More trade reviews

Cowhide receives:
SP Jason Vargas SEA
Round 19

Donkey receives:
SP Tommy Milone OAK
Round 14

Understanding Milone’s limitations, I don’t see the real value here for Dave since he’s essentially acquiring the same pitcher but further hurting his draft status for 2013. Their lines are eerily similar, with the same Ks and Vargas besting the youth by 0.22 in era, 0.08 in whip and 5 qs (20 less innings for Milone). Both are great at home and crap on the road (Milone – 5.77/1.53, Vargas – 4.55/1.28), though Vargas is a bit more tolerable. Perhaps the greatest difference is Vargas is unlikely to lose his rotation spot, while Milone may be relegated to bullpen duty when McCarthy and Anderson are ready. Still, five rounds? I know Chris drives a hard bargain but I don’t think there was a rush to acquire JV and Dave’s 2013 is getting more depressing than Andrew’s 2012, with no picks in the first five rounds and three picks in the first eight. He might be able to improve that some in the offseason, but he doesn’t have a lot of spare keepers floating around that roster from what I can see. Maybe he’ll just trade 2014 picks to upgrade his 2013 roster, or just start the year in rebuild mode. Either way, Dave and Casten (10 picks in final three rounds) – two teams that had favorable draft positions going into 2012 – are looking at what many of us 2011 contenders remember as a pretty painful experience.
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Cowhide receives:
3B Chipper Jones ATL
Round 21

Anal receives:
OF Michael Brantley CLE
Round 18

Three rounds for a bench bat. I guess its needed given Zimmerman’s history of injuries, but you better hope they aren’t both injured at the same time. Dave has a lot of OFs so it makes sense to get someone who can play a different position. Chipper also plays quite well when healthy, though Brantley hasn’t exactly been a slouch this year either. Proactively selling off parts like this is a very smart move for Andrew and he could use more of it in the next 11 days.
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One Nut receives:
Dan Straily
Round 24

Angry Pirates receives:
Round 22

Can’t really blame either team here, but I particularly like the move by Kyle to acquire a part and sell it off again. Maybe would’ve waited another start to see if I could get a couple more rounds of upgrade, but still nice to move up from a round that really doesn’t produce many contributors. For Jason, I found it odd considering no one knew who Straily was before this year, but quickly skyrocketed up prospect charts and the minor leagues. I wonder if he’ll stick in the rotation for the year though given McCarthy and Anderson’s pending return and the fact that the A’s are still very much in the hunt. But, then again, it is just two rounds.
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Grumpy receives:
C Joe Mauer MIN
Round 23

Keepin receives:
C Carlos Ruiz PHI
Round 16

Funny how you differently you can look at trades over the course of a matter of months. Ruiz has been amazing this year, so its unfortunate he could be lost for some time with this foot injury. He’s always had good OBP numbers but really shined this year, contributing in power and run production. Alas, his useful life is over and with guys like Saltalamacchia, Pierzynski, Ruiz, and Yadier leading the way for catchers this year, makes you wonder why you even drafted one in the first place. Mauer has had a fine season. Doesn’t look like he’ll ever have the 28 HR pop he once displayed but he’ll always be a run producer and have one of the top OBP in the league. Given the swiss cheese nature of Casten’s 2013 draft board and the density of picks in the later rounds, I personally would’ve gone with a wire option with some pop like Rosario or Salty rather than give up seven rounds. Or I would’ve waited until Aug 18th at 10 pm and forced Pierce to take two rounds. But oh well. Pierce has done a nice job lately compiling picks to go with a pretty strong set of keepers, which should help him get closer to returning to glory in 2013.
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Angry Pirates receives:
1B/OF Garrett Jones PIT
Round 13

Clayton & King receives:
1B/OF Kendrys Morales
Roung 18

I like this move for both teams, but particularly for Russ who will have a very capable bench bat/Berkman fill in.  It is hard to put a value on Morales given that he had two years off and has been productive in spurts – probably the primary reason he’s been traded three times this year. No one wants to give up on him, but no one really know what to do with him, particularly since he somehow received OF eligibility this year. Garret Jones can be productive but its typically in bursts that you fail to notice and take advantage of until they’re over. Still, its perplexing, given the talent available at the position, that Russ hasn’t had better options at 1B this year beside a hobbling Berkman, Yonder Alonso, Shelley Duncan, and Jordan Pacheco. Morales will probably be the best player to man first this year and perhaps his only OK production was the result of his time off and he’ll suddenly be his 2010 self.

Kyle again does a nice job selling a part for a pick. Given that there’s players who have had better years than Kendrys sitting on the wire, he did quite well getting five rounds from him. He and Chris are in the best position to dominate the 2013 draft.