After a couple days of bartering, Heat and I have completed five deals. Without further ado, let's take a look at what we've completed so far:
Reds trade SP Tony Cingrani for Yankees OF Curtis Granderson.
This is a high risk/high reward deal for the Reds. I like really like Cingrani and I know the organization values him, but they have a sneaky deep pitching staff and some young guys they can bring up as needed. Cueto should be back soon barring a setback to round out the rotation. Granderson, though his average may have settled around .240, brings a rare power/speed combination and has seen success in the playoffs before. I really like him playing centerfield between Choo and Bruce that will be easily on of the most talented, and perhaps underrated outfields in the game. Good deal for the Reds.
Cubs trade OF Alfonso Soriano and RP Kevin Gregg for Tigers Prospects Austin Schotts and Casey Crosby.
This is a no brainer for me. The Cubs are in full rebuild mode and although Soriano has been one of the best bats in baseball these past few weeks, he is nothing to build around. Gregg is a productive but often shaky reliever. The Cubs will get back excellent prospects to add to their improving farm system. They might not be close to being ready yet, but neither are the Cubs. Also, shedding the salary here is key to make a big splash in free agency this winter and get some franchise pieces. Hey Scott Boras, we're looking at you. Tell Jacoby we're coming.
Phillies trade SP Cliff Lee for Indians prospects Trevor Bauer and Francisco Lindor.
Heat was really intrigued by this trade, and I gotta say I was too. The idea of Cliff Lee going back to the Indians is a fun one, because we all know what he did in his last year there. I know I said the Phillies were going to be buyers, but I just don't see it in the cards this year. I expect Rollins, Howard, Utley, Young, and Halladay all gone in a year, maybe two. However, with guys like Domonic Brown John Mayberry Jr. on their depth chart and Hamels locked up long term, this doesn't have to be a full rebuild. They'll get two elite prospects back in Bauer and Lindor that will be up as soon as next season.
Pirates trade OF Jose Tabata and prospect Alex Dickerson for Mariners OF Raul Ibanez and OF/1B Michael Morse.
I said I wanted a good first baseman and a veteran slugger and I got it. Don't you like how this works? I actually really like Tabata as a speedy OF option, but with McCutcheon/Marte on the team Tabata becomes expendable. Ibanez ages like fine wine and may be the best hitting lefty on the market. He'll be a great influence on this young roster and this is a guy who knows how to win playoff games. Michael Morse may be on the of most inconsistent hitters in the league. but when he's on he's as good as anyone. He's slowed down considerable since his hot start this spring, but he's still an improvement of Gaby Sanchez and if he does heat up again, it's a bonus. He'll slide right in at first base and help out a pretty good Pirates team.
Giants trade prospect Clayton Blackburn for Astros SP Bud Norris
I really like this trade as much as you can like trading for Bud Norris. Perhaps the only valuable player on the Astros team as far as "help now" goes, he's a solid pitcher. Despite being on a horrific team with no run support and a terrible bullpen behind him, his stats have been pretty solid the last few years. What's really good is that he only has to be the 4/5 guy on this Giants' rotation, which works in his favor as far as matchups and pressure goes. He's got above average stuff and can eat a lot of innings, which is all you can ask for a back-end starter.
It's been fun trying to piece together these deals. We're working hard to put some more together and we'll have them up as soon as they're completed. What are your thoughts on these so far?
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