Doumit to DL

With the news again that Ryan Doumit is headed to the DL, (Do you think they just have a template available for when this happens to save time?), many are now asking if this hurts his trade value. It is no secret that the Pirates would love to unload Doumit. They have been looking to do that for a few years now, almost as soon as the ink was dry on his contract did the team try to move him.

Throughout his entire career Doumit has been a walking injury waiting to happen. Whether it be a hamstring, ankle, wrist, whatever it seems he can never stay healthy at all. Health is one thing all ballplayers need, but especially catchers as they are going to take a bunch of abuse anyway.

This season Doumit had stayed healthy and was productive. His platooning with Chris Snyder seemed to greatly improve Doumit's play, as he was not being asked to do everything. Seeing Doumit perform better, many theorized, had improved his trade value, that is until getting hurt.

I'd argue that is not the case. Everyone is well aware of his injury history and more than likely knows that if they acquire him, there is good chance he will get hurt. That is no secret. The only thing the injury is hurting is when he can get traded. Obviously it can't happen right now, but it will happen later this year.

When Doumit does get traded, his value will not be diminished by his most recent injury. There are notebooks upon notebooks of his injuries. Instead his value will be what it is for an injury prone catcher that cannot catch every day.