For those of you who tuned in this week to BDD Radio, you heard Pittsburgh GM Dave Littlefield say he was in the market for a veteran pitcher to anchor his youthful staff. Littlefield accomplished that goal at the wire by acquiring RHP Matt Morris from the Giants for CF Rajai Davis.
Morris is 7-7 for San Francisco this season with a 4.35 ERA. His strikeout rate has been in a freefall since 2001 - from 7.7 K/9 IP all the way down to 4.8 K/9 IP this season - seven straight seasons of decline. But he's a proven "innings eater" who averages close to 200 IP a year - something Littlefield desperately wanted for his young rotation.
The Pirates are very high on the future of Tom Gorzelanny, Ian Snell, Zack Duke and Paul Maholm, all four of whom are in their mid-twenties. By adding Morris who turns 33 next week, the Pirates get that veteran arm who can act as a mentor to an evolving rotation.
But at what cost? Morris is making $9.5 million this year and is due $9.5 million in 2008 with a club option for $9 million in 2009. The buyout for not picking up the option is $1 million, so the Pirates are on the hook for over $10.5 million dollars for a mediocre pitcher who is supposed to provide veteran leadership (whatever that is) to a young rotation.
Davis was hitting .271/.357/.354 for the Pirates in 24 games this season.
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Tuesday, July 31
Pirates Acquire Matt Morris
by
Craig Brown
on Tue 31 Jul 2007 04:47 PM EDT
Yankees/Dodgers Swap
by
Craig Brown
on Tue 31 Jul 2007 01:09 PM EDT
The teams have agreed in principle on a deal i that has been off and on for the past year, where the Dodgers send 3B Wilson Betemit to the Yankees in exchange for RHP Scott Proctor.
It's unclear how this deal makes any sense for Los Angeles. The Dodgers are in the market for bullpen help, but surely they can do better the Proctor, who's 6.1 K/9 IP rate is way down from his career 7.3 K/9 IP rate. In addition, his walk rate is up, and so are his home runs allowed. After appearing in 83 games and throwing 102.1 innings last year, he's already appeared in 52 games this season and has a 3.81 ERA in 54.1 innings. There's a legitimate concern he's breaking down from overuse. Betemit moves to the Bronx where the Yankees will use him as a DH/1B option and will play him at 3B to give Alex Rodriguez the occasional day off down the stretch. It's probably not a stretch to guess he'll act as an insurance policy should A-Rod bolt for free agency this winter. Betemit is hitting .231/.359/.474 for the Dodgers and lost his starting job thanks to a horrible start to his season. His main role lately has been that of pinch hitter as the Dodgers seem to have settled on Nomar Garciaparra as their best option at the hot corner.
First Trade Of The Day
by
Craig Brown
on Tue 31 Jul 2007 11:41 AM EDT
And it's kind of a snoozer as the Red Sox jettison Joel Pineiro to the Cardinals for a PTBNL. Pineiro had been designated for assignment and removed from the 40-man roster last week when they recalled Jon Lester from Triple-A.
Pineiro was seen as the weak link in the Boston bullpen - a bullpen that is the best in the American League. He had a 5.03 ERA in 34 innings for the Red Sox. Pineiro accepted an assignment to Triple-A Pawtucket where he had a 2.25 ERA in two starts. Monday, July 30
Mets Acquire Castillo From Twins
by
Mike Koepp
on Mon 30 Jul 2007 10:05 PM EDT
The Minnesota Twins dealt Luis Castillo to The New York Mets for catching prospect Drew Butera, and outfielder Dustin Martin.
A busy day for the NL East that saw Mark Teixeira and Ron Mahay move from Texas to The Atlanta Braves for catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, shortstop Elvis Andrus and two other minor leaguers. Official announcement of the trade will come later tonight or tomorrow. Castillo, the three time gold glove second baseman will solidify the middle infield for The Mets. New York had been looking to fill the void following Jose Valentin's broken leg in late June. Castillo took the news as best he could saying; "I'm not feeling too good, because I like the team. I think it can do a lot, and I had fun last year, It's a little hard, but I need to put it out of my mind and go over there and do my thing, do the best I can do."
Texas- Atlanta Trade ?
by
writered
on Mon 30 Jul 2007 05:39 PM EDT
Every major outlet is reporting pending medical approval the Rangers and Braves have agreed to the long awaited trade involving Mark Teixeira. The Rangers send 1B Mark Teixeira, 36 year old left-handed relief pitcher Ron Mahay in exchange for Rookie catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, minor league SS Elvis Andrus, minor league pitcher Neftali Perez and a player to be named later. Official announcement is expected shortly. The Braves website is reporting the trade.
Reds-Phillies Trade
by
writered
on Mon 30 Jul 2007 04:56 PM EDT
The Philadelphia Phillies and the Cincinnati Reds have announced a trade.The Reds send RHP Kyle Lohse to the Phillies in exchange for AA LHP Matt Maloney. Lohse was 6-12 with a 4.58 ERA. in 21 starts for the Reds. "Kyle is a durable righthanded starter who has postseason experience," said Phillies General Manager Pat Gillick said, "We feel that with our offense and his ability to keep us in games, he will add pitching depth to our rotation. Maloney, 23, this season at Philadelphia's Class AA Reading affiliate went 9-7 with a 3.94 ERA and 1 complete game in 21 starts. He allowed just 117 hits while striking out 115 batters in 125.2 innings. He leads the Eastern League in innings pitched and ranks fourth in strikeouts. Maloney was the Phillies' third-round draft pick in 2005, |
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