Trading Won’t Be Easy
By Mike Silva ~ November 17th, 2009. Filed under: Offseason Speculation.
There is some thought the local teams may eschew the free agent market and look to improve via the trade route. If this quote by San Francisco GM Brian Sabean is any indication about that market it won’t be an easy task:
“We’re not close to anything and I don’t know that we will be. Because the names that are being talked about that teams would need in return, we’re not going to move,” Sabean said. “… We’re bound and determined not to weaken ourselves, whether it’s specifically with our pitching or more so with our up-and-coming definite prospects.”
If the Giants are being asked for their top prospects you know the local teams will be required to trade some of the gems of their system. That means goodbye to Austin Jackson, Jesus Montero, Jenrry Mejia, and Fernando Martinez. I subscribe to a theory that unless you have a “can’t miss” you never pass up the opportunity to get a star in his prime. Acquiring proven quantities is always the proper course of building a team.
The one caveat I will put out there is that both teams can fill their needs on the free agent market. I don’t believe you will have to overpay for any of the top players and probably can get bargains on the second tier players. The one area where this might not hold true is with starting pitching. That’s not an issue for the pitching rich Yanks, but certainly a concern in Queens. Roy Halladay would be the only rumored pitcher that I would consider trading any top prospect. Another name that is currently not available, but who I think may become, is Justin Verlander since Detroit is rumored to be shedding payroll. Both teams should be all in for someone of that caliber.
Sabean’s words should be cautionary to anyone who believes the locals should stay on the sidelines this free agent season. Just like at the trading deadline teams will be asking one dollar for their fifty cents. Why not just go out and pay that dollar on the free agent market? After all the only thing you lose in that scenario is money and that should not be a problem for a large market city.
Listen to Scranton hitting coach Butch Wynegar and Jed Weisberger of MILB.com talk about the top Yankees prospects by downloading it here.
