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.
Showing posts with label Cubs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cubs. Show all posts
Friday, June 22, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
Trade Idea: Matt Garza to the Tigers
Whether Cubs' fans and management want to say it, the Cubs are on full rebuilding mode right now. Epstein has made a point that he wants to keep Garza, but if the right trade comes along, he will pull the trigger and send Garza packing.
The Tigers have made it to the playoffs and are making a big impact and developing their team into an AL Central Dynasty. They added one of the biggest and baddest slugging first basemen, Prince Fielder, and may be looking to consolidate their rotation to make another push and guarantee a playoff spot. They might also want to add a bullpen piece in this trade and the Cubs have many that they can salvage for prospects.
The Cubs want to add depth to their minor leagues and get some legitimate prospects to fill their farm system. As mentioned above, they have both starting pitchers and bullpen pitchers that they can send away for a couple of prospects. This makes them and the Tigers almost perfect trading partners. Matt Garza has $9.5 Million on his contract for next year, but the Cubs might not have to eat much, if any, to the Tigers, because they are going all in now, and might not really mind adding that much for a strong starting pitcher. The Cubs might want to absorb some salary to get more prospects in the trade.
Here is my trade proposal(s)...
Matt Garza and $4 Million to the Tigers for Jacob Turner, Kevin Eichhorn, and Adam Wilk
or
Matt Garza, Jeff Samardzija, and $4 Million to the Tigers for Jacob Turner, Don Kelley, Casey Crosby, and Adam Wilk
I think both trades would be fairly even considering the amount that Epstein is asking for each and the equal want of Mike Illitch to win a World Series before he dies. The Cubs free up a little money, and acquire good pitching prospects in both trades, and even get a very useful utility man in Kelley if they include a bullpen piece. If the Tigers want to make more strides, I think they really need another starting pitcher to consolidate and make a 1-2-3-4 punch in their rotation. They will have to make a commitment to Garza after the season if he performs well, and they might get burdened with the asking prices that Edwin Jackson had demanded earlier this offseason.
The Tigers have made it to the playoffs and are making a big impact and developing their team into an AL Central Dynasty. They added one of the biggest and baddest slugging first basemen, Prince Fielder, and may be looking to consolidate their rotation to make another push and guarantee a playoff spot. They might also want to add a bullpen piece in this trade and the Cubs have many that they can salvage for prospects.
The Cubs want to add depth to their minor leagues and get some legitimate prospects to fill their farm system. As mentioned above, they have both starting pitchers and bullpen pitchers that they can send away for a couple of prospects. This makes them and the Tigers almost perfect trading partners. Matt Garza has $9.5 Million on his contract for next year, but the Cubs might not have to eat much, if any, to the Tigers, because they are going all in now, and might not really mind adding that much for a strong starting pitcher. The Cubs might want to absorb some salary to get more prospects in the trade.
Here is my trade proposal(s)...
Matt Garza and $4 Million to the Tigers for Jacob Turner, Kevin Eichhorn, and Adam Wilk
or
Matt Garza, Jeff Samardzija, and $4 Million to the Tigers for Jacob Turner, Don Kelley, Casey Crosby, and Adam Wilk
I think both trades would be fairly even considering the amount that Epstein is asking for each and the equal want of Mike Illitch to win a World Series before he dies. The Cubs free up a little money, and acquire good pitching prospects in both trades, and even get a very useful utility man in Kelley if they include a bullpen piece. If the Tigers want to make more strides, I think they really need another starting pitcher to consolidate and make a 1-2-3-4 punch in their rotation. They will have to make a commitment to Garza after the season if he performs well, and they might get burdened with the asking prices that Edwin Jackson had demanded earlier this offseason.
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