Athletics to acquire Samardzija and Hammel

[flafson]

To be honest, i don't think i'm paying what the A's just did and i'm not sure i'm breaking the bank on Shark cause he's a NL pitcher. At least the A's got a NL ball park for him.

[ElNik2013]

To be honest, i don't think i'm paying what the A's just did and i'm not sure i'm breaking the bank on Shark cause he's a NL pitcher. At least the A's got a NL ball park for him.

 

 

The A's improved their chances of locking up their division and winning in the playoffs. Plus, they'll have starters coming back from injury for 2015 and could still deal Shark or another starter in the off season to recoup some of the prospects traded.

 

I think that if the Jays had the record the A's have and made this type of trade, we'd be pretty fine with it.

[ElNik2013]

I also think Hammel could be dealt in the next 25 or so days.

[reedjohnsonfan]

I also think Hammel could be dealt in the next 25 or so days.

 

They originally wanted Millone in the pen. I think they hang onto Hammel but you never know with Beane.

[ElNik2013]

They originally wanted Millone in the pen. I think they hang onto Hammel but you never know with Beane.

 

 

It wouldn't surprise me either way. I'm thinking they could use him to plug another hole, but we'll see.

[SJE32]

A's stole nobody. They paid a steep price. In the end they were the only willing and able to pay that price.

[ElNik2013]

Also, what do you guys figure was the price for Shark and what was the price for Hammel?

 

I ask because it would be interesting to use what was paid for Shark to gauge what the price for Price could look like. Similarly, what was paid for Hammel could help gauge the price of rentals like McCarthy et al.

[ElNik2013]

Here's Davidi's piece on this trade:

 

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/samardzija-deal-wouldnt-have-made-sense-for-jays/

 

 

This caught my attention:

 

The Toronto Blue Jays could not have made the same trade the Oakland Athletics struck with the Chicago Cubs for Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel without including Marcus Stroman and Drew Hutchison.

 

The steep price would have only been the starting point in order to secure the two deadline darlings over the package the AL West leaders are sending over.

 

 

 

Sounds like he's making up excuses on this point. Not that I'm criticizing the Jays for not making the deal, I just think saying Stroman plus Hutchison was the starting point sounds like he's a shill trying to cover the Jays' behind.

[Governator]

Shi is basically right, I mean swapping Stroman & Hutch for Hammel & Shark isn't exactly upgrading the rotation while losing our prospects.

[G-Snarls]

[G-Snarls]

Ha

 

Yankees can't get what they need

 

God, good

[ElNik2013]

Shi has been critical of the front office before, He is one of the better writers for the Jays IMO and he must know a little bit behind the scenes to make such a statement.

 

 

I don't agree that he's all that critical of the F/O, but that's not really the issue. The issue is saying that a package of Stroman plus Hutchison was ONLY the starting point.

 

It was reported early in the season that the Cubs asked for Stroman/Sanchez plus Hutchison in the off season for Shark, but Stroman and Hutchison's value has only gone up since they're in the process of establishing themselves as mid-rotation starters. I really don't see how that would be "only a starting point".

 

We all love Russell, but Mckinney is in A-ball and the A's obviously didn't think that highly of Straily since one could argue that he was traded for Hammel. Don't get me wrong, the Cubs got a nice package, but again, 2 23 year old starting pitchers already pitching well at the MLB level is a hell of a package, especially as a starting point.

[burlingtonbandit]

Shi is basically right, I mean swapping Stroman & Hutch for Hammel & Shark isn't exactly upgrading the rotation while losing our prospects.

 

I wouldn't even trade Stroman or Hutchison straight up for Samardzija and Hammel. They both have put up numbers that would be pretty similar to what you could expect from those two guys coming over and transitioning to the AL East. Plus they are making league min. on rookie contracts.

[ElNik2013]

Shi is basically right, I mean swapping Stroman & Hutch for Hammel & Shark isn't exactly upgrading the rotation while losing our prospects.

 

 

That wasn't what he said bro? He's saying that Stroman + Hutchison would only have been a starting point in terms of the price to pay. That's different than saying it wouldn't have made sense when you take into account Stromann and Hutchison's, quality, youth and the years of control that come with that.

[ElNik2013]

It could also have to do with the fact that Epstein and the Cubs got locked in tunnel vision on Russel. Sometimes a GM will get fixated on a single player and it creates unbalanced value for others competing for the same player.

 

 

No doubt, I just think Shi is out to lunch to say Stroman + Hutchison would've only been a starting point. Anyway, no biggie.

[ElNik2013]

Also part of the return for the Cubs is that dealing Shark and Hammel on July 7th as opposed to 3 weeks from now may help them get a higher pick in next year's draft.

[Frenchsoup]

It's really hard not to cheer for the A's, they know there windows and got a sick likeable team.

[SpeedyGose]

Naw, McCarthy actually hasn't been good this year. You can look at all the sabermetrics you want but results are results. When he's getting hit, he's getting hit extremely hard. McCarthy is reminding me of Morrow in that sense. Everyone thought Morrow was good because he showed flashes of brilliance and his fip or xfip or whatever was outperforming his ERA. But the fact was he was mixing in some completely awful pitches that were not fooling anyone.

 

I didn't realize you were such an avid Dbacks watcher. Can you let me know what the exit velocity has been like on Aaron Hill's swings?

[reedjohnsonfan]

I didn't realize you were such an avid Dbacks watcher. Can you let me know what the exit velocity has been like on Aaron Hill's swings?

 

I've seen some of McCarthy's starts and that's exactly what has been happening to him. McCarthy could be good no doubt, but face the facts. His results have been poor because he's mixing in good pitching with completely awful pitching IMO.

[bzapple]

I like the trade for both sides. It will be interesting to see where the A's decide to go after this season: holding on to Samardzija for another run, or dealing him to get some prospects back. They'll also have some questions in their middle infield, no longer having a replacement for Lowrie when he leaves for free agency.

[pickoff22]

McCarthy would not help us take the next step. Acquiring him would not be a good use of assets

[sh3156]

With the emergence of Stroman, this team does not need a starter. This team needs a right handed bat, and it needed it Yesterday. How many games do we have to lose to lefty pitching because AA does nothing. 3 Whitesox lefties dominated us. These are games we should be winning. Shame on Alex for sitting there and watching. If this thing goes downhill, I hope he loses his job

[reedjohnsonfan]

I like the trade for both sides. It will be interesting to see where the A's decide to go after this season: holding on to Samardzija for another run, or dealing him to get some prospects back. They'll also have some questions in their middle infield, no longer having a replacement for Lowrie when he leaves for free agency.

 

I wonder if Edwin Jackson is going to go now. I wonder if the Cubs could even move his contract, he'd be an interesting guy to take a look at but hopefully the Jays can do better.

[reedjohnsonfan]

McCarthy would not help us take the next step. Acquiring him would not be a good use of assets

 

I agree. Prado and McCarthy would be a marginal upgrade. If you're going for a playoff push you get players better than them.

[burlingtonbandit]

I wonder if Edwin Jackson is going to go now. I wonder if the Cubs could even move his contract, he'd be an interesting guy to take a look at but hopefully the Jays can do better.

 

I really doubt Edwin Jackson is even an upgrade over the 5 starters we have right now. Trading for him would be pretty stupid.

 

Edit: why are you saying McCarthy is not a good upgrade while saying Edwin Jackson would be an interesting guy to look at?

[sh3156]

I wonder if Edwin Jackson is going to go now. I wonder if the Cubs could even move his contract, he'd be an interesting guy to take a look at but hopefully the Jays can do better.

 

Would you take Edwin Jackson over JA Happ right now. I wouldn't. All 5 of the Jays starters are better than him

[reedjohnsonfan]

Would you take Edwin Jackson over JA Happ right now. I wouldn't. All 5 of the Jays starters are better than him

 

He's a better pitcher than Happ IMO. If you can get him for nothing and they take some of his contract it would be a depth move given his track record of giving a lot of innings.

 

Pure speculation- but if taking Jackson's contract helps acquire say Castro then maybe you consider it.

[sh3156]

He's a better pitcher than Happ IMO. If you can get him for nothing and they take some of his contract it would be a depth move given his track record of giving a lot of innings.

 

Pure speculation- but if taking Jackson's contract helps acquire say Castro then maybe you consider it.

 

I have to disagree on that. I think Happ has really come along, and is throwing 94 late into games. Aside from the fact that he is a Lefty,

 

Lefties who can pitch late into games with a mid 90s fastball are hard to come by. somehow he has found a couple of MPH on his fastball (A little help maybe?)

 

Edwin Jackson is walking 4 per 9 innings, and has given up more hits than innings pitched. I'd steer clear, this is not our older brother's Edwin Jackson.

[burlingtonbandit]

He's a better pitcher than Happ IMO. If you can get him for nothing and they take some of his contract it would be a depth move given his track record of giving a lot of innings.

 

Pure speculation- but if taking Jackson's contract helps acquire say Castro then maybe you consider it.

 

Hes owed 22 million for the next 2 seasons. Even if they take half of that it won't be worth the prospect to get him. He's not better than Happ and when he was in the AL East before he was terrible. McCarthy a much better option

[sh3156]

Hes owed 22 million for the next 2 seasons. Even if they take half of that it won't be worth the prospect to get him. He's not better than Happ and when he was in the AL East before he was terrible. McCarthy a much better option

 

AA needs to address the hitting problem first.

 

Cubs are insane if they are asking for Stroman for Shark. Heck both Stroman and Hutch are better pitchers than Shark TODAY. In my opinion at least.

 

Go out there, and get a right handed infielder. Stop waiting around, or we will be on some kind of losing streak. Team needs a desperate shot in the arm