Post by Captain America on Dec 10, 2013 1:50:29 GMT -5
Corey Patterson's trade to the Expos highlighted a very exciting 2004 Trade Frenzy.
The recent 2004 BBSBL Trade Frenzy was arguably the most exciting trade frenzy yet. 39 total trades were made during the event, with 20 teams getting in on the action. The Orioles led the way with 8 total trades and they were rewarded heavily for the efforts.
While some of these trades happened to try to make certain teams better, other teams may have made their trades just to reap the trade frenzy rewards. But how exactly will each trade work out for each team? Let's grade each trade and see who really came out on top.
Trades that only involved board cash and in-game cash were not included.
Trade #1
White Sox sent:
1B Mo Vaughn
$2 million in-game cash
Devil Rays sent:
1B Greg Colbrunn
We will be going mostly chronologically here. It seems as if Greeme signed a bunch of free agents to one-year deals just to use as eventual trade bait. Colbrunn was one of these players.
Greeme though did not get a particularly good return in Mo Vaughn, who is 36 and declining rapidly. Thankfully, Vaughn's contract is up after this season, with retirement certainly looking like a possibility. The in-game cash could help the Devil Rays a bit, being that they are losing money currently, but the Devil Rays are in a good enough financial situation that this cash should not have a significant effect on them.
Thus, by default, the White Sox get the better end of this trade with Colbrunn, who gives the White Sox another right-handed hitter and is hitting well for a 35-year old. The White Sox may try to bring him back next season and unless a PD hit occurs, he should be able to keep producing.
Advantage: White Sox
Trade #2
A's Sent:
RF Dexter Fowler
SP Justin Verlander
Oakland 2005 1st round pick
Florida 2005 2nd Round Pick
Diamondbacks Sent:
LF Eugene Delrio
This was the first big trade that occurred. Darell got a future ace in Verlander, who was taken 1st overall in the 2004 draft, and a very good outfielder in Fowler, who could turn into a great hitter. The A's 2005 1st round pick won't be particularly great, but Darell should be able to still find someone good with it. The Marlins' 2nd round pick is nice as well.
Broph on the other hand gets a stud outfielder in Eugene Delrio, who has bolstered the A's offense. Delrio is only in his second major league season, so he will very likely be part of the A's long-term future.
This trade though has to favor the Diamondbacks because of how awesome Verlander could be, the potential of Fowler and the 1st round pick. Delrio is very nice, but the Diamondbacks got the better value from this trade.
Advantage: Diamondbacks
Trade #3
Tigers Sent:
SP John Lester
Red Sox Sent:
2B Josh McKinley
1 mil board cash
At first glance, this seems to be a homer trade so that Break could acquire a real life Red Sox guy in Lester. Lester though does not project to be the ace he is in real life.
McKinley on the other hand is now yet another big bat in the Tigers' system. He is versatile across the entire infield and could be major league ready as soon as 2005. The $1 million board cash is the icing on the cake here.
Advantage: Tigers
Trade #4
Rockies sent:
SP Ugueth Urbina
3B Ian Stewart
SP Steven Wells
Red Sox sent:
SP John Van Benschoten
Yeah sure another friend trade between Break and myself. I mentioned to Break I was looking for a pitching upgrade of some sort and he mentioned Van Benschoten, who I liked.
He wanted Stewart and Wells, which was ok, especially because Wells has been such a late bloomer with the PD he got. I felt the Stewart loss was ok because it evened out the fact that Break would be taking on Urbina as a salary dump. Following the Bross trade, Urbina was sent to the bullpen and was not as useful, so I found a way to move him.
I think Van Benschoten could be at least a solid #2 in the future and could be major league ready next season if his 4 in runs soon becomes a 5. Thus, I like my end of this better.
Advantage: Rockies
Trade #5
A's Sent:
C Chris Stewart
Red Sox sent:
RF Carlos Quentin
$1.5 million board cash
Red Sox 2007 2nd
This was an interesting trade. Break needed more catching depth and got Stewart from this trade, whom he has since TIA'd in walks and TIB'd in running speed. Stewart is now a 4 star spect and will likely be the Red Sox' catcher of the future.
In return, Broph got a solid outfielder in Quentin, some board cash and a 2nd round pick. The fact that he has Ramon Hernandez as a very solid major league catcher made Stewart expendable. With that luxury in mind, this trade slightly favors Broph because he got the board cash and pick as well.
Advantage: A's
Trade #6
Giants sent:
$3 million board cash
07 2nd(CIN)
OF Brian Hunter
Diamondbacks sent:
OF Gregor Blanco
Spencer loves his 2012 Giants and found a way to get one of them to his team by acquiring Blanco from the D-Backs for $3 million board cash and the Reds' 2007 2nd round pick. As for Hunter, Darell cut him immediately.
Blanco is a solid spect, but Darell gets the better end of this with both the $3 million board cash and what should be at least a decent 2nd round pick to top it off.
Advantage: Diamondbacks
Trade #7
Rockies sent:
MR Toby Borland
$4 million board cash
Diamondbacks sent:
SP/MR Kyle Farnsworth
I'll admit I overpaid for Farnsworth a bit much. I told Darell I'd pay in the $3-4 million range and he said "$4 million. Post it." I was like fuck it might as well just do it. I'll make the board cash back anyway like I always do.
Anyway, Farnsworth is a solid setup man, who can also start. The fair in walks is meh, but his 14 in strikeouts and 9 in velocity should hopefully offset it. I also got to dump Toby Borland, who turned into absolute crap. Darell won this one because I overpaid and he can put the board cash to great use in the future.
Advantage: Diamondbacks
Trade #8
Rockies sent:
SS Derrick Gibson
SP Takashi Saito
Reds sent:
SP Bartolo Colon
3B Jason Romano
1B Eric Karros
$1.5 million in-game cash
To be honest, Stutter had Gibson on his radar for quite some time. He was asking me about him for at least 2 or 3 seasons. Gibson is a solid hitter with 30 home run potential and a good bat. He is very versatile, but not the greatest defender around. He also gets a solid veteran starter with A duration in Saito, whose contract lasts through 2005.
But I feel like I get the better end of this by getting a veteran ace in Colon. He is the kind of veteran innings eater I needed to hopefully take my team to the next level in the future. He is signed to a reasonable contract through 2007 and should hopefully be very dependable through then.
The rest of my end isn't that good. Romano is a decent infielder, who will platoon at third base for the rest of the season. Karros is a small salary dump I'm taking for him and I made sure he sent some in-game cash too for that. As if Stutter was dumb enough to give Karros one bad free agent contract, he did so again the next time Karros hit the open market. Learn from your mistakes, Stutter!
Advantage: Rockies
Trade #9
Cardinals sent:
$4 million board cash
Cardinals 2006 1st
MR Eric Ludwick
Diamondbacks sent:
1b Raphael Cabellero(AAA)
CL Scott Sullivan
I thought I overpaid Darell for Farnsworth. This was even better for him. Darell got $4 million board cash and the Cardinals' 2006 1st round pick for a decent reliever in Sullivan, and a late blooming spect in Cabellero, who could be good, but probably won't be a superstar.
Despite Caballero's potential, this was an overpay for Bosoxi. Another win for Darell.
Advantage: Diamondbacks
Trade #10
Pirates Sent:
SP Rocky Biddle
Reds Sent:
SP Jered Weaver
MR Cristhian Martinez
Reds 2007 1st Round Pick
The last trade was just a big overpay. This was an all-out rape and a disastrous trade for Stutter.
Steve1213 should be happy that Biddle wanted a big payday because he used that to take one of the Reds' most valuable assets in Weaver, who is good across the board and could be a great pitcher for whichever team he is on. Only a completely stoned Stutter would have let this happen.
But that wasn't it. Stutter also gave up a 5 star reliever in Martinez and his own 2007 1st round pick in what is arguably the most lopsided deal in the frenzy. Steve1213 cashed in big here and completely took advantage of Stutter's favorite hobby in making it happen.
As for Stutter, he gets Biddle, who is not only fair in home runs (which does not work well at a hitter's park like Riverfront/Cinergy), but he is also asking for a massive payday. Stutter's last offer of four years and $10 million per season was not enough to satisfy Biddle. Yikes. Stutter loses either way by overpaying for Biddle or losing him to free agency and gaining absolutely nothing from all this. This trade makes my Pedro trade with Break look like nothing.
Carelessness like this is why Stutter will never be particularly successful in any OOTP league. Do I really need to re-state who won this?
Advantage: Pirates
How did Stutter let this guy get away for so little?
Trade #11
Cubs sent:
1B Howie Kendrick
$500K Board Cash
Orioles sent:
3B Melvin Mora
Mora is a utility backup at best and that was why Play acquired him. Kendrick is a decent offensive spect, who can play four positions and the $500k board cash is nice too. Easy win for Jah.
Advantage: Orioles
Trade #12
Cubs Sent:
SP Eric Glaser
Twins Sent:
SP Mike Hampton
$1 million in-game cash
Hampton is still overpaid, but could be good added depth for the Cubs' pitching staff. The in-game cash helps pay the contract as well. Glaser isn't particularly good, but if Styro reverses his PD to home runs, he could be decent again. Play wins this one because Hampton is still serviceable and is good insurance.
Advantage: Cubs
Trade #13
Yankees sent:
CF Lorenzo Cain
Yankees 2007 3rd round pick
Braves sent:
2B Jeff Kent
Erbes clearly made this trade for a last-minute playoff push, even though he is on the outside looking in. The Yankees can afford any kind of contract, so that was not a big deal for Erbes. Cain is a decent spect, but will need a PD to get somewhere. The 3rd round pick is decent.
This one is close, but the Braves' finances were not looking good at all and Temp was desperate to clear salary, so that plus getting the 3rd round pick should be enough to give him the win here.
Advantage: Braves
Trade #14
Giants sent:
SP Chris Enochs
CL Dale Dawley
RF Alfredo Silverio
Dodgers sent:
2B Alex Cora
Cora is merely bench depth for Spencer and the Giants, which is why he did this trade. Dale in return got Enochs, who could be a solid back-end starter. He also got Dawley, who is a TIA away from being a solid reliever, plus Silverio, who is a decent spect at just 17 years old. Dale wins with the better value.
Advantage: Dodgers
Trade #15
Giants sent:
CF Ken Griffey Jr.
$1 million Board Cash
Tigers sent:
DH Sammy Sosa
MR Jon Rauch
Tigers 2005 1st Round Pick
Spencer unloaded Griffey's $18 million salary onto the Tigers. Griffey is still a good player, but is certainly past his prime and not getting any younger. Dave took a big gamble here and is hoping it can pay off.
Spencer gets the better end though with Sosa, who can still hit at 35, a 4-star reliever in Rauch and the Tigers' 2005 1st round pick, which should be a mid-1st in the upcoming draft. Plus, he sheds $18 million from his payroll, which is always nice.
Advantage: Giants
Trade #16
Expos Sent:
RF Henry Rodriguez
Expos/Nationals 2005 1st Round Pick
Cubs Sent:
RP JC Romero
RP Eric Junge
$1.5 Million Board Cash
Kobe needed bullpen help and he got just that in this trade. Romero is a stud and Junge is very solid as well. The $1.5 million board cash is the cherry on top.
Play got Henry Rodriguez to add some power to his lineup, plus a late 2005 1st round pick. It's a decent return, but Kobe got the better end.
Advantage: Expos
Trade #17
Giants Sent:
MR Joe Rauch
1B Travis Hafner
Tigers 2005 1st Round Pick
Braves sent:
SS Chipper Jones
Seeing Chipper in another uniform was weird, but this was a good trade for Spencer, whose offense was not hitting and hopefully for his sake, Jones' presence will bolster the Giants' lineup.
Temp gets the better end of this though with a solid first baseman in Hafner, the aforementioned Rauch and the Tigers' 2005 1st round pick. Plus, he cleared Jones' contract from his payroll. Well done!
Advantage: Braves
Picturing Chipper Jones in a uniform other than the Braves' is not the easiest thing to do.
Trade #18
Orioles Sent:
LF Danny Putnam
Giants Sent:
SS Orlando Miller
Miller was traded again, so I will discuss him more in his second trade, but Putnam is a mediocre spect. Nonetheless, Spencer cleared Miller's $5 million salary, so he wins this one.
Advantage: Giants
Trade #19
Orioles Sent:
MR Rod Beck
MR Sean White
Tigers Sent:
MR Juan Guzman
SP Joe Blanton
Tigers 2006 3rd Round Pick
$2.5 Million Board Cash
This was one of the more lopsided trades, and Dave himself even admitted it. This is why you don't do trade talks with your friend while driving!
Dave got an aging Rod Beck, who is decent, but certainly not as good as he once was. White though is a good spect, but needs a TIA in hits to be considered more valuable.
But the fact that Dave sent $2.5 million board cash, in addition to his 2006 3rd round pick and Blanton was a clear overpay. Blanton is a very solid spect, who ended up changing teams again. The aging Guzman is decent pitching depth for the Orioles.
Advantage: Orioles
Trade #20
Orioles Sent:
SP Rick Stahl
Orioles 2006 3rd Round Pick
Braves Sent:
CL Robb Nen
The Jah trading rampage continued with him acquiring a bullpen upgrade in Nen. Nen has quite a big salary, but the Orioles can handle it and it can hopefully keep their postseason hopes alive.
The Braves acquired Stahl, who has E duration and is poor in walks, but is solid besides that. He is more of a high risk, high reward pitcher. The 3rd round pick though is nice.
This trade really depends on whether Jah extends Nen, but for now, the Braves win this for shedding salary.
Advantage: Braves
Trade #21
Expos Sent:
1B Carlos Corporan
Expos 2005 2nd Round Pick
Diamondbacks Sent:
3B Travis Fryman
This was a minor trade and Corporan was obviously a scrub filler. Fryman is past his prime and is a decent upgrade for Kobe, but the 2nd round pick should end up being more valuable.
Advantage: Diamondbacks
Trade #22
Giants Sent:
Giants 2007 2nd Round Pick
Giants 2007 3rd Round Pick
OF Tony Tarasco
Reds Sent:
3B Shea Hillenbrand
With Hillenbrand desiring a winning team in extension talks, it was unlikely he would want to be with the Reds. As a result, Stutter made a good decision to move Hillenbrand to the Giants for both a 2nd round pick and a 3rd round pick. These will likely be late picks, but definitely worth more than Hillenbrand, who will be insurance depth for the Giants. Tarasco was a scrub filler.
This is a rare trade that Stutter actually won. Not too bad.
Advantage: Reds
Trade #23
Cubs Sent:
1B Paul Konerko
$1.5 Million Board Cash
Tigers Sent:
1B Nick Johnson
Tigers 2006 1st Round Pick
Play felt content with letting this happen. Both first baseman are very good, but Konerko's potential is very high and should break out in the Tigers' lineup, in which he will be surrounded by quite a few other good hitters. I was surprised Play sent the board cash as well.
Johnson is solid himself, but it seems like Play was clearly more interested in the draft pick, which should be a mid-late 1st by then. But because Konerko is such a stud, the Tigers get the better end of this trade.
Advantage: Tigers
Trade #24
Rockies sent:
SS Paul Hoover
Diamondbacks sent:
SS Derrick May
My final trade of the frenzy was a last minute effort to get a shortstop or third base upgrade to make up for the loss of Gibson. I wanted a rental for the rest of the season and when Darell mentioned May, who is good in hits, it sounded perfect.
I got the better end of this because May is serviceable, and despite being a 7 in hits, Hoover is a backup middle infielder at best. He wanted a bigger payday than I intended to give him, so this trade made a lot of sense.
Advantage: Rockies
Trade #25
Pirates Sent:
SP Jered Weaver
SS Stephen Drew
Pirates 2006 3rd Round Draft Pick
Pirates 2007 2nd Round Draft Pick
$2.5 Million Board Cash
Jays Sent:
MR Adam Pettyjohn
Game's pitching staff is so filthy that he had Pettyjohn in the bullpen. Pettyjohn is now a solid #4 in the Pirates' rotation and Steve1213 has already made a TIB and some IRI's on him since the trade.
Game got a nice haul in return. The aforementioned Weaver should turn into yet another great pitcher for the Jays, while Drew could be a decent spect with a TIA. The picks and board cash put this over the top for the Jays, who got the better value from this, despite how good Pettyjohn is and how valuable he will now be for the Pirates. This one was very close and it was a great trade for both teams.
Advantage: Jays
Trade #26
Pirates Sent:
OF Jeremy Hermida (A)
$1 Million Board Cash
Red Sox Sent:
MR Don Wengert
$5 Million In-Game Cash
Wengert is B/B in home runs and walks allowed, which gives the Pirates a good and cheap bullpen upgrade. Steve1213 also gets $ 5 million in-game cash to help out his financials, even though he isn't in a bad situation generally speaking. Hermida will need a TIA to hits and some PD's to turn into a valuable piece.
Advantage: Pirates
Trade #27
Braves Sent:
C Javy Lopez
$6 Million In-Game Cash
Orioles Sent:
SP Joe Blanton
Braves 2005 2nd Round Pick
The addition of Lopez to the Orioles is an upgrade at catcher and Lopez has great talent ratings at his age. However, he's currently making $9 million a season through 2007, which could eventually turn into a financial albatross for the Orioles in the future. Getting the in-game cash was important for Jah to have, due to all the salary he's been taking on.
The Braves in return get a solid 4-star spect in Blanton and apparently get their own 2005 2nd round pick back.
Lopez is a great upgrade for the present, but don't expect his production to continue for too much longer. Blanton on the other hand could turn into a middle rotation starter for the Braves.
Advantage: Braves
Trade #28
Rays Sent:
MR Bobby Jenks
Reds Sent:
SP Scott Baker
Reds 2005 2nd Round Pick
Stutter immediately conceded that he lost this trade, so that's enough of a reason as to why Greeme won it. Jenks is a decent reliever, but Baker is a TIA away from becoming a 4.5-star spect. The draft pick is the icing on the cake. Easy win for the Rays.
Advantage: Rays
Trade #29
Tigers Sent:
MR Geoff Goetz
2005 Tigers 3rd Round Pick
Orioles Sent:
SS Orlando Miller
In this Jah and Dave trade, Dave got some bench depth in Miller. Jah gets a decent return in Dave's 2005 3rd round pick, with Goetz being a scrub filler. Does Dave have any upcoming picks left? Probably not. Jah wins this one too.
Advantage: Orioles
Trade #30
Marlins Sent:
MR Peter Moylan
Rays Sent:
SP Cade Gaspar
$2 Million In-Game Cash
In this deal between the two Florida teams, Greeme gets a very solid reliever in Moylan, who is making a decent salary and is locked up through 2006.
Ashes in return gets Gaspar as a scrub filler and $2 million in-game cash. This is not an impressive return by any means. Another solid trade for Greeme.
Advantage: Rays
Trade #31
Indians Sent:
SS Jose Offerman
Yankees Sent:
MR Hector Carrasco
The Indians do not have many large holes to fill at all. The one thing that could have used an improvement, if anything was their bullpen and DRowe came through big by getting Carrasco, who should be a good setup man to bridge the ball to closer Matt Thornton. DRowe needs to extend him ASAP.
Erbes got an aging Jose Offerman in return. Offerman is still a solid hitter, but isn't getting any younger. I like this trade more for DRowe, who now has a much more solid bullpen. Erbes' offense on the other hand did not get as much of an upgrade overall.
Advantage: Indians
Trade #32
Expos Sent:
SS Felipe Lopez
RF Brad Hawpe
Twins Sent:
CL Bobby Madritsch
Madritsch is a solid reliever that gives the Expos yet another bullpen improvement. Hawpe and Lopez (who is currently out for the season) are both decent prospects, but nothing particularly special. The Expos clearly won this trade.
Advantage: Expos
Trade #33
Twins Sent:
SS Maicer Izturis
Cardinals Sent:
LF Norberto Rondo
SP Robert Wansley
This one is another head scratcher. Rondo and Wansley are both mediocre prospects, while Izturis is a decent spect that can hit well and has decent speed. This was probably just a "let's get this done for the frenzy" kind of deal. Bosoxi gets the better end of it though.
Advantage: Cardinals
Trade #34
O's Sent:
3B David Rogers
Dodgers Sent:
OF Bobby Higginson
$1.75 Million In-Game Cash
Higginson is clearly past his prime, but Jah put his eighth trade together just to even more bench depth for the Orioles. The in-game cash was a nice addition to his end of the trade.
Rogers is a decent infielder and could become solid with a TIA to hits. He's already 24, but certainly has more to offer in the future than an aging Higginson.
Advantage: Dodgers
Trade #35
Cardinals Sent:
$3.5 Million Board Cash
C Bill Haselman
Twins Sent:
C Jason Grabowski
Bosoxi gets a nice catching upgrade here with Grabowski, who is a very good catcher and still has his TIA available.
In return, Styro got $3.5 million board cash, which is a nice haul. He has used this board cash as part of some of his recent TIA's to boost up his farm system.
This trade truly benefited both teams evenly. It could go either way.
Advantage: Even
Trade #36
Expos Sent:
SP Carlos Zambrano
SS Miguel Tejada
CF Darin Erstad
1B Casey Kotchman
1B Rigoberto Cueto
2B Ronald McCoy
Expos 05 3rd
Expos 06 1st
Expos 06 2nd
Expos 06 3rd
Expos 07 2nd
Cardinals Sent:
CF Corey Patterson
SP Joey Hamilton
MR Scott Atchison
Of course, it's only fitting that the trade frenzy properly ends with the big blockbuster that involved 2002 NL MVP Corey Patterson being moved to the Expos for a very impressive package.
Patterson is an amazing player with great power and a ton of speed. He may be poor in walks, but he still hits a lot and gets on base at a very respectable .340 clip. Patterson has 30/50 potential this season and is clearly a special player. Hamilton and Atchison are both mediocre pitchers.
Zambrano is clearly the centerpiece of the Cardinals' end of the trade. He is a stud and will be leading the Cardinals' rotation for a long time coming. Tejada is one of the best shortstops around, while Erstad is a good center fielder and isn't signed to an expensive contract. Kotchman is a very good prospect and will most likely get called up in 2005. Cueto could be a decent spect as well with a TIA to his hits.
Carlos Zambrano has changed teams a lot thus far, but he may have just found a home in St. Louis.
Kobe also gave up just about all the other significant picks he had left in this trade. This may have been rather excessive, but he showed he was willing to overpay for Patterson. These picks should help the Cardinals stay competitive for a while, with no need for a rebuild any time soon.
Kobe may have gotten the best player in the trade, but he gave up a boatload in return and helped set up the Cardinals very nicely for the future. Great job, Bosoxi!
Advantage: Cardinals
And there you have it! The 2004 Trade Frenzy was a huge success for just about everyone. Well, pretty much every team except the Reds, who made poor judgments and suffered big losses. The Orioles, Diamondbacks and Pirates were among the biggest winners in the frenzy.
Hopefully, the 2005 frenzy will include even more trades and even better rewards. Thanks again to Erbes for putting this all together!
Until next time...
