29 Trades With 29 Teams: Boom! Four Way Trade

by birdman on Dec 27, 2011 8:55 PM EST

I should preface my trades with some jibber jaber but I hate that stuff. The main pieces are in bold. I'm not sure about the tertiary pieces. I wanted to play with them more (especially with trying to get Guzman to the Marlins), but I got tired. So hopefully this post represents a good first stab. Let's get ready to rumble!

Baltimore Orioles Receive: Yonder Alonso and Reymond Fuentes from the San Diego Padres

Baltimore Orioles Trade: Adam Jones (SON!) to the Miami Marlins, Jason Berken to the San Diego Padres

Why This Works for the Orioles: The Orioles receive a major league ready 1B and plug in Endy Chavez as the regular CF with Fuentes waiting in the wings. For the second prospect, I was looking for a weak bat, strong glove CF who was near major league ready (sort of a Peter Bourjos lite). I've been quietly hoping Duquette would address the O's crappy defense this offseason in a creative way. But I'm an O's fan so I live my life in quiet desperation. Fuentes seemed like the closest thing to a weak bat, strong glove OF, although he isn't major league ready. Sickels rated him as a C+ prospect with the following description, "Excellent athleticism, speed, defense, but lack of pop could prevent him from becoming a regular." He has some upside left so he probably has a bit more value than a typical C+ prospect especially to the Padres with Petco Park. Lastly, I'm not sure if I prefer Rizzo or Alonso. I went with Alonso since he did pretty well in a small number of big league ABs this year.

Miami Marlins Receive: Adam Jones from the Baltimore Orioles

Miami Marlins Trade: Logan Morrison to the Texas Rangers

Why This Works for the Marlins: The Marlins are trying to win now with their new stadium. Mike Stanton is obviously a stud, but I think Jones would represent an upgrade over Chris Couglan, Scott Cousins, and Bryan Peterson. I don't think it's correct to say that the Marlins are looking to get rid of Logan Morrison. He was sent to AAA in 2011 because the Marlins wanted to send him a wake up message about his entitled attitude (at least that's I heard on XM). Plus, there was something about his tweets that irked the brass. With this trade though, the Marlins could move him off the roster, upgrade the outfield, and replace him by signing Lyle Overbay or Carlos Pena. I'm not sure if the Marlins will view Jones as a CF. If not, I could see them wanting a little more back than Jones for Morrison given their service time differences. Maybe the Padres could throw in Jesus Guzman for the Marlins who could then step into 1B immediately.

Texas Rangers Receive: Logan Morrison from the Miami Marlins

Texas Rangers Trade: Martin Perez and Justin Grimm to the San Diego Padres

Why This Works for the Rangers: I tried to find a team that wasn't written about yet for this series and needed a major league ready 1B. The Rangers seem like a good fit. With Texas coming off of back to back losses in the World Series, they're trying to win now and they don't seem to mind emptying the farm a bit. Perez is their top pitching prospect (B+ from Sickels) while Grimm (B- from Sickels) is your run-of-the-mill, A-baller who could flame out or turn into a starter. Morrison comes with multiple years of control and represents a slight upgrade over Mitch Moreland. Plus, I think Morrison has a bit more upside than Moreland. I'm skeptical of Morrison representing enough of an upgrade over Moreland for them to give up Perez and Grimm, but every win is vital for the Rangers at this point.

San Diego Padres Receive: Martin Perez and Justin Grimm from the Texas Rangers, Jason Berken from the Baltimore Orioles

San Diego Padres Trade: Yonder Alonso and Reymond Fuentes to the Baltimore Orioles

Why This Works for the Padres: The Padres will most likely end up trading either Alonso or Rizzo. Whoever goes, they'll probably want prospects as they're trying to rebuild. Perez and Grimm add to their stockpile of arms. I'm guessing the Padres will want a small sweetener for Fuentes, and Berken seems like the type of guy who the Padres might like for their bullpen - a decent strike thrower who gives up a lot of fly balls.

Poll

What do you think about the four-way trade?

Dig it.

10 votes

Hate it.

27 votes

Unrealistic.

43 votes

All of the above.

6 votes

Too many moving parts. I'm not reading that!

24 votes

110 votes | Poll has closed

FanPosts are user-created content and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors of Camden Chat or SB Nation. They might, though.

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Comments

argh

the auto links blocked out the bold font. the skeleton of the trades breaks down as the following: Jones to Miami, Morrison to Texas, Perez (TX) to SD, Alonso (SD) to BAL. Then I threw in some spare parts to try to even things out.

Kevin Gregg-"You obviously haven't acquired my taste for pitching yet"

by birdman on Dec 27, 2011 9:01 PM EST reply actions

hmm

I think Its always beneficial for a team to have these kind of trades. I’ve read a book “From Athletics to Business” it talks about Why these trades and changes are so important for a team and for an athlete too. I’m happy to see Jones with miami !

by Kevin Michaels on Dec 28, 2011 10:58 AM EST reply actions

I need a poll

Kevin Gregg-"You obviously haven't acquired my taste for pitching yet"

by birdman on Dec 28, 2011 1:26 PM EST via Android app reply actions

Pads get the very short end of the stick here

kudos for creativity — has there ever been an MLB 4-way? — but the Padres are essentially giving up two better prospects (Alonso and Fuentes) for two worse ones (Grimm and Perez), and the only compensation they’re getting for that is Berken, who’s totally worthless to them.

SD could get more for Alonso or Rizzo straight up, and Fuentes is a lot more than a throw-in.

by AndrewTorrez on Dec 28, 2011 2:03 PM EST reply actions

Fuentes is a c+ prospect

I don’t think he’s one of their better prospects. and martin Perez seems to be highly regarded.

Kevin Gregg-"You obviously haven't acquired my taste for pitching yet"

by birdman on Dec 28, 2011 2:08 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

Alonso > Perez and Fuentes > Grimm

I get that Sickels rated Grimm a B- and Fuentes a C+, but you have to dig into the rankings a little bit on that; Fuentes still has a crazy-high ceiling (he’s still learning how to play baseball). Grimm has a higher floor but no chance of stardom, IMO.

Personally, I’ll take the 21-year-old CF with outstanding tools over the solid college pitcher who might be headed to the bullpen. But even if you like Grimm’s certainty over Fuentes’ upside, how could that possibly make up the difference in downgrading from Alonso to Perez?

by AndrewTorrez on Dec 28, 2011 2:28 PM EST up reply actions

I didn't see Perez as a downgrade from Alonso

both are excellent prospects.

Kevin Gregg-"You obviously haven't acquired my taste for pitching yet"

by birdman on Dec 28, 2011 2:55 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

again, I don't want to lose sight of the overall point

you did a great job putting together a plausible 4-way trade, and that’s hard to do.

I’m just saying that if I’m Josh Byrnes, I don’t see a reason to do this deal. At best, it’s a mostly neutral swap of prospects, and the guys you’re asking SD to give up — Alonso and Fuentes — are guys that they specifically went out and intentionally acquired in other trades. I don’t know why they would do that. If they wanted a guy like Martin Perez more than Yonder Alonso, they could have easily gotten him instead.

Put another way: If you were the Orioles, would you trade Dylan Bundy (an A-, like Alonso) and L.J. Hoes (a C+, like Fuentes) for Perez and Grimm? What if Texas threw in a fungible middle reliever? Would that change your mind?

by AndrewTorrez on Dec 28, 2011 3:03 PM EST up reply actions

typing on phone so sorry if sound curt

but neutral trade is what I’m going for. I don’t see why a team would do a lopsided trade.

Kevin Gregg-"You obviously haven't acquired my taste for pitching yet"

by birdman on Dec 28, 2011 3:36 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

but again: what's the incentive for SD to do this?

they give up two guys they liked enough to trade superstars for (Mat Latos, Adrian Gonzalez), and get back… two similar but lesser prospects plus a fungible middle reliever?

Equivalent value is a good idea, if you can structure a win-win. Otherwise, you look to leverage relative positions on the win curve (i.e., trading prospects to a team that’s rebuilding in exchange for veteran players to a team that’s competitive).

by AndrewTorrez on Dec 28, 2011 3:50 PM EST up reply actions

the incentive is take a surplus

and convert it to an asset.

Kevin Gregg-"You obviously haven't acquired my taste for pitching yet"

by birdman on Dec 28, 2011 3:58 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

then trade Alonso or Rizzo, straight up, to the highest bidder

the Padres do not have a surplus of 21-year-old CF prospects and Jason Berken isn’t an asset.

Would you trade Dylan Bundy and Glyn Davis or L.J. Hoes for Perez, Grimm, and a 28-year-old right-handed reliever with a 5.34 ERA?

by AndrewTorrez on Dec 28, 2011 4:02 PM EST up reply actions

highest bidder route

I don’t see a significantly better prospect than martin being offered. maybe same caliber or different position but again I don’t see a lopsided prospect for prospect trade happening.

Kevin Gregg-"You obviously haven't acquired my taste for pitching yet"

by birdman on Dec 28, 2011 4:09 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

TB would totally beat that deal

by AndrewTorrez on Dec 28, 2011 4:13 PM EST up reply actions

yes

with major league talent. for example they could throw in Davis as a starting piece.

Kevin Gregg-"You obviously haven't acquired my taste for pitching yet"

by birdman on Dec 28, 2011 4:15 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

yeah, my guess is that they've already offered

the same deal that they did to St. Louis for Colby Rasmus: take your pick of Jeff Niemann, Wade Davis, or Alex Cobb. The fact that SD hasn’t jumped on the deal tells me that they’re holding out for more.

by AndrewTorrez on Dec 28, 2011 4:20 PM EST up reply actions

which

is why you don’t see many prospect for prospect trades (and other reasons) .

Kevin Gregg-"You obviously haven't acquired my taste for pitching yet"

by birdman on Dec 28, 2011 4:24 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

also

remember that SD’s leverage might be undermined by the perception that they must trade Alonso or rizzo.

Kevin Gregg-"You obviously haven't acquired my taste for pitching yet"

by birdman on Dec 28, 2011 4:28 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

what do you say now Andrew T?!!!!

Kevin Gregg-"You obviously haven't acquired my taste for pitching yet"

by birdman on Jan 6, 2012 4:19 PM EST up reply actions

I wonder about the Marlins end of the deal.

I know Morrison gives them a headache but is that really worth them trading him straight up for another outfielder who is younger, not as good, and a free agent three years earlier? Also, maybe it’s just me but if they would do that I might rather just get Morrison for the O’s. I’d be happy with Alonso, too, of course, because he’s awesome, but either way.

by Stacey on Dec 28, 2011 3:00 PM EST reply actions

*another outfielder who is older

by Stacey on Dec 28, 2011 3:06 PM EST up reply actions

oh yes I agree

I’m banking on their desire to win now and a little lo mo hate. plus replacing 1b should be a bit easier than cf.

Kevin Gregg-"You obviously haven't acquired my taste for pitching yet"

by birdman on Dec 28, 2011 3:38 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

it would be nice to have a good 1B

by Stacey on Dec 28, 2011 3:42 PM EST up reply actions

I want a power hitting 1B!

Now!!! Why can’t we have nice things?

Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.

by Astronaut Mike Dexter on Dec 29, 2011 9:24 AM EST up reply actions

also

given the way the marlins are spending, I could see extending Jones immediately.

I’m in shopping hell. my day has been people telling to look at shit when I don’t have an opinion, checking here, nodding my head, checking here, rinse, wash and repeat.

Kevin Gregg-"You obviously haven't acquired my taste for pitching yet"

by birdman on Dec 28, 2011 3:54 PM EST via Android app up reply actions