A few years ago, the Pittsburgh Pirates had a superstar outfielder named Jason Bay and a very questionable pitcher named Oliver Perez, while the Mets had a promising, if undeveloped, outfielder, Lastings Milledge, whom they traded to the Washington Nationals for Ryan Church.
Now the Pirates have both Milledge and Church, while the Mets have Bay and Perez.
Neither the Pirates nor the Mets have outfielder Xavier Nady, who was the consideration for Perez (and reliever Roberto Hernandez, who lasted only two months with the Mets).
Nady was re-traded by the Pirates in 2008 to the Yankees for Ross Ohlendorf and a potential replacement, outfield prospect Jose Tabata (attributing Jeff Karstens and Dan McCutchen to Damaso Marte). The Pirates made out better with Nady because Ohlendorf and Tabata are probably worth a lot more than Perez and Hernandez.
Meanwhile, Bay was also traded in 2008 by the Pirates, who got Andy LaRoche and not a whole lot more for him. Bay became a free agent in late 2009 when the Red Sox declined to pay him more than $15 million a year for four years, while the Mets did top that offer.
Injured Ryan Church left the Mets when he was traded to the Atlanta Braves for Jeff Francoeur, a lower "ceiling" but more serviceable outfielder. Church was later released by the Braves because of his injuries, meaning that the Mets got the "better" of that trade. But the Pirates signed Church for just over $1 million, plus incentives, a good "speculation."
Bay is still a star, but he is probably no longer a superstar, with his best days behind him. Perez is still a question mark, although his better days may be ahead of him on the three-year cycle (he has historically pitched well in 2004 and 2007, with implications for 2010). Francoeur had a stellar rookie year in 2006 but has struggled since.
Ohlendorf was considered a replacement pitcher by the Yankees but now has the makings of a star after a few adjustments. Ditto for Tabata, who's something of a head case but who has lived up to his potential in the minors and could come to the Majors in 2010.
Milledge was another head case during his time with the Washington Nationals but who has gotten onto the "Tabata" trajectory a year earlier and might just be the new Jason Bay.
Andy LaRoche is no great shakes at third, but he is an adequate "placeholder" for Pedro Alvarez, a first round draft choice in 2008. If he recovers, Church might be a placeholder for Tabata or a very strong fourth outfielder (assuming that the Pirates move Garrett Jones to first base). For a million a year, the gamble is worth it.
The Mets ended up with Bay, Francoeur, and Perez, three has-beens. The Pirates ended up with Ohlendorf, Milledge, and Andy LaRoche, at least two of whom have great potential, as well as Tabata and Church in the wings.
One team made out far better in this sequence than the other. If this continues, they may even trade places, with the Pirates going to or near the top of their division and the Mets going to the bottom.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
- Login to post comments