Who do we trade and what do we expect in return?

[Guest]

DeJesus chatter seems to be picking up with him showing no ill effects after coming off the DL.

 

@CubsDen Hearing now that #Rays showing some interest in DeJesus.

[Sammy Sofa]

Combined with his poor 2013, Kennedy sure seems to be regressing fast.

 

And that is why I ask the question because I don't know.....is Kennedy hurt or something?

 

Could be. The point is that he's been trending in the wrong direction and there are some big warning signs. He's still a very intriguing pitcher, but he's arguably a buy-low type of option (or on his way to that real fast).

[jersey cubs fan]

Combined with his poor 2013, Kennedy sure seems to be regressing fast.

 

And that is why I ask the question because I don't know.....is Kennedy hurt or something?

 

But the question remains why do you think he is, currently, better than Samardzija?

[BeerHere]

http://www.fangraphs.com/comparison.aspx?playerid=3254&position=P&page=9&players=6986

 

Kennedy had a better start to his career, and his 2011 was better than anything Samardzija has done. But he's got more mileage on his arm and has been regressing.

I fully agree. I'm not trying to poop on everyone's parade but I'm not seeing the difference between the admittedly regressing Kennedy and the potential and upwardly trending Samardzija as being worth two top pitching prospects. If the rumors are true, I guess we will find out by the end of the day. I honestly hope I'm wrong.

[Guest]

Seems to me that Kennedy is living off the reputation of 2011 when he had a fluky-low HR rate driving his ERA, FIP & WAR. Tack on a 50% increase in his walk rate this year and you've got serious trouble for a guy who lived on the edge with a fringy fastball.

 

The good news is he doesn't seem to be hurt as he's actually increased his velocity this season.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://www.fangraphs.com/comparison.aspx?playerid=3254&position=P&page=9&players=6986

 

Kennedy had a better start to his career, and his 2011 was better than anything Samardzija has done. But he's got more mileage on his arm and has been regressing.

I fully agree. I'm not trying to poop on everyone's parade but I'm not seeing the difference between the admittedly regressing Kennedy and the potential and upwardly trending Samardzija as being worth two top pitching prospects. If the rumors are true, I guess we will find out by the end of the day. I honestly hope I'm wrong.

 

But you think Kennedy is better.

[Guest]

http://www.fangraphs.com/comparison.aspx?playerid=3254&position=P&page=9&players=6986

 

Kennedy had a better start to his career, and his 2011 was better than anything Samardzija has done. But he's got more mileage on his arm and has been regressing.

I fully agree. I'm not trying to poop on everyone's parade but I'm not seeing the difference between the admittedly regressing Kennedy and the potential and upwardly trending Samardzija as being worth two top pitching prospects. If the rumors are true, I guess we will find out by the end of the day. I honestly hope I'm wrong.

As shark is putting things together, he has two of the best weapons of any pitcher in baseball. He is top 3 in MLB starters in average fastball velocity. While that's not an end in itself, it helps a lot. Even more important is that his split has been one of the most devastating pitches in baseball the past few years.

 

While Shark has seen his results improve dramatically from where he used to be, I strongly believe he has another level he can still reach. Kennedy is maxed out and declining.

[BeerHere]

http://www.fangraphs.com/comparison.aspx?playerid=3254&position=P&page=9&players=6986

 

Kennedy had a better start to his career, and his 2011 was better than anything Samardzija has done. But he's got more mileage on his arm and has been regressing.

I fully agree. I'm not trying to poop on everyone's parade but I'm not seeing the difference between the admittedly regressing Kennedy and the potential and upwardly trending Samardzija as being worth two top pitching prospects. If the rumors are true, I guess we will find out by the end of the day. I honestly hope I'm wrong.

 

But you think Kennedy is better.

I didn't realize that his 2013 was so different than his 2012/2011 seasons. I'll fully admit that I hope I'm wrong but I highly doubt that DBacks trade Kennedy and a top pitching prospect for Samardzija. Yes, Kennedy is not pitching well in 2013. Yes Samardzia is having a better year. Does that satisfy you goony?

[Bobson Dugnutt]

http://www.fangraphs.com/comparison.aspx?playerid=3254&position=P&page=9&players=6986

 

Kennedy had a better start to his career, and his 2011 was better than anything Samardzija has done. But he's got more mileage on his arm and has been regressing.

I fully agree. I'm not trying to poop on everyone's parade but I'm not seeing the difference between the admittedly regressing Kennedy and the potential and upwardly trending Samardzija as being worth two top pitching prospects. If the rumors are true, I guess we will find out by the end of the day. I honestly hope I'm wrong.

 

But you think Kennedy is better.

I didn't realize that his 2013 was so different than his 2012/2011 seasons. I'll fully admit that I hope I'm wrong but I highly doubt that DBacks trade Kennedy and a top pitching prospect for Samardzija. Yes, Kennedy is not pitching well in 2013. Yes Samardzia is having a better year. Does that satisfy you goony?

 

I don't know why his 2012 season is being grouped in with his 2011 season. Glancing at his last four seasons, 2011 definitely appears to be the outlier, and appears to have been driven by, as Tim said, an unusually high number of fly balls staying in the park.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://www.fangraphs.com/comparison.aspx?playerid=3254&position=P&page=9&players=6986

 

Kennedy had a better start to his career, and his 2011 was better than anything Samardzija has done. But he's got more mileage on his arm and has been regressing.

I fully agree. I'm not trying to poop on everyone's parade but I'm not seeing the difference between the admittedly regressing Kennedy and the potential and upwardly trending Samardzija as being worth two top pitching prospects. If the rumors are true, I guess we will find out by the end of the day. I honestly hope I'm wrong.

 

But you think Kennedy is better.

I didn't realize that his 2013 was so different than his 2012/2011 seasons. I'll fully admit that I hope I'm wrong but I highly doubt that DBacks trade Kennedy and a top pitching prospect for Samardzija. Yes, Kennedy is not pitching well in 2013. Yes Samardzia is having a better year. Does that satisfy you goony?

 

No. You are trying to avoid saying Kennedy is not better than Samardzija.

[BeerHere]

http://www.fangraphs.com/comparison.aspx?playerid=3254&position=P&page=9&players=6986

 

Kennedy had a better start to his career, and his 2011 was better than anything Samardzija has done. But he's got more mileage on his arm and has been regressing.

I fully agree. I'm not trying to poop on everyone's parade but I'm not seeing the difference between the admittedly regressing Kennedy and the potential and upwardly trending Samardzija as being worth two top pitching prospects. If the rumors are true, I guess we will find out by the end of the day. I honestly hope I'm wrong.

 

But you think Kennedy is better.

I didn't realize that his 2013 was so different than his 2012/2011 seasons. I'll fully admit that I hope I'm wrong but I highly doubt that DBacks trade Kennedy and a top pitching prospect for Samardzija. Yes, Kennedy is not pitching well in 2013. Yes Samardzia is having a better year. Does that satisfy you goony?

 

No. You are trying to avoid saying Kennedy is not better than Samardzija.

 

Kennedy is not better than Samardzija. I hope that makes you feel better. If the DBacks trade Kennedy and Bradley/Skaggs (or both or better) I'll still be shocked. Are you a ND fan or something?

[Bobson Dugnutt]

lol seriously?

[Guest]

Kennedy is not better than Samardzija. I hope that makes you feel better. If the DBacks trade Kennedy and Bradley/Skaggs (or both or better) I'll still be shocked. Are you a ND fan or something?

Nope, he just has a compulsion to get people admit they're wrong when they say something obviously wrong.

[jersey cubs fan]

Kennedy is not better than Samardzija. I hope that makes you feel better. If the DBacks trade Kennedy and Bradley/Skaggs (or both or better) I'll still be shocked. Are you a ND fan or something?

 

Notre Dame fan? Very much not.

 

The discussion started with commentary about how the DBacks tried to trade for Samardzija using Kennedy as the centerpiece and the Cubs declined. You then stated you thought Kennedy was better than Samardzija and did not appear willing to back off that statement.

[jersey cubs fan]

Or what Tim said.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Kennedy is better at growing beards than Samardzija.

[BeerHere]

I'll stand by my point --> if the DBacks trade Kennedy and Bradley to the Cubs for Samardzija I will be shocked. I would love it, but I would be shocked. I can't believe that Towers would be that dumb.

[Rex Buckingham]

I'll stand by my point --> if the DBacks trade Kennedy and Bradley to the Cubs for Samardzija I will be shocked. I would love it, but I would be shocked. I can't believe that Towers would be that dumb.

 

I don't think anyone actually believes that will happen.

[BeerHere]

Kennedy is not better than Samardzija. I hope that makes you feel better. If the DBacks trade Kennedy and Bradley/Skaggs (or both or better) I'll still be shocked. Are you a ND fan or something?

Nope, he just has a compulsion to get people admit they're wrong when they say something obviously wrong.

I said it earlier, before making the statement I didn't realize that Kennedy has regressed so much this year. I think I also undervalue Samardzia given his current numbers. Having said both of those statements, no way that deal goes down.

[Sammy Sofa]

no way that deal goes down.

 

Well, yeah, that's kind of the point; this basically started with people talking about what kind of deal it would/should take to move Shark.

[Guest]

Am I nuts? I see Kennedy as slightly better than Samardzija and I can't see the DBacks giving up Kennedy and their top pitching prospect (perhaps another) for Shark. Is this purely a money thing? I don't see the benefit from the DBacks perspective at all. Is Kennedy hurt perhaps?

 

How do you see Kennedy as better than Samardzija!?!?!?

Ian Kennedy was a 2.3WAR player in 2012, 4.8WAR in 2011. 8K/9, 2BB/9 in 2012. 1.3WHIP in 2012, 1.03WHIP in 2011. 207IP in 2012

Shark was a 1.8WAR in 2012, 1.1 in 2011. 9K/9m 3B/9. 174IP in 2012 with a 1.295WHIP. 1.219WHIP in 2011

 

it is currently 2013.

 

He's also looking at the wrong WAR.

[CubInOK]

I'll stand by my point --> if the DBacks trade Kennedy and Bradley to the Cubs for Samardzija I will be shocked. I would love it, but I would be shocked. I can't believe that Towers would be that dumb.

Based on what we got for Campana, I can believe he's that dumb.

[Cubswin11]

I'll stand by my point --> if the DBacks trade Kennedy and Bradley to the Cubs for Samardzija I will be shocked. I would love it, but I would be shocked. I can't believe that Towers would be that dumb.

Based on what we got for Campana, I can believe he's that dumb.

He also traded Justin Upton because he wasn't gritty enough or something for 10 cents on the dollar.

[Sammy Sofa]

Not that it wasn't a bad trade, but man, I had no idea that Upton's season had gotten so farty after an amazing start.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Not that it wasn't a bad trade, but man, I had no idea that Upton's season had gotten so farty after an amazing start.

A few days ago I couldn't remember which Upton sucked so much this year so I looked them both up and realized they both have.