Monday, August 07, 2006
Livan to the D'Backs
Thanks to some apparently premature reporting, I had a blog post all set to go talking about how JimBo has been in a trading slump thanks to his failure to deal Livan Hernandez.
Not so fast there, pardner.
Just as I was about to hit the "Publish Post" button, I see this bombshell from Ken Rosenthal, apparently contradicting the Buster Olney report on ESPN. The Post is now confirming the Rosenthal story ... and now come official word from the Nationals. Here are the official details:
More details to comes...
UPDATE: Here is the 411 on the newest Nationals farmhands.
John Sickels and MinorLeagueBall.com:
Kevin Czerwinski at MiLB.com didn't have a lot to say about either, but what little he did say sounded positive.
Calleaugers.com, a blog dedicated to the California League, had this to say (along with some great video of Mock pitching) about Mock in May 2005:
Not too much out there about Chico, but the AA Tennessee Smokies website has some good info, as does this site.
Final analysis: Mock is obviously the better prospect, and his 8.0 K/9 at AA Tennessee continues the nice trend he started at A+ Lancaster in the hitter-friendly California League. His 10.43 and 9.72 hits/9 at the A+ and AA levels is a bit worrisome, but I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Chico is coming back, after being a very highly touted part of the D'Backs system (USAToday once ranked him as the D'Backs' top pitching prospect). This is not an earth-shattering trade, but what did we expect to get for an aging 31-year old workhorse whose hit and home run rates have spiked uncomfortably? This may have been the Nats' last opportunity to get anything of value for Livan, so I'm happy the JimBo took advantage of the situation to focus on the needs of the farm. Now let's put that extra $7M in the piggy bank to good use in the offseason. At very least, this is better than getting draft picks. I wonder who would be crazy enough to suggest that?
Overall Grade: B+
UPDATE 2: Check out Brian's excellent rundown of the Livan deal over at Nationals Farm Authority. Brian, Scott, and Yuda at NFA are consistently excellent and don't get nearly the credit they deserve. Great job, guys!
UPDATE 3: The Nats will be picking up $2M of Livo's salary, which basically amounts to the rest of his 2006 paycheck. Thankfully that will likely come out of the 2006 budget, leaving the Nats $7M to play with in the offseason.
Not so fast there, pardner.
Just as I was about to hit the "Publish Post" button, I see this bombshell from Ken Rosenthal, apparently contradicting the Buster Olney report on ESPN. The Post is now confirming the Rosenthal story ... and now come official word from the Nationals. Here are the official details:
The Washington Nationals today acquired a pair of 23 year-old starting pitchers, righthander Garrett Mock and lefthander Matt Chico, from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for right-handed pitcher Livan Hernandez. Nationals Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcement.Instant reaction: This is as good as we could have expected. B-level and C-level starting pitchers come in to the system and the Nats clear a hefty chuck on payroll. And so, stealing Mike Rizzo from the desert pays its first dividends. Kudos all around to the Nats front office.
More details to comes...
UPDATE: Here is the 411 on the newest Nationals farmhands.
John Sickels and MinorLeagueBall.com:
9) Garrett Mock, RHP, BMock is ranked #7 on Baseball America's pre-season Top-10 D'Backs prospect list.
3-7, 4.55 in 17 starts for Double-A Tennessee, 94/39 K/BB in 99 innings, 103 hits allowed. Not really breaking through as I thought he might, but the K/IP remains promising.
20) Matt Chico, LHP, C
A rebounding process, combined numbers are 5-6, 3.14 in 17 starts between Lancaster and Tennessee, with an 86/24 K/BB in 95 innings, 75 hits allowed. Is finally adapting to Double-A competition after failing to do so in '04 and '05.
Kevin Czerwinski at MiLB.com didn't have a lot to say about either, but what little he did say sounded positive.
Calleaugers.com, a blog dedicated to the California League, had this to say (along with some great video of Mock pitching) about Mock in May 2005:
Country strong RH'er who throws four avg to above avg pitches for strikes. Big developed. chest and sloped shoulders. Muscular lwr 1/2. Long legged. Huge human being. Built like a young Roger Clemens. Not the most mobile. Athl. deliv. for unathletic guy. Very gd balance over rubber. Compact windup, arm works well in back. A/A is med. and firm very similar to Clemens. Drops down leg then circles back up. Throws lead balls towards plate. Plus velo right now with a tick more in tank. Near excel. life w/cutter @ 89-90. Moves FB around zone pretty well although scarily works towards middle of plate way too much . Strikes. Reach back w/4seam to get up to 94. Good sink w/4 seam. Plus velo on true CV with gd armspd and big tilting break, can throw strike after strike w/it but doesn't use nearly as much as he should. Hard SL w/55-60 velo and sharp two plane break. Action and consis are all plus right now, as command is refined pitch will play plus. CH is weakest of arsenal but should easily be avg down road. Armspd and feel are there, just lacks movement of everything else. Needs to start going for corners more, pitches like he's afraid of walks. Is getting away with some bad strikes because stuff is so good. K:BB #'s are outstanding. Very intense, makeup looks to be solid. Doesn't miss as many bats as he should with his stuff. Needs to start putting up numbers worthy of stuff. Stuff is legit, command within zone will need to improve. Looks like a #3 or #4 starter with very serious stuff and avg control.Finally, here's a July 2005 interview that Mock did with Baseball America's Chris Kline.
Not too much out there about Chico, but the AA Tennessee Smokies website has some good info, as does this site.
Final analysis: Mock is obviously the better prospect, and his 8.0 K/9 at AA Tennessee continues the nice trend he started at A+ Lancaster in the hitter-friendly California League. His 10.43 and 9.72 hits/9 at the A+ and AA levels is a bit worrisome, but I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Chico is coming back, after being a very highly touted part of the D'Backs system (USAToday once ranked him as the D'Backs' top pitching prospect). This is not an earth-shattering trade, but what did we expect to get for an aging 31-year old workhorse whose hit and home run rates have spiked uncomfortably? This may have been the Nats' last opportunity to get anything of value for Livan, so I'm happy the JimBo took advantage of the situation to focus on the needs of the farm. Now let's put that extra $7M in the piggy bank to good use in the offseason. At very least, this is better than getting draft picks. I wonder who would be crazy enough to suggest that?
Overall Grade: B+
UPDATE 2: Check out Brian's excellent rundown of the Livan deal over at Nationals Farm Authority. Brian, Scott, and Yuda at NFA are consistently excellent and don't get nearly the credit they deserve. Great job, guys!
UPDATE 3: The Nats will be picking up $2M of Livo's salary, which basically amounts to the rest of his 2006 paycheck. Thankfully that will likely come out of the 2006 budget, leaving the Nats $7M to play with in the offseason.
# posted by JammingEcono @ 12:01 PM 
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Thanks JE. Great rundown of Chico and Mock. If Rizzo is OK with the return, then that's good enough for me. The guy spearheaded an incredible turnaround in Arizona's farm system
The $7M is a nice chunk of change to clear, but since that's roughly the going rate for a decent free agent pitcher, it's probably a wash and not a net plus for the 2007 season.
Still, talented young pitchers for creaky older pitchers, always a good thing.
Still, talented young pitchers for creaky older pitchers, always a good thing.
I'll be posting about this in more detail tomorrow, but $7M for what Livan has been giving us lately is too much when you compare him to what other similar pitchers are getting paid.
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