That's the classic Jason Comack Phrase for anything of the mixed bag variety.
So, here's something that annoys me about Jason. He sits here and talks about how I'm impossible to make a fantasy trade with, and says that I'm not a good GM. However, Does Jason ever show you what he offers me?
Nope. Because he'll be exposed as a fraud.
Earlier this week, with an co-worker standing over my shoulder, I opened a trade proposal from Jason. It read like this:
Jason Receives:
Alex Gordon, 1B/3B, KC: .338 OBP, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 19 R
Taylor Buchholz, SP/RP, COL: 1.74 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 15 K, 8SV/HD (Saves and Holds are one in our league.)
I receive:
Travis Hafner, DH, CLE: .322 OBP, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 16 R
Ryan Theriot, 2B/SS, CHC: .412 OBP, 1 HR, 26 R, 10 RBI, 8SB
Eric Byrnes, OF, ARI: .282 OBP, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 22 R, 4 SB
Chad Qualls, RP, ARI: 2.61 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 21 K, 12 SV/HD
My co-worker looks over my shoulder and says "Wow, That's like the Pu-Pu platter of crap."
There are two players that are even kind of worth it in this deal: The-Riot, and Qualls. The-Riot has been playing out of his skull and can play two positions, and is better than Erick Aybar, who is my current 2nd basemen, and adds serious nickname badassness to my team. Qualls has been blessed with a lot of opportunity with Arizona's hot start, and recently is coming off a performance where he put up a 108.00 ERA. However, he has been very good the rest of the season.
In order to get those two, I would need to take on Hafner, who clearly either was on steroids, or sold his soul to the devil for two good years, a la Kurt Warner, and Byrnes, who would come nowhere near starting in my outfield of Carlos Lee, Curtis Granderson, and the two-headed monster of Raul Ibanez and Andre Either.
I would also have to give up my most marketable player in Gordon, who is becoming very good, very quickly, and a stud relief option in Buchholz.
I would be upgrading my second baseman, and downgrading my bullpen, and taking on two dead weight players.
These are the great trades that I turn down from Jason.
Showing posts with label Trades. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trades. Show all posts
5/14/08
5/13/08
Well, That Didn't Take Long...
Rotoworld.com is report that new Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni is already trying to trade point guard/human cancer Stephon Marbury.
Well, That took about 8 seconds, but still who is going to take him on at this point? Somebody hire Isiah Thomas, and then we'll trade Marbury to him for 41 first rounders and Cash Considerations.
Well, That took about 8 seconds, but still who is going to take him on at this point? Somebody hire Isiah Thomas, and then we'll trade Marbury to him for 41 first rounders and Cash Considerations.
4/26/08
I <3 The Washington Redskins Fluff Piece...
ESPN is trying REALLY hard to make them America's team.
Anyway, This pick should be a wide receiver. They said they don't want one in round one, but it should be. The other guy it could be is Phillip Merling.
And...It's a trade. The Falcons....Is this the Chad Henne trade? I hope not.
It's Sam Baker. A solid Pass protector, not a first round value though. It's a questionable pick. Mel's Grade of C- is about right.
Jason will let you know what they gave up soon.
Anyway, This pick should be a wide receiver. They said they don't want one in round one, but it should be. The other guy it could be is Phillip Merling.
And...It's a trade. The Falcons....Is this the Chad Henne trade? I hope not.
It's Sam Baker. A solid Pass protector, not a first round value though. It's a questionable pick. Mel's Grade of C- is about right.
Jason will let you know what they gave up soon.
Detroit Selects...
This is likely Rashar....Never mind. It was traded to the Chiefs.
Let's see, I doubt this involving Roy Williams. It's going to be on offensive lineman. It's eithier Albert or Otah.
Branden Albert is the more versatile than Otah, and I think that's why this happened. ESPN was reporting was the Eagles wanted to trade up to get him, so I guess KC really wanted the Virginia guard and traded up to get him.
Let's see, I doubt this involving Roy Williams. It's going to be on offensive lineman. It's eithier Albert or Otah.
Branden Albert is the more versatile than Otah, and I think that's why this happened. ESPN was reporting was the Eagles wanted to trade up to get him, so I guess KC really wanted the Virginia guard and traded up to get him.
4/19/08
And the Award for...
Strangest trade rumor ever goes to...
The Miami Dolphins and Jason Taylor.
Yahoo! is reporting that Jason Taylor will just leave football behind and begin an acting career if the Dolphins don't trade him. The Jags have offered a third round pick.
Well, this is interesting. I know that a lot of people like Taylor on Dancing with the Stars so I guess this is feasible, but this would definitely create a huge hole in the Miami defense.
Enter Vernon Gholston? Stay Tuned.
The Miami Dolphins and Jason Taylor.
Yahoo! is reporting that Jason Taylor will just leave football behind and begin an acting career if the Dolphins don't trade him. The Jags have offered a third round pick.
Well, this is interesting. I know that a lot of people like Taylor on Dancing with the Stars so I guess this is feasible, but this would definitely create a huge hole in the Miami defense.
Enter Vernon Gholston? Stay Tuned.
2/25/08
So, Here's Something Just to Annoy Jason!
Jason and I had an argument earlier today. It was over the fact that everyone's favorite tamperers, the San Francisco 49ers have appeared to put together a deal for DeShaun Foster.
Now, we all know that the 49ers aren't going to pay Foster a whole lot. He never was able to separate himself as anything more than solid back. Now, he is an injury prone cast-off.
That's why Jason's ok with it.
Here's why I'm not: At some point during this season, Foster is going to get the ball in a key situation. Jason seems to think that he is being brought in as a short-yardage back. (I have no idea what gave him this assumption, but let's go with it.) Can't you just imagined Foster getting the ball on a third-and-one mid season and getting stuffed? Can't you imagine it costing them a game? If they signed him, they are going to use him, and that isn't a good thing.
On to more pressing matters, it seems to be trade season in the NFL, besides Hall-to-the-Giants, here's a couple mroe moves that could be happening according to the wonderful people at Rotoworld.com:
1. Shaun Rogers to the Broncos, for an unknown package
This is interesting. I have a strange feeling that the Broncos are going to end up giving away too much, but Rogers is just what they need. He's a force when he's healthy and in shape, but that hasn't happened much in his career. Mike Shannahan seems to think that he can get the best out of him. Good Luck.
2. Troy Williamson to the Jags for a second-day pick
Jack Del Rio: Please Listen. Stop piling up bust receivers, or I'm going to start doing bad things to puppies. Really, it's killing me to see your talented team being held back by your terrible passing game. Garrard can hack it in the NFL, (Jason overrates him alot.) just get the man a receiver!
3. Javon Walker to the Cowboys for a second day pick
Am I the only one who can imagine him an Terrell Owens killing one another? Is this possible? Can we put them in a cage and sell it on Pay-Per-View?
This sucks. Walker and Owens will be hard to cover.
Now, we all know that the 49ers aren't going to pay Foster a whole lot. He never was able to separate himself as anything more than solid back. Now, he is an injury prone cast-off.
That's why Jason's ok with it.
Here's why I'm not: At some point during this season, Foster is going to get the ball in a key situation. Jason seems to think that he is being brought in as a short-yardage back. (I have no idea what gave him this assumption, but let's go with it.) Can't you just imagined Foster getting the ball on a third-and-one mid season and getting stuffed? Can't you imagine it costing them a game? If they signed him, they are going to use him, and that isn't a good thing.
On to more pressing matters, it seems to be trade season in the NFL, besides Hall-to-the-Giants, here's a couple mroe moves that could be happening according to the wonderful people at Rotoworld.com:
1. Shaun Rogers to the Broncos, for an unknown package
This is interesting. I have a strange feeling that the Broncos are going to end up giving away too much, but Rogers is just what they need. He's a force when he's healthy and in shape, but that hasn't happened much in his career. Mike Shannahan seems to think that he can get the best out of him. Good Luck.
2. Troy Williamson to the Jags for a second-day pick
Jack Del Rio: Please Listen. Stop piling up bust receivers, or I'm going to start doing bad things to puppies. Really, it's killing me to see your talented team being held back by your terrible passing game. Garrard can hack it in the NFL, (Jason overrates him alot.) just get the man a receiver!
3. Javon Walker to the Cowboys for a second day pick
Am I the only one who can imagine him an Terrell Owens killing one another? Is this possible? Can we put them in a cage and sell it on Pay-Per-View?
This sucks. Walker and Owens will be hard to cover.
2/20/08
Here We Go Again
And it never ends...
According to Rotoworld.com, The Knicks are contemplating a trade that would net them Vince Carter. The Knicks would send Eddy Curry to the Heat, and the Nets would get the expiring contracts of Jason Williams and Ricky Davis.
How much better would this trade look if the Knicks received the expiring contracts of Davis and Williams? Carter is another overpaid, overhyped swingman who has never won.
Audible Sigh....
According to Rotoworld.com, The Knicks are contemplating a trade that would net them Vince Carter. The Knicks would send Eddy Curry to the Heat, and the Nets would get the expiring contracts of Jason Williams and Ricky Davis.
How much better would this trade look if the Knicks received the expiring contracts of Davis and Williams? Carter is another overpaid, overhyped swingman who has never won.
Audible Sigh....
2/6/08
Uhhh...What?
Apparently, Sleeping until 10 o'clock makes you miss crazy absurd news stories, who knew?
It seems that Shaq is on his way out of Miami and headed back to the western conference. He was traded to the Phoenix Suns for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.
Wow, No one in this deal makes any sense.
The Diesel is clearly a shadow of his former self. While clearly he won't be the focal point of the offense in Phoenix with Steve Nash and Amare Stoudamire, but I can't help but wonder what he is bringing to the table for the Suns. Is he going to be able to run the floor? Doubt it. Is he going to be a dominant defensive force? Don't really see that happening. In reality, he may steal minutes from Amare, which is just silly.
As far as Miami goes, I've never been a fan of Marion. I think that he is a great fantasy player, but doesn't bring a whole lot of value to the court. He's the NBA version of Ricky Williams. Remember, when Williams used to be the king of garbage yardage for Miami? He would always brake off a 40 yard run after the game was out of hand. It made his stats look great. That's Marion.
Putting Marion next to Wade looks great on paper, but I question how effective it will be.
It seems that Shaq is on his way out of Miami and headed back to the western conference. He was traded to the Phoenix Suns for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.
Wow, No one in this deal makes any sense.
The Diesel is clearly a shadow of his former self. While clearly he won't be the focal point of the offense in Phoenix with Steve Nash and Amare Stoudamire, but I can't help but wonder what he is bringing to the table for the Suns. Is he going to be able to run the floor? Doubt it. Is he going to be a dominant defensive force? Don't really see that happening. In reality, he may steal minutes from Amare, which is just silly.
As far as Miami goes, I've never been a fan of Marion. I think that he is a great fantasy player, but doesn't bring a whole lot of value to the court. He's the NBA version of Ricky Williams. Remember, when Williams used to be the king of garbage yardage for Miami? He would always brake off a 40 yard run after the game was out of hand. It made his stats look great. That's Marion.
Putting Marion next to Wade looks great on paper, but I question how effective it will be.
10/10/07
If Jason Comack was your GM, He'd do it.
It’s the nature of the NFL to not make too many rosters moves in the middle of a season. The idea is that a new player cannot possibly learn a system fast enough to make any kind of impact. However, certain players are worth the investment. Especially since there aren’t a lot of trades midseason, there is a chance to make trades in which you have to give up little to get a lot back.
Fabian Washington, CB, Raiders – For whatever reason, they seem to have fallen out of love with the guy who started the season as their top corner. Washington is a solid fundamental corner, who can play press coverage with the best of them. A lot of teams could use a guy like him. The only problem is that he is still on the salary of a first round pick. It would cost the Raiders and their trading partner a lot to make it happened.
What’s he worth?: A 3rd-round pick.
Justin Mccareins, WR, Jets - Here’s another great example. A guy who was a favorite of a previous coach (Herm Edwards) and has fallen out of favor with his new coach.(Eric Mangini.) McCareins has no hope of ever being a number one receiver, but could be a decent number two. Ultimately, he needs an opportunity to play. He’s not providing the Jets any value sitting on the bench. The problem is that every one knows the Jets hate him, and everyone knows it, so they have no hope of really getting any value back from him.
What’s he worth?: A 5th or 6th round pick.
DeAngelo Hall, CB, Falcons – Hall is probably one of the most overrated players in the league right now. He is a solid corner, but is by no means in the lockdown cateogory. However, with that said, the only reason that he is on the block is that he has been seen openly arguing with his coach. There have been rumors of him being traded to Oakland in exchange for Washington, but that probably won’t happen.
What’s he worth?: A 3rd-Round Pick.
9/11/07
In Other News...
Apparently, after starting the first game of the season for the Cleveland Browns, Charlie Frye has been traded to the Seahawks. Terms of the Deal have not yet been made public.
So, That was quick. We all know that it's a matter of time until Quinn starts in Cleveland. However, I didn't expect Frye to be traded. I would think they probably got a 5th or 6th rounder for Frye.
He will be number three on the depth chart behind Matt Hasselbeck and Seneca Wallace.
So, That was quick. We all know that it's a matter of time until Quinn starts in Cleveland. However, I didn't expect Frye to be traded. I would think they probably got a 5th or 6th rounder for Frye.
He will be number three on the depth chart behind Matt Hasselbeck and Seneca Wallace.
6/24/07
I love the NBA….off-season!
I consider myself a draftnkick. I can watch enough NFL draft coverage to make most peoples eyes bleed. The drama of Brady Quinn dropping, seeing who your favorite team drafts/where your favorite college players go. I could go on and on gushing about the NFL Draft.
As much as I love the NFL off-season nothing in sports is as captivating as the NBA off-season.
It’s the penalty shot of off-season’s
This Thursday the NBA off-season kicks off with the draft. I think it’s an appropriate time to explain why I find the off-season so captivating.
(In no particular order)
The expiring contract
The soft cap in the NBA really kills parity. Sure everyone has to be “under the cap”, but a team like the Knicks can have a 140 million dollar payroll. The Bobcats on the other hand have a payroll of only 40 million dollars. That’s a 100 million dollar difference! So how do teams over the cap stay over the cap?
Because of the expiring contract
Theo Ratliff is going to be a key trading chip this off-season. That’s 34 year old Boston Celtics Forward/Center Theo Ratliff. He played in all of two games last year.
So how does such a useless player become a key barging chip?
Because of the expiring contract
Ratliff’s 12 million dollar contract expires after this season, so whatever team acquires him is acquiring him not to contribute to their team but to provide salary/luxury cap relief in the future. Also because the NBA cap rules state that teams over the cap making a trade must match salaries almost identically a player like Ratliff, without any long term commitment becomes important.
I love the expiring contract because players who are so irrelevant/useless are the key to blockbuster trades.
P.J Brown (sign and trade) is also in line for a big one year contract that he doesn’t deserve. Brown and Andres Nociono are going to be key contracts in a Kobe or KG trade.
Expiring contracts, or the lack there of, are also the reason the Knicks can’t acquire Kobe Bryant.
Speaking of Kobe and KG
Start Powered Trades
You really won’t see this in any other sport. LaDanian Tomlinson is getting traded, either is Peyton Manning or Albert Pujols. However this NBA off-season there’s a real possibility that the best player in the league could be wearing a different uniform come opening day.
KG and Kobe are just the “mega” stars that can be dealt this off-season.
Rashard Lewis, Shawn Marion, AK-47, Jermaine O’Neal and Zach Randolph are just some of the other big names that are likely to be moved this off-season.
The Draft
The NBA Draft contains more subplots than a bad episode of LOST
-Unlike other sports one player really makes a team in the NBA.
The Blazers can go from doghouse to penthouse in one off-season
If They take Oden, trade Randolph for a small forward (Jamison/Jefferson type) all of a sudden they can trot out this lineup
Oden
Aldridge
SF acquired by trade
Roy
Jack
That can be a devastating core for years to come.
Jamarcus Russell (unless he can play all five O-Line Positions) isn’t turning the Raiders around. In fact he won’t start by the day one starter!
-His name is Kevin Durant…His name is Kevin Durant
Durant is a phenomenon. We haven’t seen a player like him, his upside is limitless.
He might also be the most fun to watch player in the NBA immediately.
I don’t watch college basketball but I made sure to watch as much Durant as I possible kid. What’s not to love about the kid?
Durant and Oden are also putting their teams in the National Spotlight. The Sonics are going to get infinitely more prime time games than in years past.
-The Atlanta Hawks
Every year the Hawks pass on a point guard in the draft. They could have had Chris Paul or Deron Williams. This year their poised to once again pass on a promising point guard (Mike Connelly) for another swing forward like Al Hoford.
-The New York Knicks
If Isaiah Thomas has one positive quality it’s his ability to draft. Lee, Robison, Fyre all look like solid prospects. Even Rolando Blackman and Mardy Collins did much more than anyone expected. I can’t wait to see what random ass player he takes with our pick.
-The Foreign Players
Yi Jinlain…this doesn’t need an explanation.
It’s a shame that the NBA off-season is better than both the NBA regular season and post season.
But hey look on the bright side, at least after a horrible postseason the 3 NBA fan’s left in the world have something even better to look forward to.
As much as I love the NFL off-season nothing in sports is as captivating as the NBA off-season.
It’s the penalty shot of off-season’s
This Thursday the NBA off-season kicks off with the draft. I think it’s an appropriate time to explain why I find the off-season so captivating.
(In no particular order)
The expiring contract
The soft cap in the NBA really kills parity. Sure everyone has to be “under the cap”, but a team like the Knicks can have a 140 million dollar payroll. The Bobcats on the other hand have a payroll of only 40 million dollars. That’s a 100 million dollar difference! So how do teams over the cap stay over the cap?
Because of the expiring contract
Theo Ratliff is going to be a key trading chip this off-season. That’s 34 year old Boston Celtics Forward/Center Theo Ratliff. He played in all of two games last year.
So how does such a useless player become a key barging chip?
Because of the expiring contract
Ratliff’s 12 million dollar contract expires after this season, so whatever team acquires him is acquiring him not to contribute to their team but to provide salary/luxury cap relief in the future. Also because the NBA cap rules state that teams over the cap making a trade must match salaries almost identically a player like Ratliff, without any long term commitment becomes important.
I love the expiring contract because players who are so irrelevant/useless are the key to blockbuster trades.
P.J Brown (sign and trade) is also in line for a big one year contract that he doesn’t deserve. Brown and Andres Nociono are going to be key contracts in a Kobe or KG trade.
Expiring contracts, or the lack there of, are also the reason the Knicks can’t acquire Kobe Bryant.
Speaking of Kobe and KG
Start Powered Trades
You really won’t see this in any other sport. LaDanian Tomlinson is getting traded, either is Peyton Manning or Albert Pujols. However this NBA off-season there’s a real possibility that the best player in the league could be wearing a different uniform come opening day.
KG and Kobe are just the “mega” stars that can be dealt this off-season.
Rashard Lewis, Shawn Marion, AK-47, Jermaine O’Neal and Zach Randolph are just some of the other big names that are likely to be moved this off-season.
The Draft
The NBA Draft contains more subplots than a bad episode of LOST
-Unlike other sports one player really makes a team in the NBA.
The Blazers can go from doghouse to penthouse in one off-season
If They take Oden, trade Randolph for a small forward (Jamison/Jefferson type) all of a sudden they can trot out this lineup
Oden
Aldridge
SF acquired by trade
Roy
Jack
That can be a devastating core for years to come.
Jamarcus Russell (unless he can play all five O-Line Positions) isn’t turning the Raiders around. In fact he won’t start by the day one starter!
-His name is Kevin Durant…His name is Kevin Durant
Durant is a phenomenon. We haven’t seen a player like him, his upside is limitless.
He might also be the most fun to watch player in the NBA immediately.
I don’t watch college basketball but I made sure to watch as much Durant as I possible kid. What’s not to love about the kid?
Durant and Oden are also putting their teams in the National Spotlight. The Sonics are going to get infinitely more prime time games than in years past.
-The Atlanta Hawks
Every year the Hawks pass on a point guard in the draft. They could have had Chris Paul or Deron Williams. This year their poised to once again pass on a promising point guard (Mike Connelly) for another swing forward like Al Hoford.
-The New York Knicks
If Isaiah Thomas has one positive quality it’s his ability to draft. Lee, Robison, Fyre all look like solid prospects. Even Rolando Blackman and Mardy Collins did much more than anyone expected. I can’t wait to see what random ass player he takes with our pick.
-The Foreign Players
Yi Jinlain…this doesn’t need an explanation.
It’s a shame that the NBA off-season is better than both the NBA regular season and post season.
But hey look on the bright side, at least after a horrible postseason the 3 NBA fan’s left in the world have something even better to look forward to.
6/19/07
Boo Mark Teixeira Hurray Todd Helton!
Ken Rosenthal had a long column about the Yankees and Rangers working on a trade involving Mark Teixeira. Teixeira, a power hitting first baseman obviously would be a great fit in NY. He would probably bat 5th and provide better protection for A-Rod than Matsui can.
However…
The Yanks are surging, and with the lineup and pitching staff we have, do we really need to make a major splash on offense?
I say no, however, if we do decide to acquire a big hitter at first base I hope it’s not Teixeira.
It’s not that Teixeira isn’t great…because he is. It’s the cost to get Tex that scares me.
For starters his contract is over after next year. He makes 9 millon this year, next year with arbitration he could probably go around 12 millon. Not to mention that fact that baseball enemy number one Scott Boras is his agent. Teixeira is going to be the prize of the 2009 Free agent class and is going to get a massive contract. If the Yanks trade for him and don’t resign him after 2008 it’d be a disaster.
Especially if…
We give up Phil Hughes for him. It makes me uneasy even writing that. While I think it’s complete malarkey that we would even contemplate trading Hughes I’m not a baseball insider, Ken Rosenthal is. Rosenthal is pretty good with his news and rumors and I don’t think he’d claim Hughes is able to be had if he wasn’t.
Rosenthal believes, it would probably take a package of Tex, Gagne and a low level prospect for Hughes. While this would be an appropriate bounty for Phil I still think it’s insane to trade him.
We are talking about a 21 year old kid who was pitching a no-no when he got hurt, he’s the real deal. He’s not the second coming of Brandon Claussen.
Rosenthal also mentioned getting Tex for a lesser package of Chase Wright/Chamberlain, Melky and another decent pitching prospect. While this trade wouldn’t be as disastrous I still think this would be a mistake.
I love Melky, but he’s expendable. He’s young but his ceiling really isn’t that high. You can find a lot of players like him rather easily and cheaply.
Chamberlain on the other hand I would not want to trade. From everything I’ve read Chamberlain seems to be on the fast track to the majors.
In an ideal world he would become our number three in our young pitching staff in two years.
It would be foolish to give up a lot of prospects for Tex.
Especially when…
Todd Helton is available. Helton is older, 33, but he is still a force as a hitter. He’s a career .332 hitter, with a .431 OBP and slugs .588. His homerun power has diminished somewhat but he is still a threat to hit 20-30 homeruns. He is just an on base machine. In my eyes you can never have enough hitters with a high OBP%.
If we got Helton I wouldn’t mind moving Jeter to leadoff, than batting Abreu and Helton in front of A-Rod. Ideally A-Rod would be coming up to bat with at least one man on base in the first inning of every game.
That my friend is a pitchers nightmare.
What make Helton more attractive is…
What it would cost to acquire him
In the words of WWE personalities Cryme Tyme “Money Money Yeah Yeah”
(Editors Note: The following contract information comes from http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/)
Helton’s gi-normous contract is a burden on the small market Rockies. The Rockies would be willing to eat about 40% of Helton’s contract just to ship him out of town.
Helton is owed 90.1 million through 2011. Take out the 7 million already paid to Helton this season and the Rocks would end up paying about 33 million of Helton’s contract under this scenario.
The Yanks in turn would be on the hook for 57 million for about 4 and half seasons of Helton, or about 12.5 million a year.
All of a sudden that ridiculous contract doesn’t seem so ridiculous.
Helton is older and I have bashed the Yankees in the past for acquiring old players. However, I think Helton is an exception. Since he makes a living with his eye as much as his bat his skills are less likely to quickly erode.
Even better is the fact that we simply wouldn’t have to trade the kind of top level prospects in a Helton deal as we would in a Tex deal. A Helton deal is about money, much like the Abreu trade last year.
Another advantage of a Helton trade is…
Bust out your crystal ball
In 2008 Helton makes Abreu expendable. In fact with the option in Abreu’s contract he can be “Sheffielded” and traded for better prospects than we’d probably be giving up in a Helton trade.
I think acquiring Helton under these terms is a no brainier and a significantly better option than trading top prospects for one and half years of Mark Teixeira.
As I wrote earlier in the season “Paging Doctor Helton…will Doctor Todd Helton please report to Yankee Stadium”
However…
The Yanks are surging, and with the lineup and pitching staff we have, do we really need to make a major splash on offense?
I say no, however, if we do decide to acquire a big hitter at first base I hope it’s not Teixeira.
It’s not that Teixeira isn’t great…because he is. It’s the cost to get Tex that scares me.
For starters his contract is over after next year. He makes 9 millon this year, next year with arbitration he could probably go around 12 millon. Not to mention that fact that baseball enemy number one Scott Boras is his agent. Teixeira is going to be the prize of the 2009 Free agent class and is going to get a massive contract. If the Yanks trade for him and don’t resign him after 2008 it’d be a disaster.
Especially if…
We give up Phil Hughes for him. It makes me uneasy even writing that. While I think it’s complete malarkey that we would even contemplate trading Hughes I’m not a baseball insider, Ken Rosenthal is. Rosenthal is pretty good with his news and rumors and I don’t think he’d claim Hughes is able to be had if he wasn’t.
Rosenthal believes, it would probably take a package of Tex, Gagne and a low level prospect for Hughes. While this would be an appropriate bounty for Phil I still think it’s insane to trade him.
We are talking about a 21 year old kid who was pitching a no-no when he got hurt, he’s the real deal. He’s not the second coming of Brandon Claussen.
Rosenthal also mentioned getting Tex for a lesser package of Chase Wright/Chamberlain, Melky and another decent pitching prospect. While this trade wouldn’t be as disastrous I still think this would be a mistake.
I love Melky, but he’s expendable. He’s young but his ceiling really isn’t that high. You can find a lot of players like him rather easily and cheaply.
Chamberlain on the other hand I would not want to trade. From everything I’ve read Chamberlain seems to be on the fast track to the majors.
“Joba Chamberlain, who is less polished than Hughes was at this stage but has more power.” –Ken Rosenthal
In an ideal world he would become our number three in our young pitching staff in two years.
It would be foolish to give up a lot of prospects for Tex.
Especially when…
Todd Helton is available. Helton is older, 33, but he is still a force as a hitter. He’s a career .332 hitter, with a .431 OBP and slugs .588. His homerun power has diminished somewhat but he is still a threat to hit 20-30 homeruns. He is just an on base machine. In my eyes you can never have enough hitters with a high OBP%.
(Anthony and I feel that average is in fact a greatly overrated stat. We believe in Money Ball and that OBP, SLG, and OPS are the true measures that should be used to judge a hitter…but that’s for another column.)
If we got Helton I wouldn’t mind moving Jeter to leadoff, than batting Abreu and Helton in front of A-Rod. Ideally A-Rod would be coming up to bat with at least one man on base in the first inning of every game.
That my friend is a pitchers nightmare.
What make Helton more attractive is…
What it would cost to acquire him
In the words of WWE personalities Cryme Tyme “Money Money Yeah Yeah”
(Editors Note: The following contract information comes from http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/)
Helton’s gi-normous contract is a burden on the small market Rockies. The Rockies would be willing to eat about 40% of Helton’s contract just to ship him out of town.
Helton is owed 90.1 million through 2011. Take out the 7 million already paid to Helton this season and the Rocks would end up paying about 33 million of Helton’s contract under this scenario.
The Yanks in turn would be on the hook for 57 million for about 4 and half seasons of Helton, or about 12.5 million a year.
All of a sudden that ridiculous contract doesn’t seem so ridiculous.
Helton is older and I have bashed the Yankees in the past for acquiring old players. However, I think Helton is an exception. Since he makes a living with his eye as much as his bat his skills are less likely to quickly erode.
Even better is the fact that we simply wouldn’t have to trade the kind of top level prospects in a Helton deal as we would in a Tex deal. A Helton deal is about money, much like the Abreu trade last year.
Another advantage of a Helton trade is…
Bust out your crystal ball
In 2008 Helton makes Abreu expendable. In fact with the option in Abreu’s contract he can be “Sheffielded” and traded for better prospects than we’d probably be giving up in a Helton trade.
I think acquiring Helton under these terms is a no brainier and a significantly better option than trading top prospects for one and half years of Mark Teixeira.
As I wrote earlier in the season “Paging Doctor Helton…will Doctor Todd Helton please report to Yankee Stadium”