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Orcin · 03-20-2012, 08:37 AM

Trade Market – Starting Pitchers

Just for grins, I contacted a few GMs about trades for #1 starting pitchers. I need to see what it will take to land one. I started by checking BNN’s Top-10 list for pitchers. Several of them are impossible for me to even make an offer because I can’t afford the contract. I was able to get a price-check on a couple though.

Boston will consider a trade of Robert Campos, their big free agent acquisition from the past off-season. Campos has started slowly with a 4.77 ERA, but he is no doubt an elite starter. He is only 26 and signed to a reasonable contract for an ace.

Boston will trade Campos for Rodney Wright, David O’Daniel, Brian Smith AND catcher prospect Duncan Bland. That’s a lot to give up for one pitcher. This trade is typical for an available Top-10 starter that I can afford. There is very little chance of completing a deal for a Top-10 starting pitcher without including a player or two that I won’t give up. So I expanded my search to the Top 25 pitchers according to Fernando’s star ratings.

The Philadelphia Firebirds are willing to trade Gilberto Huertas, a promising 26-year-old right-handed starter who has yet to put up superb numbers. He was 17-13 with a 3.47 ERA in 2000. He slipped to 14-15 4.01 last year, but still made the All-Star team. So far in 2002, he is 3-5 with a 5.83 ERA, but his .388 BABIP indicates that he has not been quite that bad. Fernando has him rated as the #11 (current) among starters in the CBA (17th on potential). For comparison, he rates Fletcher at #15 (28th on potential).

Philadelphia will trade Huertas for several different players that I am willing to deal. The Firebirds are interested in Jim Poole, and he is expendable when Moreno returns from the D/L. Rodney Wright can help them at second base and they have interest if I pay part of his salary, but not alone for Huertas. Poole, Wright, and cash might get it done.

Huertas will be arbitration eligible after this season and the estimate is $5.5 million. He could be a great addition if I could lock him up for several years at an affordable figure. His intangibles are good and he is a popular player that could offset the negative fan interest from trading Wright.

I want to be patient but I have also learned that one cannot assume that a player will be available later just because they are available today. Circumstances change. It is best to strike while the iron is hot. I built this team around pitching and defense. The starting pitching needs to be better than middle of the pack for us to win in the post-season.

03-20-2012, 08:37 AM	#248
Orcin Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 9,870	Trade Market – Starting Pitchers Just for grins, I contacted a few GMs about trades for #1 starting pitchers. I need to see what it will take to land one. I started by checking BNN’s Top-10 list for pitchers. Several of them are impossible for me to even make an offer because I can’t afford the contract. I was able to get a price-check on a couple though. Boston will consider a trade of Robert Campos, their big free agent acquisition from the past off-season. Campos has started slowly with a 4.77 ERA, but he is no doubt an elite starter. He is only 26 and signed to a reasonable contract for an ace. Boston will trade Campos for Rodney Wright, David O’Daniel, Brian Smith AND catcher prospect Duncan Bland. That’s a lot to give up for one pitcher. This trade is typical for an available Top-10 starter that I can afford. There is very little chance of completing a deal for a Top-10 starting pitcher without including a player or two that I won’t give up. So I expanded my search to the Top 25 pitchers according to Fernando’s star ratings. The Philadelphia Firebirds are willing to trade Gilberto Huertas, a promising 26-year-old right-handed starter who has yet to put up superb numbers. He was 17-13 with a 3.47 ERA in 2000. He slipped to 14-15 4.01 last year, but still made the All-Star team. So far in 2002, he is 3-5 with a 5.83 ERA, but his .388 BABIP indicates that he has not been quite that bad. Fernando has him rated as the #11 (current) among starters in the CBA (17th on potential). For comparison, he rates Fletcher at #15 (28th on potential). Philadelphia will trade Huertas for several different players that I am willing to deal. The Firebirds are interested in Jim Poole, and he is expendable when Moreno returns from the D/L. Rodney Wright can help them at second base and they have interest if I pay part of his salary, but not alone for Huertas. Poole, Wright, and cash might get it done. Huertas will be arbitration eligible after this season and the estimate is $5.5 million. He could be a great addition if I could lock him up for several years at an affordable figure. His intangibles are good and he is a popular player that could offset the negative fan interest from trading Wright. I want to be patient but I have also learned that one cannot assume that a player will be available later just because they are available today. Circumstances change. It is best to strike while the iron is hot. I built this team around pitching and defense. The starting pitching needs to be better than middle of the pack for us to win in the post-season.