Jack Torrance - contributing reporter
20 trades this season. Hindsight is 20/20, while it will be a few seasons before we know how well these deals worked out for both teams, let's go ahead and take a look back at a few deals that were made this season, and there were many of them this year - 33 in fact!
All grades are just for this season alone, with the understanding that looking back in 4-5 seasons that grades could drastically change.
Vancouver (101-61) traded prospect Alex Lopez (SP) to New Orleans (103-59) for James Kondou (1B). The first trade of the season is between two teams who end up winning 100+ games, let's get going! This move was likely more about shedding the contract of Kondou for New Orleans who didn't have a starting spot for him than actually acquiring talent back; and it shows. Lopez was jettisoned to AAA where he's pitched in long relief for just under 100 innings and a 3.25 ERA. Will he see ML time next season? Vancouver on the other hand, received a guy who appeared in the chatter for the MVP voting and was able to get back to his old form before New Orleans acquired Keith Halter last season. .314 average, 28 hr, 36 sb, 120 r, 93 rbi. Vancouver ended up extending Kondou on a 2/$10.8M.
Vancouver - A+. New Orleans - C-
Salt Lake City (79-83) in their first of three deals between these two teams, SLC sends away two players he acquired last season in Brandon Grim (SS) and Ron McDowell (2B) to Nashville (76-86) for Paco Garces (RF). SLC also ended up winning the division nobody wanted to win, the AL West. Garces is about as average as it comes in RF, but gave nearly career lows across the board. wRAA of 1.5 shows just how average he is. Entering Arb3 I believe, we'll see if he stays long term in the great SLC. Nashville's new up the middle infield will be much cheaper than the $6M player they gave up. Last season Grim was top 5 in errors, but much better this season though he split some time at 2B and CF, but that batting average is still below .225 but he's stealing more bases. McDowell split time between 2B and LF but offered little at the plate with a .643 OPS. Combined they have a wRAA of -36. For their second deal, had Nashville (76-86) sending Santiago Cora (SP) to Salt Lake City (79-83) for Remond Osoria (Pos), Pepper Hill (Pos), and Frank Sweeney (Pos). Cora had the worst season in his career and barely won above .500; but hey considering SLC won the division by 2 games, maybe Cora was the reason for that. He definitely ate up a lot of innings, as he logs 200+ for the 9th straight season. Sweeney was dealt after the deadline to Houston as part of a package deal. Hill hit well in AAA, but at age 22 h's looking like an AAAA player. Osoria came out of the pen, saving 8 of 10 games but that doesn't look as great when you know he had a 1.81 WHIP and 6.39 ERA this season. I'd expect better things out of him next season if he can find the right bullpen coach to help him along. In their third deal, Salt Lake City (79-83) packs up prospect Randolph Jacobs (CF) to Nashville (76-86) for Mikey Abbott (RP) and 2/3rds of his salary. Another AAAA acquisition for Nashville, this one a minor league CF, though he didn't give up a ton in a SuB who has one more year of Arb left. Abbott did pitch pretty well when he finally saw time late in games, and I guess Nashville shed the contract and got something in return rather than just letting him walk. Chavez won't likely turn into much, he's just a late add-on. And in their fourth and final deal together of the season, Salt Lake City (79-83) continue to make moves, sending $3M + Cliff Calderon (C) + S54 $1M IFA prospect Rougned Chavez (SS) to the Nashville (76-86) for David Andrus (C). prospect Player (Pos). This one gets interesting as it finally involves some real talent. Interesting enough as it was pointed about by the masses, Andrus and Calderon are very similar with the except being where they are in their contracts. Calderon is a FA after this season and Andrus has plenty of years of control left.
Salt Lake City - B. Nashville - C-
Oklahoma City (95-67) receives Pedro Alberro (RF), sending prospect Rich Rendon (CF) to Helena (72-90).. Alberro was immediately extended on a 4 year deal at $4.8M per. A late injury has really zapped Alberro ability to make contact but we are sure the doctors in OKC will take care of him nicely. The Rendon side of the deal looks down right bad. Acquired by trade and not even a week later he gets claimed in the Rule 5. After spending some time in Nashville he was offered back to Helena, who declined as he remains in Nashville. Did Helena owe someone in OKC a debt, no clue but at least Helena shed the Arb3 contract. In this scenario he hands over a present to OKC instead of allowing Alberro to hit the free agent market.
OKC - B. Helena - F
Houston (113-49) dealt prospect Johnnie Felsen (SP) to Buffalo (75-87) for (Peter) Kang the Conqueror (C). Felson was looking good and made early season strides until he hit the injury bug with a labrum tear. We'll see how well he recovers and if this deal ends up panning out for the Buffalofaithful. Kang started at catcher for 123 games, leading his staff to a 3.44 ERA. His wRAA has him slightly negative with a below market OPS+, but he handled the pitching staff well. In a second deal later, Houston (113-49) traded Roy Street (RP), and prospects Louie Tapies (SS), and Earl Hunt (RP) to Buffalo (75-87) for $5M + Bernie Mendez (RF). Buffalo covers most of Merndez's contract by shipping in $5M after playing only 31 games for Buffalo. Mendez was slightly below his norms so perhaps, like Skynet, he's not a fan of Houston. Can't blame him, so much noise in that city...what are they doing banging trash cans or something? Geez, get your trash together City of Houston! Mendez still had a near 7 wRAA and an OPS+ of 108. The only player to see ML time was Roy Street, who saw 57 games out of the pen with a somewhat respectable WHIP and ERA; his ERA+ was league average - 99. Hunt made some quality progress this season but given his current outlook, we are not sure he ever makes the majors; we'll see if those splits every come around. Tapies on the other hand will at least be a defensive backup at the major league level. At 19, he has plenty of time to continue developing.
Houston - B+. Buffalo - B+
Salt Lake City (79-83) finds a trade partner in the defending World Series champions, sending Morgan Camilli (2B) to New Orleans (103-59) for Felipe Carrera (SS). Another confusing one for the defending world champions, Contracts will be about the same, and Carrera in their first year looks like the better bat and much better defender. He could have rested Quevedo at 2B much better than Camilli did.
Salt Lake City - B-. New Orleans- C-
Nashville (76-86) making waves like most new owners due, sends $4M + Alex Perez (DH) to NL powerhouse Hartford (96-66) for Gabe Brown (Pos), Albert Barcelo (Pos), and Edgmer Fernandez (RP). Hartford will be on the hook for the 3/$16.8M remaining on Perez's contract. He saw a slight power drop in slugging percentage and due to the cut in at bats also saw his HR total drop from the 45-55 range to 26 this season; though an OPS+ of 128 and a wRAA of nearly 19, shows he still adds value to any team. An understated downgrade from last year's Omar Gonzalez, but that doesn't seem to have stopped this team overall. Fernandez proved useful out of the pen, pitching nearly 90 innings of 3.84 FIP and a 119 ERA+. Barcelo was demoted to AAA where he spent the entire season with limited ABs, he's a defensive role player if he ever makes the majors. He's the exact type we eventually see in the Rule 5. Brown mostly pitched out of the pen but saw a few starters, but still just managed shy of 100 IP that were mostly all league average at best. A new owner shedding contracts of a player he has no history with and restocking a farm system; pretty straight forward deal.
Nashville - B-. Hartford - B-
Chicago (111-51) in an attempt to retain the division, traded prospects Jeimer Lee (RP) and Keury Lowell (RP) to Nashville (76-86) for Max Blakenship (RP) + $4.6M which just happens to be his entire salary for S55. Chicago will pick up the remaining year on his current deal. And ERA of 3.93 and a FIP of 5.01 says he got a little lucky this year but that might also be a little bit of small sample size, since he only pitched in 50 innings. Lucky him, he snaked quite a few wins, going 11-2 with 7/11 saves. And ERA+ of 108 shows he was slightly above league average for the time he spent on the mound. Lowell strangely only saw 7 1/3 inning of time over 5 games for the AA Music Notes.....not exactly music to his ears. His growth is about complete but his control and slurve are fantastic! Not much better was Lee who saw 36 innings over 23 games in AA, but a 0.72 WHIP and 1.00 ERA stand out. Another Nashville deal all about shedding contracts.
Chicago - B+. Nashville - C-
Washington DC (64-98) traded former #1 overall pick of S48 Olmedo Nunez (DH) along with 2/3rds of his S55 salary ($4M) to Salt Lake City (79-83) for a trio of prospects S52 #12 pick Benny Ward (Pos), S52 #26 pick Gerry Holt (Pos), and S53 #12 pick Fausto Silverio (P). Holt was promoted to the big league club and hit 31 HR on a .236 average, but had a negative wRAA for the season. Silverio and Ward both saw pretty decent growth for the AAA Nationals. Nunez who enters Arb3 next season will likely be locked up after his 10 wRAA, 111 OPS+ season that saw him hit 40 HR.
Washington DC - B-. Salt Lake City- A
Colorado Springs (77-85) traded max contract players with Houston (113-49). Arismendy Costilla (SP) going to Houston and Anibal Castillo (CF) coming back. From my Loins haven't finished below 2nd in their division since S38 but have failed to make the playoffs since S51; a rebuild is coming. Costilla has a player option, but now pitching for a contending team you have to think he'll want to renew at $20M for S56. He folds in nicely and can further mentor Houston's two Cy Young candidate (Dillard and Hatcher). Castillo pairs nicely with the power of Grayson Lowry and 3k hit hopeful Jorge Johnson. With plenty of starting pitching options they must have felt they had plenty of options and needed the Castillo's average on the team. This is a good win-win trade for both teams.
Colorado Springs - A. Houston - A+
Nasvhille (76-86) traded Kevin Duran (RP) and prospect Jo-Jo Fabregas (CF) to Houston (113-49) for a trio of prospects; Daniel Lindor (LF), Clarence Eickhoff (RP), and J.D. Pecina (LF). Fabregas servers a purpose with Castillo having been moved and comes at a cheap cost. Duran wasn't used much, but again served a purpose for a playoff bound team. Pecina received a promotion from A+ to AAA where he seemed to hit well but there's little to no development left for him. Eickhoff earned the promotion to AA but only pitched in 2 games. He's minor league depth and can be ignored. Lindor hit well in AAA, but we'll see if he can make the big league club next season.
Nasvhille - TBD. Houston - C+
Houston (113-49) traded Eugune Kroon (P), Max Olivo (DH), and Cliff Buford (RP) to New York (67-95) for $5M + Radhames Machado (RP). Houston picks up a big bullpen arm in his second season of a 5 year contract. Houston will be on the hook for 3/$46.6. His 51 games in Houston provided the team with 3.28 FIP, 143 ERA+ and only let 3 of 11 inherited runners score. For New York this was all abut cutting contracts and rebuilding. Expect them in the top 5 Rule 4 picks the next few seasons and to spend spend spend on IFAs. Kroon lasted 2 games in NY before he was shipped to Atlanta, see trade comments below. Buford is cheap and will likely pitch until he's traded or hits Arb3 as NY's preferred long reliever, whichever comes first. Olivo is the main get for NY, who hit OPS+ 132 and 25 wRAA. Considering the price tag, we'll likely to see him around a bit as well. Though he doesn't offer much on defense and calls a bad game behind the plate. But hey, for a rebuilding team, what's an extra L or two due to your catcher hiking up the pitcher's ERAs a bit? But more than likely, he'll stay as their DH.
Houston - A+. New York - B
Atlanta (124-38) traded a package of ML players including Zephyr Gross (SP) + Ossie Crow (RP) + Wil Johnston (3B) + $4M to Vancouver (101-61) for prospect Garabez Castillo (SP). It was a combination of moves, but this one was a big part of Vancouver tying a franchise record 101 wins this season and the most since the current owner took over in S41. Atlanta picks up a solid pitching prospect by dealing from depth. How is it, they trade a top pitcher like Gross and still somehow had the best record in the majors? Castillo made some good progress on the season, going up 5 OAV. Gross ended up going 13-1 over 22 starts with a 124 ERA+ and 3.35 FIP. With at least two more seasons in Vancouver, the Canucks will have their #1 starter to lead their rotation. Johnston filled in nicely though was limited to 230 ABs, though the .524 slugging percentage was promising. He'll enter Arb3 next year so we'll see what the commish does next. Crow was interesting, he's another reliever who should be better than the production you get from him. The ERA+ for Vancouver was still 104, so barely above league average. He'll enter Arb3 next season as well, but I assume he'll be kept around for awhile.
Atlanta - A. Vancouver - A
Salt Lake City (79-83) traded two young players in Adalberto Ontiveros (C) + Jeremy Choice (SP) to New York (67-95) for Jiovanni Poole (SP) + $4M. The salary nearly covers Poole's contract this season but still has another two left. For New York, it's yet another clear sign of a complete rebuild about to take place...as if you didn't already know that. Ontiveros was a bench player, but we'll see if that improves any next season. Choice hits his 4th team since S52, his ERA+ has him about league average though the FIP is MUCH higher than expected. Like the other players NY has acquired, he's cheap. If his Arb2 gets to expensive, he might get cut early. Poole on the other hand, had an ERA+ of 123 and FIP of 3.51 which was near his ERA this season. He may have gone 7-10 for SLC but 15 quality starts in 22 attempts. If they are gunning for the division, he's a decent back of the rotation arm to have.
Salt Lake City - B. New York - B
Chicago (111-51) traded the amazing arm of Ham Buddie (P) + $1.3M to Colorado Springs (77-85) for prospect Mike Woodson (SP). Woodson was a first round pick just last year but I guess Colorado Springs needs pitching that bad, though they could have done a ton better than our buddie the Hamburglar. Hammie did show promise and had his best season to date after the trade. And by best season, it was still a 1.38 WHIP and 4.25 ERA. Woodson on the other hand, showed good growth for a 23 year old in A+ ball. His limited control and splits will keep him out of the majors and likely out of AAA too.
Chicago - TBD. Colorado Springs - C-
New York (67-95) continue to sell off and rebuilding, traded Hiram Helms (RP) + $300k to Vancouver (101-61) for Rule 5 pick Alex Zoltan (RP). Vancouver was looking for a little more bullpen depth as they were nearing the playoffs, though Helms only pitched in 3 games and gave up 4 runs (2 earned) in 3 1/3 innings. Costing them their Rule 5 pick doesn't sting as much, though he did have better numbers than Helms while pitching for Vancouver. Zoltan will pitch in NY until Arb2/3 and gets expensive as they dive head first into their rebuild. Helms is a FA after this season so it wasn't about shedding long term contracts either.
New York - C+. Vancouver - C+
Atlanta (124-38) makes the last trade of the trade deadline season by sending prospect Phillip Burnett (2B) to New York (67-95) for Eugene Kroon (P) + $1.1M. Kroon had only been acquired by NY not log ago from Houston and filled in where needed for Atlanta while resting pitchers for the end of the season as they geared up for the playoffs. The addition was more about resting the actual playoff roster than acquiring an important piece at the deadline. And now sadly Kroon gets to watch Houston in the World Series this year. Burnett earned an immediate promotion to the majors but only saw 8 at-bats, hitting one single and striking out three times. On a rebuilding NY team, I wouldn't be surprised to see him stay for another season at the majors.
Atlanta - B-. New York - C-
Houston (113-49) dealt Red McAdams (1B) and James Halter (2B) to Nashville (76-86) in a post-deadline deal for Frank Sweeney (2B) and Dwight Roth (RF). Both Sweeney and Roth saw decent growth this season and were sent to the only level Houston prospects seem to matter, High A. On the flip side, Nashville sent their prospects to AAA, but neither were able to get an at-bat for the new club.
Houston - TBD. Nashville - TBD.
That about does it for S55's trades.