Transaction Assesment - Latest Movings And Shakings
Here are my takes on the most recent trades in baseball.
The San Diego Padres Trade LHP Randy Wolf To The Houston Astros For RHP Chad Reineke. I don’t get this trade at all, as Wolf has been horrific away from PETCO. He’ll eat innings and perhaps provide Shawn Chacon-esque production, but that’s about it. As for Reineke, he is a decent little prospect who has been starting for the Express, but is more likely to head to the bullpen. Many feel that Reineke could be the second coming of Chad Qualls, in which case the Astros just got fucked. Kudos for San Diego for getting something of value, even if it isn’t what the hoped for initially. As for the Astros, this is just another attempt to try and save a sinking ship that already had several holes drilled into it when the season started. Astro Grade - D, Padre Grade - B
The Washington Nationals Trade RHP Jon Rauch To The Arizona Diamondbacks For 2B Emilio Bonifacio. This was an outstanding trade by Arizona, who gets a quality setup man in Rauch for a pittance. Bonifacio isn’t a great prospect, more of a speed and defense guy that legs out singles, but has little power or hitting skill. Jim Bowden got outsmarted on this deal. Rauch was worth so much more and would have gotten at a pair of prospects that were better than Bonifacio from any other contender, such as Boston or Tampa Bay. This trade could get Bowden fired. Snake Grade - A, National Grade - D-
The San Francisco Giants Trade 2B Ray Durham To The Milwaukee Brewers For LHP Steve Hammond and OF Darren Ford. This was a fairly solid trade for both sides. The Giants get rid of a player that wasn’t helping them really, in the grand scheme of things, and get something of value, even if it’s a fourth outfielder in Ford and a future middle reliever in Hammond. As for the Brewers, they get some insurance in the event that Rickie Weeks continues to disappoint. I understand the allure of tools and all, but really, Weeks has been a collosal disappointment since he came up. Giant Grade - B, Brewer Grade - B
And, just for laughs, here are my toughts on two of the big three pitching trades that went down.
The Philles Acquire Joe Blanton From Oakland For Three Prospects. The Phillies needed another pitcher, but to be quite frank, Blanton wasn’t all that hot and they overpaid slightly. Of the three prospects they acquired, the only real one of consequence is Adrian Cardenas, a solid second baseman offensively that will likely be Eric Chavez’s successor at the hot corner. Josh Outman, a left hander, is kind of a lefty specialist right now that could evolve into a quality middle reliever. Then again, I was wrong about Greg Smith, who has been rather successful for Oakland thus far. Overall, it’s a quality trade that makes up for the next one… Philly Grade - C, Oakland Grade - A-.
The Cubs Acquire Chad Gaudin and Rich Harden From Oakland For Eric Patterson, Sean Gallagher, Matt Murton, and Josh Donaldson. This trade I found out with my buddy in Chicago and it made us both go “Wow.” Oakland could have gotten more. Gallagher is the best prospect of the bunch and is essentially Gaudin, but younger. Patterson is looking more and more likely the next Mark DeRosa and Matt Murton finally gets a chance to start (and his jerseys at the Cub gift show were marked down to $70). Donaldson is the wild card prospect, but is thus far looking like the next Brad Ausmus. Good job for the Cubs by acquiring Harden, who while delicate is still good, for their pocket change. Cub Grade - A, Oakland Grade - C.