To: Detroit Tigers GM & Assistant GM
From: Houston Astros Organization
Topic: Wandy Rodriguez
As you might remember we had negotiations regarding Wandy about a month ago (game time), and we had a principle deal set in place but our organization decided to take a little more time to make sure we weren't gonna be contending this year. Well, as of of June 29 we are now 15 games behind the red hot Cards and we have decided that it will be appropriate to begin moving our valuable pieces.
Since we last talked you have now taken over first place in your division, although your record is still at an unimpressive 38-38. You have a 2.5 game lead over the Royals, 3.5 over the White Sox, and 4 over the Indians. The main problem in your team is pitching. You currently rank last in team ERA: Verlander is 4-9 with a 4.74 ERA in 100.2 IP; Fister is 4-5 with a 3.44 ERA in 102 IP; Scherzer is 7-5 with a 4.47 ERA in 94.2 IP; Porcello is 7-4 with a 4.97 ERA in 92.1 IP; Smyly is 3-6 with a 4.22 ERA in 89.2 IP. Also your bullpen has been very suspect (if you need their numbers ill get them for you).
Since the last time we talked, Wandy has just been great. his stats look like this:
6-4 record/110.1 IP/2.94 ERA/70 Ks/13 BB/1.03 WHIP/.234 avg against.
He has recently had a couple of great starts, 2 weeks ago he shut down the best team in baseball, the Texas Rangers, through 8 innings and earned a win. His great performance has made him a hot commodity in this trading deadline and we have received a lot interest from various teams who are contending, but since we already had partaken in a deal previously, we feel it's right to begin trade talks with your team.
This is our initial proposal:
Tigers receive
SP Wandy Rodriguez (33 y/o) ($7M per year for 2 more years) (6-4 2.94 ERA)
Astros receive
SP Casey Crosby (B potential 23 y/o) (In AAA: 7-3/2.89 ERA/99.2 IP/69 Ks/1.24 WHIP/18 BB/.270 avg against)
RP Al Albaquerque (B potential 25 y/o) (In the majors: 3-0/5.34 ERA/28.2 IP/31 Ks/15 BB/1.64 WHIP/.274 avg against)
3B Audy Ciriaco (C potential 25 y/o) (In AAA: .231 avg/5 HR/22 rbi/11 SB)
We really believe that considering the season Wandy is having he is worth at least 2 Bs and a C. The deal I proposed would be centered around Casey Crosby who is pitching really good, and eventhough he is not your top pitching prospect, we believe he is a top talent. We really want a major league ready bullpen arm back, eventhough Albaquerque is struggling so far this season, we still like his talent and would love to have him. Ciriaco is more of a player we think could help us out of the bench but could still develop into a starter because of his great athleticism.
We would also be willing to throw in more players (like bullpen help), so tell us what you think.
Sincerely,
~The Houston Astros.
UPDATE: Wandy's latest start was v the Padres and he put up a heck of a performance. He pitched 8 innings, allowed 1 run, 7 hits, 4 Ks, 0 BB, and earned his 7th victory (3rd straight), he even picked up 2 hits and a rbi. His ERA is now down to 2.81, he leads the league in IP, least BB allowed, and 3rd in WHIP.
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