End of the Season Trade Idea: Fielder and Bush for Lincecum and Cain

[strawbossisevil]

I've been thinking about this idea for quite a while. Since above average pitching is what you usually need to make it deep into the playoff chase.

 

First off, this could only happen if LaPorta and Gamel get called up midseason to AAA and continue to rake, both looking like their bats could be major league ready for the '09 season. Now obviously, to expect Prince like numbers from either would be expecting far too much, but let's say both look to be able to hit around 25 HR in the majors.

 

We could trade Fielder and Bush (or Parra) and get what our team really needs, above average young pitching (Lincecum and Cain).

 

With Fielder gone, we would also have a bit more spending cash for the next few offseasons (since Prince won't be making a haul in arbitration), so we can turn around and sign Sheets to a 3 year 45 million dollar deal (or whatever it takes to keep him on the Crew).

 

We would then enter the season with a rotation of:

Sheets

Gallardo

Lincecum

Cain

Suppan

 

Villenueva and Bush/Parra could be entered into the bullpen, where both were effective last season. Having their arms in the pen would help significantly, since they both could pitch multiple innings.

 

Our batting order would be fairly solid as well, not top of the division, but probably pretty solid.

 

Weeks

Gamel

Braun

LaPorta

Hart

Hall

Hardy

Pitcher

Kendall

 

What are your thoughts? Would this make the Brewers significantly better? Significantly worse?

[Twigs37]

Fielder and Bush may only get Lincecum, not both Cain and Lincecum. To get both you would have to give up a whole lot more.

[twobrewers]

You would have to include Parra instead of Bush.

 

I'd take at least one more year with Prince. That gives Gamel and LaPorta adequate time to play in MLB on a regular basis. It also gives the Brewers time to gauge whether Prince has any intention of being a Brewer for a long time.

[splitterpfj]

On Madison radio today, ESPN's Buster Olney said that he believes Fielder is gone after this season, or most certainly after 09. He also said the Brewers would get "four good players" for Prince.

 

He seemed to think the deal would be very similar to what Texas got for Teixeira - for Teixeira and Ron Mahay, the Rangers got Jarrod Saltalamacchia-C, Beau Jones-LHP, Elvis Andrus -SS, Matt Harrison-LHP, and Neftali Feliz-RHP.

[And That]

I tend to think he'll be dealt after next season. That would give the receiving team 2 years to work out a long term deal, and give us a higher return than if we waited until after '10. I don't think we'll deal him this offseason because we can still afford him and I don't think there'd be too much difference in the guys we'd get back 3 years out from FA vs 2 years out from FA.

 

As for the trade proposal, it's a good starting point... I just don't think SF would trade both of those guys in that deal. Maybe if you upped the offer to Fielder, Hardy and Bush. I also wouldn't include Parra because I don't like the idea of trading a young pitcher for different young pitching.

[sbrylski]

I don't think SF would trade both, almost regardless of the offer. It would just be moving their weaknesses around.

[Invader3K]

Trading Prince now would be way too soon. I'd wait 'til after '09, at least.

[bball123h2]

This trade is a good idea, but in reality it would probably be Lincecum and a prospect yet to be drafted for Fielder. I wouldn't expect anything to happen this offseason, but the 09 offseason I wouldn't be shocked if he was moved (barring becoming a clubhouse distraction, which I don't see happening either).

[uwisfan]

I'd take Fielder for Lincecum straight up, and take my chances with LaPorta at first, then use the club option on Cameron if he's performing well.

[MillerParkSouth]

If we're contending, I really don't want to trade Prince before the end of the '10 season if at all. Sure, we could get a pretty large haul if we trade him with 2 years of arby left, but that would be leaving a gigantic hole in the lineup assuming he starts hitting again. I think the Texeiera situation is a little different because Texas was obviously not going to contend with him there. I hope we're in a different situation than that.

[uwisfan]

I don't see the gigantic hole. The dropoff from him to Laporta or Gamel shouldnt be much.

[bball123h2]

We are in a better position than Texas was, however because of that we have 2 bats waiting to replace him at 1B. Laporta or Gamel would represent a power drop, average increase, and better defense. If Prince could actually scoop a ball as well as an average first baseman, we'd have a lot less errors thus far.

[splitterpfj]

This is certainly not a reason to make a move, but thus far, LaPorta's numbers at Huntsville have been better than either Braun's or Fielder's were.

 

Prince was a lot younger, it's a small sample, etc - but I think LaPorta will do just fine in Milwaukee.

 

I think Prince is gone, the only question is when. I suspect the team would love to have Braun, Prince and LaPorta together for the 09 season, but they have obvious pitching needs, with nobody ready to step up from the minors to begin 09 right now. If it comes down to it, I think the team would deal Prince for pitching next winter.

[shelmark]

I think everyone is way off base here and I think Fielder will be signed long-term. I know the concerns about his fielding, including his lousy footwork when he catches throws, and his possible body issues, but I think the current regime is thinking of building around him and Braun. Is the fact that he is a Boras client the reason so many suspect he is leaving? Personally, I believe at some point we have to address our lack of pitching. We have one top starter and the rest are end of the rotation guys, with only Parra having the stuff for anything better.

[splitterpfj]

Yes, Boras is the reason why I think Prince is gone. He's notorious for taking guys through the arbitration process one year at a time, and then getting them to free agency.

 

I just can't see the team gambling on Prince walking away, when they could fill pitching holes by dealing him, and they have a replacement right there in the system already.

 

They'll have to deal for arms, and they'll have to give up quality to get quality, Prince seems like a logical fit.

[paulmolitor4]

I would be all for it. I firmly believe that Lincecum will be one of the best SP's in all of baseball for years to come. Fielder is a hefty price, but it would be worth it in my opinion. No pun intended with the use of the word "hefty" either. The nice thing about Lincecum is that his pitching mechanics are solid and should help to prevent future injuries (you're not looking at a Mark Prior type guy here).

[SeriesFinale]

Lincecum and Cain are going nowhere together. I'd be absolutely shocked if even one of them got dealt. It doesn't pay for the Giants to trade them; they're not an organization that can't afford to spend on free agents and have much less incentive to deal a young stud pitcher to "restock."

[splitterpfj]

SeriesFinale, I agree with you when you say those two pitchers will never be dealt in one move, but SF can absolutely afford to spend on free agents, and they've already shown that they will do so.

 

I do think they would do well for themselves if they dealt one of those arms, and I would think they'll consider it, because the demand for pitching right now is tremendous. They've floated Lincecum's name before, but it seems to me that they should move Cain, and keep Lincecum as the current face of the franchise.

[Samurai Bucky]

Just some other ideas:

 

Prince / Bush to Toronto for Halladay / Litsch or maybe Burnette / Litsch / Ryan

 

Prince / Bush to Seattle for Hernadez / Putz

 

Prince / Hardy to LA Dodgers for Furcal / Lowe / Broxton

 

Prince / Hall / Bush to Detroit for (C. Guillen or Cabrera) / Bonderman

 

I'm sure these are all bush-league. Everybody is forgiving... right? ;-)

[Oldcity]

On Madison radio today, ESPN's Buster Olney said that he believes Fielder is gone after this season, or most certainly after 09. He also said the Brewers would get "four good players" for Prince.

 

He seemed to think the deal would be very similar to what Texas got for Teixeira - for Teixeira and Ron Mahay, the Rangers got Jarrod Saltalamacchia-C, Beau Jones-LHP, Elvis Andrus -SS, Matt Harrison-LHP, and Neftali Feliz-RHP.

I'm not sure I agree with this for a couple reasons.

The Brewers will probably want major league players, likely pitching, if they trade Fielder. The Brewers and Rangers are in very different situations; trading Prince for four prospects wouldn't be smart.

Secondly, Teixeira was closer to free agency than Prince is, and that will be the case for a couple years yet.

[NievesNoNO]

Yes, I'd do the deal. However, I don't believe the Giants would trade both. That's the only kind of deal I'd trade Fieder for. I really hope they're trying to work something out with him. Unless, he simply just doesn't want to be here long term and won't consider a reasonable offer in the next couple years. Then I guess we'll have to scoop up what prospects we can for him. He's a proven elite hitter in this league and I understand our need for some pitching, but Prince is a difference maker and I don't want to see him go.

[logan82]

Trade Pince now. We need to improve our infield defense. I am only half joking.

[DrWood]

first, you would only trade Prince if you expect him to be more like the 2008 version than the 2007 version, going forward.

2nd, A 50 HR guy is worth more to a team than any starting pitcher.

3rd, Cain isn't that good, though he is very young. He walks a lot of guys, and he's a flyball pitcher which doesn't bode well for Miller Park. I'd rather have Parra than Cain over the next few years.

4th, Lincecum has been great this season, but it's only a 1/4 a season, and I really don't think he'll hold up well over many seasons.

 

so, in short, I wouldn't mind having L&C on the brewers, but I'd be sure I was not overpaying for them, and any trade that includes Prince would likely be overpaying.

[mothershipconnection]

The Brewers and Rangers are in very different situations; trading Prince for four prospects wouldn't be smart.

 

That depends somewhat on both the prospects and Matt Laporta, though. If, for example, Laporta dominates the rest of the year, and we get a couple of AA studs who could be ready mid-year, it's not a problem, IMO. This is especially true if we lose Sheets and the deal includes a winter-2006 Gallardo or Lincecum type of SP prospect.

[endaround]

So when LaPorta takes a full season to adjust to major league pitching, we write off 2009? I think Brewer fans are spoiled when it comes to prospects coming up and hitting given Braun, Fielder and to a lesser degree Hart. Most are more like Hall and Hardy where they take a decent amount of time before they show anything.