not much to be expected from Carnossi. A former All-Leather award winner, Carnossi can still hold his own defensively but his hitting is just average.
Whaley was outstanding after the trade for Tempe in '09. In 56 games, he batted a blistering .352 with 5 homers and 32 RBIs. After putting up mediocre numbers in '07 and '08, Whaley exploded onto the scene in '09. Lacking pure homerun power, Whaley terrorizes opposing pitchers with his smooth swing and power in the gaps. It remains to be seen if '09 was a breakout year or career year for Whaley.
Miller played well at Tempe's AA affiliate in '09. For the most part, Miller has shown the ability to hit throughout his college and minor league career. It remains to be seen if this will translate at the big league level. Defensively, he is above average. With catcher being always a premium position, Miller has the chance to become at the very least a big league backup catcher.

Farris went 0-1 with a 5.14 in 7 relief appearances with Charleston before fracturing his elbow (9/19/09). Currently a mediocre reliever, Farris has the potential to mature into an above average pitcher if he can put it altogether. Possessing good big league stuff and life on his fastball, it is optimistic that Farris can put up better numbers in the future.
Lewis struggled in '09 in a bench role with Charleston. Appearing in only 37 games with Charleston, the outfielder batted a paltry .200 average with 0 homeruns and 0 RBIs. He did however steal 10 bases in those 37 games. A frustrating player, Lewis features several attractive tools including good power, excellent speed, and amazing defensive fundamentals. Despite his raw tools, he has struggled throughout his career to hit consistently at the big league level. More disappointingly as '09, he has regressed with each season.
Rosales, who was traded twice in a span of a month, struggled at Charleston's Class-A affiliate in '09. A good defensive corner infield with raw power, Rosales will need to improve on his contact the next few minor league season in order to make the jump the big leagues.