Evaluating Nick Franklin to Kane County Cougars from Sioux City Explorers Trade
American Association Daily provides insights, features, and recaps of the action from around the American Association of Professional Baseball League, as well as player and coaching profiles and transactions. In today’s edition, Robert Pannier evaluates the trade that sent infielder Nick Franklin from the Sioux City Explorers to the Kane County Cougars for two players to be named later.
Sioux City Explorers Send Nick Franklin to Kane County Cougars
On Friday, the Sioux City Explorers traded infielder Nick Franklin to the Kane County Cougars for two players to be named later and cash. The players to be sent to the Sioux City Explorers will be named following the end of the season.
How Nick Franklin Impacts the Cougars
Nick Franklin got off to a fast start in Sioux City, hitting .294 with eight homers and 25 RBI through the first 28 games. That included walking 17 times, giving him a .393 on-base percentage and a .971 OPS. The former Major Leaguer was off to an impressive start, but battled through some nagging injuries that led to some frustration for Franklin. Danny Amaral had taken over the second base spot, compounding the situation, and the infielder was looking for a change of scenery.
He will fit very well in Kane County where Sherman Johnson has not lived up to expectations. Johnson played 10 games for the Los Angeles Angels in 2018 and was playing at AAA-St. Paul (Minnesota Twins) last season. However, in 68 games, he was hitting just .211 with seven homers and 30 RBI.
Franklin becomes an instantaneous upgrade for a club that is looking to add some offense. The Cougars enter today’s contest fifth in hitting (.276) and are seventh in runs scored (414). If they are going to compete with Milwaukee and Chicago, they need an upgrade to this offense, especially considering that this may be the best starting staff in the American Association.
Franklin comes with a lot of skill and experience. He has spent six years in the Major Leagues, playing in 301 games where he hit .214 with 24 homeruns and 96 RBI. The infielder has spent 11 seasons in the minor leagues, combining to hit .277 in 736 games. Once his swing is ready to go, he should instantly move into the No. 2 spot in this batting order, batting just behind Ernie De La Trinidad (.292) and ahead of Cornelius Randolph, Jimmy Kerrigan, and Dylan Busby.
How the Explorers Are Impacted
Having a guy like Franklin sitting on the bench honestly makes no sense. With a league salary cap and a maximum number of veterans that a team can carry, one of those vet spots cannot be used on a player who is not playing every day.
While the club will have to wait until after the season to find out the two players they will acquire, the truth is that the opening gives Manager Steve Montgomery an opportunity to pursue another veteran to fill with a big bat. With Amaral at second and Blake Tiberi at third, both infield positions are filled nicely. This club needs some additional help in the outfield or maybe even a veteran catcher. Having that vet spot available opens the door for Montgomery to find an everyday catcher who could help to get greater consistency out of this pitching staff.
Who Wins This Trade?
For now, it is clearly the Cougars. They get an outstanding bat in Franklin, who is the kind of guy who can lead a club to the next level. While Kane County has some experience and good character guys in the locker room, they simply do not have a player with Franklin’s pedigree in the everyday lineup.
Kane County has an outstanding starting rotation and the bullpen will get better when closer Logan Nissen returns. What they need is a bat or two, and they got a very good one in Franklin. The Cougars are likely not going to catch the Dogs for the top record in the division, but they could easily move into the No. 2 slot ahead of Milwaukee. That puts them in a prime position to make a big postseason run.
For Sioux City, two factors will play a role in determining if this was a good trade for them. The first will be how they fill that vet spot. The club enters tonight’s play 0.5 games behind the Lincoln Saltdogs for the fourth and final spot in the West Division. If they acquire a veteran catcher that helps to push them into the postseason, then this trade was well worth it. It will also depends upon who they acquire at the end of the season. For now, the Explorers get an incomplete.
By Robert Pannier