Trade Review: One Nut and Urban

One Nut Wonders receive: 2B Brandon Phillips SP Jerome Williams 24th rounder Urban Achievers receive: SS Zach Cozart SP Ryan Vogelsong 19th rounder How appropriate, Jason makes the first trade of the year. And it’s another lopsided one. I like Cozart fine, but he’s been up for all of a dozen games; he produced OK (9/1/3/0/.352) and could have a bright future is a tiny ballpark, but it’s not like Dan is getting an uberprospect who is a no doubt keeper for 2013. He’s 27, so let’s not mistake him for a 22 year old who could have a decent year, then blow up next year. What he is this year is more or less what he will always be. He’s actually only three years younger than Phillips. Not to mention, Urban has no need for a SS with Dee Gordon burning up the basepaths. Vogelsong is 34 and had a good first start that was consistent with last year, but I (and many others) have serious doubts about his ability to replicate his stunning 2011 numbers. The trade is all that more curious in that Dan traded for Phillips (and Gio) before the season started and kept him, giving up an 11th rounder (turned out to be Bonfacio) in the process. Yet he received no viable keeper in return and a modest five round upgrade on a late round pick. The difference in the quality of players will not be that substantial between the two rounds (five players from the 19th round of this year’s draft have already been dropped, eight from the 24th). Dan could’ve, should’ve got more. Jason meanwhile gets one of a handful of very good, not great, 2Bs, which makes up partly for keeping Utley. Though not entirely healthy at the moment, he’s hitting in the middle of the order and could put up his best power numbers yet, while perhaps slowing down a bit. Of course, Jason also started the process of trading away picks from 2013—something he lamented during the draft. That said, it certainly helps his team for 2012 and he is the clear winner here.