Padres & Blue Jays & Guardians
Submitted by: SchmitzM17
Padres
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabriel Arias | 23 | Majors | SS | 6 | 17.1 | 7.9 | 9.2 | 7.4 | 9.2 | 11 | ||
| Emmanuel Clase | 26 | Majors | RP | Low | 5 | 85.6 | 34.2 | 51.4 | 41.1 | 51.4 | 61.6 | |
| Alek Manoah | 26 | Majors | SP | Low | 4 | 25.1 | 13.3 | 11.8 | 9.4 | 11.8 | 14.1 |
Total Value:
72.4
Blue Jays
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juan Soto | 25 | Majors | OF | Medium | 1 | 56.8 | 33 | 23.8 | 19.1 | 23.8 | 28.6 |
Total Value:
23.8
Guardians
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daulton Varsho | 28 | Majors | OF | Low | 3 | 37.5 | 26.1 | 11.4 | 9.1 | 11.4 | 13.7 | |
| Yosver Zulueta | 25 | Minors | SP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 3.8 | ||
| Jackson Merrill | 20 | Minors | SS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 58.3 | 46.6 | 58.3 | 69.9 |
Total Value:
72.9
Comments
9Alternative to another 3-way trade posted earlier today, with the return to the Guardians adjusted to meet their needs (from a Guardians fan perspective). Guards get: (1) a controllable OF bat with some power in Varsho to fill that hole, (2) a front line prospect at SS to be the heir apparent at that position, and (3) a SP they can tinker with. Blue Jays still get Soto, giving up Varsho and Manoah. Guards sweeten the deal for the Padres by replacing their lost SS prospect with Arias (a fine prospect in his own right and one the Pads once had).
Shortstop is a position of depth for the Guardians, so I don't see Cleveland trading Clase for another SS when they have definite needs elsewhere. Adding another left-handed hitting outfielder is not what the Guardians need or are looking for.
As a Guardians fan, find me a right-handed hitting OF the org has actively tried to bring in and I'll believe you! I think the idea that CLEFO is targeting RHH OF is the biggest myth Guards fans believe right now. As to SS, absolutely a position of depth but as far as making the proposed trade someone else posted work, Merrill was far and away the best piece either team had to offer and the only way to give CLE the value Clase would merit. Merrill instantly becomes prospect #1 and the future at SS. The Guards could then offload their SS chips in earnest. Not a bad deal imo.
Adding Merrill would be fantastic if you also fixed the problems that the Guardians already have. Merrill does not fix a problem and trading Clase just adds another problem that needs to be fixed and now you're minus your best trade piece while adding Merrill to Rocchio, Brito, Gimenez , and others. I would need to see other moves happen for this to make sense for Cleveland. My fear would be that the other teams would know that we have an overload of middle infielders to move and we get pennies on the dollar for their value. Some people don't have the vision to see all sides of an issue and anticipate problems that may arise from a given move. For example, if Merrill doesn't show that he is heads and tails above what we already have, his trade value drops making the Clase deal less palatable for the Guardians.
I see the centerpiece here as getting a guy in Varsho who can hit 20 HRs, steal bases, and play left or center. That's a mega upgrade over what the Guards currently have and it more than warrants letting go of Clase. He's not a 1-for-1 with Clase, so Merrill steps in as the clear contender for the other centerpiece (Salas from SD would be another option but Bo seems to be the clear long term solution at C more than Rocchio is at SS). I should have added, I don't think I would make this move as CLEFO, but I wanted to entertain the proposal someone else posed (someone who seemed less aware of CLE's current needs).
Thank you for adding your explanation.
Merrill is overrated or Rocchio is terribly underrated. Compare their numbers if you like. Merrill's value is all projection and you don't give up a premier closer signed to a ridiculously team friendly deal for that. Especially when you are looking to contend and not rebuild and have better options already in your system.
Precisely! Besides, Varsho has mostly been an average to slightly above average hitter until last season when he was well below average(85 OPS+). He doesn't help anything unless he's replacing Straw's 69 OPS+. It doesn't take "vision" to like this deal, it's takes delusion and I'm not worried about it because Cleveland's FO is too intelligent to ever accept an offer like this.
NEWSLETTER? SURE, SIGN ME UP!
Even though Jackson Merrill plays a position that is well populated by talented prospects within the Guardians' system.. this is a good deal for Cleveland. If Merrill cannot show he is head and shoulders above the guys already in the Guardian's system, then he can become a tradeable asset. In that light, he'd be a HUGE addition considering Zulueta can be considered a step in candidate to replace Clase (he has the stuff) while Varsho would be an immediate upgrade to the Guardians outfield.. Without knowing the answer to the Merrill question.. those Guardian fans who do not have vision would reject this deal out of hand..