Scott Kazmir traded to Angels

[Tenshot13]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4429766

I'm pissed.  He started off bad this year, but was turning it around of late.  I also don't think we got much value for what he was traded for.  Grrrrrrr.

[EDGECRUSHER]

He was always injured and would've made $20 Million the next 2 seasons. They did the right thing.

[Tenshot13]

He was always injured and would've made $20 Million the next 2 seasons. They did the right thing.

Good points, but only time will tell.  Guess I was just upset because I always liked Kaz.

[MaineDolFan]

Tampa got two outstanding prospects in this deal and was able to make a massive salary dump.  You can look at this two ways:  Give up Kazmir now or give up Carl Crawford in the offseason.  Tampa can't afford both.  While I always err on the side of a 25 year old lefty that owns two divisional opponents (he pitches his ass off against Boston and New York)...I don't think you can give up Crawford.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

^^^^^

You may be right Maine, but this shows that they're giving up on the season. 

[MaineDolFan]

Tommy...some of the things that come off your fingers and onto message boards really make me wonder about you.

Tampa is 5.5 out of the wild card and 70-59.  They traded a player with a 5.92 ERA and has pitched more than 7 innings once in over 30 appearances.

But, sure.  Tampa is "giving up the season."   

Maybe you would feel comfortable going into a seven game series facing Niemann, Garza, Price and Shields.  But I guess that is what makes you you.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Tommy...some of the things that come off your fingers and onto message boards really make me wonder about you.

Tampa is 5.5 out of the wild card and 70-59.  They traded a player with a 5.92 ERA and has pitched more than 7 innings once in over 30 appearances.

But, sure.  Tampa is "giving up the season."   

Maybe you would feel comfortable going into a seven game series facing Niemann, Garza, Price and Shields.  But I guess that is what makes you you.

5.5 with 30 something games to go.  That's definitely within striking distance.  Sure, Kazmir has a high ERA, but he was a key player in their World Series run last season. 

[MaineDolFan]

^^
Question:  What does anything from last year have to do with this year?

Answer:  Nothing.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Kazmir was pitching well recently, but you never know what to expect with him. It was the right move.

[Tenshot13]

Tampa got two outstanding prospects in this deal and was able to make a massive salary dump.  You can look at this two ways:  Give up Kazmir now or give up Carl Crawford in the offseason.  Tampa can't afford both.  While I always err on the side of a 25 year old lefty that owns two divisional opponents (he pitches his ass off against Boston and New York)...I don't think you can give up Crawford.

When you put it that way, I guess it's a good trade.  I would rather give up Kaz than CC.  So Maine, I know nothing about the prospects we got in the trade.  Care to enlighten me?

[MaineDolFan]

Sure, I love talking about the kids!

The two prospects that they received are lefty Alex Torres & 3B Matt Sweeney.  They also received a "player to be named."  Apparently everyone already knows who the player is.  Maddon is stoked about whoever it is, he probably hand picked him from his own time with the Angels.

I'll start with Torres:

He has been in the Angels system since 2006 and has a pretty decent track record thus far.  23-11 over all.  This season he was pitching for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (coolest minor league name ever) and was 10-3 with an ERA around 2.70.  He is tossing k's at a 9.2 per nine inning average.  He is compared a lot to Kazmir, except he is a small guy (about 5'10).  Good fastball.  Average but improving slider.  Needs to work on his out pitch.  I am not sure about a rotation guy but he would be a nice middle innings guy.  He is tinkering with a sinker and it's coming along really well.

Matt Sweeney is interesting.  19 years old and has a nice, natural swing.  He could be a 20-25 home run guy per year but he strikes out way too much.  He is being forecasted as a 1B on the MLB level and that makes sense, by the time he's ready Pena would be about DH ready.  He hits to all fields pretty well but needs to widen his strike zone.  I think he'll experience some real growing pain when he gets into AA but the kid has a lot of upside.  He is a bit injury prone.  Right now is tearing up high A ball.  The league is pretty notorious for making batters look silly, I think the average BA in that league is about .260.  Sweeney is hitting a little over .300 right now. 

Oh.  Did I mention the 19 year old Sweeney is 6'3 and 215?  Yeah.  Big kid.

Now...I can't comment if this is locked in.  But the "player to be named later" is rumored to be Jordan Walden.  If that is true, it's fantastic news for the Rays (and awful, long term news for the AL East).  As long as he can polish a secondary out pitch he is forecasted as an A prospect, a legit 1-2 guy.  Heater that tops 100.  Very good slider.  Terrible change up.  Throws it way too hard.  You know who else threw a change up too hard?  Pedro.  I think we all know what ended up with his change up.  FB at 98, change up to 71.  Sick.  He is seeing some growing pains in AA right now with an ERA over 5, but his K to 9 is around 8.2.  Not bad for a guy two years removed from rookie ball.  IF this is true...it's a great trade for the Rays.

[Tenshot13]

Thanks Maine, now I have something to be excited about in this trade.

[MaineDolFan]

Scotty looked good last night, tough luck loss.  He is a good addition to the Halos.