The Hot Stove was fully fired up today as the Yankees pulled off a big trade with, you guessed it, Trader Jerry and the Mariners! The Yankees were known to be in the market for a frontline LHP and they got a good one in Paxton for 3 prospects led by LHP Justus Sheffield.
James Paxton LHP, 30 yo. 2018: 11-6, 3.76, 160.1 IP, 11.68 K/9, 2.36 BB/9. Paxton has elite stuff and is dominant when he's healthy and there's the rub. His 28 Starts and 160.1 IP in 2018 were career highs. The Yankees need strong lefty pitching to protect that short porch in RF, and Paxton fills that bill. We'll see if they still also pursue FA LHP Patrick Corbin. Paxton has 2 years of arbitration eligibility.
Justus Sheffield LHP, 23 yo. 2018: AA- 1-2, 2.25, 28 IP, 12.54 K/9, 4.50 BB/9. AAA- 6-4, 2.56, 88 IP, 8.59, 3.68 BB/9. MLB- 0-0, 10.13, 2.2 IP, 0.00 K/9, 10.13 BB/9. Sheffield is a former first round draft pick by the Indians in 2014 and has been a highly ranked prospect since. He has dominant stuff but could still use some polish on his command.
Erik Swanson RHP, 25 yo. 2018: Short Season- 0-0, 4.05, 6.2 IP, 8.10 K/9, 0.00 BB/9. AA- 5-0, 0.42, 42.2 IP, 11.60 K/9, 3.16 BB/9. AAA- 3-2, 3.86, 72.1 IP, 9.71 K/9, 1.74 BB/9. Swanson is Rule 5 Draft eligible and the Yanks did not have room on their 40 man roster for him. He had solid numbers in 2018 and should be ready to make his MLB debut this season.
Dom Thompson-Williams, OF, 24 yo. 2018 A+: .290/.356/.517, 17 HR, 17 SB, 8.3 BB%, 25.3 K%, 375 PA. Toolsy numbers in high A ball. Should move up to AA in 2019. Nice lottery ticket.
Conclusion: Both sides get what they want out of this deal. Yankees are playing to win it all in 2018 and get a frontline SP in Paxton. Mariners add young talent with 2 pitchers who can contribute right away.
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In other Hot Stove news, the Indians bolster pitching by acquiring RHP Chih-Wei Hu from the Rays for an 18 yo prospect who was drafted this year.
Chih-Wei Hu RHP, 25 yo. 2018: AAA- 5-7, 4.66, 102.1 IP, 8.09 K/9, 2.08 BB/9. MLB- 0-0, 4.15, 13 IP, 8.31 K/9, 2.08 BB/9. Hu has been around since he was signed by the Twins in 2013. Mostly a starter in the minors but has only relieved in a very SSS at the MLB level. He looks like a guy who can eat some innings on a MLB club in 2019. He has an option remaining.
Gionti Turner, 2B, 18 yo. 2018: R- .296/.348/.396, 1 HR, 9 SB, 6.4 BB%, 22.5 K%. Athletic looking youngster drafted in round 27 this year. He also played some SS and CF for the AZL Indians. Can't trust numbers out of the AZL, though. Lottery ticket.
Conclusion: The Rays apparently did not see Hu as part of their future and wanted to clear 40 man roster space. Indians add pitching depth. They may regret trading Gionti Turner at some point in the distant future.
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The Nationals addressed their catcher issue by signing veteran backstop Kurt Suzuki to a 2 year/$10 M contract. Suzuki is not young at age 35, but is coming off the 2 best seasons of his career.
Kurt Suzuki, C, 35 yo. 2017: .283/.351/.536, 19 HR, 5.5 BB%, 12.6 K%, 309 PA. 2018: .271/.332/.444, 12 HR, 5.7 BB%, 11.1 K%. 388 PA. Despite his age and position, he has been very durable over the course of his career. Solid signing by the Nationals.
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Do you think the Paxton trade gives an idea of what the Giants might get in return if they do decide to trade Bumgarner?
ReplyDeleteMadBum's trade value is trending downward. Velocity is down, past two seasons injured, and has a lot of innings pitched for his age. Plus the Yankees were the biggest name attached to him, so thats gone. Doesn't seem right that Paxton might get more value in a trade, but the league generally rewards "What have you done lately". Might be the best to see if his velocity improves at the beginning of the season and then trade.
Deleteat same time the signing value of Bum has plummeted along with his FB velocity. He will not sign a Kershaw type contract based on all the negatives.
DeleteTime for an extension?
DeleteZaidi is unlikely to give Bumgarner what he could probably get on the FA market -- would he even go Samardzija level: 5 yrs/$90M?
I would say it's an approximation but every situation is different. The same player can have different value to different teams. Giants probably missed their opportunity to get maximum value for Bummy last year.
DeleteThis evening is the deadline to add players to the 40-man roster for protection ahead of the Rule 5 Draft.
ReplyDeleteThe Giants have completed their 40-man roster, adding right-handed pitchers Melvin Adon, Sam Coonrod and Logan Webb.
In addition right-hander Julian Fernandez, who was waived by the Giants, was claimed by the Miami Marlins yesterday, and right-hander Chase Johnson cleared waivers, and was outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento earlier Tuesday.
San Francisco’s 40-man roster now sits at 36.
Disappointed to see Fernandez go. I really liked the kid. On the other hand, if the Giants have designs on contiending, the probably don't have room to carry a Rule 5 Draftee coming off TJ surgery on the Active Roster all winter.
DeleteWonder if Zaidi sees a sleeping bat in Gorky's 15 HRs...
ReplyDeleteCareer (bbref) -0.5 WAR, -0.6 dWAR, 2018 27% K rate, .234 BA, .285 OBP.
Is he part of a 2019 contending team?
I would say almost certainly not.
Delete....sleeping bat, that is.
DeleteThe Diamondbacks have agreed to a deal with free-agent utilityman Kelby Tomlinson. He’ll receive a minor-league pact with a camp invite and potential $850K salary in the big leagues.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kelby, for the memories -- you gave it a great go!
Per Paxton, better the Yankees than us. I know he throws from the other side, but this screams of Mike Leake v2.
ReplyDeleteAs per Kelby, thanks for the effort you gave the Giants. Better results in Zona. Just not against us.
Paxton has way better stuff than MIke Leake ever had but the injury history is very worrisome.
Delete