Topic: Strangest...trade...ever! 02-21-03 10:08 AM BDBLcommish Okay, I swear that's the last time I paraphrase the Comic Book Guy. What's the consensus on this Kansas/Great Lakes trade? In case you missed the front page story, Kansas just traded David Wells to Great Lakes for Aaron Cook and Runelvys Hernandez. This trade begs several questions: 1) Are the Law Dogs giving up on this season? 2) If not, how have they improved themselves by trading their #3 pitcher for two rookies that can't help them this year? 3) If so, why on earth would they give up this early in the season, especially when they haven't gotten off to a bad start? 4) Is it the Ridgebacks Factor again? 5) Why on earth would Great Lakes trade two rookies for a 40-year-old starter who'll be pulling down $4 million next year? 6) If Kansas really wanted to make this trade, why not wait another chapter? That way, they'd be able to better judge their chances of competing this year and would have a chance to see how Cook and Hernandez have started the MLB season. 7) What on earth is the fascination with Aaron Cook and Runelyvs Hernandez?? Both guys have now been traded for a closer and a #3 pitcher. Am I missing something with these two?? 02-21-03 10:21 AM Mike S./Rocks If they're selling, I'm buying. I've got a Royals prospect for Kansas. 02-21-03 10:35 AM LawDogs Hell NO! Mike you ask all these questions about the trade, yet you fail to even look into my roster. All your answers are there right in front of your eyes. Question #1- Are the Law Dogs giving up this year? Again...Hell NO! Question #2- If not, how have they improved themselves by trading their #3 pitcher for two rookies that can't help them this year? The Law Dogs have improved by subtraction. Wells had 6 starts of which he was pounded by 5 or more runs. Even with our strong lineup, not to many games are going to be one when your starter gets rocked. Question #3- If so, why on earth would they give up this early in the season, especially when they haven't gotten off to a bad start? Why ask the same question twice??? (See question #1) Question #4- Is it the Ridgebacks Factor again? It's always the Ridgeback factor. Wells isn't going to match up against Oswalt any better than any of my other pitchers. So why not continue to build for the present as well as the future? Your scouting of Cook and Hernandez maybe different than mine, but I think both will be solid pitchers for the next few years. Question #5- Why on earth would Great Lakes trade two rookies for a 40-year-old starter who'll be pulling down $4 million next year? I'm sure Scott has a solid reason for making this deal. There really wasn't any dialog. I offered the deal, he accepted. Question #6- If Kansas really wanted to make this trade, why not wait another chapter? That way, they'd be able to better judge their chances of competing this year and would have a chance to see how Cook and Hernandez have started the MLB season. Ok you say wait and see, well if Cook and Hernandez come out and pitch good, I'm sure Scott thinks this deal isn't in his best interest. Question #7- What on earth is the fascination with Aaron Cook and Runelyvs Hernandez?? Both guys have now been traded for a closer and a #3 pitcher. Am I missing something with these two?? Cook is on everyone's top prospect list (except Mike Glander's). I guess we'll get a better read on this trade in a couple of months. Maybe Kreskin Glander is right...isn't he always? 02-21-03 11:09 AM BDBLcommish Is Jeremy Affeldt really a better pitcher than David Wells?? He's been slightly better in the BDBL so far this season, but we're only talking 20-40 innings. In the Major Leagues, Wells had a lower ERA, a lower OPS against both LH and RH, a lower hit rate, and a MUCH lower walk rate. Not to mention that he pitched 126 more innings. I'm not sure who you're going to use to replace those 126 innings, but he can't be better than Wells. I can understand your frustration playing in the same division as the Ridgebacks, but it just seems like a waste to spend all that time and effort trading and rebuilding over the off-season, just to throw in the towel a few weeks into Chapter One - especially when your team has been competitive. Hell, I'm 9-15 and I haven't given up yet. I'm close, but not quite there yet. As for whether "Kreskin Glander" is the only one that doesn't see future all-star seasons from Cook and Hernandez, I've been keeping track of top prospect lists as they are released this year. Cook is ranked #94 on Sickels' list, #98 on The Prospect Report, and isn't listed in either BBP's or StrikeThree's lists. If he's on "everyone's" top prospect list, I haven't seen it. Cook struggled for five years at A-ball or lower before finally producing a couple of years ago. But even when he's been good, he hasn't been dominating (just 6 K/9 over the past two years.) He's a decent prospect, and has a chance to be useful two or three years down the road, but I don't think there would have been any bidding wars for him had you waited another chapter. Hernandez no longer qualifies as a rookie, but I looked through all the lists I compiled last year and his name didn't appear once. He's another guy that hasn't exactly dominated throughout his minor league career. Sorry - just voicing my opinion. All this time with our dead board, I was hoping someone would make a trade so we could all comment on it. So thank you, Chris and Scott! 02-21-03 11:35 AM LawDogs I think Baseball America does a better job at evaluating talent. They like his stuff and I'll have to agree (Cook). Mike, I again state, "I AM NOT THROWING IN THE TOWEL!". So stop accusing me of that!!!!