Highlights from the latest edition of Full Count from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports..
- The Diamondbacks are deep in starters and won't wait to see if they fall out of contention before exploring a trade involving one of their arms. Don't be surprised if Arizona entertains offers for Joe Saunders before the trade deadline, regardless of where they are in the standings.
- Rockies right-hander Jeremy Guthrie is also likely to be in play. The club is looking at their younger pitchers and they've got Jorge De La Rosa set to come back soon. Teams thinking of trading potential free agents might want to act sooner rather than later in order to save a bit more money and get a better return.
- The Indians need a right-handed hitter and another starting pitcher, as they still don't know if they'll see Roberto Hernandez (formerly Fausto Carmona) this season. The problem for the Tribe is that they rank last in attendance in the majors and likely can't increase payroll significantly. They'll have to ask for cash in deals and that means giving up better prospects in return.
- The Blue Jays are deep in prospects and could be a major player at the deadline. They could be in on the Brewers' Zack Greinke and could even be involved with Matt Garza of the Cubs if his contract talks break down.
I’d love matt garza, but I doubt I’d like the price for him
Someone out there is going to overpay by a ton for Garza if the Cubs don’t get a contract done with him. Short of a legitimate WS contender plugging him in to strengthen a formidable rotation, I suspect the Cubs will be fleecing someone with Garza.
he’ll cost an ace package and probably won’t give you ace results
i’d like to see epstein and anthopolous negotiate, though
Who would you prefer: Greinke or Garza?
I vote Greinke.
Garza any day. Garza is proven AL East tough as well.
Problem? He will cost a fortune after 2013, probably more than grienke after this season as a FA and I don’t envision and scenario where Garza sells himself towards a career of losing in Chicago.. He will hit the market.. Could get traded also, but he will hit the market unless traded to a winning team beforehand.
I like Garza’s bad@SS attitude. I think that Greinke will stay in the NL-he loves to hit.
what did he prove in the AL East other than that it’s awesome to be traded out of it?
A proven winner and the fact he can succeed in it. Grienke (example) any acquiring team would wonder if he could hold up, same with Anibel Sanchez, also a FA after the year. Garza was a horse who was very good in the AL East during his time and any team that gets a pitcher to bring into “this” division always has to think of it from that angle. With Garza? That thought can be crossed right off.
His 4+ FIP’s and xFIP’s while in the AL East tell me he won’t really succeed there. He also wouldn’t be pitching against the Jays – a team he’s owned in his career.
I’d rather have Greinke.
You went and calmly left out Garza threw over 200IP 2 out of his 3 seasons and 190 the other. Shields was “supposed” to be the ace in 08-9, but Garza’s numbers (especially in 09) were better and Tampa probably would have moved Shields after ’10 if not for his bad contract (at the time), the emergence of Price to take Garza’s place as the workhorse and #1 on the staff.
Garza did much better at home (seemed to me without going to look up figures) than on the road.. he also did better vs Boston at home than at Fenway, Shields Maddon would bypass at Fenway even for years to stop him from getting shelled, but he was/is decent at the Thunderdump vs them.
Point? Any good pitcher can struggle vs offensive power house teams.. NYY, Boston.. Why it takes superb pitchers who have the right mentality to succeed there and Garza was/is one of them.
You went and calmly left out Garza threw over 200IP 2 out of his 3 seasons and 190 the other.
I left his 200+ IP seasons out because he averaged 2.35 fWAR on them, which was essentially accumulated by just throwing those 200+ innings.
Point? Any good pitcher can struggle vs offensive power house teams.
Matt Garza in last 4 seasons: 12.6 fWAR
Zack Greinke in last 4 seasons: 23.2 fWAR
What more needs to be said?
Ok, Ok.. We’ll just have to wait out the FA off season on this one.
grienke was in the NL Central, facing some of the weakest teams in baseball more times than anyone during 2011 and the previous 3 seasons? No one would have considered pitching against AL central teams much (if any) better.
I’ll concede that Greinke’s numbers would inflate in the AL East, but doubtfully to the averageness that Garza was (based on opinion moreso than statistical evidence).
i think Greinke has been riding off his great performance in 2009, especially the hot start. he hasn’t been half of the pitcher since until this contract year.
Saunders as trade bait was almost a certainty the second he signed his contract. His hot start only made it all the more likely. He had a pair of games where he struggled, but his last outing, though starting off a bit ugly, wound up being very solid. He can be counted on to give up 2-4 runs almost every time out. Sometimes he gives them all up in the 1st and 2nd. Sometimes he tires at the end. No matter what though, he’ll be good for 200+ IP by the end of the year, throwing lefty, and on a reasonable contract.
The problem with Saunders is, depending on the team he is somewhere between a low #3 and a #5 starter. Although he eats a bunch of innings, not too many teams are looking for back of the rotation type help yet.
You know, Saunders isn’t what you would call a ‘stuff’ pitcher and should be able (barring injuries) to pitch at the same level (somewhere between #3 and #5) for years to come. He’d be a good value for a team wanting some stability in the back end of their rotation. You can also take a chance or two on a pitcher when you know you have a Saunders type to soak up innings.
He doesn’t necessarily have to be dealt to a contender; there’s several teams that could use a guy like him.
De la Rosa back soon? Better check your info again
After his first 3-4 starts, Arizona probably could have gotten something halfway decent for Saunders. Since that time, he’s regained his old form and I’d be surprised if teams offer anything worth value at all. I’m guessing, best case scenario for Arizona is a couple low A prospects and Arizona foots the bill for the majority of Saunders’ 2012 contract. Then they bring up either Bauer or Skaggs. Probably the smartest move Arizona could make.
How about Hutchinson, Syndergaard and Gose for Garza. Could be an epic win for the Cubs.
If they offered those players & AJ Jimenez or Adein Hechavarria then that would be a done deal.
I would not see any way that the Cubs could walk away from that offer.
Gose / Syndergaard / Hutchinson & A,J, Jimenez or Adein Hechavarria
FOR
Garza
I would love Gose to be part of the Cleveland Indians.
keep dreaming dude…garza is no verlander or anything close…is is a servicable #2
LOL
when did matt garza become pedro martinez?
worst.trade.ever
Syndergaard is a top of the rotation ace in the making, Hutchison is a middle of the rotation pitcher with great command, and Gose is one of the best 5 tool prospects in ALL of baseball, and you want all of them for Garza? Funny..
Yet they are all prospects and Garza, by far, is the best pitching you can get this year. Established, MLB proved best available pitcher. Premium price is required and if you don’t get him the Yankees will make their mid season run and it will be another year of Yankees, Tampa Bay in the playoffs with the Blue Jays watching from the sidelines. AA is a great GM and even the great ones know there is a time and place to raffle off the future for right now. This is that time.
haha. sydergaard and gose? not likely. only if felix were available
I agree that the Indians will have to trade quality prospect to solve their outfield problems Teams are going to want guys like Top Prospects Lindor / Chisenhall / relievers Pestano / Hagadone / Chris Perez.
But Indians fans do not understand to get a guy that you will control for 3 or 4 years and not a rental then you have to trade quality.
I’m fine for dealing Chisenhall in a package deal if we are going to get a Power hitting outfielder who we will control for 3 or 4 years.
Starting Pitching I do not agree with Tomlin does not have a major injury right now we are fine as long as McAllister continues to pitch well.
The Indians may even have to trade Gomez to solve their outfield problem Sizemore
will be lost for another 6 to 8 weeks and they cannot wait that long for him the season could be totally lost in that period of time.
The only guy out there that may help them right now is Adam Lind IMHO and they should claim him off waivers, he is a upgrade to Shelly Duncan and Johnny Damon right now and with Lind 28 years old and he had in the past shown he can put numbers up in the indians current state it would be a crime not to give this guy a shot in LF .
Garza is a different pitcher now than he was back in Tampa. Playing against weaker lineups helps some, but he has a different approach and is more slider and groundball heavy. I think they will want a lot for him but he’s a stud and is at least a 1b type pitcher if not a true #1.
garza is a great pitcher no doubt but his skills and contract status does not warrant anything close to the package suggested above? hutch,gose,syndergaard and hech? as the song says…dream on.
Greinke to Nats! in off-season!
“The club is looking at their younger pitchers” (including Moyer).