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.

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: Wandy Rodriguez to Angels

The Angels have added most to their team this offseason, but they still have a question at the end of the rotation, Jerome Williams. They are ready to make a big push and contend for the next decade, with a rotation that rivals that of the Phillies. They could consolidate their rotation to having the number five spot filled with a good lefty, Rodriguez.

The Astros are coming off a season in which they won less than 60 games! They really need to restock their impoverished farm system, and they have no need for a number 3 lefty starter when they have no chance of contending. They should restock while they still have value in Rodriguez.

I think Rodriguez would be a good addition to solidify the last spot of the rotation. The Angels have the ability to pick up most if not all of Rodriguez's contract, so they might not have to give up as many good prospects than if they Astros picked up a good chunk. His 2014 option goes from being a team option to a player option if he is traded, so the Angels would have to hope that he remains productive to be able to actually use $13 million of their money.

Here is my trade proposal....

Wandy Rodriguez and $7 Million to the Angels for Daniel Tillman, Alexi Amarista, Donn Roach

I think this is a fair trade, and for 3 of the top 20 prospects in the Angels system, this might be even, because none of them have an eta of beyond 2014, so they will be producing for the Astros soon. Rodriguez is getting towards the latter years of his career, and he might want to play for a contender that has a legitimate chance for the next 7 seasons to go to and win the World Series. 

Ryan Braun wins Drug Test Appeal

Ryan Braun has won his appeal to to league for his failed drug test, which posted record numbers for the amount of testosterone he had when he took the test. This will allow him to play the entire season through, and will not miss any games. This has given the Brewers more power for the season and they will be in contention all year, not missing their best bat. I think this is a great win for Braun, and it shows the instability of some of the tests that the league does. I personally think that this was a faulty test, and he was just a victim of an executive with the MLB not keeping his mouth shut about something that was not set in stone. Good for Braun, although I don't think a haze will ever be lifted from his career involving this incident. Good luck on the season Ryan!