Offseason Rumors & Transactions Thread

[toonsterwu]

I don't think there's a pitcher in baseball that has, or is projected to have two 80s pitches.

 

I haven't read anything to suggest that Carlos Martinez's scouting report has changed, and coming up the ladder, there were a few reports I recall seeing a few years ago saying he had two 80 pitches.

[Clem Fandango]

I don't think there's a pitcher in baseball that has, or is projected to have two 80s pitches.

 

I haven't read anything to suggest that Carlos Martinez's scouting report has changed, and coming up the ladder, there were a few reports I recall seeing a few years ago saying he had two 80 pitches.

 

Given his results in the minors and his age, if that's true I would've expected him to be ranked higher than where BA placed him throughout his minor league career (the 27th-38th range). Two elite pitches in a repertoire while dominating AAA hitters at the age of 21 seems like it'd be more valuable than the 31st best prospect in baseball.

[Cubswin11]

I don't think there's a pitcher in baseball that has, or is projected to have two 80s pitches.

 

I haven't read anything to suggest that Carlos Martinez's scouting report has changed, and coming up the ladder, there were a few reports I recall seeing a few years ago saying he had two 80 pitches.

Well then he's terrible at using those pitches to get good results. Kershaw doesn't even have 2, 80 pitches.

[Guest]

I don't think there's a pitcher in baseball that has, or is projected to have two 80s pitches.

 

I haven't read anything to suggest that Carlos Martinez's scouting report has changed, and coming up the ladder, there were a few reports I recall seeing a few years ago saying he had two 80 pitches.

Well then he's terrible at using those pitches to get good results. Kershaw doesn't even have 2, 80 pitches.

the "80" has no real value so lets just say they are +++ pitches. It's no so hard to believe then.

[UK1679666180]

Nolan Ryan's FB and curve combo. Pedro had almost 3.

[Guest]

lol sure why not Oakland

 

@susanslusser The #Athletics are on the verge of acquiring Ben Zobrist and Yunel Escobar from the #Rays, the @sfchronicle has learned.

[UK1679666180]

lol sure why not Oakland

 

@susanslusser The #Athletics are on the verge of acquiring Ben Zobrist and Yunel Escobar from the #Rays, the @sfchronicle has learned.

[/quote

 

Depending on costs, in July this could turn out great for Oakland.

[davell]

Seriously, WTF. I'm starting to think Beane spins a wheel and does whatever it lands on at this point.

[davell]

I guess I'm hoping beyond hope that Tampa doesn't want to deal with us right now and Billy trades him to us tomorrow.

[sneakypower]

lol sure why not Oakland

 

@susanslusser The #Athletics are on the verge of acquiring Ben Zobrist and Yunel Escobar from the #Rays, the @sfchronicle has learned.

f that s

[Guest]

Rosenthal says it's Jaso, Daniel Robertson, and probably a 3rd player for Zobrist and Escobar.

[rawaction]

Seriously, WTF. I'm starting to think Beane spins a wheel and does whatever it lands on at this point.

 

From Moneyball to Magic 8 Ball.

[davell]

From a value standpoint, I'd say McKinney and Castillo has to be pretty equal to Robertson and Jaso, right? I can see why Tampa would prefer a SS though as the lead piece.

[Cubswin11]

Zobrist is the perfect Oakland/Beane player.

[Guest]

From a value standpoint, I'd say McKinney and Castillo has to be pretty equal to Robertson and Jaso, right? I can see why Tampa would prefer a SS though as the lead piece.

 

Keith Law is confused that Tampa would do this with a Top 100 prospect at SS already.

[davell]

They also dealt Boog Powell. Couldn't we have conjured up a Greg Luzinski or something?

[toonsterwu]

I'm a bit stunned, and am curious who the top prospect being shipped out is. With Semien in place, I wonder if they shipped out Robertson (which would be fairly stunning, because off the top, I can't remember an organization that shipped out two prime shortstop prospects like Russell and Robertson in such a short span ... of course, might be someone else instead of Robertson).

 

In some respects, I find this offseason for Beane bolder than those big trades he made last year. He went for it last year. This offseason, it seems like he's trying to have his cake and eat it too. He's trying to restock the system while staying competitive. It's possible he spins pieces off midseason if things don't go well, but you don't make this deal assuming that happens.

 

It's not hard to envision some things going right and the A's being a fairly similar squad compared to last year. They need some of the young hitters to step up (namely, Lawrie), but it looks like a solid rotation with a solid pen behind it, so if some hitting develops, it could be interesting. Still ... it's a bold gambit on Beane's part.

 

Going to be very curious what the final breakdown of the trade is.

[toonsterwu]

From a value standpoint, I'd say McKinney and Castillo has to be pretty equal to Robertson and Jaso, right? I can see why Tampa would prefer a SS though as the lead piece.

 

I think Robertson's ahead of McKinney. There were some A's fans that felt Robertson wasn't that far behind Addison Russell (lacks Addison's offensive ceiling (although Robertson's isn't bad ... good approach, some gap power), but there was some belief that Robertson might be a better bet to stick at shortstop ... to be quite honest, I'm not completely sure if Russell and Robertson stick at short).

 

Either way, SS vs. debatable CF, with similar offensive ceilings should give the nod to the shortstop (I'd call Jaso/Castillo close to a wash).

 

All in all, this is a pretty dang good return for Zobrist. Solid job by Silverman, IMO. I wasn't sold they'd get a high value prospect like Robertson for one year of Zobrist (and Escobar). Very curious on the third piece.

[davell]

It's Boog Powell

[toonsterwu]

From a value standpoint, I'd say McKinney and Castillo has to be pretty equal to Robertson and Jaso, right? I can see why Tampa would prefer a SS though as the lead piece.

 

Keith Law is confused that Tampa would do this with a Top 100 prospect at SS already.

 

While I like Robertson a fair amount, he actually reminds me a bit of Zobrist coming up, and truth be told, I think he moves off short. That said, unless I'm forgetting someone, they've got some time, as Adames should start at A+, with Robertson at AA. I could see Robertson shifting to 2nd and being ... Zobrist-ish, although they have Ryan Brett in place for the near future. They've done a good job of restocking a farm system that had gotten thin.

[Cubswin11]

I wonder what it would take to get Longoria, I would think he'd be moved within the next year or so. Baez, Almora, Hendricks, Vogelbach (if they value him as a DH) and CJ/PJ?

 

You could start this year with

 

C: Montero

1B: Rizzo

2B: Valbuena

SS: Castro

3B: Longoria

LF: Denorfia/Coghlan

CF: Alcantara

RF: Soler

 

by June you'd have Bryant in LF

 

Then going into 2016 you'd have

 

C: Montero

1B: Rizzo

2B/SS: Castro/Russell

3B: Longoria

LF: Bryant

CF: Alcantara (or a FA Heyward?)

RF: Soler

Edited January 10, 2015 by Cubswin11

[Guest]

I like Zobrist, but not at the cost of what the As are giving up. Escobar can pick it, but he doesn't do much with the bat.

 

Billy has gone a little mad.

[Gilby]

The A's could use Castillo now.

[toonsterwu]

The A's could use Castillo now.

 

Wouldn't surprise me if they are perfectly fine with Phegley/Vogt entering the year, and finding depth for AAA.

[toonsterwu]

I like Zobrist, but not at the cost of what the As are giving up. Escobar can pick it, but he doesn't do much with the bat.

 

Billy has gone a little mad.

 

It's bold. Mad would be fair as well. If some things go right and they are a bit lucky, it's possible they are in the playoff hunt. It's really not a bad roster, and in the era of the 2nd Wild Card, it's really not as incredulous as it sounds, despite the moves they've made this offseason. I wouldn't bet on it, but if they get some hitting .... If not, he could probably spin Zobrist off to a desperate deadline team. Still, giving up Robertson after giving up Russell is ... bold/mad.