We also have to remember that LaRussa knows him from his time in St. Louis.
This isn't Joe Shmoe they are taking this risk on. This is a guy who LaRussa has been watching for years.
He got traded to a bad situation, gets hammered loss after loss while pitching good and doesn't waver. That and he's 25. Maybe they are wrong, but they made a decision of who they like more. The guys we had, or Miller. They must think very highly of him.
Some have said he could be a #1 someday. Some GM as reported somewhere said they'd rather have him then Jeff Samardzija.
We're a young team, we still have talent that can percolate up, and still have money to spend. We traded some of the best of the excess to solidify the top of our rotation to couple with the ZG signing.
We gave up a lot, but we had those assets to give up. Meanwhile the rest of the NL West keeps coming up empty handed. Prospects could turn out great and make an impact in a period of say, 3-10 years from now, but we also have to remember no one knew who should be the #1 pick last year, and it was considered a down draft at the top. He's no Alex Rodriguez. He should be solid, but we got a solid guy now for sure in the trade.
We have to look at all these moves in conjunction with what might happen later in the offseason or near the trading deadline. This deal allows us to go out and do more.
Signing a lesser guy for more money takes away some of that flexibility, and we might be able to be buyers for guys teams might not be able to re-sign near the deadline.
Now if we can somehow get some relief pitching help, we'll be solid everywhere on the diamond.