Nov 242009
Jesus Montero has been labelled untouchable by Yankees fans, and he is probably as untouchable as a prospect can be. However, as we have noted on various occasions in this space, no prospect is truly untouchable, as there are almost certainly deals that I would put Montero into. So the task for today is to list the players that you would certainly trade Jesus for, ignoring the fact that the Yankees may be hard pressed to put together a package for many of them. Here is my list:
Evan Longoria
Justin Verlander
Zack Greinke
Joe Mauer
Felix Hernandez
Hanley Ramirez
Albert Pujols
Tim Lincecum
Matt Wieters
Jason Heyward
Who would be on your list? Disagree with any of my picks?
Related posts:
I would add Justin Upton and Brian McCann to that list.
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Moshe Mandel Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Upton was a total whiff. I love McCann, and probably would make a deal, but I’m not so confident in his body type holding up behind the plate.
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I would probably take Jason Hewyard off of the list because he is also a prospect and shares the same untapped upside label that Montero has. I like the other names you have on the list and I absolutely agree with Justin Upton. I would add Grady Sizemore to the aforementioned names.
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Moshe Mandel Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Heyward is considered a clearly better prospect, which is why I have him there, but it is close. If Montero could stick as catcher, he’d probably be better than Heyward.
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I would have to think that any player under 27ish who has already produced at the big league level would have to be a viable trade target. Of course you want to hold on to him if possible, but would you really say “no, I’d rather not have all-star xxx if you want Montero for him.” Especially if the trade target is also a catcher. After all- best case situation is Montero produces as a catcher in the MLB. But he has a worst case, which is 9 straight years of injuries and no production so if you can get a good player, I’d really consider it
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Moshe Mandel Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Depends what you mean by produced, and how much team control of that player remains. Because the cost of the player is a factor.
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No Halliday?
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Moshe Mandel Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Roy? No, I wouldn’t. He’s a 33 year old who will be a free agent soon. I’d wait it out.
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I would take off Greinke only for the reason that I think he would lose his mind playing in NY. He’s not cut out for superstardom in the big city.
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Trev Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I do realize this sounds crazy considering he’s the cy young winner, totally dominant, and still very young with a reasonable contract. But still I’ve seen enough quotes out of him to know he will not be happy here
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Moshe Mandel Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Not crazy at all. Many have said that he actually is somewhere on the Asperger’s spectrum, but I’m not sure if that’s true. I know that there is strong speculation to that effect.
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Stephen Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Completely agree. He already has suffered from social anxiety disorder — and playing for NY can mimic that disorder in nearly anyone.
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I’d drop:
Justin Verlander
Zack Greinke
Albert Pujols
Too late in their careers (meaning, they’re close to free agency and/or going to cost a ton of money).
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Brien Jackson Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
You wouldn’t trade Montero for Pujols right now? Seriously?
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geo Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Verlander is two years from free agency, Greinks is three years. Is that too close to consider? Hernandez is also only two years away, same as Verlander; why isn’t he too close? I think they’ll all be roughly equally expensive, maybe not so much Greinke because he’s actually already under contract and the costs are known.
Pujols, yes – four to six years older than the others and VERY expensive. If money matters…
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With A-Rod at third already, what would be the sense in dealing for him, especially if Montero were included in the price?
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Moshe Mandel Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
It’s just a hypothetical- you could always move A-Rod to DH.
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I´d trade for those any many more young stablished stars, since Montero is only a prospect yet.
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Moshe Mandel Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Which many more? It needs to be young stars who are still going to be cheap for a while. Montero has middle of the order potential and is a top 5 prospect in baseball.
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Ryan Zimmerman (A-rod to DH), Hanley or Tulo (Jeter to LF), Sandoval (because he knows kung-fu) and Tommy Hanson
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Moshe Mandel Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
In addition to the list, or just these players?
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Matt O Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
In addition
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So much of his value is tied to catching which we all read mixed reports of his ability to do long term. He’s a great prospect purely based on his bat, but a lot of his “untradeable” nature is due to him being a catcher. Not having a better feel for whether he’s a catcher long term and sticking to the younger but proven players, I’d be at least tempted to add:
Adam Jones
Nick Markasis
Matt Kemp
Jon Lester
Adrian Gonzalez
I think I’d roll the dice on Montero over Hayward and other prospects based on the higher upside if he stays at catcher.
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add Josh Johnson.
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1-Add Ryan Braun(Incredibly inexpensive contract through 2015)
2-Would consider Clayton Kershaw
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I would add these three guys:
Justin Upton
Stephen Strasburg
John Lester
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I would go for (in order of need and…talent, somewhat):
1)Verlander
2)Felix Hernandz
3)Lester
4)Linceum (NL-Big Park?)
5)J. Upton
6)Ramize (only this low B/C of need, now)
7)Markasis
Mauer could be on the list but, we have no NEED for him, good L/H hitter and ok Catcher, with not much power…also long legs and avg. arm.
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Felix Hernandez. No one else.
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Felix and Hanley Ramirez
The end
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