This Blog Article was submitted by Greg, from the Cleveland Indians.
I have been bothered by teams that are hesitant to trade for quite some time and thought I would express my views on this blog. Every year it seems that there are teams that are in the hunt or are headed for the post season and all they need is a key player or two. Yet they almost always get cold feet when it comes time to make the move or moves.
Some of the most active teams in the trade market have done the best making the post season or going all the way. I have contacted several teams the past couple seasons about trading some solid veterans of mine, such as Duke Snider, Rick Vaughn, etc for a #1 pick, prospect player, cash, some sort of combination of these. Each time I was turned down because they didn;t want to trade away their future. Pardon me but what in the hell kind of logic is that? I mean seriously, is this not all about winning the World Series? I won back to back a few seasons ago, will I ever get back or will I ever win another one? No way to know but I have already done it so I have all the time to rebuild without the pressure. If a team has a serious chance to win it now and by adding a key player or two it greatly increases that chance, GO FOR IT!! You never know if you will even make the playoffs again so why wait? A great point was KC paying an astonishing 54 million for Bobby Bonds. Giving up that kind of cash for one guy was extremely risky, but it worked. They will lose players to free agency, and may not even make it back to the playoffs this upcoming season. SO WHAT! They are now and forever WS champs.
Let's take Duke Snider for example. I offered him to several teams, some of the proposals included Rick Vaughn, and Griffey Sr in the same deal. In return I was asking for a #1 and a top prospect. Now, if the Duke was a free agent like Bonds last season he would have nabbed at least $40 if not more? Then let's say Vaughn was a free agent as well, even Griffey Sr. The three players combined would have nabbed well over 100 million on the FA market. So here a team has a chance to get all three for a pick and a top prospect for a chance to win it all. Keep in mind this team was locked in as a playoff team. If I had never won the WS, I would trade my entire future for a legit shot at the grand prize. I dont want to be a playoff contender every year, the team that almost made it, the bridesmaid but never the bride. It's all or nothing. Go down in a blaze of glory! There is a fine line between plaing not to lose and playing to win, I choose the latter.
If you look at the last five World Series champions, KC, Tex, Cle, Cle, Tex, they all made a lot of moves via trade and free agency. I believe the last national league team to win it was Florida and Felix made a ton of trades getting that team to the dance. He traded youth, picks, cash, all for veterans. It is a formula that has proven itself, yet it is amazing how few teams practice it.
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8 comments:
Good article. I agree, if you have a team that can get to the playoffs, take a chance! Especially via free agency where the only thing you lose if it doesn't work out is money. Once in, anything can happen.
Of course, I remember the year's I tried adding Joe Morgan, Jimmie Foxx, and Al Kaline - and they just either sucked (Foxx and Kaline) for me, or didn't make much difference (Morgan) :(
I guess I just have bad luck with hitters!
I had always put more stock in building for the future than for trading to get veterans and making a run. I guess you could say I am still under that pursuasion. However, I have been known to add a guy to help with the run. Eckersly was the first and he did great, but I didnt win a WS when he was here. Johnny Bench was another, and same deal, no WS. Jenkins was the most recent, who did help me win the WS one year and win 116 the next, so that worked out pretty good.
The way i look at it, though, is that your 1 first round pick and 1 or 2 free agent signings a year is not enough to build a winner. You have got to trade and build your team that way, so you might have a chance at the playoffs. good article Greg!!!
I'm a mix of both. I will build and horde my future in building mode, like I am now and like I did twice with the Reds.
But, like with the Reds, I'll try to find vets that have something I don't have. When my 1st round pick starts becoming about 20th overall, I'll put it out there and look for pieces to add, vet or otherwise.
Of course, a team like Tex that's 110 wins good every year, I wouldn't do much to that team either. I mean nothing improves it UNLESS it's young and top notch.
But if a team is about 90 wins good, then I think it could be worthwile to get a vet or two in a sensible trade. Especially if the team is very likely going to make the playoffs.
correction 58Million for Bonds ;)
Heh
Bobby Bonds: $58 Million
Being the HABLA Champions: Priceless
:D
^ Lol
WORD. I know it may be a fantasy league.. but damn did it really feel good when Jeff announced that The Royals were the Champs.
I agree with this article. I have made many deals and because of that
I was always in the hunt. Now I never did win it all but I always went for it and would do the same again.
I post last article.
Gary/Expos
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