Donaldson to Blue Jays

[toonsterwu]

I really like this trade for the A's as well. I understand it for the Blue Jays - this is probably it for Anthoupoulos if he can't get them to the playoffs next year. That's a lot of talent to give up for Donaldson, though, and I think the A's make out real well with some guys like Lawrie and Nolin that can help now/soon, and some intriguing upside.

 

To the extent that this is "Groundhog Day" for A's fans, I think they should be able to be competitive the next year or two, even if they make a few more moves. Division winning competitive? Probably not, but competitive.

[Tryptamine]

How in the hell do you not get any of Stroman,Sanchez,Pompey or Norris back in that deal?

[Guest]

How in the hell do you not get any of Stroman,Sanchez,Pompey or Norris back in that deal?

 

Stroman's untouchable/too good, and I'd take Graveman/Nolin's MLB careers against Sanchez/Norris's MLB careers.

 

This is a bit of a bummer for A's fans because it's a trade like the Nationals should be making, pushing some current value to future years. It's not as much as some are thinking though, so if they have other deals up their sleeve(and knowing Beane they likely do), they'll likely come out ahead.

[treebird]

a's fans don't buy jerseys with names on the back.

[bukie]

a's fans don't buy jerseys with names on the back.

[sneakypower]

this is unbelievable

[Deeg]

Donaldson is obviously the best player in the deal - as of today - but I like this trade for both sides. Nolin and Graveman are not throw-ins - both figure to be useful major-league pitchers, if not difference-makers. If Beane can find a way to keep Lawrie on the field he's going to be a very good player, either at 3B or 2B. and Barreto has a chance to be special. It's obviously a huge variable because he's so young, but he's got legit star potential - I expect he's a Top 100 prospect at this stage.

[Clem Fandango]

I understand the A's got some nice talent back in the deal, but Donaldson has been the third most valuable player in baseball over the last two years behind only Trout and McCutchen. Seems like they could've gotten more for him, IMO.

[Deeg]

When you're running a franchise on the limits Beane is, the idea of three cost-controlled major-league (and cheap cost at that) players has very real value. And after this season he desperately needed to restock the farm with potential impact talent. It's a good trade for both sides, IMO. Barreto is obviously a crapshoot, but that's how the game works.

[tenderdracula]

I typically love trades like this from Oakland's perspective, but I've been scouring the information superhighway and this seems like an extremely light return for a player who put up 14.1 fwar over the past two seasons.

[RynoRules]

I typically love trades like this from Oakland's perspective, but I've been scouring the information superhighway and this seems like an extremely light return for a player who put up 14.1 fwar over the past two seasons.

 

That's how it "feels" to me as well. A 3B with straight WAR's of 8.0 and 7.4 the last two seasons and the only immediate MLB help you got back was....Brett Lawrie? I get that Lawrie is an above average MIF'er right now with the opportunity to be a 4 WAR guy, but I am really surprised Beane couldn't/didn't get more back.

[KingCubsFan]

The Cubs could have easily beaten that package. Frustrating.

[XZero771679666304]

The Cubs could have easily beaten that package. Frustrating.

 

Well, sure they could have. But I'm fairly certain the Cubs aren't in the market for infielders.

[Sammy Sofa]

The Cubs could have easily beaten that package. Frustrating.

 

Well, sure they could have. But I'm fairly certain the Cubs aren't in the market for infielders.

 

Kinda wish they were for one that good. It's not like Bryant has to stick at 3B.

[XZero771679666304]

The Cubs could have easily beaten that package. Frustrating.

 

Well, sure they could have. But I'm fairly certain the Cubs aren't in the market for infielders.

 

Kinda wish they were for one that good. It's not like Bryant has to stick at 3B.

 

Yeah, Donaldson would definitely have been appealing, but if we're going to make trades, I'd just as soon see them use our trade chips on a quality OF, SP or C before an infielder.

 

And I don't think that Bryant is going to stick at 3B, but Baez may end up there, or even Castro. It's just not a position of need in any way. It's not a situation like Heyward where I am thinking "damn, we really missed an opportunity there".

[sneakypower]

yeah, wonder how they would have responded to a Baez, Torres, N. Ramirez, Wood offer

[Sammy Sofa]

The Cubs could have easily beaten that package. Frustrating.

 

Well, sure they could have. But I'm fairly certain the Cubs aren't in the market for infielders.

 

Kinda wish they were for one that good. It's not like Bryant has to stick at 3B.

 

Yeah, Donaldson would definitely have been appealing, but if we're going to make trades, I'd just as soon see them use our trade chips on a quality OF, SP or C before an infielder.

 

And I don't think that Bryant is going to stick at 3B, but Baez may end up there, or even Castro. It's just not a position of need in any way. It's not a situation like Heyward where I am thinking "damn, we really missed an opportunity there".

 

I am; I'll take an established young player like Donaldson over a prospect any day. Especially since someone like Baez almost certainly would have been in the deal, so to act like the Cubs are likely facing some kind of overflow of starting infielders in the wake of a Donaldson trade is faulty.

[Sammy Sofa]

Ugh, this is bothering me the more and more I think about it.

[XZero771679666304]

 

I am; I'll take an established young player like Donaldson over a prospect any day. Especially since someone like Baez almost certainly would have been in the deal, so to act like the Cubs are likely facing some kind of overflow of starting infielders in the wake of a Donaldson trade is faulty.

 

I'm not saying that so much as that there are more pressing areas to target via trade, and to expend trade resources on. Would Donaldson have been a boon to the team? For sure, but there are far more glaring weaknesses to address.

 

I am chomping at the bit for the Cubs to make a meaningful move, but at the same time I'm not going to get bent out of shape every time another team adds a player that the Cubs could have gotten and made fit, just because. Now if SP, OF and catchers start moving for prices the Cubs could have bested, then I'll get a lot more angsty.

[Sammy Sofa]

The Cubs have a lot of parts they can move. A player who would make as big an impact as Donaldson shouldn't be off the table just because of what they might have. Granted, it seems like this and the Heyward deals came relatively out of nowhere, but it's a bit worrisome that the Cubs seemingly had zero interest (at least in terms of rumors).

[PackLandVA]

Billy probably a little gun-shy to trade again with Hoyerstein.

[XZero771679666304]

The Cubs have a lot of parts they can move. A player who would make as big an impact as Donaldson shouldn't be off the table just because of what they might have. Granted, it seems like this and the Heyward deals came relatively out of nowhere, but it's a bit worrisome that the Cubs seemingly had zero interest (at least in terms of rumors).

 

 

Listen, I get that the prospects are "might be" players. But I'd just prefer to focus on positions where there isn't even that, like LF, (unless you count Bryant and his potential move there) and spots like C and another TOR SP or two. And yes, the Cubs do have a lot of parts to move, but that doesn't mean they should just start making it rain prospects whenever a star player becomes available, just because they can. We may well need to deal a few of them to fill positions of need before this offseason is over.

 

There probably weren't any rumors about the Cubs/Donaldson because a 3B isn't what they're looking for. And I don't have a problem with that. There weren't any rumors about the Cubs/Heyward, but hell, there weren't any rumors about the Cards/Heyward (or Jays/Donaldson, for that matter) until it went down. And if the Braves wanted a high ceiling guy they could slot into their rotation, well, the Cubs wouldn't have had an answer for that. But for all we know, they did inquire; I think that it's probable.

 

The Braves also, according to rumor, are shopping Upton. The Cubs could be in on that, though I don't know how they feel about potential rentals (this could also have come into play with Heyward).

[Guest]

Donaldson is not that young. This is a great trade for the A's.

 

Mojo, I think you are being a bit hyperbolic here. The Cubs don't need Donaldson for the cost. All indications are that Bryant can handle 3rd. They need a short term LF and SP.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Everyone chants about not selling low, then they get weird when a team actually sells high.

[RammyFanny]

Everyone chants about not selling low, then they get weird when a team actually sells high.

Agreed, but the A' seemed to be selling high (Donaldson) to buy kinda low (Lawrie). Ideally you'd think could get one blue chip guy (considering the years of control left) unless they are just really sold on Lawrie. Baretto is nice but he's too far away to know if he's really that kind of prospect.