Trading Matt Cain?
Posted By Jeff Fletcher on May 24, 2009 5:04 pm
The Mercury News reported today that Giants GM Brian Sabean is more willing than ever now to trade one the sacred cows of the organization to finally get some offensive help. My take on this is over at FanHouse.
How about trade Sanchez to the Nats for Willingham and Nick Johnson? Nationals get a very useful SP with major upside who’s cost controlled for another 4.5 seasons, the Giants get to bats that can help them now at positions where they could use improvements. Johnson is a FA next season and Willingham has one more cost controlled year, but the Giants have the money to extend either or both if they work out. Johnson especially would be a major upgrade at 1st, and wouldn’t cost them Cain.
Jeremy, apparently you haven’t been watching Jonathan Sanchez since, oh, last July. There is no way anyone considers him a top prospect anymore, so his value is limited at this point. The Giants might be able to get a borderline hitter for him, but not a frontline guy like Nick Johnson.
As I mentioned in the story over at FanHouse, I think the Giants blew it by not trading Sanchez earlier, when more people thought he was going to be good. I’ve always been skeptical of him, so I think selling high on him would have been the right move. Now his stock has plummeted.
I never said Sanchez was a top prospect. Maybe they made a mistake by not trading him earlier, but in a league where Carlos Silva gets 4 year $48M with an option, Sanchez being cost controlled for another 3 seasons and having considerable upside will still bring back a decent haul. The Nationals have practically zero starting pitching, and moving Johnson and Kearns would save them $13M. Yes he is inconsistent, but he also strikes out a batter an inning and has games where he is near unhittable. The Nationals would be better off with Sanchez for 3.5 season and $13M than with Johnson Kearns, and possibly a draft pick when Johnson leaves after the season.
Do you consider Johnson and Kearns as a return only a “top prospect” could bring in? I consider them an above-average 1st baseman who’s got serious questions about his ability to stay healthy and a below average OF also with those same questions. They would still represent offensive upgrades on the Giants, but they should by no means require a “top prospect” to bring in.