While almost every other GM has practically gone into hibernation for the winter, Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto had become almost frantic in his trading of lower level players. The latest flurry started with a trade of OF Seth Smith to the Orioles for RHP Yovani Gallardo. Smith is still a good platoon hitter against RHP's but is slow afoot and not a good fielder. He can DH a lot for Baltimore. The M's are hoping a move to a more pitcher friendly environment will revive Gallardo's career. The next move was to send RHP Nate Karns to the KC Royals for OF Jarrod Dyson, who doesn't hit so well, but is very fleet afoot and an excellent defensive OF. It appears the Mariners are going all in for OF defense with holdover Leonys Martin in CF flanked by Dyson and Mitch Haniger.
The following day after those two deals, Trader Jerry swung back into action and gave up a couple of pitching prospects to the Braves for OF Mallex Smith and RHP Shae Simmons. Just as analysts were figuring out how Smith would fit in some sort of OF platoon, Dipoto shipped him out to the Rays for LHP Drew Smyly. That leaves the Mariners with a projected starting rotation of Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma, James Paxton, Gallardo and Smyly. The Rays were trading from a surplus of pitching and added Smith to their surplus of OF's. I'll just say I love Mallex Smith's potential and think the Rays may have ended up with the best player out to all these deals.
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The Giants avoided arbitration with Conor Gillaspie, agreeing to a 1 year/$1.4 M contract. Gillaspie was projected to get about $800 K in arbitration by MLBTR, so despite being above the luxury tax cap, the Giants continued their tradition of rewarding postseason heroes. Gillaspie is as close to a lock for a roster spot as any reserve player on the team.
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Santiago Casilla came full circle to sign with the team he started his career with, the Oakland A's. The deal is for 2 years/$11 M with an additional $3 M in incentives mostly involving number of game finished. For a team not known for spending a lot of money on payroll, this seems like an awfully generous deal on the A's part.
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I read that the other teams were a bit peeved/tired of the A's perceived (if not actual) abusing the revenue-sharing of old MLB-Player deal, they voted to phase the A's out over 4-years. So they need to win, if only to make them a suitable moving candidate, in their quest for a new park vs the Roach Motel that is the Colosseum. Which means they have to crack open the wallet a bit more in FA.
ReplyDeleteSo while I can kind of see why they may have spent money. I just don't understand why they spent it on Casilla. Beyond the fact I'm a confirmed 'Casilla Critic.' he just hasn't really performed well in any reasonable understanding of 'performing.' And while I'm not the biggest fan of WAR, in his past 4 years Casilla's earned a total of 1.0 WAR. Last year: Derek Law earned 1.1. Strickland earned 0.8 while Smith 0.6 and Gearrin 0.5.
And Melancon, our new (real) closer earned 1.8 with a total of 7.8 over the same 4 years Casilla struggled to earn 1.0.
For a GM like Beane(although I guess he is not technically the GM anymore) who built his reputation out of using statistical analysis to squeeze ever last drop of value out of a payroll, this Casilla contract does not seem like money well spent.
DeleteKelsey Ross for Fansided unloaded on the Giants farm system, saying among particular complaints, "with regard to pitching, the Giants might have the worst farm system in the majors ."
ReplyDeleteSaid the trade of Bickford for Smith "hasn’t turned out so well in hindsight," Beede's "consistency is his Achilles heel," and Coonrod "needs serious fine tuning."
He did think that SF has "done a superior job of cultivating outfielders and substantial position players."
http://goldengatesports.com/2017/01/12/san-francisco-giants-farm-system-p/?utm_campaign=FanSided+Daily&utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email
The Giants have historically been extremely lopsided toward pitching in their farm system and weak in hitting. So now they are strong with hitters and weak in pitching? And the problem with that is….? So yeah, I can't argue that the Giants pitching prospect quality and depth is at a near all-time low, but I don't think it's quite as bad as he's making it out to be.
Delete1. I never had Bickford as their #1 pitching prospect. His FB velocity was reportedly down to the low 90's by midseason and he's been busted for MJ since the trade. The Giants have a pretty darn good reliever for 3 more seasons out of the deal. Too early for hindsight and the deal is looking pretty good to me right now.
2. No mention of Ty Blach, Andrew Suarez, Joan Gregorio, all of whom I have listed higher than Sam Coonrod in my top 50.
3. I probably listed Melvin Adon too low, but a system that has him at #39 can't be too terrible!
While the article made some valid points, such as not developing your own pitching is going to get expensive for the club, the Giants have done a great job filling those holes signing FA like Cueto, Samardja, and now Melancon, and going the trade route acquiring Matt Moore. The lack of premium pitching prospects shouldn't hurt them too much in 2017, but I'm sure the club hopes not to continue going this route in the future. So I'm with you thinking what's the problem? A big pitching question mark for 2017 might be can the Giants young relievers step up to replace guys like Romo, Lopez, Casilla, setting up Melancon? Still think Casilla might have done ok if they used him correctly as a setup reliever.. As for the Giants Farm System being one of the weaker systems, I heard John Manual being complementary about the system listening to a podcast on CSN and I've always found your takes to be fair also.
ReplyDeleteLG
I would definitely like to see the Giants go heavy on pitching in the 2017 draft.
DeleteAfter a rocky start, Smith was lights out his last 18 games, not allowing a run or even an inherited runner to score. He was just about the ONLY reliable arm out of the pen.
ReplyDeleteCan't he be the Affeldt replacement if not the straight up 8th inning setup man?
Yup. A lot of us think Bochy should have just handed Smith the ball to start the 9'th inning of NLDS Game 4 and told him it was his game to save or lose.
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