Comparing Trades

Trading deadline came and went and the Twins ended up actually making a move. They addressed a definite need, but it’s possible it might be too little too late. They pick up SS Orlando Cabrera from the Athletics for a minor-league SS named Tyler Ladendorf. The Athletics are also sending some cash to the Twins to help pay for the rest of Cabrera’s salary. It seems like a good deal for the Twins. They get a veteran middle-infielder with good plate presence so he can hit in the 2 hole. Only problem is, the White Sox traded for ace P Jake Peavy and the Tigers traded for the consistent pitcher Jarrod Washburn. Let’s compare…

So the hated White Sox trade 4 minor league pitchers to the San Diego Padres for former Cy Young pitcher Jake Peavy. He is a natural leader and will fortify an already strong rotation. They now have the pitchers to compete in the postseason if they get there. Think about it…Peavy, Buehrle, and John Danks or Gavin Floyd as the starters in the postseason. Eesh! I wouldn’t want to be the club that has to face that.

The Tigers sent lefty Luke French and a minor league prospect to the Seattle Mariners for pitcher Jarrod Washburn. Washburn’s pitching well this year with a record of 8-6 and an ERA at 2.64. His career numbers show an ERA at 4.04, so this season’s number will probably go up a bit back above 3. Regardless, he’s a great pickup for the Tigers who needed some more consistency in their rotation.

I already laid out what the Twins gave up to get Cabrera. There’s one big problem I didn’t go over though. He’s a Type A free agent, which means that at the end of the season he can go anywhere. That’s something most baseball fans understand, but something they may not understand is that the current team can offer the player Arbitration. Arbitration, if accepted by the player, is where both the player and the team offer up a salary number to an Arbitrator and that person takes into account both numbers as well as the salaries of comparable players in the league. The Arbitrator uses that information to determine a reasonable salary for the player, although most times a compromise is made before that happens.

Okay, long explanation longer…if the player doesn’t accept Arbitration, the team is compensated with equal value in compensatory draft picks. All this is great, except that there is a clause in Cabrera’s contract that if he doesn’t accept Arbitration, the team receives no compensatory draft picks. So, in simple terms, if Cabrera doesn’t want to play for the Twins next year and the Twins don’t make the postseason this year…the Twins just gave away a prospect to the Athletics and received nothing for it.

We will have to see how the final 57 games play out, but after a devastating sweep at home to the LA Angels this weekend, I’m getting the picture. I’m not giving up on the team, but I certainly have my doubts.

To read more about Arbitration and Free Agency as it pertains to the MLB, read here.

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Tags: arbitration, athletics, free agency, Jake Peavy, jarrod washburn, Mariners, mlb, Orlando Cabrera, Padres, Twins