The Royals acquired lefty Jonathan Sanchez and minor league starter Ryan Verdugo from the Giants for outfielder Melky Cabrera, announced the team.
Sanchez, 28, may have been a non-tender candidate for the Giants after a disappointing 2011 season that saw him walk 5.9 per nine innings and miss significant time with biceps tendinitis and a sprained ankle. The southpaw is tough to hit and has big-time strikeout numbers, but control has always been a problem. In Sanchez, Felipe Paulino, and Danny Duffy, Royals GM Dayton Moore has strong strikeout potential for three-fifths of his 2012 rotation. Sanchez projects to earn $5.2MM in 2012, after which he'll be eligible for free agency. That he was traded for one year of Cabrera shows how much his trade value slipped during the '11 season. Sanchez was set to battle Barry Zito for the Giants' fifth starter job next year.
Cabrera had the opposite experience in 2011, as he had a resurgence after being non-tendered and signing a $1.25MM free agent deal. The 27-year-old hit .305/.339/.470 with 18 home runs in 706 plate appearances for the Royals, playing mostly center field. UZR suggests he is a below-average defender there, though there seems a good chance the Giants continue to use him in center. If so, Andres Torres could become expendable. Cabrera is projected to earn $4.4MM in 2012, after which he'll be eligible for free agency. With the deal, the Royals opened up center field for prospect Lorenzo Cain.
Verdugo, a 24-year-old Double-A southpaw, went to Kansas City along with Sanchez in the deal. Baseball America ranked him 25th among Giants prospects prior to the season, describing him as a deceptive lefty who misses bats but has minus command. Verdugo was a starter in college and returned to that role last year.
How do you figure bad trade for the Giants? I’m sure if there are other better CF’s out there, teams might want more. This deal is a very good deal, not to sure on Melky though but with the Giants pitching staff they got now & more to come, its probally a great deal.
No it’s not. You even say you’re not sure about Melky. What will you say when you figure out that Torres is a better option? If the Giants waited and got Bourjos they would be better off. Heck, if a OF like Venable gets nontender they’d be much greater keeping Sanchez and picking up him. Basically what I’m saying is I’m expecting near replacement level numbers from Melky in 2012. If Sanchez bounces back and mirrors 2010 in anyway than the Royals GM is going to look even smarter.
You seem to forget about SF, LA, and Petco.
still saying bad trade???
In hindsight…Giants win.