Break-time news
DMZ · December 23, 2006 at 4:48 pm · Filed Under Mariners
We’re almost certainly going to be really bad about updating for the next couple of days as we hang out with family and friends, so bear with us.
Saturday:
Texas acquired Brandon McCarthy, who they intend to start, and OF David Paisano for LHP John Danks, RHP Nick Masset and RHP Jacob Rasner.
Danks was rated the #1 prospect in the BA top 10, and Nick Masset was #8. Paisano didn’t rank for the White Sox.
The Rangers’ statements so far make it seem like they intend to start McCarthy even if they do acquire Zito (but they’re not optimistic that’ll happen). That could be interesting: McCarthy’s ground ball percentage was 38.5%, and Texas’ outfield next year has Lofton in center and Wilkerson’s not too mobile either.
We’re almost certainly going to be really bad about updating for the next couple of days as we hang out with family and friends, so bear with us.
Actually I’m pleasantly surprised how much content has been posted in the past few days while we’re into holiday season. You guys certainly all need a break; I know I need a break from reading.
I’m confused by this trade (and the prior rumors of Garland et al). I thought the main point of the Garcia trade was to free up a spot in the rotation for McCarthy. Looks like Danks is a year away; are they going to rush him to the majors next year?
Happy Holidays.
Looks like Danks is a year away; are they going to rush him to the majors next year?
I wouldn’t be that surprised if Danks could be effective as a major league starter next year, especially with Don Cooper instructing him in the ways of pitching.
Either way, I think this was a really interesting trade. Going just by his major league numbers, McCarthy looks like he could be a mid-rotation guy without a whole lot of upside. And as Derek points out, his fly-ball tendancies could lead to an adventure in Arlington. OTOH, McCarthy has arguably a better minor league record than Danks, though, and what seems to be an unusually large gap between his major league numbers and minor league numbers. I’d be interested to hear any theories why that gap has been so large for McCarthy.
There are other guys involved, but this really feels like a Danks/McCarthy challenge trade.
Did we have a chance at McCarthy? If so, should we have taken it?
We would have, by comparison, had to give up our #1 and #8, which would be Adam Jones and Chris Tillman.
Pass.
huh. that is interesting, as there was all that talk about finding a place for McCarthy. …
“When I talked to Kenny, he said he got bowled over by a deal,” McCarthy told MLB.com shortly after he was traded and an hour before his first conference call with the Texas media. “It was going to take something he really felt comfortable with to make it happen, and he felt comfortable with this one. It was weird to see it happen that fast. After two years of trade rumors, it finally happened, and I hadn’t heard a rumor about this one at all.”
We would have, by comparison, had to give up our #1 and #8, which would be Adam Jones and Chris Tillman.
And since the White Sox already have Anderson in CF, they probably wanted a pitcher in return for McCarthy, and the Mariners don’t really have any pitchers very comparable to Danks in their system. So even Jones/Tillman might not have gotten it done.
I wonder if this makes the Rangers less likely to sign Zito. Texas gave up a good amount to get McCarthy, but it is probably a better deal than paying $100 million for Zito.
M’s reportedly sign Sean Burroughs, apparently reach agreement with Braves on trade of Adrian Beltre for Tim Hudson.
Just kidding on that last part. But the former is true…
Yeah, I wrote up a whole post on Burroughs already.
So where is Zito going to end up?
McCarthy as a starter in the Ballpark at Arlington, or whatever they call it now, could be ugly. There’s a good chance his K/G will drop back toward his 2005 rate due to the return to the rotation, and he’s been super homer-prone (1.80 and 1.85 HR/G in 2005 and 2006, respectively), so allowing more balls in play doesn’t bode well with worse fielding and an even better hitting environment in Texas than Chicago. There’s a good chance his HR/FB will regress to the mean next year, as over 15% of his flyballs have left the park the last two years, but he’s also benefited from low BABIP (.249 and .255) and high LOB% (81.2 and 76.6). He’s likely to have low BABIP due to his flyball tendencies, but not as low as the last two seasons. McCarthy’s worst case scenario (K’s drop, HR’s stay the same, more hits fall in, league average LOB%) would be an absolutely hideous season.
[Duhr, I’m drunk post]
ah, such holiday spirit.
#10- well, it seems that Texas too feels that Zito is going to the Mets, and that all the courting in just part of Boras’ traditional dance.
While management has definitely given us fans some coal in our stockings this year all is not lost — only 99 days until we tee ’em up against the dreaded Oakland Athletics on April 2. And for those who neurotically count the days between seasons, New Year’s Eve will mark the advent of hump day — the point at which we pass the halfway mark between October 1, 2006’s dimly remembered 3-2 win over Texas until the first day of the 2007 campaign. Just thought you’d like to know.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays.
Here is the White Sox bullpen, as it stands:
Andy Sisco
Nick Masset
David Aardsma
Mike MacDougal
Matt Thornton
Bobby Jenks
Hard-throwing and scary, top to bottom. And considering how Guillen works his starters in the ground, none likely will be forced into situations they can’t handle in 07.
Maybe TPTB should’ve traded once-hyped prospects such as Nageotte and Livingston for another prospect-plus when they had the chance?
The trade came down by Texas assuming Zito was not going to sign with the Rangers although they are still appling pressure to the pitcher.that being said the GM also noted to not trust all the rumers milling about in the Zito sweepstakes.
Okay all that huff and puff…I for one seeing whAT THE m’S WERE ABOUT THIS OFF SEASON AND READING POST AFTER POST I am not throwing up the white flag but I am extremely dissapointed to say the least.
“Freak”n Cap Locks”.
I do see Texas bettering them selves with this trade in the long haul though, imo.
…Also happy Holidays and merry Christmas and Happy Honikah, (Iknow,I know the spelling is attrocious).
Looks like the Brew Crew is giving Suppan 42/4. I need to seriously try and find a job where I can bust my ass for a few weeks on national television and turn that into a 150% pay increase.
I need to seriously try and find a job where I can bust my ass for a few weeks on national television and turn that into a 150% pay increase.
Sounds like the premise of The Apprentice.
Looks like Dave is eating a horse.
a slightly bigger than average horse I might add. 😛
but aGaIn, this doesnt Look as bad as soME other Clearly HorriblE signings.
#9 —
My bad, that’ll teach me to not scroll down before posting.
#12 —
I didn’t see this particular post, but how do you know when AK1984 is drunk? His posts are all intoxicaterrific.
Merry Christmas, all.
#22– re, 12, in this case, he actually told us 🙂
ah, a beautiful drive over to Cle Elum, and a rather awful drive back again bookending a lovely Christmas Eve get-together
I wish you all a Merry Christmas (and/or any other festivus celebration you may wish to celebrate).
Me, I think I’ll sit on my sofa, eat homemade pie & finish David Maraniss’ Clemente book…
Well, it looks like Suppan is a Brewer. He signed 4/42 + mutual 5th year. So much for waiting for Zito to sign. The Cards will now sign Weaver pretty quick for ??? who knows.
Mariners need to forget Zito and start signing 2nd tier FA starters like Thomsen, Ponson, Armas Jr, etc. Just start stockpiling starters on the low risk, high reward theory and see who makes the rotation and discard who doesn’t. Merry Christmas to all!!
ah, I love the Star Ledger 🙂
That seems to me like a truly awful deal for the Rangers. I’d be interested to hear what Dave has to say, but it doesn’t look to me like McCarthy’s the best pitcher in that deal, and if he isn’t, they lose (possibly in a big way).
#26– ok, now, this makes a little more sense