High and Tight.

Friday, December 05, 2008

Shopping list: CC, Sheets, Dunn

Sabathia is an obvious target, and the ball's in his court.

I don't understand why there isn't a lot more talk about two obvious bargain buys - Ben Sheets and Adam Dunn.

I'll hold off on the Dunn talk for this post, since it's been covered on this space numerous times, except to say that speculation is now that he'd cost less than $10M per year and is now an absolute steal.

Sheets, on the other hand, is also a bargain as people wonder about his durability. I'd have no problem with a 2 year contract with a vesting option for a third based on number of starts. I'm not as worried if he needs a bit of rehab time at the beginning of 2008 as adding him into the rotation at a later time would allow for Chamberlain to take some starts off as is the plan to keep his innings under control. Sheets has made 34, 22, 17, 24 and 31 starts over the last five years, respecively, with ERA+ of 162, 128, 119, 117 and 139. It would not be a stretch to expect 25 starts and a 120 ERA+ in 2008.

I'll take that as a bargain.

Sign all three and your lineup and rotation look as such:
SP Sabathia
SP Wang
SP Chamberlain
SP Sheets
SP Pettitte/Hughes

LF/CF Damon
SS Jeter
3B Rodriguez
1B/LF Dunn
RF Nady
DH Matsui
C Posada
2B Cano
CF/LF/1B Swisher

I'd go to war with that team, and there's no loss of financial flexibility or prospects.

Labels: adam dunn, ben sheets, cc sabathia, free agents, trade proposals

posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 3:40 PM 1 comments

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Offseason Target Idea #1: Jake Peavy

The Padres are for sale.

The Padres will be shopping everyone.

He's affordable now, but getting more expensive:
2009 opening day age: 27
2009 salary: $11 million
2010 salary: $15 million
2011 salary: $16 million
2012 salary: $17 million
Peavy signed a three-year, $52 million extension, which begins in 2010, on Dec. 12, 2007. The Padres have a team option for 2013 at $22 million, with a $4 million buyout.

Try signing Sabathia for that amount and you'll get laughed at, and Peavy's the better pitcher.

The problem? How much would it take to get one of the top three pitchers in the game?

I'm not one of the "trade Cano!" people, because I don't like trading young talent when it is at its lowpoint value-wise, but any package would have to start with the second baseman. The Padres do have a prospect (Matt Antonelli) they drafted first a couple of years ago who plays second, and he's one of the highest rated prospects in their system. That is, of course, because the Padres farm system is downright awful. Antonelli was scheduled prior to 2008 to begin 2009 as the starter on the big club. After a disastrous 2008 in AAA (.215/.335/.322, 7 HR) it's obvious he's not ready and possible he may never pan out. Cano would offer the Pads a significant upgrade.

Of course, they'd need a bit more. They'd be saving a chunk of change with dealing Peavy's salary, but he's their most marketable player now that Hoffman is in severe decline. To justify it, they would also have to get a number of those coveted arms from the Yankees system.

Hughes and Chamberlain are most likely off the table, so let's guess it would take Cano, Ian Kennedy, Austin Jackson, Xavier Nady and Alfredo Aceves. The Padres outfield was/is awful, and Jackson could be a good player for a long time. Nady came up as a Padre, and could fill in immediately. Kennedy could fit right into their rotation and could shine in that ballpark and in the National League.

Food for thought, Mr. Cashman. Throw some things against the wall and see what sticks.

Labels: alfredo aceves, austin jackson, ian kennedy, jake peavy, padres, robinson cano, trade proposals, trade rumors, x nady

posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 3:29 PM 3 comments