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.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
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.
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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.
Friday, June 22, 2012
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.
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.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
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.
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