Bayou Brief: Trades from the Winter Meetings and following

[Reg]

By Scott Plack, Sports

December 12, 2007- The Trendsetters have been busy revamping their roster with the goal of winning the PEBA Rodriguez cup. The winter meetings are a hectic time when owners meet, greet, and trade like crazy. Here is a recap of the two trades involving New Orleans and two trades directly following the winter meetings.

Trade 1: NO sends A SP Will Suarez to the Nutmeggers for New Orleans original 3rd round draft pick

Analysis: On the surface this one is hard to understand, but after contacting Tanner with emails questioning his sanity, the situation was made clear. Tanner’s reply: “This really goes back to the Cline trade, they wanted Suarez, but Suarez wouldn’t be made available until the next amateur draft. We attempted to work out a player to be named later, but the trade for Cline will forever be linked with ptbnls officially being nixed in PEBA. I was willing to make a good faith proposal that when Suarez became available, the trade would be made. The Nutmeggers settled for our third round pick, but when the rules were altered and first year players became available to be moved at the winter meetings the Nutmeggers indicated their high interest in Suarez. The deal was done within the hour and announced at the winter meetings. Whether it’s the game of life or the game of baseball integrity is very important and always will be important.

Of course the end analysis of this trade, like so many others, won’t be known until several years down the road. Suarez is a great pitching prospect, but the Trendsetters could pick up someone with similar or better potential in the 3rd round (see Todd Hansen). Over shadowing all of that is the impact Cline should have as a Trendsetter.

Trade 2: NO sends AAA SP Joe Davis and AAA MR Pepe Silva to Omaha for LF Bryan McMillan

Analysis: McMillan will step in immediately and provide solid defense in left field and has the potential to provide some pop in the bottom of the order. With the departure of Edwards, Lewis, and Fowler the Trendsetters had spent most of the offseason searching for the right fit at either CF or LF. With arbitration and trades leaving limited funds McMillan offers a cheap yet serviceable player.

Davis was unhappy pitching at AAA and had made some noise about being promoted. Unfortunately, according to New Orleans scouting staff he was about fifth in line for a major league promotion. Omaha was looking for pitching depth and so Davis was offered.

Silva was the pot sweetener. He pitched at the AA level and scouts were fairly optimistic that he could develop into a decent middle reliever. Tanner felt a little more comfortable parting ways after the acquisition of middle relievers B. Cochran and Y. Hara off waivers.

Again, this trade will have to be watched as McMillan develops over the season. Truthfully, the Trendsetters are not asking a whole lot, just solid defense and a good approach to every at bat. If Silva or Davis are able to make it to the bigs and put together dominating careers then the trade wasn’t worth it. All indications seem to point to the fact that both teams were able to meet pressing needs.

Trade 3: NO sends Manuel Marquez to the Canton in return for a 6th round pick

Analysis: Pretty ambivalent about this one. Marquez did pitch well in limited time with the Trendsetters. He spent most of his time at AAA. Marquez was solid but not great and really didn’t project to be anything special. More depth in the draft is usually good, but who can say how much of an impact a sixth round pick will be able to make?

Trade 4: NO sends 10th round draft pick to Kentucky for AAA SP David Olivas

Analysis: Tanner told me that Olivas is simply insurance. If the injury bug strikes and any multiple number of starters or long relief pitchers go down Olivas will be ready to take their place. In other words, Olivas is first in line to replace Sanu as long relief if any starters are injured. A 10th rounder is seen as a pretty low risk for Olivas, and some sources say Kentucky would have taken a 50 pound bag of oats in exchange for the alienated pitcher.