Nationals acquire Scott Hairston for P Ivan Pineyro

[pitchcs]

Hmm, don't know anything about him but from a look at his profile this seems like a fair get for Hairston to me.

[davell]

Maybe a Starling Peralta type. Just got moved to High A, will turn 22 in September.

[Illini Iceman]

Well, my thing about Watkins has always been ... he's a util/super-util guy who has to convince me that he can start. I know people got excited about his hot streaks in the summer (at last check, didn't he have a hot June ... is he doing his summer "hot streak" again?), and maybe my initial wariness to Watkins as a starter influenced my ability to get excited about those hot streaks, but I've just never been convinced that he's a potential 2nd base starter. I still hope I'm wrong, even though we have Alcantara and other options in the pipeline to potentially fill 2nd.

 

That said, super-util guys are valuable, and his ability to man all three up-the-middle spots, plus offer some base-running, can fill a critical role if he's given that shot.

 

They are going to have to clear 40 man roster spots eventually in the offseason so they can protect guys for Rule 5 so if Watkins / Lake can handle the roles next season being done now by Ransom / Hairston I think that is a better use of the spots. Lake will have a shot to play a bunch next season if he can take platoon roles at 3B/LF and also hopefully do well enough to also take some starts from Valbuena / Schierholz against RHP. Watkins can be groomed now as a utility player because if the young middle infielders in the organization develop as planned he is not going to have a spot long term as a middle infield starter on this team anyway no matter what he does.

[jersey cubs fan]

Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN 2m

Here's some more on the background of the prospect CHC get in the Hairston deal. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=pineyr000iva … They're stockpiling pitching.

 

Yes, Buster just linked his BR player page, lol

 

well, it is nice when you don't have to search for it yourself

[Guest]

John Arguello ‏@CubsDen 4m

Like the acquisition of Pineyro, good arm (90-94), advanced feel for pitching. Solid change.

[TruffleShuffle]

After carving up the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in his 2011 pro debut, Pineyro took a line drive to the face during extended spring training in 2012. He missed six weeks of action with a broken jaw, though he continued his long-toss program with his jaw wired shut to keep his arm in shape. When he returned, he dominated in five starts in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League to earn a promotion to Auburn. He encountered adversity as a 20-year-old facing older competition there, but he held his own. The Nationals rave about Pineyro's maturity and professionalism, and his quick arm is intriguing. His fastball velocity jumped to 90-94 mph last year. He also has good feel for a changeup that projects as an average to plus pitch. His curveball isn't as advanced, however, and its development will be a key going forward. He also needs to refine his command, but his aptitude is encouraging. Pineyro should get a crack at low Class A in 2013.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Well, my thing about Watkins has always been ... he's a util/super-util guy who has to convince me that he can start. I know people got excited about his hot streaks in the summer (at last check, didn't he have a hot June ... is he doing his summer "hot streak" again?), and maybe my initial wariness to Watkins as a starter influenced my ability to get excited about those hot streaks, but I've just never been convinced that he's a potential 2nd base starter. I still hope I'm wrong, even though we have Alcantara and other options in the pipeline to potentially fill 2nd.

 

That said, super-util guys are valuable, and his ability to man all three up-the-middle spots, plus offer some base-running, can fill a critical role if he's given that shot.

 

They are going to have to clear 40 man roster spots eventually in the offseason so they can protect guys for Rule 5 so if Watkins / Lake can handle the roles next season being done now by Ransom / Hairston I think that is a better use of the spots. Lake will have a shot to play a bunch next season if he can take platoon roles at 3B/LF and also hopefully do well enough to also take some starts from Valbuena / Schierholz against RHP. Watkins can be groomed now as a utility player because if the young middle infielders in the organization develop as planned he is not going to have a spot long term as a middle infield starter on this team anyway no matter what he does.

 

Depending on who's in the OF and 3B, there should be no shortage of PT for Lake. I remember last year back when Cubs fans were pounding away at the minor league experts about Lake on Twitter, I think it might have been Goldstein that said that Lake's ceiling was Wilson Betemit with serviceable defense. I'll take that any day of the week.

 

While there's nothing about Warkins that leads me to believe that he's more than a utility guy, the point is that there's no reason that they should be stock piling retreads rather than auditioning these guys.

[jersey cubs fan]

Wish it was someone more MLB-ready, but Pineyro is interesting.

 

Eh, when "more MLB-ready" becomes part of the value the actual quality of the baseball player may not be as high. He turns 22 in a couple months and is one step away from AA with what looks like very solid performance in his first 200 professional innings. He's not going to be in MLB anytime soon, but for Hairston? So be it.

[Guest]

Maybe a Starling Peralta type. Just got moved to High A, will turn 22 in September.

 

Pineyro appears to be a cut above what we've seen from Peralta state-side.

 

At Low A:

Peralta:99 IP, 3.44 ERA, 7.8 K/9, 3.8 BB/9, 1.0 HR/9, 7.2 H/9 at age 21

Pinyero: 66 IP, 3.14 ERA, 8.9 K/9, 2.3 BB/9, 0.5 HR/9, 7.8 H/9 at age 21

[Guest]

Seems like a guy that is actually at least interesting and worth following. More than I expected for Scott Hairston (even with his cheap year next year).

 

I guess it would've had to be an interesting return for them to trade him at this point.

[Guest]

Wish it was someone more MLB-ready, but Pineyro is interesting.

 

Eh, when "more MLB-ready" becomes part of the value the actual quality of the baseball player may not be as high. He turns 22 in a couple months and is one step away from AA with what looks like very solid performance in his first 200 professional innings. He's not going to be in MLB anytime soon, but for Hairston? So be it.

 

I think TT wants them to stockpile decent AAA arms who could be high upside bullpen guys next year, which I don't think is a bad line of thinking.

 

But I agree that this is a nice return for what it is.

[BeerHere]

Interesting arm. Good return for Hairston IMO.

[scarey]

Maybe a Starling Peralta type. Just got moved to High A, will turn 22 in September.

 

His peripherals look much better than Peralta's. I'm pretty happy with this guy. If he continues do perform the way he has this year, I would say definitely a top 30 guy. Maybe he even sneaks into the top 20, although that could be tough with the lack of big league promotions.

[Guest]

As for the callup, Bruce is saying it will be Raley. Makes sense since the break is in a week and the pen threw 7 innings yesterday.

[Have a seat, Neifi]

Baseball America had him ranked as the Nats' 27th best prospect before the season. Given his success at Low A this year, I'd imagine he'd be slightly higher than that now.

[Guest]

MLB Trade Rumors ‏@mlbtraderumors 3m

Actually both the Cubs and Nationals are getting a PTBNL in the Hairston deal.

[davell]

PTBNL going each way as well. Arguello made a really solid point, just a minute ago. Says Cubs got a better individual player for Hairston, than the Marlins got for Nolasco. I think I'd agree actually.

[TruffleShuffle]

ptbnl going to cubs: ian dickson

ptbnl going to nationals: henry rodriguez

[Guest]

Pineyro will go to Daytona (not really surprising)

[VVMattVV]

ptbnl going to cubs: ian dickson

ptbnl going to nationals: henry rodriguez

 

ETA: Nevermind.

Edited July 8, 2013 by VVMattVV

[BeerHere]

Pineyro will go to Daytona (not really surprising)

Someone better tell him to bring an umbrella.

[Guest]

So, we took a PTBNL instead of the IFA money that was rumored yesterday?

[ScrubMD]

IFA money was never on the table, as far as we know.

[Guest]

So, we took a PTBNL instead of the IFA money that was rumored yesterday?

 

It was?

[Tedward]

Nice to get a response. Nothing earth shattering, but Klaw just tweeted that he could be a "guy" and that it's a nice return for a bench bat.