Re: Brian Giles to Angels??
As usual, Pitt and I seem to be on the same page.
Okay, here's my logic behind this trade (and, no, this trade has NOT been rumored, other than the Angels interest in Giles. I put this trade together):
Brian Giles vs. Darin Erstad
Advantage:ANGELS
Contract status: Giles
2004: $9.5 mil; 2005: $9.5 mil; 2006: $10 mil
If this is slightly incorrect, my bad. My source has Giles signed through '06.
Erstad's contract:
2004: $7.5 mil; 2005: $8m; 2006: $8.5m
While Giles is slightly more expensive than Erstad, he is much more value-priced for his production. Granted, Erstad is a nice player that makes good contact, hits for decent power, plus brings speed and defense. However, Giles is a more productive hitter. Erstad would fit PNC Park quite nicely.
Kris Benson vs. Aaron Sele
Advantage: EVEN
Benson 2004 $6.1 mil. Sele 2004 $8.5 mil.
Both are free agents after the 2004 season.
The Pirates, on the surface, are dealing a 28-year old former #1 pick for a soon-to-be 34-year old veteran curveballer coming off surgery. Bad deal? Not so fast.
First, Benson WILL NEVER RE-SIGN with the Pirates, especially after how he's been grilled from everyone inside and outside the organization. Even though he has one year left on paper, he's effectively finished here now. So, a change of scenery surely wouldn't hurt. Second, Benson is yet another over-hyped, under-producing Pirate prospect that is below .500 for his career and has a "soft" tag, fair or not. Third, while Sele is older and more expensive, he is also much more accomplished and would fit the niche Jeff Suppan served very well here. Plus, the Pirates would clean his contract off the books at season's end.
Jason Kendall vs. Benji Molina
Advantage: PIRATES
This IS the key to the deal. Take a VERY CLOSE look at Kendall's deal and you'll see why Kevin Towers wanted more time to digest even half of it:
2004: $8 million
2005: $10 million
2006: $11 million
2007: $13 million
All punctuated with a COMPLETE NO-TRADE CLAUSE!!!
Ugggh!! That's ugly! So is Kendall in catcher's gear. It's a shame he busted his ankle in 1999 because that injury essentially sapped his speed and, while he's never been great defensively, he's even poorer now. Now, look at Molina's deal, who at 29, is the same age as Kendall, is superior defensively by a wide margin, and hits for more power:
2004: $1.9 million
2005: Team option @ $3 million or $100k buyout.
The Pirates could easily exercise the option and still be getting a steal!
The sad thing is, the Angels would probably ask the Pirates to eat part of JK's deal as well, since they're inexplicably munching on $12 million of Kevin Appier's contract for NEXT year.
When you're taking back the contracts of Erstad and Sele, its hardly a salary dump. Nor, would the fan base think of it as that. These guys are all name players, with the possible exception of Molina. But, trust me, Molina's a good catcher. Ask an Angels fan.
You know, the more you look at the obscene numbers on Kendall's deal, plus the fact Cam Bonifay signed him to a 6 year / $60 million contract AFTER the ankle injury, plus the 3-year extension given to Pat Meares after one MONTH in a Pirates' uniform, plus the multi-year deal donated to Derek Bell, its no wonder McClatchy's lost $30 million. I can actually see this being true. So, who's worse? Kevin McClatchy or Cam Bonifay.
I just love how the media loves second-guessing Dave Littlefield. As far as I'm concerned, unless we deal Giles to Anaheim for the Rally Monkey and Jeff DeVanon, there is no way he'll ever be worse than Bonifay!
As usual, Pitt and I seem to be on the same page.
Okay, here's my logic behind this trade (and, no, this trade has NOT been rumored, other than the Angels interest in Giles. I put this trade together):
Brian Giles vs. Darin Erstad
Advantage:ANGELS
Contract status: Giles
2004: $9.5 mil; 2005: $9.5 mil; 2006: $10 mil
If this is slightly incorrect, my bad. My source has Giles signed through '06.
Erstad's contract:
2004: $7.5 mil; 2005: $8m; 2006: $8.5m
While Giles is slightly more expensive than Erstad, he is much more value-priced for his production. Granted, Erstad is a nice player that makes good contact, hits for decent power, plus brings speed and defense. However, Giles is a more productive hitter. Erstad would fit PNC Park quite nicely.
Kris Benson vs. Aaron Sele
Advantage: EVEN
Benson 2004 $6.1 mil. Sele 2004 $8.5 mil.
Both are free agents after the 2004 season.
The Pirates, on the surface, are dealing a 28-year old former #1 pick for a soon-to-be 34-year old veteran curveballer coming off surgery. Bad deal? Not so fast.
First, Benson WILL NEVER RE-SIGN with the Pirates, especially after how he's been grilled from everyone inside and outside the organization. Even though he has one year left on paper, he's effectively finished here now. So, a change of scenery surely wouldn't hurt. Second, Benson is yet another over-hyped, under-producing Pirate prospect that is below .500 for his career and has a "soft" tag, fair or not. Third, while Sele is older and more expensive, he is also much more accomplished and would fit the niche Jeff Suppan served very well here. Plus, the Pirates would clean his contract off the books at season's end.
Jason Kendall vs. Benji Molina
Advantage: PIRATES
This IS the key to the deal. Take a VERY CLOSE look at Kendall's deal and you'll see why Kevin Towers wanted more time to digest even half of it:
2004: $8 million
2005: $10 million
2006: $11 million
2007: $13 million
All punctuated with a COMPLETE NO-TRADE CLAUSE!!!
Ugggh!! That's ugly! So is Kendall in catcher's gear. It's a shame he busted his ankle in 1999 because that injury essentially sapped his speed and, while he's never been great defensively, he's even poorer now. Now, look at Molina's deal, who at 29, is the same age as Kendall, is superior defensively by a wide margin, and hits for more power:
2004: $1.9 million
2005: Team option @ $3 million or $100k buyout.
The Pirates could easily exercise the option and still be getting a steal!
The sad thing is, the Angels would probably ask the Pirates to eat part of JK's deal as well, since they're inexplicably munching on $12 million of Kevin Appier's contract for NEXT year.
When you're taking back the contracts of Erstad and Sele, its hardly a salary dump. Nor, would the fan base think of it as that. These guys are all name players, with the possible exception of Molina. But, trust me, Molina's a good catcher. Ask an Angels fan.
You know, the more you look at the obscene numbers on Kendall's deal, plus the fact Cam Bonifay signed him to a 6 year / $60 million contract AFTER the ankle injury, plus the 3-year extension given to Pat Meares after one MONTH in a Pirates' uniform, plus the multi-year deal donated to Derek Bell, its no wonder McClatchy's lost $30 million. I can actually see this being true. So, who's worse? Kevin McClatchy or Cam Bonifay.
I just love how the media loves second-guessing Dave Littlefield. As far as I'm concerned, unless we deal Giles to Anaheim for the Rally Monkey and Jeff DeVanon, there is no way he'll ever be worse than Bonifay!
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