ESPN.com's Jayson Stark breaks down the possible implications of expanded playoffs before providing some rumblings from around the league. Here they are:
- Even though Kevin Millwood has won both of his minor league starts and posted a 1.29 ERA, scouts say he doesn’t look very good. Millwood, whose fastball is averaging 85 mph, can opt out of his contact with the Yankees this Sunday.
- Rival teams are eyeing the Nationals’ catching depth, but they’re finding that after missing two seasons with labrum surgery, Jesus Flores isn’t ready.
- Sam Fuld has become an important piece for the Rays, but the Cubs expected to move him last offseason, according to Stark. Fuld had a history of getting injured, was behind Kosuke Fukudome and Tyler Colvin on the depth chart and was out of options and when the Cubs sent him to the Rays.
Fuld is this years Angel Pagan.
Or Andres Torres.
PSh Pagan is a better comparison, They were both Cubs outfielders
Pagan could be a better comparison, I just think that Torres’ (while his numbers weren’t outstanding) was a catalyst for The Giants. Fuld could be similar.
Fuld will be decent, but the Garza trade will even out. The Rays got a lot of talent, but I don’t think the Cubs got killed when they traded for a SP in his prime that’s had large success in the AL East.
Fuld will be a Pagan type, I agree.
Its definitely not the “worst trade of the year” some people are makeing it out to be. If Sammy Fuld did’nt get off to a hot start like he has then most people would’nt even be talking about this trade. Did the cub’s give up a lot in terms of prospects to get Garza? sure, Does of it have the potential of ending up the ’03 Colon trade? ya, But trade’s like this are like draft classes they are better off being judged 5 years from now.
except that people talked about the trade at the time of the trade (i.e. before sam started) and acknowledged it wasn’t good then either
of course you can more clearly evaluate a decision by its ultimate outcome (hindsight), but you can and should also evaluate in terms of the process by which it was made (e.g. pinch-hitting pujols for theriot is a good decision no matter how it turns out). the garza trade might turn out ok in the end, but wasn’t a very good decision for the cubs
I don’t like the trade from the cubs stand point, personally think they gave too much up when you consider what the brewers gave up for Greinke. But given the cost of young proven pitching talent these days its hard to critisize the trade on the basis of Fulds hot start and unproven prospects.
but fuld’s start isn’t the basis on which the trade is criticized, generally. that’s my point
matt garza is young and “proven” (he’s proven he can produce 2-3 WAR), but not all that special. a lot was surrendered for him in light of what little he’s done. and while the cubs can make the argument that the prospects they lost were blocked, they were still valuable resources that could very probably have been used better
Exactly. Fuld wasn’t even a centerpiece. At the time actually it seemed as if he was a throw in. I thought the trade looked bad as soon as I heard the Cubs gave up 2 of their top five prospects and three of their top ten, and then Fuld for Garza
They gave up Archer (high talent hasn’t been great as a ray yet) Hak ju lee a defensive minded ss obviously blocked, Brandon Guyer who is blocked in the OF and Robinson Chirinos low end prospect without much and then Fuld a guy who only played defense for the cubs. I don’t think it’s terrible since Garzas in his prime and they didn’t lose any prospects with high expectations other than Archer.
I don’t know if it was a good decision for the Cubs or not, we won’t know one way or the other for quite awhile. That said, look at the parity in the NL Central. Had the Cubs not at least tried to upgrade their rotation they would have likely ended up a second division team, at least now they’ve got a shot at contention. When the Brewers got Greinke it was pretty clear that the Cardinals, Reds and Brewers were the teams to beat so the Cubs had to do something to keep pace. Maybe that’s not the best reason for making personnel moves but that’s how Hendry operates. Brewers get CC, Cubs get Harden. Anyway, the point is that Garza makes the Cubs a better team this year and we have no idea how the prospects sent to the Rays are going to pan out (Fuld isn’t a prospect to me). Plus, Fuld is going to remember that he’s Sam Fuld soon, he’s not going to hit like this all year.
“I don’t know if it was a good decision for the Cubs or not, we won’t know one way or the other for quite awhile. ”
didn’t you read what i just said, though? we do not need to wait to evaluate the decision. you wouldn’t wait until pujols’ at-bat was over to decide if pinch-hitting him was a good decision
“the Cubs had to do something to keep pace”
maybe. but that doesn’t justify this specific transaction. there’s no doubt that the MLB team is better in 2011 with garza than without him. but that also isn’t a sound justification
I think the Cubs are so high right now on brett jackson right now, that he will be the next prospect to get any playing time. Matt Sczur could be the next after him. I think Fuld played his best defense in left field which is blocked by Soriano for the next few years.
Cubs are pretty high on a young group at Tennessee right now.
Fish ought to have some depth at catcher when Johnny Baker finally gets over that TJ surgery he under went early last season. Already have a decent catcher in Buck under contract and baker is a nice hitting catcher who calls a good game, not the best at throwing, but fair. Would like to see Boston get him as always do players from favorite teams when one has a need.
Agreed. It’s tough for me to compare those two trades though because of KC’s need to deal Greinke. The Rays technically didn’t have to move Garza though I’m sure they wanted to to save money. Plus with Greinke off the trade market and nothing left on the free agent market the Cubs weren’t in a position to low ball the Rays. I wish they hadn’t given up so much but I understand why they did.
The cubs should see what millwoods asking price is for the rest of this year after the yanks pee him off and he opts out of his contract on sunday/monday. millwood is still better than russell and coleman for atleast now he’s better than them.
you can have that 85 mph fastball. I’d rather we use Noesi if a need for a SP arises anyway
Or silva…
No surprise that Jesus Flores isn’t quite ready yet. But what’s curious is that the Nats called him up when Zimmerman went to the DL – presumably to use as a RH pinch hitter. Then, the Nats batted him twice in 2 weeks before sending him back to AAA. Flores would have been much better served by getting his ABs and innings behind te dish back in AAA Syracuse.