cajunrevenge (12-18-2016)
I agree about Markakis. Unlike some around here, I would like to see an outfield that included both Mallex and Ender.
Of course Markakis does not have great trade value. But we could trade him for a pitcher on a big contract with little or no surplus value. Markakis for Jordan Zimmermann for example. I could see something like that happening next off-season.
Perfect Cell (12-20-2016)
I don't see Ender being on the team August 1st. If I had to guess he's flipped in July and replaced with Mallex. This regime doesn't follow the old school buyer or seller narrative. We could be buyers and sellers in July.
You act like this is something new.
It's baseball fans passing the time with baseball (as best they can) until more baseball.
100 years ago there were fans all over the country who couldn't wait to look at the box scores each day in the newspaper. They kept up with their team and with the competition because it was just possible that the competition would one day be part of their team too or facing their team.
It's part of sports. If it's not for you, why do you care?
I started the thread by contrasting Eaton and Inciarte. The conclusion that I came to was that Inciarte isn't quite as valuable as Eaton but it's pretty close.
Taking that as a baseline and the package the Chisox received in return for Eaton, I think Jimenez and Happ are an appropriate return for Ender in this market. The Chisox/gNats trade set the market - according to MLB's prospects rankings the #3 prospect in baseball, #38 AND a 2016 first rounder coming off a great first season.
Inciarte for Jimenez and Happ would be - the #21 and #23 prospects in baseball.
You could argue that #3 & #38 is probably close to equal to #21 & #23 when taken as a package. The difference is the additional first rounder.
Of course, it takes two to Tango BUT just because the Cubs wouldn't WANT to do it doesn't mean it's not a fair return given the market.
I understand what you are saying and you are probably on the line of the FO thinking BUT I think it's wrong. Having a guy you can stand at 3B or C in 2017 is much less important than having that player there for 2018 and 2019 (and in reality 2022) IMO.
Trading Inciarte for a guy like Baez who could come in and start day one at 3B would help immediately in 2017 and assuming continued level of play or even progression, would help through 2021. But, it fills just one position while vacating another position (where you hope M Smith is the equivalent backfill). And, you're looking at a guy who becomes a significant part of your payroll obligations at about the time when you can reasonably expect the rebuild to bear fruit. So he might make $1M in 2017, $5M in 2018, $10M in 2019, $15M in 2020 and $20M in 2021 then be a FA.
OTOH, if you turn Inciarte into two starters, as an example Happ and Jimenez (let's leave the discussion if that would even be possible, assume something close to that return) then Inciarte brings little to no help for 2017, but that's OK because 2017 isn't a realistic year anyway. But say Happ and Jimenez take over the corner OF spots sometime in 2018, then 1. That allows you to move the cost of Kemp and Markakis (if you can) so immediate cost savings 2. Allows you to have two starting OF who would cost you less than Baez would cost you over the time period of 2018 - 2021 combined - H&J combined $1M in 2018, $2M in 2019, $10M in 2020, $20M in 2021 roughly, plus you have BOTH for at least 2 additional years beyond where you would potentially lose Baez.
So, lets assume the second deal, Inciarte for Happ and Jimenez, that still leaves 3B and C as potential weak spots. BUT, you've saved yourself some money which could be used to improve those spots through FA by signing guys like a Lucroy or a Machado or Arrenado.
The reason the Eaton trade is even defensible from the Nats perspective is that Eaton is considered significantly better than Ender (as in 2 wins better), and there are many folks who think Giolito's stock has fallen so far that he has possibly fallen outside the Top 50 prospects. Eloy is considered by many to have so much helium he will be the top prospect in baseball by the middle of 2017...the Cubs will not be trading him.
I would be in favor of the Braves flipping Ender for Happ straight up since he could fill 3b for the next 6+ years starting sometime this season. He is exactly the type of player that Braves should be targeting in a trade for Inciarte.
Last edited by Enscheff; 12-18-2016 at 01:55 PM.
HH, i think you would find quite a range of opinion as to how much weight 2017 should be given relative to subsequent years
That's why finding a trade partner for Ender will be so hard. It's not that I agree with it, but the reality of the situation dictates the Braves can't swap MLB parts for prospects right now. The return player doesn't have to be on the team opening day, but he needs to be projected to debut sometime in 2017.
If they can't swap Inciarte for a 2017 MLB contributor now, then they need to wait to trade him until Mallex is ready to step in. Maybe at the deadline?
Think of it this way, you've just met a nice, attractive girl and you're going on a first date. Maybe a casual dinner. Obviously, there's going to be an opportunity to share information on the things that you like. Citing the previous examples, chess might be a hard sell. If you're passionate enough, this shouldn't be a deal breaker. Enjoying music is something that will probably get her attention. You could say you like baseball, and even if she's not a fan, she could understand/appreciate it. Then, try explaining to her about fantasy leagues, Fangraphs, the optimal version of WAR, maintaining Excel spreadsheets on salaries with hypothetical lineups projected out until 2023.
It's not difficult to envision what sort of reaction this might elicit. At that point, it wouldn't be very subjective!