Matt Davidson Traded for Addison Reed

[PDXChris]

The Diamondbacks announced that they have acquired Addison Reed from the White Sox in exchange for third baseman Matt Davidson. MLB.com's Steve Gilbert first reported that the trade was on the verge of happening (on Twitter).

Reed, 24, has saved 69 games for the White Sox over the past two seasons, posting a 4.20 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 126 1/3 innings in that time. Sabermetric stats such as FIP (3.38) and SIERA (3.33) feel that Reed's ERA should have been substantially lower in that time. The Diamondbacks will control Reed through the 2017 season and he is not arbitration eligible until next offseason, making him a highly affordable piece to add to the back-end of their bullpen.

Decent numbers last year 40 saves. Young, cheap and under control for a little while.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/12/diamondbacks-acquire-addison-reed.html

Looks like we are done with a SP.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Decent numbers last year 40 saves. Young, cheap and under control for a little while.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/12/diamondbacks-acquire-addison-reed.html

Looks like we are done with a SP.

Love this trade!! And what do you mean by "we are done with a SP?"

 

[PDXChris]

Love this trade!! And what do you mean by "we are done with a SP?"

Should have said 'down to SP'. Stupid auto correct

 

[82CardsGrad]

Should have said 'down to SP'. Stupid auto correct

Got it... and yea - auto correct can be a pain in the arse!!

 

[sfrancis13]

Decent numbers last year 40 saves. Young, cheap and under control for a little while.

Looks like we are done with a SP.

Not really cheap for that long. This is his last year of pre-arb. Starting next year he will be getting expensive fast. That said, don't hate the move, but I don't like the idea of giving up an everyday player for someone who will throw 70 innings.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Not really cheap for that long. This is his last year of pre-arb. Starting next year he will be getting expensive fast. That said, don't hate the move, but I don't like the idea of giving up an everyday player for someone who will throw 70 innings.

It can be argued - and is by many experts, that the most important position on a roster is the closer position... Davidson was toast the second we signed Trumbo. This is a terrific move...

 

[sfrancis13]

It can be argued - and is by many experts, that the most important position on a roster is the closer position... Davidson was toast the second we signed Trumbo. This is a terrific move...

I'm sorry but a closer is no where near the most important position on the team. I don't know what experts you have looked at, but most would agree a 200 inning guy or everyday player is way more valuable than a closer. Any guy who throws 50-70 innings automatically has their value capped. Look at the final 4 teams left standing and ask them how important a closer was. They all switched closers mid year. Relievers are a dime a dozen and can be found off the scrap heap.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I'm sorry but a closer is no where near the most important position on the team. I don't know what experts you have looked at, but most would agree a 200 inning guy or everyday player is way more valuable than a closer. Any guy who throws 50-70 innings automatically has their value capped. Look at the final 4 teams left standing and ask them how important a closer was. They all switched closers mid year. Relievers are a dime a dozen and can be found off the scrap heap.

There are always exceptions, however year in and year out, the majority of teams that reach the post-season possess a rock solid closer. And the team that wins championships almost always possesses a rock solid closer.

If they can be "found of the scrap heap", why don't more teams do just that??

Further, Davidson was not going to be an everyday player on the Dbacks. We shipped off a platoon player for a legit closer. Great trade in my book.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Gwrar! Towers sucks. Dumb Trade!!!!!


According to thesmel.com, Davidson was 97 elite and guaranteed to be an all star.

Burn Towers burn!

 

[BirdMan21]

Great trade....no space for Davidson with Prado already signed. I had actually heard before it broke that we were sending Bradley and Davidson for Sale and Reed, and I liked that as well. Hate seeing out young homegrown talent leave....but I'll take a young proven player over upside all day. Plus this is a huge boost to the bullpen....now if we can sign a solid starter too, great offseason

 

[Diamondback Jay]

So breaking this down as a playoff/extension of the Trumbo deal:

Arizona gets: Addison Reed, Mark Trumbo, talented prospects Brandon Jacobs and AJ Schugel

Arizona trades: Tyler Skaggs, Adam Eaton and Matt Davidson.

They paid a steep price in prospects for sure but got two young and accomplished Major Leaguers as well as a pair of enticing prospects in return. The former two are under real reasonable team controlled contracts for another three seasons.

I'm neither a staunch fighter of Kevin Towers nor a blatant hater but I think this is a pretty good off season so far. The prospect they got back for Bell is one I like too.

 

[82CardsGrad]

So breaking this down as a playoff/extension of the Trumbo deal:

Arizona gets: Addison Reed, Mark Trumbo, talented prospects Brandon Jacobs and AJ Schugel

Arizona trades: Tyler Skaggs, Adam Eaton and Matt Davidson.

They paid a steep price in prospects for sure but got two young and accomplished Major Leaguers as well as a pair of enticing prospects in return. The former two are under real reasonable team controlled contracts for another three seasons.

I'm neither a staunch fighter of Kevin Towers nor a blatant hater but I think this is a pretty good off season so far. The prospect they got back for Bell is one I like too.

Bingo!

 

[Bert]

Love this trade. Now I can get excited. Not that I didn't like the Trumbo trade but I was very afraid that KT was going to head into the season with no closer again.

If we can somehow make the Tanaka deal happen this offseason will be a solid A in my book.

 

[Bert]

I'm sorry but a closer is no where near the most important position on the team. I don't know what experts you have looked at, but most would agree a 200 inning guy or everyday player is way more valuable than a closer. Any guy who throws 50-70 innings automatically has their value capped. Look at the final 4 teams left standing and ask them how important a closer was. They all switched closers mid year. Relievers are a dime a dozen and can be found off the scrap heap.

How many wins and more importantly, bullpen innings did the "closer" position cost this team last season? It was a GLARING need.

 

[WildBB]

How many wins and more importantly, bullpen innings did the "closer" position cost this team last season? It was a GLARING need.

Have to agree. Ask the Yanks how many games difference a good closer makes.

We have bats now. Hopefully.

 

[Gaddabout]

Davidson seemed primed for a career as a DH. He was never going to be an everyday player for the D-Backs.

 

[DWKB]

I'm not sure what this guy adds honestly. Can someone enlighten me on why this is a GREAT trade? Addison pitched worse than Bell (the guy he's replacing) last year honestly. He is younger and cheaper, but he lost 2 MPH on his fastball last year and went much more to the slider. Not a good sign IMO.

 

[Bert]

Test

A+ Avatar score.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I'm not sure what this guy adds honestly. Can someone enlighten me on why this is a GREAT trade? Addison pitched worse than Bell (the guy he's replacing) last year honestly. He is younger and cheaper, but he lost 2 MPH on his fastball last year and went much more to the slider. Not a good sign IMO.

His stats from last season:

40 Saves
9.1 K/9 innings
72 K's in 71.1 innings
56 Hits
1.107 WHIP
3.79 ERA
.215 Batting Average Against
.603 OPS Against
.277 OBP Against

I don't have time to dig up all of Bell's stats. However, I feel pretty certain that, just about across the board (Bell might have a high K/9 inning ratio), Reed's stats are superior.
Additionally, Reed is less expensive...

Great? Yea, I said that as IMHO, Davidson was nothing but a platoon player on this team and we picked up a legit closer in return. I guess it won't be "great" if Reed go about puking all over himself... We'll have to wait and see, however, I really, really like this move. A lot!

 

[BC867]

There is no question, as most of our posters said, that a closer is singularly more important than a starter.

The pitcher who pitches the 9th inning of most of our close games when we are leading as the opposition comes up for their final at-bats (especially on the road when a walk-off loses the game for us instantly) is much more important than one of five starting pitchers who are considered very good if they pitch into the seventh inning.

The closer role began in the late 1940's with Jim Konstanty of the Phillies, then Clem Labine then Joe Black of the Dodgers and Hoyt Wilhelm of the Giants in the early '50's. Perhaps even earlier.

Ironically, the Dodgers dominated the NL in those years ('47-'56) with weak starting pitching staffs to the point where Clem Labine was moved to the starting staff in Game 2 of the '51 playoffs and pitched a 9-inning shutout the game before Bobby Thomson's shot heard 'round the world

Ralph Branca, their starter in Game 1, relieved in Game 3 and gave up HR's to Thomson in both games. He relieved because Clem Labine had pitched the shutout the game before. Now then, who was more valuable?

A year later, Joe Black was moved to the starting staff from closer role to start Games 1, 4 and 7 in the World Series. 'Just some early examples of the closer being the most important member of the pitching staff. They affected many more victories than the starters.

And, at that time, starters started every 4th, not every 5th, game and were expected to pitch 9 innings. Today's starting pitchers get an extra day of rest and, as I mentioned, are considered very good if they make it to the 7th inning.

Teams can do well without a Randy Johnson at the top of their starting staff. They cannot do well with a preponderance of blown saves . . . such as the 2013 D'backs. I applaud Kevin Towers for making it a priority.

 

[TJ]

Davidson's value to this team was always trade bait. Getting a 40 save closer in a player-for-player exchange is a good deal.

Good trade. Hope Hernandez gets over his poor season so we have some BP depth.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

His stats from last season:

40 Saves
9.1 K/9 innings
72 K's in 71.1 innings
56 Hits
1.107 WHIP
3.79 ERA
.215 Batting Average Against
.603 OPS Against
.277 OBP Against

I don't have time to dig up all of Bell's stats. However, I feel pretty certain that, just about across the board (Bell might have a high K/9 inning ratio), Reed's stats are superior.
Additionally, Reed is less expensive...

Great? Yea, I said that as IMHO, Davidson was nothing but a platoon player on this team and we picked up a legit closer in return. I guess it won't be "great" if Reed go about puking all over himself... We'll have to wait and see, however, I really, really like this move. A lot!

5-2
4.11 ERA
15 saves
74 hits
72 k
65 IP
1.371 WHIP
12 hr allowed

 

[82CardsGrad]

5-2
4.11 ERA
15 saves
74 hits
72 k
65 IP
1.371 WHIP
12 hr allowed

Seems to me Reed has the superior stats... Unless I'm missing something...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[overseascardfan]

IF ARZ can get Tanaka then okay trade but if not ARZ just traded away another piece they would need to acquire the Ace Towers is looking for, Sale for example.

RP / Closers are probably the most saturated position on the FA market so this guy better carry his weight.

 

[AZ Native]

Davidson's value to this team was always trade bait. Getting a 40 save closer in a player-for-player exchange is a good deal.

Good trade. Hope Hernandez gets over his poor season so we have some BP depth.

Nice post.