Big Trade

N Schierholtz(9a), Hiroki Kuroda(2a), Chris Dickerson(3a, dl), Juan Gutierrez(2a), Joe Inglett(10c), TY1, TY2, TY3, TY4

-for-

R Braun(44a), M Capps(21d), R Barajas(1a)

_______________

Big-big trade for me to today. I threw together pretty close to everything I had of value for the 2011 season... that I could afford to lose... and dealt it to a team that had decided to firesale away this season in hopes of fielding a strong team next season.

Now, I do have value for next season still. Jorge Cantu at $26 is a good example. A Pujols, R Howard and M Kemp are others. The value of those players ~this year~ though is so high, it's really difficult to make a deal work. Here is a breakdown of the deal I made...


Hiroki Kuroda for Matt Capps
Hiroki Kuroda was my best draft day deal... by far, I think. I think he was my best pitcher too. Thing is, even with him and his great start I am still in seconds to last in both ERA and Ratio. Battling it out in those categories isn't working out. It's like a fat guy ordering 3 double cheeseburgers, onion rings, a dessert... and a Diet Coke. lol... how much is that Diet Coke really helping?

Also, I am extremely strong in Wins (blowing the field away there) and Kuroda isn't a strong K pitcher. He has a lot of value, it's just limited on my team. So, I cash in that value by dealing him in trade... and I add Matt Capps. I seriously considered claiming him in the off-season... for $22. His health issues and my budget dissuaded me. He's obviously healthy now though. He is off to a great start. He's only 26 years old and has been a solid pitcher in her career (when healthy).

I also have the Nationals top setup guy... Tyler Clippard. Now, I realize Drew Storen is likely the future. Here in 2010 though, I am in a good spot with the Washington bullpen.

I don't think my gain will be huge here (if at all). There are maybe 3 or 4 points that could be gained in saves... and then something well could be lost in ERA and Ratio (second to last is better than last)... plus I could lose in Ks or even Wins. Will work to add another starting pitcher to minimize that. Overall I hope to net a 1 or 2 point gain. Would be hard pressed to have done JUST this part of the deal... but obviously I have to give my rebuilding trade partner value for 2011.

Nick Schierholtz for Ryan Braun
This is the part of the deal that most benefits me. I like Nick Schierholtz and think he has some nice upside. A .300 hitter with 10-15 Homers and Steals is within his grasp. I think too he could develop into a Jayson Werth type hitter. He is 26 years old (entering his prime) and he was slugging pretty close to .600 in AAA the last two seasons. He has an excellent eye... is a smart player, solid glove and good baserunner. I *really* like him.

That said, here in 2010 I'm not looking for potential... I am focused on reality. And the reality is, Nick Schierholtz has hit 1 HR in 100 ABs and he's a bad stretch (or minor injury) away from losing his everyday job. Ryan Braun on the other hand is a superstar... one of the NL's elite players. .320, 30hr, 115rbi, 120rs, 25sb is an extremely reasonable looking line for him to post in 2010.

He currently ranks as ~the best~ hitter in the NL and there is no reason to suspect he wont finish pretty near that level.

I need the extra production too. I am in a pitched battle in HRs... where 1st and 5th are separated by 8 total HRs (I am in 3rd). The RBI category reads... 294 - 279 - 273 - 273 - 271 - 268 - 265... with me at 273. A lot of points there. There are several points in play in Runs, Steals and Batting Average too. Adding the current best hitter in the league is going to be a massive help. I have to get these points too, as they wont come from the pitching side.

Chris Dickerson, Juan Gutierrez, Joe Inglett(10c) and 4 draft picks
for Rod Barajas
Rod Barajas has been crazy good thus far. 10hr already... amazing. He obviously wont keep that pace up as he is not a 40hr hitter. But, he does have good pop and he's hitting in a good spot in the line-up. 10-15 more HRs with 40-50rbi is reasonable. He might do that with a low batting average, but I can afford it.

He'll be a help, especially when you consider he's replacing a guy that virtually never played. I like Joe Inglett and it would be interesting to see what he could do with some ABs. But even with all the injuries the Brewers have had recently... he only got 3 ABs for me. He's totally buried on that bench, more so than I'd realized. Replacing him with an everyday player is a big upgrade.

Some other nice things about Barajas are... he's only $1. I'm almost capped out, so that was a huge help. At a $1 too... he well could be a keeper. If he's anywhere near this productive the rest of the year, he'll actually be a good keeper (though there are rumors of him being traded to Texas at some point). Finally... I really needed another catcher. Greg Zaun is on the DL, and I don't know if it will be out for 2 weeks or 2 months. Bengie Molina isn't the most stable starting catcher in the league either. Being forced to call up a scrub backup catcher would have hurt. Now though with 3 catchers on the roster, I have lots of flexibility (I ended up claiming a SS to fill Zaun's spot).

I had to give up Chris Dickerson too. Nice player with an interesting skill set. But, he hasn't been able to stay healthy and now looks to be totally buried on the Reds OF depth chart. Worth a flyer for a rebuilder, but close to worthless to me. Juan Gutierrez also went. Tons of upside there... he throws nearly 100mph, has displayed a devastating slider and was 9 for 9 in saves last year. He has been a total and complete joke this year though. He has given up 7 HRs... SEVEN... in 16 innings.

The Dbacks HAVE to send him down. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him end up being a good keeper in 2011 though. But, enough was enough for me. He had to go. By clearing that spot I was able to claim another Dbacks relief-pitcher... Aaron Heilman. I think he could be in line for some saves in the very-very near future.

Also gave up the picks... which have nice value for next year.

This trade isn't going to win me a league title. The first place team made an even larger... and more helpful... deal than I did. He's racing past me. If some bad breaks hit him, maybe things could change. Very unlikely though. I did this to hang on to second place... which I think I will be able to do if I have decent luck with health.