Topic: Joe Blanton

by TheBeerBaron on Jan 5, 2008 9:12 AM CST Comment 22 comments

It's obvious that Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics are willing to trade off the few remaining veterans left on the team and rumors have swirled for months about trade rumors involving Joe Blanton and the Mets, what do you all think it would take to trade for Joe Blanton?

The CUBS really could use another right handed starter in between Ted Lilly and Rich Hill. In my opinion, Joe Blanton could be the CUBS' best option for a #3 starter to fit that mold. His price tag wouldn't be as steep as Dan Haren's was to the Diamond Backs, but would still likely require two solid, four star prospects and a two-three star prospect.

Possibly Eric Patterson, Sean Marshall and insert mediocre prospect......the A's have no one worth mentioning coming up at 2B and always want pitching.

Blanton just turned 27 and although arbitration eligible, would be very cheap (only made $380,000 in 2007) and would remain under team contract the next few seasons.

In his 3+ seasons with the A's, Blanton has a career 4.10 ERA and has averaged a touch over 208 innings a season the last 3 seasons.

Great season last year, 230 IP, 3.95 ERA.....

Link to his career stats...

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/dt/blantjo01.php

What scares me is his rather high opponents batting average (.271 for his career--including .309 in 2006 and .269 last season) but some of that must be credited due to pitching home games at McAfee.

Thoughts?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Blanton isn't the impact Rightie

I've had in mind. Like has been said in numerous other diaries, Blanton has been the beneficiary of playing in Oakland and he really isn't that much better than a Gallagher or Hart or atleast not justifiably so, to give up good prospects for.

The league is littered with JOe Blanton's and if worst case scenario was going with what the Cubs have now and it doesn't work out, then you can make a deal mid season for an upgrade.

I reject your reality and substitute my own. ` Adam Savage Mythbusters

by lemon20pie on Jan 5, 2008 9:13 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Blanton is at least experienced

over Hart and Gallagher.....and AL tested too. He does benefit from that big ball park of course with that golf course sized foul area, but there has to be an account for facing much toughter lineups day in and out.

Super Mario Galaxy! Get it NOW!

by TheBeerBaron on Jan 5, 2008 9:16 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

So is Jason Marquis

And his first half wasn't too much worse than Blanton's first half last season.

The CUbs are fine with mediocre pitchers. If they're going to trade for one, I'd like it to be an impact pitcher. Do the Cubs have the prospects for an "impact" pitcher or a #2 type pitcher? Probably not.

I reject your reality and substitute my own. ` Adam Savage Mythbusters

by lemon20pie on Jan 5, 2008 9:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

Billy Beane's no dummy. He knows teams are looking for pitching and that Blanton could be overvalued.

I think he'd ask for WAY too much -- and it's highly possible that the Cubs could get equal value out of Gallagher or Hart.

No thanks on Blanton.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 5, 2008 10:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

but Eric Patterson still has good value, and I don't think he is in the CUBS' future plans......just a hunch. They are already tired of his antics (tardiness and such). Patterson and Marshall? If you could make a simple package based around something like that, I would do it. I wouldn't want to see Veal, Pawalek, Vitters, Gallagher, etc. included.

Super Mario Galaxy! Get it NOW!

by TheBeerBaron on Jan 5, 2008 11:21 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well..

... in that case, sure. But Billy Beane wouldn't make that kind of deal.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 5, 2008 11:39 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Am I the only person who like Scott Kazmir?

The Rays said his days are numbered. They would like to see what Santana can get to use as a measure though. I'm sure they can give them a great offer and land him.
Again, I said this in other diaries and I'll stop saying it if people think I'm crazy but the guy in the bigs is 35-29 with a 3.64 ERA. Thats all in Tampa by the way.
Imagine what that does for our rotation. Yes we would have atleast 3 lefties but if you have that much talent I think there are worse problems to have.
Maybe I am in my own fantasy world here I don't know. I just dont understand why you would want to give a bigger package than need be to Oakland. Pinella managed Kazmir for two years so he has to know the kid well.

by dus22 on Jan 5, 2008 10:06 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

If he was really on the market

He would cost even more than Bedard and close to what Santana would require.

by rlpete on Jan 5, 2008 10:14 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Cubs and DRays

Don't make good trading partners. A pitcher like Kazmir, would have to include a top prospect and since Pie is the Cubs "top" prospect, the DRays don't need another OF.

The only reason why Kazmir would require "close" to what the Twins will get in return for Santana, is the DRays are notoriously asking for way too much for their players.

Another reason why Kazmir isn't even a remote possibility for the CUbs.

I reject your reality and substitute my own. ` Adam Savage Mythbusters

by lemon20pie on Jan 5, 2008 10:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Plus...

... why would the Rays say "his days are numbered"? He's exactly what most teams would want -- a young lefty (24 this month) who can pile up innings. He's a year (maybe two, I'm not quite sure how they calculate this if you have a partial season) away from free agency.

And if the Rays are serious about building a team (and who knows, maybe they aren't), Kazmir is exactly the kind of guy they'd want to build around.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 5, 2008 10:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's a lot more than Tampa Bay asking for too much

Kazmir is really good. Last season at 23: 206 IP, 196 IP, 89 BB, 239 K's. His ERA+ was 130. he was likely the 4th best lefty in the AL last year behind Santana, Bedard and Sabathia. Tampa Bay should ask for a lot.

by rlpete on Jan 5, 2008 10:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's tough to compare

What you would get back for either Santana or Kazmir, because Santana has been the best pitcher in the game, for a couple seasons now and has proven he can do it year and year out.

Santana is in his own class, really.

I reject your reality and substitute my own. ` Adam Savage Mythbusters

by lemon20pie on Jan 5, 2008 11:13 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Too true.

Johan would command a hefty price and I see the Twins. knowing they cannot re-sign him, maximizing his trade value by holding onto him until the trade deadline nears. Can you imagine what Santana will fetch in the trade market near the deadline?!

"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07

by gary varsho on Jan 5, 2008 12:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He is a stud...

...when he's healthy. He's only one season removed from a pretty serious shoulder injury and if the D-Rays are so willing to sell a good young arm, eyebrows should be raised, given Kazmir's injury history. I think the Cubs need to see what Gallagher and Hart can bring to the table before they sell the farm for a guy like Kazmir.

"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07

by gary varsho on Jan 5, 2008 12:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

too pricey

I love in the 'Bay Area' so I see all kinds of stories about Kazmir in the local sports sections. he's got talent easily equal to Bedard and still has three years of arbitration left... but he's already said he won't sign an extension beyond that unless he gets Santana-like money. the Rays are currently trying to negotiate one with him, but the writer's down here get the feeling he's intentionally trying to price himself out of St. Pete.

I think the Cubs likely do have enough talent in the minors to trade for him if they tried, it would likely cost something like Patterson/Cedeno/Gallagher and the some. Rick McKay is gone from the Rays, and he was the guy who always drove trade prices up so ridiculously high.

dunno if I'm quite sold on Kazmir's mental makeup, he seems a little full of himself some of the time, of course then he can go out and shut down the Yanks or Sox for 7 innings.

by petrie on Jan 5, 2008 2:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't even go past your subject line

The question should be "Is there anyone out there who DOESN'T like Kazmir?" Kazmir isn't on the market and the price for him would be like, the entire Cubs team.

by IllinoisCubs on Jan 5, 2008 8:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This has been discussed in other diaries

Look at Blanton's road splits for the past several years. That's a big red flag to me. I'm not convinced Blanton is much better than either Marquis or Gallagher.

I also suspect based on the other trades that Beane will want a high upside prospect. I doubt he'd take your offer especially if his scouts don't think Patterson can play 2nd base.

by rlpete on Jan 5, 2008 10:10 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yes. Already discussed yesterday

ad nauseum.

Why are you posting another diary where this was discussed 24 hours ago, extensively?

Wait 'til next year. And the next. And the Next. And the next after that too.

by TheEman on Jan 5, 2008 12:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Who does #2 work for?

Joe Blanton is an alright pitcher. If the Cubs needed rotation depth I'd be all over him. Right now the Cubs have a servicable enough starting five (Z, Lilly, Hill, Marquis, Dempster) and solid depth (Marshall, Gallagher, Hart, Mateo) if any of those guys falter. Adding another pitcher that profiles at best as a #3 starter really isn't going to help you.

But what would help is a hard-throwing, right-handed starting pitcher, a solid #2 or even #1a ,that can give you innings during the year and that has the potential to be dominant in the post-season. Some guys that might fit that bill (in my opinion).

A.J. Burnett
Zack Greinke
Ian Snell

Burnett has some issues staying healthy. Greinke has had his issues in the past but has a huge upside, and the Pirates would probably be reluctant to deal Snell within the division. I think that all three are better options than Blanton but there is no perfect fit out there. Not to mention what it would cost to acquire a SP and whether the Cubs can meet the asking price.

I also think it is likely that the need for starting pitching is a little overstated because of the bitter taste that was left by the Cubs getting swept out of the playoffs last season. I'd be content to start the season with what we have in house and look to add a starter at the deadline if needed.

"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." -- Mark Twain

by circuitclout on Jan 5, 2008 1:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I love the idea of acquiring Zack Greinke

I talked about that ad nauseum a few months ago. My goodness, as long as the crazy is gone.

Super Mario Galaxy! Get it NOW!

by TheBeerBaron on Jan 5, 2008 8:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Greinke

is pretty special. I know I've said it before.

Snell likely won't be traded to a division rival. Burnett has had way too many injuries before and is coming off one of his best years in recent memory.

Greinke has the whole mental issue. I'd love to see us use that to our advantage and get KC to trade him. If we could get Greinke and DeJesus for Pie and the young pitchers in the farm system I'd say go for it.

by nickler on Jan 6, 2008 8:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

kazmir

wont happen .the rays always want to much for any of their players.very delicate pitcher as the rays always baby him towards the end of the season every year.you can do that when you finish last every year.we,ll all get a look at him in june then everyone can make their own decisions

by NOMAR on Jan 6, 2008 9:20 AM CST reply actions 0 recs