I've reached a deal with GP to acquire some picks.
To me: MiLB 38, 39, 41, 43 & 44
To GP: 2 PTBNLs (my 2017 1st and 2nd rd picks after the draft is complete)
Technically, wieners are from Vienna. What I had was mostly wurst. I preferred the sausage in Berlin more than the sausage in Prague, and yes that's a double entendre.
Even if you look at it from a point-in-time perspective, he's gotten more good years out of Ventura than I did from Shields, who also now sucks, and who I subsequently traded for literally nothing (Cliff Lee). Giolito is basically a throw-in, even if he busts.
I took the quick profit, but an all-star caliber catcher is way more valuable than a reliever, however elite he might be. z3r0s rekt me on the Shields for Giolito & Ventura trade, something I don't quickly forget.
Boxy makes it sound like I pimp garbage prospects until somebody takes the bait. The truth is Contreras is a big-time prospect at a premium position who is bursting onto the scene. I would have gladly kept him if the return wasn't good. There was never any certainty from my end that I was going to trade him, in fact you can personally attest to how much I deliberated on it. This was by no means a quick trade.
I wouldn't have traded Contreras unless I acquired Perez as a long-term C. Believe what you want. I could easily cash in J.P. Crawford for another win-now piece, but I won't leave myself bare at a premium position long-term to make a modest upgrade for the current year.