Trade Idea Series PT 1: Cole Hamels Blockbuster to the Rangers

Cole Hamels is the best pitcher on the trading block right now. He is only 28 and in a contract year, only 5 months away from signing a contract worth well over $100 million. He has some great stuff combined with determination and the old school pitching style and grit. When the Phillies start actively shopping him, they are assured to be berated by offers from other teams that want Hamels leading them down the last stretch of the season. Some teams may want to complete a trade only if Hamels signs an extension, so that may hamper the trade package that the Phillies will receive for him. In my opinion, there are 6 teams that will actively pursue and try to acquire him. I am only excluding the Nationals because of the incident with Hamels earlier in the year with Harper. The teams include the Rangers, Dodgers, and the Yankees.

Rangers:
The Rangers are always in the market for improvements even though they have the most formidable team in the league. It is already rumored that they have scouts at the games of the top market stocks in Zack Greinke and Cole Hamels. The Phillies are getting close to the point where they might be selling off their aging stars that are about to hit free agency and maybe even the ones that are under contract for a couple more years(ie Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Placido Polanco, Carlos Ruiz, Joe Blanton)

Here is my trade proposal...

LHP Cole Hamels to the Rangers for LHP Martin Perez, 3B Mike Olt, RHP Neil Ramirez, RHP Tanner Scheppers, C Jorge Alfaro

This is a pretty hefty package for what might only be a half season rental of Cole Hamels, but the Rangers are not afraid to make big impact moves to improve their ball club down the stretch and make moves that will matter mostly in the playoffs. They have made a move similar to what I have proposed for Hamels when they traded for Cliff Lee. The Rangers are itching for their first World Series championship, and they will make sure every facet of their team is as solid as can be going into the playoffs so they do not falter again as they have the past two years.

The Phillies are starting to age, and the chances of them resigning Hamels seem to get smaller and smaller as each day passes. The Phillies are getting old, and this year is showing what weaknesses they have and what they need to improve to keep in the running with the NL East, which seems to get more competitive every week. They have said that they want a 3rd basemen, catcher, and high upside pitcher, and this trade brings in all three. It would be wise for them to trade Hamels and shore up their franchise instead of waiting until the offseason where there is a high chance that they will not resign him.

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.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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: Brandon Belt to the Red Sox

I know that many people aren't very high on trading young talent for young talent, but I think that this trade should be an exception.

The Red Sox have recently gone to high spending ways and have not developed many players well. They need to go a little younger instead of keeping up with the astronomical spending Yankees. They have a void in right field and could use a nice young player to stick in everyday that has high upside and team control. Belt is only 23, so he will be able to play passable right field defense for quite and while, and his bat would be an improvement over Darnell McDonald and Ryan Sweeney.

I know the Giants fans won't like this trade much, but I think that they could net some good prospects, and maybe even cash for the extensions of Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum(After his 2 year extension is up) that will come up. Brandon Belt is blocked in all positions, and another prospect in Brett Pill, is ready to take the leap and be a full time first basemen. If they looked ahead, they will notice that they have a perfectly viable first basemen in Pill and if he recovers, Aubrey Huff. Buster Posey may also have to make a permanent move to first base to not risk long term injury and the derailment of his career. The Giants lack quality catching prospects behind him and the most skilled backup is Eli Whiteside.

Here is my trade proposal....

Brandon Belt to the Red Sox for Ryan Lavarnway, Brandon Jacobs, Stolmy Pimentel, and $6 Million.



I think that this is a fair trade from a neutral standpoint. Giants fans will not want to give up Belt, but they might be acquiring their next catcher if Posey moves to first base, and a good outfield prospect to go along with a starting prospect with high upside. They also get a little money in the deal, which could go for the future extensions of Cain and Lincecum. Red Sox executives might not want to part with the money because they are tight in budget, but they have a good catcher in Jarrod Saltalamacchia ahead of Lavarnway. I think an overall even trade for both teams, the Red Sox are getting a strong rated outfielder that can hit, and the Giants are getting some good prospects, cash, and they still have two first basemen that can produce.

Trade Idea: 3 Team Blockbuster

Building on my idea of the AJ Pierzynski trade yesterday, I was thinking of a trade that might be good for the deadline this year IF the White Sox are out of contention, the Pirates are fighting for the title, and the Red Sox are tight in on the race. Some of the players I mention are mostly involved if they rebound well enough this year to add some value.

The Red Sox always need pitching at the deadline, and the Pirates might need to fill a few holes to make a push. The White Sox will be needing to add some depth to their farm system and maybe just shed some salary if they are not drawing enough to pay their players. The Pirates would mostly be going for depth while the Red Sox are looking for pieces to make the push.

Here is my proposal...

Red Sox get Gavin Floyd, Adam Dunn(If he rebounds), cash($6 Million), Clint Barmes, Casey McGhee

Pirates get  AJ Pierzynski, Alfredo Aceves, Jesse Crain, Kevin Youkilis, cash($3 Million)

White Sox get Jose Iglesias(Red Sox), Pedro Alvarez(Pirates), Daniel McCutchen, Sean Coyle(Red Sox), Tony Sanchez(Pirates), Bryan Morris(Pirates)

I think that this is a fair trade considering that this would occur at the deadline and the Pirates might be at the first opportunity to go for a division title in a long time, and the Red Sox will want to ensure that they get a playoff spot after the horrible collapse last year. The White Sox get some goods prospects, although most of them are the age to go to the major league roster instead of spending more time in the minors. The White Sox get unburdened from some big salaries, and have some good young players to take roster spots.

Trade Reaction: Andrew Bailey to the Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox have trade Josh Reddick, Miles Head, and Raul Alcantara to the Athletics for Andrew Bailey and Ryan Sweeney.

The Red Sox acquired one of the best relievers on the market, along with a backup outfielder who still has potential. They gave up 2 good prospects for him and a major league ready young player in Reddick. They didn't have to dish out their top prospects. The Red Sox got what they wanted without giving up any high ranking prospects.

The Athletics continue to dismantle their team for young players. Reddick will immediately contribute this year for the Athletics while the other two acquired in the deal have some years ahead of them in minor league play. They got good prospects for a reliever, and about the biggest package you can get for a reliever.

Overall Verdict: Tied

Both teams seem to of gotten what they wanted. The A's get some good prospects and give Reddick a chance to start everyday while the Red Sox got one of the best relievers out there.