October 2010 Trades

[Astros]

Let's break this down...

Chacin: 137.1 IP, 114 hits allowed, 10 HR allowed, 3.54 FIP, 3.0 WAR, 22 years old
Hudson: 228.2 IP, 189 hits allowed, 20 HR allowed, 4.09 FIP, 2.7 WAR, 35 years old

Chacin is a stud. I've been wrong before and maybe I am this time, but this dude looks like the real deal. And he's only 13 years younger. If this swap of starters isn't good for me then I must be crazy.

Blanton is a number 4 or 5 pitcher who gives up 30 HR a year. I made it pretty clear I was willing to move him for the best MI I could get. I was offered Tyler Greene. Torres did't get a nibble from anyone. Why is that? He's a 32 year old who has one nice season now under his belt, and frankly after watching him, he looks awful. Are these 2 decent pieces for a contender? Sure. But do they have much value? I think you all answered that for me.

Now looking at the rest of the deal, hes getting the almighty Votto and I am getting Freddie Freeman, Lonnie Chisenhall, Jordan Lyles (all ranked in the top 50 going into this season), Matt Hobgood (the #5 pick last year?), and a excellent defensive SS who has the ability to hit .250 out of my 8 hole. Am I taking a gamble here? Sure am. But honestly, I am bored having an 85 win team every year and missing the playoffs (obviously with the exception of this year thanks to sim freaks like Ramon Ortiz, Chris Getz, Ryan Raburn, Raul Ibanez etc.). I would rather take a gamble on some young guys, as I did in the VMart deal, and see what happens. Obviously some of you see Freeman, Lyles and Chisenhall as more of a gamble than I do. That's fine, but if they all turn into stars then I will gladly tell you all to kiss my ass (in a nice way though cause I like you guys). If not, then you all can call me what you will. I am going to have much more fun this year watching these players develop than having Tim Hudson, Ricky Nolasco and some scrubs go up against some of the better teams in this league. Votto can't win me a title by himself. This deal isn't getting overturned and I don't want it to.

Love, Nick

I think Nick sums it all up pretty well. With Ken selling out for this year, I see a window for next year. I was happy with my team, I thought I could contend, but I think this deal sets me up to be a major player. I completely killed my farm system, but it's not like Nick is getting guys in A ball (except Hobgood). Freddie Freeman almost had a .900 OPS in AAA at age 20, and is the Braves starting 1b next year. Chisenhall is probably going to be the Indians starting 3b by the end of next year. Lyles was in AAA at 19 and may be in the Astros rotation next year. Chacin's a stud, hated to give him up. Ryan, well if he remembers how to hit, there's a guy Nick can flip for a prospect or stick with and get Gold Glove defense from. Luckily I got 6 picks in the first 3 rounds to rebuild the farm

[Phillies]

Haha sorry Stephen. Atleast you had the best offer.

[Reds]

With Ken selling out for this year

Two things... don't underestimate me, I think I have next year covered... and.. while I hated to see Votto dealt to StL. I could easily see Nicks point of view on the deal. Blanton is less than a league average starter and Hudson will do okay but his projection is what counts and it will not be what his 2010 season was, niether will Votto's btw. It's all about how they will project in 2011 not about their final 2010 statistics.

[Astros]

I never underestimate you Ken. History counts for something. But you did sell out for this year, you'll be good next year, but not 105 wins good.

[Athletics]

Haha sorry Stephen. Atleast you had the best offer.

Yup, I was not being cheap either, I just have no starting MI with value that is worth dealing (well maybe Emilio but everyone wants him because of position eligibility and speed rather than actual production).

[Dodgers]

Rangers trades Derrek Lee, to RedSox for Joshua Bell, Clayton Richard,

[Dodgers]

Rangers trades Michael Morse, to Nationals for Carlos Monasterios,

[Dodgers]

Royals trades Jason Kubel, Andy LaRoche, James Loney, Tommy Hunter, to Rangers for Ervin Santana, Joshua Bell,

[Phillies]

And people had a problem with my deal.

[DBacks]

I'm assuming our second deal has been vetoed as well? We would like to appeal.

[Cardinals]

And people had a problem with my deal.

I've had a problem with about 85% of the recent trades passed. If not higher.

[Dodgers]

Phillies trades Nick Masset, Phillies Draft Pick 4, to Nationals for Trevor Reckling, Daniel Farquhar,

[DBacks]

I'm going on a cruise in about 4 hours, so luckily for everyone I don't have time to argue my point at length. I'll try to keep it short and to the point. Here was 2nd Deal -

Cubs 1st Round Draft Pick
Cubs 3rd Round Draft Pick
Jose Tabata .746 OPS, 22 years old, 20 SB
Jeff Locke
Jordan Walden - 23 K in 15 IP, 2.35 ERA, 22 years old

4

CJ Wilson
Nate Mclouth
Rangers 4th Round Pick


This is re-worked, because the TRC rejected our first deal. Frankly, I can't believe this got rejected. Let's not forget that CJ Wilson pitches in Texas, will be 30 tomorrow, and didn't start until this year. Did he have a great year? Of course. But he almost walked 100 batters, has no history of success as an SP, and honestly is being way over-valued by the TRC.

Dan is rebuilding. He's receiving two guys who were in the top 100 heading into the year (Walden and Tabata) and both had great MLB debuts. Both are only 22 years old. He received a TOP 5 PICK in the draft, as well as another pick in the top 65, both valuable assets for a rebuilding team. We've seen in the past what high draft picks can go for. And he also received a pitching prospect on the upswing in Jeff Locke.

To further my point, let's break it down and try to put some value on these players. For comparison's sake, I'm using this deal the TRC did pass to try to prove some points. (Sorry in advance Nils)

Rangers trades Carlos Zambrano, to Giants for Joe Saunders, Gerardo Parra, Jason Motte, Giants Draft Pick 4, Giants Draft Pick 5,

Gerald Parra - second season in the MLB, regressed in vast majority of categories, .679 OPS.
Motte - 28 years old, put up a career year, 2.24 ERA in 52 IP
Saunders - 9-17, 4.47 ERA, 1.46 WHIP
Two draft picks..

Let's compare that to my offer -

Parra va Tabata - Tabata outperformed Parra in every category despite only being in his 1st season and being much younger.

Motte vs Walden - No doubt, Motte had a much better year. Hard to compare what he did in 52 IP to Walden's 15 IP... But, if you're rebuilding team, is the 28 year old reliever coming off the career year (which we've seen happen in St Louis about 4 billion time - Crudale anyone?) or the top 100 prospect, who's 22, and just had a sizzling MLB debut in September?

Saunders vs Locke - Saunders obviously wins this, but by how much? We just saw with the Nick and Aaron trade what 5th starters are really worth around here. Anyone think a 29 year old SP with a horrible K:BB ratio and a WHIP around 1.50 is really going to help anyone? Is he really worth more to a rebuilding team than an up and coming SP prospect?

And of course, Cubs 1st Rounder and Cubs 3rd Rounder vs Giants 4th and 5th Rounders. No need to explain the difference here....

The point of the comparison is this - My offer is worth at least as much as Nils (I believe it is worth WAY MORE) yet his was enough to acquire Carlos Zambrano, but mine isn't enough to acquire CJ Wilson?

Carlos Zambrano has had an ERA under 4 EVERY YEAR the IBC HAS EXISTED. Think about how valuable that is. He pitched in at least 30 games every year until 2009, when he played in 28. He finished this year 4-0, with an ERA under 1 in September. He's one of the most valuable assets in IBC history when you go back and actually look at it.

Yet, according to the TRC, he is somehow worth less than CJ Wilson? Why? I'll tell you. Because this isn't about the deal being fair, it's about guys on the TRC wanting to acquire Wilson themselves.

We first submitted our trade 3 weeks ago. I heard nothing back. It just disappeared. Dan said it probably got rejected. Since members of the TRC were messaging him during this time, trying to acquire Wilson and explaining why their offers were better.

Not once was there a post, email, or message to me saying my deal was rejected. They had time to keep trying to trade for the guy themselves, but not give me fair heads up to try and fix my deal. Awesome.

So I texted Aaron, who confirmed for me the deal was rejected, and we re-worked it to this. And then got no response on the new deal. I understand guys were out of town or whatever, but a hell of a lot of other deals were being passed while we were left in the dark on the fate of this one. I can only assume it's because you (you know who you are) wanted more time to acquire Wilson yourself.

I have to run. I'll be gone so you guys can handle this how you want. Its pretty obvious what happened here. Anyway, I'm off to Puerto Rica, St Thomas and some other place. Enjoy the World Series fellas.

[Cardinals]

Yet, according to the TRC, he is somehow worth less than CJ Wilson? Why? I'll tell you. Because this isn't about the deal being fair, it's about guys on the TRC wanting to acquire Wilson themselves.

We first submitted our trade 3 weeks ago. I heard nothing back. It just disappeared. Dan said it probably got rejected. Since members of the TRC were messaging him during this time, trying to acquire Wilson and explaining why their offers were better.

Completely false.

[Yankees]

He may be completely false, but that deal was not awful by any stretch...

[Phillies]

Gabe you have some nice arguments and I agree with you, but so far I have seen no sign of rebuliding in Texas...

[Rockies]

Maybe you should take a longer, sober look and try and recall what I had before.

[Marlins]

The negativity in this league sucks. You're the people being negative. And some of the fans. Dave Taylor is not walking through that door. Brett Degen is not walking through that door. Nate Hunter is not walking through that door. And if you expect them to walk through the door, they're going to be gray and old. What we are is young, exciting, hard-working, and we're going to improve. People don't realize that, and as soon as they realize those three guys are not coming through that door, the better this league will be for all of us because there are young GMs in that room trading their asses off.

Special thanks to Rick Pitino.