Let's Talk Joba for Wandy...
Thanks to Hal Steinbrenner's latest obsessive/compulsive streak, Joba Chamberlain landed on the trading block after the Yankees acquired Rafael Soriano. Brian Cashman, relegated to a talking head, made it known that the Yankees were looking for another starter. With Houston native Andy Pettitte ready to hang it up, the Yanks need a left starter that can eat innings. I'm sure Astros SP Wandy Rodriguez's scouting report is already on Cashman's desk.
(http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/01/yankees-would-consider-joba-for-starter-trade.html)
It's funny, the comment board on that link has Wandy at the top of the list.
The question is, who has the higher value? Would the Astros have to part with more than Wandy to get Joba? Or would the Yankees have to pitch in a prospect to receive a stable lefty? As an Astros fan, the gut instinct is to think the Yankees would at least have to throw in a B prospect or two to get the 'Stros to part with Wandy. Steinbrenner also mentioned using Joba as part of a "larger package to get a viable starter".
The following facts make me think that at the very least, a decent conversation could take place between Ed Wade and Cashman:
1. Cashman and Wade have hooked up on three trades, the last of which brought the Astros prospects for an established player in Lance Berkman.
2. Wade already has an eye on the Yankees minor league pitchers, having plucked Lance Pendleton in the Rule 5 draft.
3. Wandy is a free agent in 2012 and has had sub-4.00 ERA totals over the past three years. The Yankees just don't pass on that.
Not to mention, the Astros and Yankees have mutual interest in trading Jeff Keppinger, with or without an injury. Adding Kepp with Wandy to a trade for Joba could increase the talent AND quantity of prospects the Astros get in return. It's obvious by Steinbrenner's tone that he has had enough with the Joba project and is ready to move on to more established players.
As Astros fans, we should be excited at the prospect of getting Joba. My personal opinion is that he just doesn't like the New York City spotlight. He's a country boy, raised in Nebraska, Big 12 in his blood. A middle America city like Houston may just be the perfect fit for him. It's a perfect fit for the Astros, too. Joba's ERA has been hanging out in the 4.40-4.75 range for the past two years as the Yanks decided whether to start him or leave him in the bullpen. The Astros could make the decision easy, let the kid start, and finally see what happens. He's been ridiculously good at every level until the Yanks started messing with his role. Even if we made the mistake of leaving him in the bullpen, he's obviously going to blow the doors off as a closer in the NL. Everything about this trade makes sense, for both teams.
The question is, which trigger-happy GM will pay more?
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Now everyone’s talking about it.
http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archives/2011/01/astros_face_a_d.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/sports/baseball/16yankees.html?ref=sports
===Craig Biggio #7===BEST ASTRO IN HISTORY===
Yankees fan here. I’d love to see the Yankees center a deal around Joba that would net them Wandy. You think the Astros would be interested? Heck, I’d make a deal like Joba and Nunez for Wandy and Keppinger, or Wandy and Nunez and another prospect for the two. I’d love to see the Yankees get Wandy and wouldn’t be that upset about giving up Joba for him.
Writer for Pinstripe Alley, MLB Daily Dish
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Justice thinks that the Yankees would have to add a lot more to a Joba package to persuade Wade to trade Wandy. I don’t know if that’s the case or not. I suspect it depends on the Astros’ evaluation of Joba. As all the articles mention, Joba’s stock has fallen significantly over the last two years. Joba’s velocity as a starter declined quite a bit in 2009 (92.5 mph in 09 vs. 97 mph and 95 mph in 07 and 08). The velocity increased back to 94 mph as a reliever last year. Since Chamberlin’s high velocity fastball is a big part of his appeal, his future as starter might depend on whether he will pitch in low 90’s or mid 90’s in the starting role.
I’d consider it if the Astros scouts think that Joba can handle the innings that Wandy would have pitched. Or at least a chunk of them as he transitions back into a starter. Who could we realistically expect to be added to the package? I would assume pitching prospects or maybe a minor league third baseman. I don’t know the Yankees system.
If Houston trades Wandy
then they need to get similar value to what they got for Oswalt, IMHO. That means Joba would constitute the Happ piece. If we get additional prospects similar to Wallace (Brandon Laird?) and Villar (Cito Culver?), then it’s a good value. I’d even do Wandy and Keppinger for Joba, Laird, and Culver.
Nice research Snake. I agree, similar to Oswalt’s pull, Wandy’s left handedness really helps his (and our) value.
I’d like to see Brackman or Ivan Nova, along with Laird. That’s a big pull, so hopefully the Yanks appreciate Keppinger’s value (and his .288 bating average last year). The Yanks have about 6-8 quality arms in AA and AAA. Just about any of them would do, especially along with Joba.
Myers-Happ-Norris-Brackman-Lyles? Sounds like a fun team to watch.
===Craig Biggio #7===BEST ASTRO IN HISTORY===
joba
joba is unreliable… he has never showed much of anything… he doesn’t compare to wandy….stupid… i could see wandy for 2 top level minor league pitchers and a 5 tool minor league outfielder…astros pick who they want… wandy era has been spectacular for 3 years… he was victimized in 2010 by lack of run support especially in lst half of yr…his record should have been 15-7….or 17-6…or??? astros should see if they can get him for 3 yrs at about 9 mil per yr..keep him we have the $$$ in past, a $100m payroll has been ok with mcclain….magnus

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