Starting Pitcher trade idea

[devilfan02]

Brandon McCarthy (White Sox) is a big time "pitching prospect" who is pretty much locked out of the rotation in Chicago. He has been on and off the big league roster the past couple seasons and is now in the ChiSox bullpen. I noticed today that 23 year old Charlie Haeger is starting today while filling in for Jose Contreras who is on the DL. Why wouldn't they put in McCarthy?? Plus, all their pitchers are locked up for the next couple seasons so he would be expendable.

We have been active with Kenny Williams and the White Sox in the past year so we seem to have a good business relationship with them. IMO, it would be a good idea to look at the possiblity of trading for McCarthy. He's young (23) yet inexperienced but has huge upside. The only problem is the Sox seem to be loaded at the Major League level so it would take some of our prospects to get a deal done. As I've said before, if we're going to trade away prospects for a starting pitcher, the pitcher better be damn good. They could want something like Counsell and a mid level prospect which I owuld be for

 

[HooverDam]

Im not familiar with this guy, but if he's a good as you say, I'd love to trade a mid level prospect and Counsell. Counsell is awesome, but if he left it would also clear up space for one of our young studs (Drew) to move up.

Whats Chicagos middle infield situation like? Do they need any help? I dont really follow AL that much.

 

[boondockdrunk]

Im not familiar with this guy, but if he's a good as you say, I'd love to trade a mid level prospect and Counsell. Counsell is awesome, but if he left it would also clear up space for one of our young studs (Drew) to move up.

Whats Chicagos middle infield situation like? Do they need any help? I dont really follow AL that much.

They currently have Cintron and Iguchi at second base while Juan Uribe mans short. Uribe is stuggling this year but I cannot see them accepting Counsell and a midlevel prospect for Brandon (unless that prospect is Mock, Owings, or Torra).

The White Sox system is stacked with outfield prospects but is weak with starting pitching. So we would really have a hard time trading with them.

 

[nathan]

Freddy Garcia has been mediocre this season. Jon Garland has a 6.05 ERA. Mark Buerhle is a free agent at the end of this season. He's not going anywhere.

 

[Boomer]

Manager Ozzie Guillen announced after today's game with the Angels that Brandon McCarthy would start Monday's game against the Twins.
McCarthy threw four innings in relief of starter Charlie Haeger tonight, yielding two runs on a walk and two hits. That he totaled 54 pitches tonight should help him get stretched out for the start on Monday. McCarthy's numbers haven't met expectations as a reliever thus far, but he's got the background to suggest he's well worth using until Jose Contreras returns. A strong matchup against a lackluster Twins offense next week increases McCarthy's short-term value.

From rotoworld.com

 

[Ryanwb]

I knew Garland was a one hit wonder!

 

[devilfan02]

They currently have Cintron and Iguchi at second base while Juan Uribe mans short. Uribe is stuggling this year but I cannot see them accepting Counsell and a midlevel prospect for Brandon (unless that prospect is Mock, Owings, or Torra).

The White Sox system is stacked with outfield prospects but is weak with starting pitching. So we would really have a hard time trading with them.

I agree with what you said. It is somewhat of a pipedream to get McCarthy for Counsell and a midlevel prospect. However, Juan Uribe is not performing at SS and Counsell would be a definite upgrade. Uribe has some of the most unorthodox fundamentals in the field and at the plate and it is clear through his sub par numbers. I'm not saying the Sox are looking for a SS, but if we were to dangle Counsell and a prospect for McCarthy you never know what could happen. Kenny Williams is known for making a lot of moves

 

[Bada0Bing]

Are you suggesting that they would take Counsell for Uribe and a prospect? I really don’t see this happening.

B-Bing

 

[devilfan02]

Freddy Garcia has been mediocre this season. Jon Garland has a 6.05 ERA. Mark Buerhle is a free agent at the end of this season. He's not going anywhere.

It's early in the season so Garcia and Garland can definitely turn it around by the trade deadline. Buerhle has a club option for 2007 at $9.5 million with a $1million dollar buyout clause. He's going nowhere till 2008 but I would put money on the fact that Chicago gets a new contract done for him when they buy his 2007 option. McCarthy is definitely on the trade block

 

[devilfan02]

Are you suggesting that they would take Counsell for Uribe and a prospect? I really don’t see this happening.

B-Bing

No, I'm suggesting that they would trade us Brandon McCarthy for Counsell and a prospect. Don't know what they would do with Uribe if they completed such a deal

 

[Bada0Bing]

I see. Good luck with that deal. McCarthy is a top prospect. Our Counsell & prospect would have to be a great deal.

B-Bing

 

[devilfan02]

I see. Good luck with that deal. McCarthy is a top prospect. Our Counsell & prospect would have to be a great deal.

B-Bing

McCarthys wasting away in the Sox bullpen. It would prob take Counsell and a prospect like Nippert/Owings/Tora. Not sure what to think about that

 

[Bada0Bing]

They will probably move a SP before trading McCarthy. IMO

B-Bing

 

[WildBB]

Im not familiar with this guy, but if he's a good as you say, I'd love to trade a mid level prospect and Counsell. Counsell is awesome, but if he left it would also clear up space for one of our young studs (Drew) to move up.

Whats Chicagos middle infield situation like? Do they need any help? I dont really follow AL that much.

Counsell and Gil maybe anoter ML pitcher.

 

[devilfan02]

I know Tony Armas Jr.'s name was tossed around this board as a possible signing last offseason and we should have got him. He ended up signing a 1 year contract with the Nats for $2 mill and has been awesome. He is a possibilty to look at to acquire this year or sign to a moderate contract this offseason. I really wish we could have signed him last offseason, he would have been a great pickup (cheap, effective, and when we sign an ace or two this offseason he would/could be a great #4 pitcher)

 

[devilfan02]

ESPN Rumor Mill-
A new start
May 18 - Kerry Wood's performance and his ability to stay healthy the remainder of this season likely will determine whether the Cubs pick up his $13.5 million option for 2007 or pay a $3 million buyout, the Daily Herald reports. The 28-year-old doesn't plan to weigh his contract situation until the season ends. "I'll go out every fifth day and concentrate on what I've got to do to give this team a chance to win, and when the season's over we can look back on it all and make that decision," Wood told the newspaper. "I absolutely would love to stay here."


This obviously isn't a trade idea but could be an option for next year. Say Wood has a avg to decent year, I can't see the Cubs picking up a 14 million dollar option on him. If they don't, should we go after him??? He has a home in the valley (Fountain Hills) and his wife lives here year round. If we were to sign an ace next offseason and Wood is still on the FA market, I can see him taking a hometown discount and playing for the Dbacks. We would be serious contenders IF he could stay healthy. Just another idea but like always, it depends on the price tag (and if the Cubs don't pick up his option).

 

[Bada0Bing]

Absolutely. Offer an attractive first year offer, with some bonuses and option years.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Wood isnt going to sacrifice his last big paycheck in order to take a discount to play here. Some team will offer him a large multi-year deal, and his injury history makes him too big of a risk for the Diamondbacks to make a similar offer.

 

[Bada0Bing]

"Some team will offer him a large multi-year deal"

Hopefully it isn't us.....

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

You never know, Wood could flourish under a manager who doesn't run him out there for 140 pitches a game.

 

[FinleyLover]

NO NO NO!!! GAWD NO!!! When exactly has he been healthy? And how many years has he started the season on the DL? Too many. I don't care if we could get him for next to nothing. IMO, he would be a huge waste of roster space.

 

[devilfan02]

NO NO NO!!! GAWD NO!!! When exactly has he been healthy? And how many years has he started the season on the DL? Too many. I don't care if we could get him for next to nothing. IMO, he would be a huge waste of roster space.

Disagree. Like MaoTosi said, if you monitor his pitch count and don't run him into the ground in mid-June, he could be a valuable pickup. While he's a huge risk, the payoffs could be great. Dusty Baker has a long history of misusing pitchers

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Disagree. Like MaoTosi said, if you monitor his pitch count and don't run him into the ground in mid-June, he could be a valuable pickup. While he's a huge risk, the payoffs could be great. Dusty Baker has a long history of misusing pitchers

Kerry Wood has been injury prone long before Dusy Baker was his manager (but I dont doubt that Baker could have made things worse). Is Kerry Wood the guy you want to spend eight figures a year on, because that is what it is going to take to sign him. And obviously if you are going to give him ace money he is going to have to pitch like an ace in order for him to live up to that contract. That means he has to be the guy that can give you 200 innings a year (something he has only done twice) and pitch well deep into games consistently, not a guy you constantly have to monitor on pitch counts.

Yes, the payoffs could be great. Obviously all you have to do is look at the Randy Johnson signing to find an example of giving big money to an injury riddled front line starter that paid big dividends. But that clearly isnt going to be the case most of the time, and there is a very large chance that the Kerry Wood we have seen for the majority of his career will be the same Kerry Wood for the next several years and that he just won't be able to stay healthy. Giving that large of a contract and having it backfire could cripple this club for several years. Wood just isnt worth that kind of risk.

 

[HooverDam]

It all depends on the price for Wood. If we get him very cheap, great, he would make a perfect 2nd or 3rd starter for us (or maybe fourth- because we are getting Willis and Moulder- right ). The Dbacks cant give him too much though because he is a huge risk.

Is it completely insane to imagine an Ortiz for Wood trade? Im not sure on the money, but maybe the Cubs have seen enough of Woods injuries and think they could restore Ortiz? Ok, now Im probably being dillusional.

 

[BC867]

Obviously all you have to do is look at the Randy Johnson signing to find an example of giving big money to an injury riddled front line starter that paid big dividends.

Isn't that what the Yankees have done (except for the big dividends)?