Trade Reaction: Kevin Youkilis traded to the White Sox

Kevin Youkilis and cash(rumored to be $5.5 million) has been traded to the White Sox for UT Brent Lillibridge and RHP Zack Stewart.

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The White Sox have acquired what might be our answer to third base for the year. Orlando Hudson and Brent Morel have been largely ineffective the whole year and the production the Sox have taken from them is dismissible.  The Sox only had to trade away our utility man and one of our pitchers that seems to not be able to put it together for more than one start in a row.

The main piece the Red Sox have acquired in this deal is the utility man, Brent Lillibridge. He can play pretty much every position and has shown flashes of power, hitting 13 homers in 216 PA last year. Zack Stewart has been very bad this year and will spend time at AAA working on his sinker until he can get back onto the Red Sox rotation or bullpen. They may have been looking for prospects, but it is most likely this is easily the best package they could obtain for Youkilis, who is having the worst season of his career. I personally think they moved him quickly so they did not have to bench him, to allow Adrian Gonzalez a move back to first base so they do not have to suffer through his terrible defense in right and open up space for outfielders coming off the disabled list.

Overall Verdict: Tied as of Now

The White Sox have acquired a third basemen that will give them more production and good defense. They do not have to pay him much because the Red Sox are picking up a good chunk off his tab. They had to give up a super utility man  in Lillibridge and lost the main player they acquired in the Edwin Jackson trade at the deadline last year. The Red Sox are showing that they are trying to win and not keep the team together for past seasons. They have lost a longtime rock from their lineup, but acquired two players to fill and and help them compete. If Zack Stewart comes back and pitches like he was showing at the end of last year, the Red Sox might win this deal. If Youkilis goes back to his old production and plays solid defense, the White Sox will win this trade. The Red Sox do not miss out a whole bunch on Youkilis because he was suffering in the clubhouse and had no spot in the starting lineup.

Trade Idea: Ryan Dempster to the Orioles

The Orioles have become one of the highest contending teams in the AL East almost overnight from last year. In many baseball circles, they weren't even in talks for finishing in third place, let alone being one of the betters teams in the AL East this year. The two things keeping the Orioles up this season are their relief pitching, but most of all, their hitting. If the Orioles plan on competiting all season long and having a chance to go deep into the playoffs, they are going to need a solid starting pitcher to help anchor the staff for the long run. Since this is their first season competing in a very long time, they might not want to empty the farm on what might be a fluke season, so if I was Dan Duquette, I would try and add a somewhat easy to obtain, proven starter.

The Cubs are in the midst of one of their worst seasons in a couple of years, leading the National League in losses. They need to gain prospects, and they have a couple of good pitchers reaching free agency. Ryan Dempster is in the middle of what seems like a career year, but may only be an illusion since he is 35. He is owed $14 million this year, which will make the asking price on him lower unless the Cubs pick up a significant amount of money. He also has 10 and 5 rights, giving him more leverage in trade talks. Although he may want to remain in Chicago, it might be in his interest to try and win a ring before he retires, so he might be open to being traded to a contender.

Here is my trade proposal....
RHP Ryan Dempster and $6 million to the Orioles for RHP Parker Bridwell, OF L.J. Hoes, RHP Kyle Simon

I think this a fairly even trade. The Orioles get a proven starter and the Cubs get a trio of prospects that may be part of the future team. Ryan Dempster may get what he wants by being traded to a contender, but may exercise his 10 and 5 rights so he doesn't have to go to Baltimore. Also, if the Cubs extend Matt Garza, Dempster may one, if not, the best starter on the trade market, driving the price up on him, maybe making him too expensive for teams like the Orioles. If the Orioles make it to the playoffs after acquiring Dempster, they might extend him an offer for a 2 or 3 year deal to keep him around, providing them with the valuable veteran presence in the rotation and what might be 200 innings of 3.50 ERA ball.

I'm Back!

After a long break from this, I am back. I am sorry I missed so much time, but I have been really busy because of school and plan to be blogging in full action from now on.