Young SP for Young Hitter

Brewers · Post by **Brewers** » Sat Feb 02, 2013 10:13 am

I have four young pitchers who can start this year for two spots. I want to turn one of them into a hitter.

Candidates:

Ross Detwiler, 26, Coming off two years of under 3.40 ERA in the majors. He is also a former first round pick. He doesn't have a high strikeout rate, but he also doesn't walk anyone which is helpful in DMB. Projection: 4.07 ERA, 3.0 BB/9, 5.8 K/9

Drew Smyly, 23, Lefty with a sub 4.00 ERA in his rookie year with the Tigers. He approached a 9.0 K/9 rate. Smyly is one of the few starting pitchers that hasn't been overly rushed by DET. Projection: 4.20 ERA, 3.1, 7.9

A.J. Griffin, 24, 7-1 2.95 ERA as a rookie with OAK. He had a WHIP of around 1.05 between AAA and the majors last year. Is he a pumpkin or a breakthrough? I tend to think he will be a steady guy in someone's rotation for a while. Projection: 4.21 ERA, 2.4, 6.3

Franklin Morales, 27 (just turned), Posted two straight years of sub 4.00 ERA's pitching as a lefty in the COL and BOS bandboxes. Most of that was in the pen, but last year he made 9 starts with Boston. He had three quality starts and a couple quality 5 inning performances. He pitched pretty well for being yanked back and forth. This is the guy who broke on the scene with a 3.43 ERA in COL as a 21 year old rookie. Morales will probably only get a fair, but those 9 starts will ensure he will be a starter for 2-3 years in Zips even if he goes back to the pen. Projection: 4.22 ERA, 4.4, 8.7 (Nice ERA projection in Boston).

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I think that the top three guys are solid 4/5 starters that will or have the potential to settle in as number 3 guys down the road. Morales could pitch even better and has at least a good future as a situational reliever if nothing else.

In return, I am looking for a guy who is at least a quality number 6 hitter or 2 hitter who looks to blossom into that number 5 or leadoff role. I am not going to package these guys for A ball guys, nor do I want a package of three players. I am looking for a 1-1 swap that will move some of my talent for someone I can pencil into my lineup and look to another place.