RECAP:
Oakland Athletics trade OF Yoenis Cespedes to Boston Red Sox for SP John Lester and OF Jonny Gomes
Boston Red Sox trade SP John Lackey to St. Louis Cardinals for 1B/OF Allen Craig and SP Joe Kelly
Tampa Bay Rays trade SP David Price to Detroit Tigers, Tigers trade CF Austin Jackson to Seattle Mariners, SP Drew Smyly and Minor League SS Willy Adames to Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners send 2B Nick Franklin to Tampa Bay Rays
Oakland Athletics: B+
On the surface, it seems puzzling that the Athletics could trade away their one bonafide slugger in the middle of the lineup and come out a better team, but thats exactly what they did. This is because Cespedes is vastly overrated by the casual fan who only sees him in the home run derby and gunning runners at the plate from 300 feet on Sportscenter. Cespedes actually has the 4th highest wRC+ on his own team, trailing Brandon Moss, Josh Donaldson, and Coco Crisp, and his .303 OBP is hardly Moneyball-esque. He will be replaced in the lineup by a platoon featuring some combination of Steven Vogt and Sam Fuld against right handers and the newly acquired Jonny Gomes, who has mashed lefties to the tune of .875 OPS in his career.
Lester upgrades what was already a quality staff. His arrival presumably pushes Jesse Chavez to the bullpen, which is a plus as he has regressed to his true talent level after a hot first half. For the rest of the regular season, Lester should be a 2 win upgrade over the remaining 10 or so starts, which should help hold off the surging Angels for the division title. However, this move was made with the postseason in mind, where Lester will take Jason Hammel’s spot in the rotation. If the A’s were to make the world series, Lester could potentially get 6 playoff starts; 6 starts that could either solidify Billy Beane’s reputation as the guy who can’t win in October or the best GM in the game.
Boston Red Sox: A-
The Sox aren’t rebuilding as much as they are retooling for 2015. Since Lester is a free agent after this season the Sox had nothing to lose by trading him, so any value they gained for next season is a plus. Cespedes will provide some much needed pop from the right side, and his power should play very well in the friendly confines of Fenway Park. The same can be said for Allen Craig, who Boston is hoping will bounce back to his 2011-2012 form when he was healthy and one of the best run producers in baseball. Joe Kelly should make a solid back of the rotation starter or middle relief man if they choose to go that route. However, one has to question if the Red Sox could have got a better return for Lackey. Due to a clause in his contract, Lackey is only owed $500,000 next year to make up for the year he missed recovering from Tommy John. At that dollar figure, Lackey would be one of the best values in the game, and the now-depleted rotation could certainly use him. Fans may be optimistic that Lester will return, but the price may be much steeper than the Red Sox were hoping to pay. Lester rejected (and rightfully so) Boston’s original offer of 4 years/$70 million, and some project the 30 year old may command 6 years/$140 million on the open market. If the Red Sox are to compete in 2015 as planned, they will have to open the pocketbook to add some starting pitching.
St. Louis Cardinals: A+
The Cardinals hit a home run here, giving up minimal value to boost their pitching staff for this season and next. Lackey replaces Joe Kelly in the rotation, joining Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, Shelby Miller, and a healthy Michael Wacha, which may be the deepest rotation in baseball other than Detroit’s. Losing Allen Craig only hurts a little, as he was a surplus part who was expendable. Matt Adams has been their best hitter this year and has first base firmly occupied for the foreseeable future, so Craig was just keeping a spot warm until top prospect Oscar Tavaras was ready. The trade allows Tavaras to continue his development playing every day with the big league club, and he promptly hit a homered in his first at bat as the everyday Right Fielder, his first of many as a permanent fixture in the Cardinals outfield.
Detroit Tigers: A+
The rich get richer as the Tigers exchanged their 5th starter and starting CF for a former Cy Young winner and proven ace David Price. Austin Jackson is easily replaced in center by equally speedy Rajai Davis, so the drop off there is minimal, although they do lose some depth that would have been very valuable in the postseason when they could have used Davis as a pinch runner. Detroit officially one-upped Oakland to reclaim the Best Rotation in the MLB championship belt. They control Price through all of next season as well, which means it is likely they let another team overpay for Max Scherzer this offseason.
Tampa Bay Rays: C
This was certainly not the return that was expected, as the Rays received neither a top prospect or proven young star in the deal. They clearly value Smyly very highly, as he is under team control until 2018, although it is unlikely he develops into more than a good mid rotation starter. Nick Franklin has struggled in his limited time in the majors, although he profiles as an above average bat at second base and a potential replacement for Ben Zobrist. The wildcard here is 18 year old shortstop Willy Adames, who despite being one of the youngest players in A ball is more than holding his own. Depending on his development, Rays management may come out of this trade looking like geniuses. However, it is still hard to defend this deal, as they probably could have waited until the offseason and gotten the same package while still making a run this season.
Seattle Mariners: B
The Mariners traded a surplus asset to fill a huge need. Nick Franklin will be trapped behind Robinson Cano for eternity, so it made sense to unload him to upgrade what is the worst hitting outfield in the majors. Jackson replaces the incompetent James Jones in center, and while he probably won’t ever repeat his 2012 wRC+ of 137 (37 points above league average), he should be an average hitter while vacuuming fly balls into the abyss that is the Safeco Field outfield. The only reason the Mariners don’t get an A grade is because they only have Jackson for one more season compared to the several years of control they lost with Franklin.
Oakland Athletics trade OF Yoenis Cespedes to Boston Red Sox for SP John Lester and OF Jonny Gomes
Boston Red Sox trade SP John Lackey to St. Louis Cardinals for 1B/OF Allen Craig and SP Joe Kelly
Tampa Bay Rays trade SP David Price to Detroit Tigers, Tigers trade CF Austin Jackson to Seattle Mariners, SP Drew Smyly and Minor League SS Willy Adames to Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners send 2B Nick Franklin to Tampa Bay Rays
Oakland Athletics: B+
On the surface, it seems puzzling that the Athletics could trade away their one bonafide slugger in the middle of the lineup and come out a better team, but thats exactly what they did. This is because Cespedes is vastly overrated by the casual fan who only sees him in the home run derby and gunning runners at the plate from 300 feet on Sportscenter. Cespedes actually has the 4th highest wRC+ on his own team, trailing Brandon Moss, Josh Donaldson, and Coco Crisp, and his .303 OBP is hardly Moneyball-esque. He will be replaced in the lineup by a platoon featuring some combination of Steven Vogt and Sam Fuld against right handers and the newly acquired Jonny Gomes, who has mashed lefties to the tune of .875 OPS in his career.
Lester upgrades what was already a quality staff. His arrival presumably pushes Jesse Chavez to the bullpen, which is a plus as he has regressed to his true talent level after a hot first half. For the rest of the regular season, Lester should be a 2 win upgrade over the remaining 10 or so starts, which should help hold off the surging Angels for the division title. However, this move was made with the postseason in mind, where Lester will take Jason Hammel’s spot in the rotation. If the A’s were to make the world series, Lester could potentially get 6 playoff starts; 6 starts that could either solidify Billy Beane’s reputation as the guy who can’t win in October or the best GM in the game.
Boston Red Sox: A-
The Sox aren’t rebuilding as much as they are retooling for 2015. Since Lester is a free agent after this season the Sox had nothing to lose by trading him, so any value they gained for next season is a plus. Cespedes will provide some much needed pop from the right side, and his power should play very well in the friendly confines of Fenway Park. The same can be said for Allen Craig, who Boston is hoping will bounce back to his 2011-2012 form when he was healthy and one of the best run producers in baseball. Joe Kelly should make a solid back of the rotation starter or middle relief man if they choose to go that route. However, one has to question if the Red Sox could have got a better return for Lackey. Due to a clause in his contract, Lackey is only owed $500,000 next year to make up for the year he missed recovering from Tommy John. At that dollar figure, Lackey would be one of the best values in the game, and the now-depleted rotation could certainly use him. Fans may be optimistic that Lester will return, but the price may be much steeper than the Red Sox were hoping to pay. Lester rejected (and rightfully so) Boston’s original offer of 4 years/$70 million, and some project the 30 year old may command 6 years/$140 million on the open market. If the Red Sox are to compete in 2015 as planned, they will have to open the pocketbook to add some starting pitching.
St. Louis Cardinals: A+
The Cardinals hit a home run here, giving up minimal value to boost their pitching staff for this season and next. Lackey replaces Joe Kelly in the rotation, joining Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, Shelby Miller, and a healthy Michael Wacha, which may be the deepest rotation in baseball other than Detroit’s. Losing Allen Craig only hurts a little, as he was a surplus part who was expendable. Matt Adams has been their best hitter this year and has first base firmly occupied for the foreseeable future, so Craig was just keeping a spot warm until top prospect Oscar Tavaras was ready. The trade allows Tavaras to continue his development playing every day with the big league club, and he promptly hit a homered in his first at bat as the everyday Right Fielder, his first of many as a permanent fixture in the Cardinals outfield.
Detroit Tigers: A+
The rich get richer as the Tigers exchanged their 5th starter and starting CF for a former Cy Young winner and proven ace David Price. Austin Jackson is easily replaced in center by equally speedy Rajai Davis, so the drop off there is minimal, although they do lose some depth that would have been very valuable in the postseason when they could have used Davis as a pinch runner. Detroit officially one-upped Oakland to reclaim the Best Rotation in the MLB championship belt. They control Price through all of next season as well, which means it is likely they let another team overpay for Max Scherzer this offseason.
Tampa Bay Rays: C
This was certainly not the return that was expected, as the Rays received neither a top prospect or proven young star in the deal. They clearly value Smyly very highly, as he is under team control until 2018, although it is unlikely he develops into more than a good mid rotation starter. Nick Franklin has struggled in his limited time in the majors, although he profiles as an above average bat at second base and a potential replacement for Ben Zobrist. The wildcard here is 18 year old shortstop Willy Adames, who despite being one of the youngest players in A ball is more than holding his own. Depending on his development, Rays management may come out of this trade looking like geniuses. However, it is still hard to defend this deal, as they probably could have waited until the offseason and gotten the same package while still making a run this season.
Seattle Mariners: B
The Mariners traded a surplus asset to fill a huge need. Nick Franklin will be trapped behind Robinson Cano for eternity, so it made sense to unload him to upgrade what is the worst hitting outfield in the majors. Jackson replaces the incompetent James Jones in center, and while he probably won’t ever repeat his 2012 wRC+ of 137 (37 points above league average), he should be an average hitter while vacuuming fly balls into the abyss that is the Safeco Field outfield. The only reason the Mariners don’t get an A grade is because they only have Jackson for one more season compared to the several years of control they lost with Franklin.