The Trade Thread

[cardsleadtheway]

Last year we had a trade thread to give people advice on trades and what not. I thought I would start up one for this year since, well, I really need some trade advice.

I am the Oakland A's with a current record of 7-22. Not the best start I know. So I need some advice on my next moves. I haven't given up the season just yet, as I have a slight chance at turning it around. But I would like to move some players nonetheless. We have a serious lack of power. 30th in HR and RBI's, so power is something we really need. Here are the options. Please feel free to chime in with advice on who I should look for in a trade. Thanks in advance.

1. Coco Crisp. I can't hit with this guy at all. He is batting .150-160 range and Rajai Davis makes him kind of redundant. I would love to be able to get some power either in the outfield or perhaps first base. I know I won't get much for him, but perhaps some prospects or young players I am unaware of. I would rather risk a prospect not developing than have to deal with him anymore.

2. Kurt Suzuki. A fine young catcher that I can't seem to hit with either. He is batting around .185 at the moment. I have a pretty good compliment of catchers in the minors right now so I wouldn't mind moving him.

3. Ben Sheets. I like this guy, but I don't think I will be able to afford him in the off season. I could get a draft pick for him, but would rather get some power instead. Perhaps a package deal with Crisp and/or Suzuki.

4. Jack Cust. With 10 home runs, he has more than the rest of the team combined. I shouldn't look to trade him, as he is my only power source and is signed to a pretty low contract. But I just can't stand the guy in real life. Is there anything I can get for him?

[Bp2 Triz]

u could probably snag 1B chris davis from the rangers pretty cheap... he has alot of power.. also u could sign carlos delgado

[Raybel]

i agree delgado should be a nice addition

[cardsleadtheway]

Delgado is a free agent right? I could sign him and perhaps cut Crisp. That would give me a nice stop gap until Chris Carter is ready to take over first base. Thanks for the advice. Keep em coming guys (and gals?)

[bobeureally27]

Quote: Originally Posted by cardsleadtheway

Delgado is a free agent right? I could sign him and perhaps cut Crisp. That would give me a nice stop gap until Chris Carter is ready to take over first base. Thanks for the advice. Keep em coming guys (and gals?)

You might want to rethink cutting Crisp. I'm not sure what his contract is like, but I assume it's around the 5 mil range. You would have to pay that if he isn't claimed off waivers. You could use him as a "throw in" just to get rid of his contract.

[codybown]

for me the most consistent players that i've played with (exhibition games, waiting for roster to start franchise) are:

dustin pedrioa
jacoby ellsbury (nice leadoff guy)
justin morneau
rickie weeks

[Slaughter4Heisman]

You might could try throwing in sinker baller Trevor Cahill for someone like Seth Smith from the Rockies. The Rockies like their sinker ballers at Coors and in real life Seth Smith is an up and coming left handed bat but he struggles to find consistent playing time in the Rockies crowded outfield. I have no idea how good he is in the show though. If I remember he is pretty solid.

Also the Reds have Yonder Alonso coming up in their system who plays first just like Joey Votto. Maybe you could swap OF Michael Taylor, Cahill, and one of Grant Green or Jemile Weeks for Votto.

You could try swapping Mazzaro for the Pirates Garrett Jones who hits the ball well in the game. I imagine the Pirates would take a B level prospect for a 29 year old late bloomer who may have been a half season wonder.

Try hitting the Rays up with some prospects for Carlos Pena who is in the last year of his contract and they are highly unlikely to resign him in real life. Although if they are in the race I doubt they will trade him during the season since he is their only true left handed power bat.

See if the Orioles will take on a Mazarro for Luke Scott. Or if they are somehow in the race give them Sheets (If he is pitching good) so they have a true ace for Scott and maybe they could throw in another B level pitching prospect like Kam Mickolio, Troy Patton, Brandon Erbe, or Jake Arrietta.

Or if you wanted to keep it young try swapping Cahill and Mazarro for Nolan Reimold since the Orioles have Felix Pie who could step in in left and play better defense than Reimold and swing the bat decent. Reimold gives you a young guy with solid power. Plus he has his own stance in the game which is nice for young guys like him.

Maybe you could swap Cahill and Taylor for Adam Dunn.

You also have Gio Gonzalez that you would maybe swap for a mid level power guy like Luke Scott or Garrett Jones. Also Ryan Doumit hits for some power at catcher so maybe you could throw in Suzuki and a pitching prospect or two like Gonzalez and Mazarro for Jones and Doumit. That way the pirates have Suzuki fairly cheap for a year or two until they hand it over to Tony Sanchez.

If the Twins pitching is struggling you could try swapping Cahill and Mazarro or Gonzalez for Jason Kubel, Michael Cuddyer, or Delmon Young since the Twins have 4 quality outfielders and they could use Thome at DH. Or if Sheets is doing well and the Twins are in the race you might could swap Sheets for Kubel straight up.

These are just some thoughts.

Or you could just keep playing with what you have and trade off Coco Crisp and Sheets to contending teams who need outfielders or SP's for propsects for your future and just suck it up this year. Then next year you come out with Chris Carter at first. Maybe Weeks at second or you could wait unitl after the all star break to call him up. Green at short or you could wait until after the all star break for him too. Kouzmanoff at third. Then Sweeney Davis and Taylor in the outfield. With a good young pitching staff and Suzuki catching. Plus whatever prospects you picked up in trades. That would be a fun young team, though still lacking in power.

Sorry that was so long. Hopefully it was helpful though.

[cardsleadtheway]

Those are all really awesome ideas Slaughter. You really know your players. I really like the Pena idea, since I really like Pena and would love to see him back with the A's. He just went up on the block so I made an offer of Barton, Gio and an A potential fake 3rd baseman. I hope they take this deal. Pena just hit what turned out to be the game winning home run against me in my last game.

Taylor and Carter are off limits for trades. Those guys are my future. If I could dump Crisp somehow, I would have an outfield of Davis, Sweeney and Buck. I need a fourth outfielder, which could be Taylor (although I could see him as a starter and either Buck or Davis on the bench). I could also call up Carter to play 1st, LF and DH. Right now I have Rosales as my starting SS (Pennington is on the DL) and he is doing a good job offensively, but leads the team in errors. Kouz started off hot, but is in a bit of a slump. If I could move him, I might call up Cardenas and/or Green. Then I still have Chavez, who is starting to get hot and has managed to be a decent utility man, and Cust. I need to move at least one of them. I am on the fence with Sheets. I love pitching with him, but most likely won't be able to sign him long term, especially if I get Pena. Duke I want to move for sure, as I can't pitch that well with him.