Gammons: Giants could trade Cain for Prince+Hardy

[RammyFanny]

We may be in the heat of the pennant races, but the Giants' hot stove talk appears to be on fire.

 

A lingering rumor was given new life Wednesday night. ESPN's Peter Gammons said the Giants could trade starting pitcher Matt Cain, 23, to the Brewers for first baseman Prince Fielder, 24, shortstop J.J. Hardy, 26, and another player. He didn't cite his source.

http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/1248904.html

 

I love me some Cain, but that definately sets the Brewers back.

 

One or the other makes more sense, but not both from the Brewers POV.

[anabiono]

my roommate was telling me about this a few days ago...

 

fielder is just so fat, but at least the giants would be going young

[SouthSideRyan]

I really like Matt Cain and think Fielder will eat his way out of the league by the age of 32, but what a great trade for the Giants.

[Guest]

I haven't heard both of them included for Cain but I have heard one or the other.

 

There were also some talks about Cain and Durham for Hardy, Gamel, and others in July but that ended up just being the Durham deal.

 

The Giants would be insane to not do a Cain for Hardy + Gamel and especially a Hardy + Fielder deal. They're in desperate need for some hitters.

[RedFlash]

We may be in the heat of the pennant races, but the Giants' hot stove talk appears to be on fire.

 

A lingering rumor was given new life Wednesday night. ESPN's Peter Gammons said the Giants could trade starting pitcher Matt Cain, 23, to the Brewers for first baseman Prince Fielder, 24, shortstop J.J. Hardy, 26, and another player. He didn't cite his source.

http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/1248904.html

 

I love me some Cain, but that definately sets the Brewers back.

 

One or the other makes more sense, but not both from the Brewers POV.

 

If I am the Brewers I would be asking for Jonathon Sanchez along with Matt Cain, if the Giants want Hardy/Fielder and a player to be named.

[UMFan83]

1B - Fielder

2B - FA

SS - Hardy

3B - FA

LF - Lewis

CF - Rowand

RF - Winn

C - Molina

 

Still needs a lot of work but its going somewhere

[Transmogrified Tiger]

1B - Fielder

2B - FA

SS - Hardy

3B - FA

LF - Lewis

CF - Rowand

RF - Winn

C - Molina

 

Still needs a lot of work but its going somewhere

 

The converse of that being:

 

2B Weeks

CF FA (Cameron?)

LF Braun

1B Gamel

RF Hart

3B Hall?

C FA (Kendall?)

SS Escobar

 

Cain, Gallardo, Parra, Suppan, Bush, with the chance of a FA and another shaky pen.

 

I don't think that makes them better in '09. I'd really doubt that team contends for the playoffs without someone like Gamel having a Pujolsian transition to MLB, or something like Cain and Gallardo picking up where they left off plus Parra turning into 2007 Rich Hill.

[shnsajax]

it makes sense.

[CubinNY]

If this trade happened could the Brewers use Cain in the playoffs?

 

If not why not wait until the season is over.

[jersey cubs fan]

If this trade happened could the Brewers use Cain in the playoffs?

 

If not why not wait until the season is over.

 

I'm sure he's talking about this offseason, none of those guys would have passed waivers.

[CubinNY]

If this trade happened could the Brewers use Cain in the playoffs?

 

If not why not wait until the season is over.

 

I'm sure he's talking about this offseason, none of those guys would have passed waivers.

I don't understand all (or any) of the rules relating to waivers, trades, etc., so I guess I look pretty stupid asking the question, but it seemed an odd time to mention this sort of thing.

[SouthSideRyan]

If this trade happened could the Brewers use Cain in the playoffs?

 

If not why not wait until the season is over.

 

They couldn't even if they all cleared. Players must be somewhere in the organization as of 9/1. Mike Lamb for example can't be on the Brewers playoff roster if they made it. Cub related ones are Orlando Merced in '98, Bill Mueller with the Giants in '02.

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't understand all (or any) of the rules relating to waivers, trades, etc., so I guess I look pretty stupid asking the question, but it seemed an odd time to mention this sort of thing.

 

The key:

We may be in the heat of the pennant races, but the Giants' hot stove talk appears to be on fire.

 

Fans of teams long out of the race only care about what they can do this offseason to get better, and there's always a market for trade rumors.

[CP_414]

I like Cain, but I think Prince alone gets that deal done.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Ive been hearing those rumors for a while now. Despite popular belief, I really dont see the Brewers in the race next year. Instead, we'll be faced with re vamped Cardinals, Astros, and DBR.

 

The Brewers should be building around Ryan Braun and Corey Hart, and hoping for Gamel and Escobar to come along. If they were to aquire a pitcher like Cain, that could get them back in the race as soon as the next 2 or 3 years, depending on how Gallardo and Parra end up. I dont think they send Fielder and Hardy stright up for Cain, but maybe for Cain and a few prospects or a quality reliever.

[Balsa]

Why would the Brewers do that? It significantly worsens their team, especially after trading LaPorta.

[17 Seconds]

The Sabathia trade isn't looking so good anymore. I know they'll still get comp picks, but it would ha e been nice to be able to trade Fielder for Cain and have LaPorta ready to step in.

[erik316wttn]

I'd trade one or the other for Cain, but not both.

 

If I'm trading both, it's no deal unless Lincecum comes over, as well as a top prospect or two.

[rawaction]

The Sabathia trade isn't looking so good anymore. I know they'll still get comp picks, but it would ha e been nice to be able to trade Fielder for Cain and have LaPorta ready to step in.

 

Yeah that's the thing to me. I thought the Brewers would trade 2 of their other top guys over getting rid of LaPorta. Even if you traded Gamel and another top 10 guy, I thought that would have been a good deal because you still have Laporta to step in for 2009. Knowing you were likely going to lose your top 2 pitchers, Laporta gave you the ability to trade Fielder for pitching perhaps without even losing a ton offensively (hehehe, see what I did there?).

[rawaction]

If you are the Giants, as good as Cain is and can be, you have to make this trade without much thought. You need to spark some excitement in your fan base. You no longer have Bonds to hide the fact that you have been a pretty bad team for 4 years. Even if the Giants get rid of Cain, you still have the possible Cy Young winner in Tim Lincecum, Zito has shown flashes of getting back to being serviceable at times, Sanchez has been solid and has a lot of potential, and you still have Noah Lowry hopefully coming back next year. Wilson is an OK closer.

 

Fielder in that lineup would give them a legit middle of the order with Rowand, Prince, and Molina. Lewis and Winn are decent at the top.

[Derwood]

that San Fran park is built for Fielder

 

I also think the Sabathia trade is something the Brewers would, in hindsight, absolutely do again. The team was in a great position to make a run at the division and Sabathia has been pretty outstanding.

[sneakypower]

1B - Fielder

2B - FA

SS - Hardy

3B - FA

LF - Lewis

CF - Rowand

RF - Winn

C - Molina

 

Still needs a lot of work but its going somewhere

2B - Burriss

3B - Sandoval, or a Molina trade putting him at C

 

not the greatest lineup, but with Lince/Sanchez cemented in the rotation and Valdez, Sosa, Alderson, Bumgarner figuring into the mix in the future it's an intriguing team to watch in an ugly division.

[BigbadB]

Doesn't Matt Cain have about the same amount of major league service as Prince Fielder?

 

Fielder will probably cost more to lock up long term, but if the Brewers don't have the cash to bring back Sheets, how would they have enough to lock up Cain?

[rawaction]

Doesn't Matt Cain have about the same amount of major league service as Prince Fielder?

 

Fielder will probably cost more to lock up long term, but if the Brewers don't have the cash to bring back Sheets, how would they have enough to lock up Cain?

 

Cain has a few years before he would be a free agent. Keep him thru his arbitration years, get to the playoffs a couple times and things can change in a hurry.

[nilodnayr]

Doesn't Matt Cain have about the same amount of major league service as Prince Fielder?

 

Fielder will probably cost more to lock up long term, but if the Brewers don't have the cash to bring back Sheets, how would they have enough to lock up Cain?

 

Cain has a few years before he would be a free agent. Keep him thru his arbitration years, get to the playoffs a couple times and things can change in a hurry.

 

Granted, they very well could end up 3rd in the west this year, its a smidge bullish to think they could get into the playoffs twice in the next three years. Yes, the Padres are probably going to be a doormat until they get a new owner (perhaps a single dude?) and yes the Giants are in the early stages of their youth movement, but they are still going to finish this year allowing over 100 more runs than they've scored (currently tied for worst in their division). Their winning percentage is under .400 in games Lincecum doesn't pitch. Arizona and Colorado are at a more mature stage in their youth movement as are the Dodgers (thanks to Logan White) despite front office ineptitude (which is counter balanced by loads of money). And speaking of front office ineptitude, all signs point to Brian Sabean being retained as the GM.

 

That paints a bleak but accurate picture for the Giants near future.