Athletics Acquire Stephen Drew from D’Backs

The Athletics have solved their shortstop problem by trading Sean Jamieson in exchange for Stephen Drew.  Drew is an often-injured shortstop, but is a big upgrade for the A’s at short.  Drew could return to around to the level he was playing at before his injuries and he is in a contract year, which could create a huge stretch run for him.  I also like that he can bring a few tools to Oakland and hit high or low in the order.  He’s an above average shortstop that fits in with Oakland, and that’s all they needed.  The Diamondbacks can just play Willie Bloomquest at shortstop for right now and be fine, Drew was good but he wasn’t needed for the D’Backs right now.  The Diamondbacks got a minor leaguer, Sean Jamieson, who should e a powerful infielder one day, and was a good pick-up by the A’s.  I see this deal working out for the A’s similar to what the D’Backs got in Aaron Hill last season.  Drew should recover his hitting stroke and even if it isn’t to a full extent he will do better than what he has done with the D’Backs so far.  He can play an average defense at this point, and he is a risk worth taking for the A’s, and he’s better than Hicks and Rosales.  EDGE: Athletics

August Trade Candidate: Carlos Lee

Carlos Lee has been traded once already this season by the Astros to Miami, but that was when Miami was still in it, now Miami needs to trade some of the older guys and get a young core group to help them win.  Lee is the perfect candidate to get rid of now, when you can get a prospect right now and his value is up being one of the best hitters contending teams can get right now. Lee might have lost a bit of power but down the stretch his power could be there in spurts and his average will be there and he can play first, outfield, or DH on an AL team.  He fits really well with the Yankees, although he can reject a trade.  He should go to a good hitting park to do the best at this point and Lee has a history of helping contending teams down the stretch and even though he’s older, he could still provide some magic.  He can hit anywhere from the middle of the order to the bottom and provide pop and just do a great job as a hitter.  He’s underrated and could be an x-factor in the playoffs being a big impact guy who can turn around a game in the playoffs or down the stretch.  Trading him would open a spot for Christian Yelich, or Kevin Mattison.  If the Marlins keep him he can help the rest of the year and if they re-sign him maybe for another year, but their best option is to trade Lee.

August Trade Candidate: Alfonso Soriano

There are many reasons the Cubs need to get rid of Soriano and he will clear waivers, I’d say he is most likely traded this month.  The reasons why are he’s expensive on a team getting built up and he doesn;t fit well, even though he does produce some and he’s not worth his contract.  Also, younger players such as Brett Jackson, Josh Vitters, and Dave Sapplet.  Soriano would need to have a large chunk of his contract eaten up by the Cubs, but they would probably oblige.  Soriano is an attractive piece even with all of his flaws, he athletic, has power, can hit anywhere in the order, and has lots of experience.  He’s had a good career and would be a help to a team going for the World Series.  The Tigers almost got him on Trading Deadline and for a mid range prospect they could possibly do so this month, though leaving Wrigley will hurt a bit, Soriano has had a good year and should continue to do so.  He won;t be a Delmon Young from 2011 most likely but he’d add some much-needed power and production to the bottom half of Detroit’s line-up.  Other suitors could include the Reds, A’s, Orioles and Rays, though the Tigers are the best.  If he doesn’t get traded he’d be okay in Chicago and have some decent seasons beyond.  If he is traded it would be the third time he’s been dealt.  Soriano is a good, aging player who could help some teams out.

Contending Team Needs

Rays
-They shouldn’t trade James Shields or BJ Upton and could use another bat or reliever and they could contend with the team they have now pretty much, so no deal could be a possibility
Red Sox
-They should trade another outfielder after trading Lillibridge and I’d be a bonus to get rid of Beckett, who I think is still pretty good if he could change teams, I wouldn’t make a huge trade since the Red Sox are a long shot for the playoffs
Yankees
-They are set on hitters other than if they get Chase Headley for A-Rod at third and pitching will be fine
Blue Jays
-They should try to get a starter to replace their other injured guys and maybe a hitter
Orioles
-They need another outfielder, but they’re fin other than that
Tigers
Another bat that’s a great hitter who can hit lefties, but they’re set other than that
White Sox
-They’ve made moves and are set
Rangers
-Could use another pitching arm and maybe one hitter
Athletics
-Need a shortstop or at least a hitter but nothing to big if they do fall out
Angels
– They are set with them getting Greinke
Nationals
– Maybe another hitter at the top of the order, but they have a good team
Braves
-A starter is top priority if they make another trade and a hitter wouldn’t hurt
Pirates
-An outfielder or shortstop that can hit, without giving up Starling Marte or Cole/Taillon
Reds
-Another outfielder or left side of the infield guy would do some good
Cardinals
-Another starting pitcher could do some good
Dodgers
-Get Dempster
Giants
-They got a bat, but may need another and a reliever

Looking At The Players The Marlins Got for Sanchez, Infante

JACOB TURNER- The big piece that made this whole deal possible, he’s going to be a great pitcher but he may not be the ace he was once supposed to be, still at worst the Marlins got a great number three starter, with great stuff and who just a great pitcher.  He’s been hit around in his spot starts with the Tigers in the past two years but now he can take time to settle in, but don;t expect him to be good right away, but this will be worth it in a few years.  He will not turn out like Andrew Miller, like I have heard people say and he really is the centerpiece who should replace Anibal very well
ROB BRANTLY- A very underrated catching prospect who can do it all for a catcher.  He’s a great natural hitter who can hit for some power and he throws guys out.  I’d give him a bit more time to develop but when John Buck leaves, Brantly can take over and probably do better.  I think he could become a top catcher and be better than Turner in an overall rate, I believe in this guy and love to watch him play, Miami will too and he will be an impact player in year one and get even better after.
BRIAN FLYNN: He’s got a shot to be a pretty good five guy and even though the two other pieces are way better Flynn has a good chance to develop well into a good MLB player whether as a five starter or a good bullpen arm that helps.  I like him and though he probably won;’t debut until late next year he should be a decent southpaw

This is a great haul for the Marlins and though they won’t make the postseason this year you fans need to stick with them, they have a core group in the MLB and are building a winner that should work unlike a collection of stars like they had this year, these three prospects are talented and a great start, and the deal is a win-win because Sanchez and Infante should do well in Detroit.

Three More Trades The Miami Marlins Should Make

I was going to make this post before the Carlos Lee trade and believe me or not, suggest the Marlins go out and get him, but of course stuff came up the last week, so my post get postponed today but I have three more trades to suggest.

1. Miami Acquires Closer Huston Street from San Diego in exchange for 2B Noah Perio and RP Dan Jennings- This helps Miami because Heath Bell has been a disappointment to say the least, maybe moving him into the setup role where he was good in the years Trevor Hoffman closed for San Diego could let him regain his stuff and Street is a great closer, especially when he’s in a pitcher’s park.  Even at Coors he was decent and he could be an above average closer or even if Bell gets good Street can setup.  The Padres would get a good reliever they need and a future second baseman where they need a bit of help and depth
2. Miami Acquires Catcher Kurt Suzuki from Oakland for 1B Mark Canha- Oakland needs a first baseman and Canha is a decent hitter with power but could be given up by Miami for Suzuki who could split time with a power minded John Buck, where he may be able to hit better with a new team and is better all-around, I like him, especially as a fit for Miami
3. Miami Acquires Starting Pitcher Zack Greinke from the Brewers for OF Christian Yelich, C JT Realmuto, OF Marcell Ozuna, and RP Mike Dunn- More of a blockbuster, that probably won’t happen but another ace would be good and cost a lot and if they could sign him on, I’d do this trade because out of all the players Yelich is the only one I’m a firm believer will be an all-star and the rest could be good but are just prospects and Greinke could take over for a struggling Ricky Nolasco.

Rockies Acquire Guthrie for Hammel, Lindstrom

Jeremy Guthrie has been a very good and very underrated starter the past few years and this trade could be a steal for the Rockies.  They now have a good rotation filled with good young arms and vets and they gave up very little to get the ace of their staff.  He should pitch like an ace too and his numbers shouldn’t change at all, sure moving to Coors may hurt him a little but he can get around that sometimes by ground balls and he’s moving out of the AL East, where the Yankees and Red Sox feasted on him.  Guthrie brings a lot to the table, he’s just flat out good and him and Chacin could be a very good 1-2 combo that flies under the radar next season.  I like this move for both the Rockies, who get a lot better and the Guthrie who should continue doing well.  The Orioles get Jason Hammel, who had a tough go of it last year but is better than that and somewhat underrated and moving away from Coors, a ballpark less suited for him, will help him be better and possibly good as the five man for the O’s in 2012 and Lindstrom is a pretty good reliever and moving should help him reestablish himself as one of the premier setup men in the again and be a success in Baltimore, I think these guys help the O’s but losing Guthrie will hurt a lot in 2012 and possibly beyond.  EDGE: Rockies

Rockies rotation

1. RHP Jeremy Guthrie
2. RHP Jhoulys Chacin
3. LHP Jorge De La Rosa
4. RHP Alex White
5. LHP Drew Pomeranz

O’s rotation

1. LHP Zach Britton
2. RHP Jake Arrieta
3. RHP Wei-Yin Chen
4. RHP Jason Hammel
5. LHP Brian Matusz

Mariners Add Montero, Yankees Add Pineda

The Yankees acquired starter Micheal Pineda and reliever Jose Campos and the Mariners got Jesus Montero and Hector Noesi.  I think Pineda and Montero would’ve been better on the team they were on but will still succeed in their new homes.  Campos is a future flame throwing stud who should be late innings reliever and Noesi may be a good five start or long reliever, I like Campos better.  Montero is the young hitter the M’s needed and for now I think he should catch and then move to DH within the next couple of years.  His offense should be the same, though the impact immediately could knock off a few homers from his totals.  He should mature and get better really quick and should easily be the best hitter in the M’s line-up.  This year, I see his homers being in the 20s and maybe going to about 30 and for them to keep rising from there and get up to 40-ish.  I love Montero and he should have a great career and be a great hitter.  He helps the Mariners a lot.  Pineda should eventually do what he did in the first half all year, maybe as soon as this year but the move to Yankee Stadium could hurt his numbers just a little bit and knock his ERA about .10 points higher than it would’ve been, but he should do well in New York and be a great number two and the best righty in their rotation, this year.  He’s a great starter who will just produce and can get a lot of strikeouts and he could have some dominating starts this year and get used to Yankee Stadium the way CC has.  He will help the Yankees a ton, not and in the future.  Pineda could be one of the best in the AL and just do very, very well in New York in his career and not much should change on his career path, which should lead to many great accomplishments.  EDGE: Yankees, Montero is nothing to frown about though M’s fans

Some Trades That Make Sense

To me at least…

NYY GETS: SP Floyd, RP Thornton, SP Stewart
CHW GETS: C Romine, 3B Laird, SP Betances

NYY GETS: SP Rodriguez
HOU GETS: SP Noesi, 3B Nunez

TOR GETS: SP Garza,
CHC GETS: C D’arnaud, SP McGuire, OF Gose

NYM GETS: C Nick Hundley
SD GETS: 2B Justin Turner

LAD GETS: C Kurt Suzuki
OAK GETS: C AJ Ellis, IF Justin Sellers, RP Ames

LAA GETS: SP Cobb, SP Torres
TB GETS: 1B Trumbo

CHC GETS: SP Jacob Turner, SP Andrew Oliver, SP Kyle Ryan, 1B James Robbins
DET GETS: SP Garza

NYY GETS: SP Garza
CHC GETS: SP Betances, C Romine, 2B David Adams

TB GETS: 1B LaRoche
WSH GETS: SP Cobb

COL GETS: 2B Gordon Beckham
CHW GETS: SP Alex White, 2B Jonathan Herrea

Marlins Trade For Carlos Zambrano

In a high risk-high reward situation, the Marlins have traded for Carlos Zambrano.  The move is probably more for attendance than talent but they may be rewarded with some good pitching, emphasis on may.  I think he will do good the first half of the year and do okay but fizzle during the second half of the season.  He should benefit from the Marlins offense and could be a great number five guy but there is a 50-50 chance he will also be a horrible number five guy.  we know he can pitch but if his mechanics break down or his stuff doesn;t work he could be a bust, even for just a few starts his stuff is off he could lose his whole season due to his composure.  The Marlins gave up Chris Volstad who has been a bust but is a very solid starter and though he will never be an ace or even a number three at this point, I think he will put it all together and be a good number five starter although Wrigley Field could get to him from time to time.  The Cubs got rid of Zambrano, and even though they have to pay his contract they got a decent return and should walk out as unharmed as possible.  Zambrano is past his prime by a low now so his ceiling is a 1.3 WAR and his FIP, or Fielding Independent Pitching his very high, which is and an I don’t see him improving much on that but he could still be productive.  EDGE: Cubs