Cubs & Athletics
Submitted by: adnielsen
Cubs
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luis Severino | 31 | Majors | SP | Low | 2.4 | 35.5 | 47.9 | -12.4 | -14.9 | -12.4 | -9.9 | |
| Mason Miller | 25 | Majors | RP | 4.4 | 73.1 | 44.1 | 29 | 23.2 | 29 | 34.8 | ||
| Cash | 20 |
Total Value:
36.6
Athletics
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Brown | 24 | Majors | LRP | SP | 4.4 | 36.2 | 18.1 | 18.1 | 14.4 | 18.1 | 21.7 | |
| Brandon Birdsell | 24 | Minors | SP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.3 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 3.9 | ||
| Jefferson Rojas | 19 | Minors | SS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17.9 | 14.3 | 17.9 | 21.5 | ||
| Jack Neely | 24 | Majors | SP | 5.4 | 1.1 | 0 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.3 |
Total Value:
40.4
Comments
4
Chicago secures an elite-velo closer (Miller) and mid-rotation depth (Severino) while Oakland flips one reliever and an expensive contract for three controllable arms plus a fast-rising shortstop: Ben Brown just fired 5 scoreless innings (5K, 0 BB) for Triple-A Iowa. Jefferson Rojas (50 FV), only 20, was promoted to Double-A this week and projects as an everyday SS with emerging pop. Brandon Birdsell (45 FV) is back to 95-97 mph and a sub-3 ERA at Iowa since returning from the IL. Jack Neely brings a 6-8 frame, 97-98 mph heater, splitter, and sweeper and has late-inning upside if the command clicks.
Down vote for the A's. If Rojas is going to stick at SS then why has he played more at 2B? Even if he is a SS, what happens to Jacob Wilson? I don't see Rojas as a priority target for the A's unless they believe he could play 3B, where he's had minimal playing time. I don't know if the A's would kick in that much cash... but it's not my money so OK! Why has Ben Brown been so bad this season he got demoted to AAA? He has traits the A's would like, I just want to know what happened to him this year.
Brown has a 0.362 BABIP which will regress and he was averaging 10K/9 before demotion. He really needs to develop a third pitch. Honestly, it may be counterproductive for Cubs to trade Brown for Miller since Brown could serve a similar role as a high leverage reliever. With regards to Rojas, you can never have too many SS. Lots of other places to plug them in the field. MLB Pipeline has Rojas as 55 FV.
NEWSLETTER? SURE, SIGN ME UP!
Luck is one thing, but why can't he develop a 3rd pitch? That limits the appeal. And you can have too many SS prospects, if they all need to stick at the 6 to support their bat. If the Cubs are willing to include Brown for Miller than maybe there's a deal to be head. But Rojas as a headliner won't cut it. Forst will hold out for impact pitching as part of a deal and I'm not sure Jaxon Wiggins is enough to make a deal. Thanks for the insight on Brown.