FanPost

Flipping Current Players for Prospects

I have a question for the board. But first some background: I'm 100% behind the rebuild. I wasn't crazy about the Lowrie trade, nor the W Lopez trade, only because there's no reward for being 15 games behind the worst team per se, but in general I've agreed with the basic principle of gutting the MLB roster to bolster the depth and talent of the farm system.

Here's my question: what's the point of "flipping" Carter, Pena, or Norris for prospects? What kind of prospects? We already have great depth in the system. Carlos Pena isn't going to give us anything better than a C prospect or two. How does that help us?

Now, if one could package a Pena, or a Carter, along with somebody like Grossman or Villar, for a fringe top 100 prospect it would make sense. But what's the point of flipping players who are helping the team right now, for somebody who would be our 8th best RHP at AA or AAA, or our 6th best corner OF prospect?

What we lack are potential stars. What we have a-plenty is depth and guys who may or may not pan out. Why even trade Norris at this point? So he peaks in terms of salary before the team is good? How is that a game changer? At least wait until we have somebody better than Carter before trading him, right?

The success of the teams at all four levels in 2013 shows how good the system is right now. If we can get a top 100 talent, by all means do it. But we don't need the haul that we got from the Wandy and the Happ/Carp trades at this point, right?