Trading Marlon Byrd

[Little Slide Rooter]

I just wrote up a quick retrospective of Byrd's career with the Cubs and a quick examination of his trade value. If you're interested click here.

 

I agree that Byrd will likely be moved during the season. However, I think that how soon depends as much on how Brett Jackson does in Iowa than Byrd himself. Of course, if someone were to come to us with an offer, he'd probably be moved either way, and even if Jackson is struggling the Sappelt enthusiasts can get to see him in action. Teams looking for a mid season replacement or spare bat are a lot more likely to come inquiring about Byrd than Upton, Jones, or Ethier.

[davell]

I just wrote up a quick retrospective of Byrd's career with the Cubs and a quick examination of his trade value. If you're interested click here.

 

I agree that Byrd will likely be moved during the season. However, I think that how soon depends as much on how Brett Jackson does in Iowa than Byrd himself. Of course, if someone were to come to us with an offer, he'd probably be moved either way, and even if Jackson is struggling the Sappelt enthusiasts can get to see him in action. Teams looking for a mid season replacement or spare bat are a lot more likely to come inquiring about Byrd than Upton, Jones, or Ethier.

 

If so, it's because they'd think the cost is lower. If pricetags are anywhere near the same, teams would opt for all 3 of those guys before Byrd, because of either upside or age.

[Rob]

I just wrote up a quick retrospective of Byrd's career with the Cubs and a quick examination of his trade value. If you're interested click here.

 

I agree that Byrd will likely be moved during the season. However, I think that how soon depends as much on how Brett Jackson does in Iowa than Byrd himself. Of course, if someone were to come to us with an offer, he'd probably be moved either way, and even if Jackson is struggling the Sappelt enthusiasts can get to see him in action. Teams looking for a mid season replacement or spare bat are a lot more likely to come inquiring about Byrd than Upton, Jones, or Ethier.

 

This regime isn't the same as the old one. Service time and potential cutoff dates for Super 2 status are likely to play a more significant role for callups than the old Hendry standby "he's earned it."

 

Unless his performance is just otherworldly, Brett Jackson is likely to spend most of the season marinating in AAA to minimize his future cost. There's no real reason to call him up early in a rebuilding season... just so long as he gets a couple months worth of at bats later in the season he'll be fine.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I just wrote up a quick retrospective of Byrd's career with the Cubs and a quick examination of his trade value. If you're interested click here.

 

I agree that Byrd will likely be moved during the season. However, I think that how soon depends as much on how Brett Jackson does in Iowa than Byrd himself. Of course, if someone were to come to us with an offer, he'd probably be moved either way, and even if Jackson is struggling the Sappelt enthusiasts can get to see him in action. Teams looking for a mid season replacement or spare bat are a lot more likely to come inquiring about Byrd than Upton, Jones, or Ethier.

 

If so, it's because they'd think the cost is lower. If pricetags are anywhere near the same, teams would opt for all 3 of those guys before Byrd, because of either upside or age.

 

That's what I was suggesting. If a team's just looking for a fill in or spare bat, they'd rather just give up a few fringe prospects and maybe a bit of cash for Byrd rather than what it would take for any of the others.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Nationals Continue Monitoring Center Field Market

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [March 2 at 8:00am CST]

The Nationals are set to rely on some combination of Rick Ankiel, Roger Bernadina and Jayson Werth in center field this year, but they’re not ruling out potential acquisitions at the position. Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post explains that any trade would have to provide the team with something more than a stopgap.

 

“I think if we can answer our long-term question now, we’ll do so,” GM Mike Rizzo told Kilgore. “We won’t make the change for a short-term answer.”

 

Kilgore reports that the team doesn’t want to block prospects such as Michael Taylor, Brian Goodwin and Eury Perez unless the possibility of a significant upgrade exists. Remarkably, 25 Nationals have started at least one game in center field since the team moved to D.C.

 

The Nationals have had internal discussions about making pushes for Peter Bourjos and Adam Jones, Kilgore writes. They've also been linked to Gerardo Parra of the Diamondbacks. B.J. Upton, Michael Bourn and Shane Victorino are set to hit free agency after the 2012 season, when the Nationals could bid for their services if they haven't yet found a center fielder.

 

The Indians are also monitoring the center field market after losing Grady Sizemore for two to three months.

 

Sounds like an opportunity to me. With the additional Wild Card in play, The Nats are a legit contender for their first playoff spot ever and the franchises 2nd spot and first in over 30 years. Marlon Byrd may not be Jones, Upton, Bourn, or Victorino, but he'd be a hell of a lot cheaper. Aside from lat year, Byrd has been a 2.5-3.5 WAR guy, although last year, Rick Ankiel and his .239/.296/.363 and 9 HR had a slightly higher WAR (2.1) than Byrd and his (1.7) .276/.324/.395 and 9 HR, with the bulk of Byrds(1.5 O, 0.2 D) value coming from offense and Ankiels(0.4 O, 1.7 D) from defense. WAR aside, Byrd is a far superior player to Ankiel and Roger Bernadina, who to put it bluntly, cannot hit.

 

With Sappelt pretty much big league ready, and Jackson may very well be too, we should be trying to sell them Byrd, and as far as we know, they're in discussions as we speak. It just makes sense. Maybe we could get one of their top 15-20 and an additional 19-20 year old if we pick up the bulk of his 2012 salary. Cleveland as well. They're another team that could benefit from the extra WC, although the East and west have stronger suiters. The say that Sizemore will miss 8-11 weeks(not sure if it means starting now or opening day), but with Sizemore, that number could escalate quickly and exponentially and a backup plan couldn't hurt.

[davearm2]

If by "it just makes sense" you mean "it just doesn't make sense," then I agree.

 

any trade would have to provide the team with something more than a stopgap.

 

“I think if we can answer our long-term question now, we’ll do so,” GM Mike Rizzo told Kilgore. “We won’t make the change for a short-term answer.”

[Sammy Sofa]

You can't really expect WSR to read everything he posts.

[Little Slide Rooter]

If by "it just makes sense" you mean "it just doesn't make sense," then I agree.

 

any trade would have to provide the team with something more than a stopgap.

 

“I think if we can answer our long-term question now, we’ll do so,” GM Mike Rizzo told Kilgore. “We won’t make the change for a short-term answer.”

 

I did miss that part. Still, their pitching could very well give them a chance at fringe contention, but they're full of offensive question marks, and center field is a big one for them between Bernardina and Ankiel, who's long since gone from pumpkin to Halloween jack-o-lantern that nobody's bothered to dispose of in mid November. If they don't want to give up too much for Jones or Upton, they may well settle for a stop gap for now. As for the Indians, a stop gap would be exactly what they could use.

[dew1679666265]

I did miss that part. Still, their pitching could very well give them a chance at fringe contention, but they're full of offensive question marks, and center field is a big one for them between Bernardina and Ankiel, who's long since gone from pumpkin to Halloween jack-o-lantern that nobody's bothered to dispose of in mid November. If they don't want to give up too much for Jones or Upton, they may well settle for a stop gap for now. As for the Indians, a stop gap would be exactly what they could use.

 

I do think it make some sense for the Cubs and Nats to have discussions about Byrd, but ultimately I'd say the Nats won't (and shouldn't) be willing to give up much of anything for what would be a marginal upgrade over Ankiel. Byrd is better than his 2011 WAR shows since he won't get hit in the face every year (presumably), but he's getting a bit older and isn't better than a nice player at his best anyway.

 

For a guy they don't need to trade, I think Theo/Jed would/should be asking for more than it would make sense for the Nats to give up right now for Byrd. That said, if the Nats are sitting in contention by the trade deadline and Ankiel's been bad and Byrd's had a resurgence, then I think he becomes a really attractive option for them. Just not right now.