Would a Jones for Lieber Deal Make Sense?

[Amazing_Grace]

Had the Cubs not given Jason Marquis so much money, this would be a good deal. Since they did, they're in the same boat as Philly in having too many starters. I'd only do a deal like this if Pie played great, Soriano's defense was awful in CF, and Miller and Prior both looked ineffective and/or got hurt again.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

There is no reason to trade Jones right now, he is pretty much the only LH offensive threat in the lineup. I know some don't buy into that, but you need to have at least some balance in your lineup.

 

Jones did just fine last year. If Matt Murton would put up a .500 SLG with 27 HR people would be wetting themselves.

 

The Cubs did just fine against RHP last year. LH threats aren't nearly as necessary as overall threats. The Cubs sucked against LHP last year, due largely to players like Jones who were completely worthless against them.

 

But you do need SOME left-handers in your lineup. I'm not saying it has to be 5RH/4LH, or vice-versa. Late in the game against a closer, who in this division are mostly, if not all RH, it would be nice to have some guys from the left side with a little bit of power.

 

I think we need to look at the end result. If you're right handed heavy but your big RH bats can hit right handed pitching very well(Lee and Ramirez can, Soriano doesn't have a heavy platoon split either), then it's not such a large concern. Plus, like Goony said, Pie or Floyd are likely the ones that would replace Jones, and they're both left handed hitters with a sizable platoon split.

[Backtobanks]

Maybe I'm underestimating Lieber's value, but Joe Sheehan of Baseball Prospectus offers these trade scenarios:

 

 

 

 

To the Diamondbacks for Chad Tracy and Juan Cruz. Josh Byrnes has been very protective of the D'backs' pool of young talent. However, both of these players are older, about to become more expensive, and moving them would create space for younger, less expensive players such as Alberto Callaspo and Tony Pena. It’s arguable whether the Diamondbacks need to add another starter, although a winnable NL West would be moreso with Lieber, rather than Edgar Gonzalez, in the #5 slot. The Phillies would get an excellent platoon partner for Helms at third base and a true power arm for the seventh and eighth innings.

 

To the Rangers for Brad Wilkerson. Wilkerson’s value is down, coming off an injury-plagued and power-free 2006 campaign. If healthy, he’s a good defensive outfielder and a source of OBP and doubles, a player who allows Victorino to stay in his natural fourth-outfielder role, pinch-running and being a defensive replacement for Pat Burrell. The Rangers still need to fortify the back end of their rotation to challenge in a soft AL West, and they have an assortment of corner outfielders who may approximate Wilkerson’s production.

 

To the Astros for Morgan Ensberg. Ensberg’s low batting averages and high strikeout totals have made him an undervalued player in Houston, even as he remains the team’s second-best player after Lance Berkman. The Astros have Mike Lamb, who's not better than Ensberg but a good player in his own right, as well as Mark Loretta, who can also play third base. The back end of their rotation is very shaky, with Wandy Rodriguez and Matt Albers. It's not terribly likely that the Phillies would trade for a right-handed-hitting third baseman—they’d probably have more interest in Lamb—but Ensberg would be a significant improvement over Helms, especially against right-handers and in the field.

There are other teams that could be matches if there was enough motivation, including the Red Sox (Wily Mo Pena or Kevin Youkilis), the Yankees (Melky Cabrera), the Nationals (Ryan Church and an arm) or the Brewers (assorted corner outfielders). Whether to one of these teams, or to one that I haven’t considered, trading Lieber would better align the Phillies’ talent and make them an even stronger threat in the NL East.

 

Personally, I would think the Phillies would jump on any of those deals with the exception of the Wilkerson deal.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Maybe I'm underestimating Lieber's value, but Joe Sheehan of Baseball Prospectus offers these trade scenarios:

 

 

 

 

To the Diamondbacks for Chad Tracy and Juan Cruz. Josh Byrnes has been very protective of the D'backs' pool of young talent. However, both of these players are older, about to become more expensive, and moving them would create space for younger, less expensive players such as Alberto Callaspo and Tony Pena. It’s arguable whether the Diamondbacks need to add another starter, although a winnable NL West would be moreso with Lieber, rather than Edgar Gonzalez, in the #5 slot. The Phillies would get an excellent platoon partner for Helms at third base and a true power arm for the seventh and eighth innings.

 

To the Rangers for Brad Wilkerson. Wilkerson’s value is down, coming off an injury-plagued and power-free 2006 campaign. If healthy, he’s a good defensive outfielder and a source of OBP and doubles, a player who allows Victorino to stay in his natural fourth-outfielder role, pinch-running and being a defensive replacement for Pat Burrell. The Rangers still need to fortify the back end of their rotation to challenge in a soft AL West, and they have an assortment of corner outfielders who may approximate Wilkerson’s production.

 

To the Astros for Morgan Ensberg. Ensberg’s low batting averages and high strikeout totals have made him an undervalued player in Houston, even as he remains the team’s second-best player after Lance Berkman. The Astros have Mike Lamb, who's not better than Ensberg but a good player in his own right, as well as Mark Loretta, who can also play third base. The back end of their rotation is very shaky, with Wandy Rodriguez and Matt Albers. It's not terribly likely that the Phillies would trade for a right-handed-hitting third baseman—they’d probably have more interest in Lamb—but Ensberg would be a significant improvement over Helms, especially against right-handers and in the field.

There are other teams that could be matches if there was enough motivation, including the Red Sox (Wily Mo Pena or Kevin Youkilis), the Yankees (Melky Cabrera), the Nationals (Ryan Church and an arm) or the Brewers (assorted corner outfielders). Whether to one of these teams, or to one that I haven’t considered, trading Lieber would better align the Phillies’ talent and make them an even stronger threat in the NL East.

 

Personally, I would think the Phillies would jump on any of those deals with the exception of the Wilkerson deal.

 

There's no way Lieber is worth Tracy, much less Tracy and Cruz. I could fathom the Wilkerson deal, but Brad is having a good spring and may be rebounding.

 

While Ensberg for Lieber seems to be over-paying too, the Astros back-end of the rotation is abysmal and could use some help.

[Backtobanks]

Maybe I'm underestimating Lieber's value, but Joe Sheehan of Baseball Prospectus offers these trade scenarios:

 

 

 

 

To the Diamondbacks for Chad Tracy and Juan Cruz. Josh Byrnes has been very protective of the D'backs' pool of young talent. However, both of these players are older, about to become more expensive, and moving them would create space for younger, less expensive players such as Alberto Callaspo and Tony Pena. It’s arguable whether the Diamondbacks need to add another starter, although a winnable NL West would be moreso with Lieber, rather than Edgar Gonzalez, in the #5 slot. The Phillies would get an excellent platoon partner for Helms at third base and a true power arm for the seventh and eighth innings.

 

To the Rangers for Brad Wilkerson. Wilkerson’s value is down, coming off an injury-plagued and power-free 2006 campaign. If healthy, he’s a good defensive outfielder and a source of OBP and doubles, a player who allows Victorino to stay in his natural fourth-outfielder role, pinch-running and being a defensive replacement for Pat Burrell. The Rangers still need to fortify the back end of their rotation to challenge in a soft AL West, and they have an assortment of corner outfielders who may approximate Wilkerson’s production.

 

To the Astros for Morgan Ensberg. Ensberg’s low batting averages and high strikeout totals have made him an undervalued player in Houston, even as he remains the team’s second-best player after Lance Berkman. The Astros have Mike Lamb, who's not better than Ensberg but a good player in his own right, as well as Mark Loretta, who can also play third base. The back end of their rotation is very shaky, with Wandy Rodriguez and Matt Albers. It's not terribly likely that the Phillies would trade for a right-handed-hitting third baseman—they’d probably have more interest in Lamb—but Ensberg would be a significant improvement over Helms, especially against right-handers and in the field.

There are other teams that could be matches if there was enough motivation, including the Red Sox (Wily Mo Pena or Kevin Youkilis), the Yankees (Melky Cabrera), the Nationals (Ryan Church and an arm) or the Brewers (assorted corner outfielders). Whether to one of these teams, or to one that I haven’t considered, trading Lieber would better align the Phillies’ talent and make them an even stronger threat in the NL East.

 

Personally, I would think the Phillies would jump on any of those deals with the exception of the Wilkerson deal.

 

There's no way Lieber is worth Tracy, much less Tracy and Cruz. I could fathom the Wilkerson deal, but Brad is having a good spring and may be rebounding.

 

While Ensberg for Lieber seems to be over-paying too, the Astros back-end of the rotation is abysmal and could use some help.

 

In this morning's Tribune, Phil Rogers suggests that the White Sox might look at Lieber and wonders about Lieber and Rowand in a deal involving Crede or Fields. Not any speculation, just thinking out loud on his part.

[St.Paul Cub]

I don't see any kind of move being made until the season starts. Then if Pie rips up the minors, the rotation 1-4 looks solid, and Guzman really pushes for #5 along with either Miller and/or Prior healthy, then I could see something with Jones, Miller, and another pitching prospect being moved as part of a bigger trade.