Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site fisher.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!princeton!astrovax!fisher!david From: david@fisher.UUCP (David Rubin) Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball Subject: Trade Musings (Part II, including Free Agents) Message-ID: <479@fisher.UUCP> Date: Fri, 11-Jan-85 10:34:15 EST Article-I.D.: fisher.479 Posted: Fri Jan 11 10:34:15 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 12-Jan-85 06:28:11 EST Organization: Princeton Univ. Statistics Lines: 93 Pardon me as I once again succumb to the kibbitzing urge, and pass comment on the major trades I omitted last time, and the signing of a few free agents: Salazar (sp?) et. al. for Hoyt: Padre fans ought not get too excited about the acquisition of Hoyt from the White Sox. First of all, Hoyt has never had a truly outstanding season (the year he won the Cy Young award, for example, he had an ERA in the upper 3's while his teammates were kind enough to score seven runs a game for him. With that kind of backing, it isn't an amazing feat to win 24 games), and the loss of Whitson to free agency leaves the Padres with no substantial improvement to show in what has got to be the weakest starting rotation ever to capture a divisional title. The White Sox needed a third baseman after trading Law to Montreal, and did good to trade Hoyt rather than Bannister or Dotson. With Seaver apparently still effective, the Sox could afford to give up the starter. V. Law for James: Not a blockbuster, but at least some improvement is now in sight for the South Side's bullpen blues. James always looked like a tough competitor with Montreal, and while he has been used to start, pitch short relief, and pitch long relief (perhaps an ideal dispostion for a long reliever), the White Sox would be wise to try and make a true stopper out of him. I think he'd be a decent one. The Expos will use Law at second base, thus getting some production out of a position that has not given much to the team previously. This deal, and the acquisition of Brooks from the Mets for short, makes it pretty clear that the Expos have had it up to here with glove men. Terrell for Johnson: Definitely a plus for Detroit. They give up a man they really weren't using for one they are certain to put to good use, and are therefore clearly strengthened. The Mets were evidently preparing to send Brooks to Montreal and needed another infielder. That he can also hit left-handed and has some power figured prominently in the Mets' calculations, but New York is taking the gamble: if someone is ready to join the Mets' rotation as a fifth starter (Schiraldi?) or if Lynch recovers his control, the deal would probably look pretty good; otherwise it will look very, very bad. Almost Everyone Resigns with the Cubs: It took quite a capital expenditure, but the Cubs resigned Sutcliffe, Trout, and Eckersley. The big move was the resigning of TROUT, not Sutcliffe, as the former is the ideal pitcher for Wrigley. A lefthanded sinkerball pitcher! Who could ask for anything more? Sure, Reuschel was left unsigned (but Cub management under Dallas Green is somewhat less sentimental than earlier regimes) and Stoddard defected (there was a limit to what the Cubs were willing to spend, apparently), but the Cubs will pretty much stand pat with a good hand. Unless, of course, the Phillies should have a few lefthanded prospects with power that they'd like to trade....nyaah, they're not going to deal with Green again if they have any sense...do they? Stoddard Signs with the Padres: Gaining some welcome depth in the bullpen, but without some better starters, it's unlikely Stoddard's and Gossage's arms will make it though the season. It seems the Padres indulged in a luxury before satisfying a necessity. Whitson Signs with the Yankees: Evidently trying to undo the damage done to the staff by the Henderson deal, the Yankees pay star prices for a decent pitcher. Look for the Yankees to lose a lot of games by the score of 7-5... Sutter Signs with the Braves: Call this a Tale of Two Cities. St. Louis, treating baseball players as if it were 1950, and Atlanta, boldly advancing to the Land of Promised Megabucks (a.k.a. cable TV). After Herzog's demonstrated propensity to trade players established in the community (Hernandez, Oberkfell, Hendrick) being well established, it was natural for Sutter to seek protection from a similar fate. After all, the Cards could only trade Sutter for another 10 months or so anyway, after which he'd be a 5/10 year man with veto power over trades. Gussie Busch, the quintessential owner of the '50s, refused on "principle", even though Sutter had expressed a willingness to accept the Cardinals' somewhat less lucrative financial offer. Ted Turner, the quintessential owner of the '80s, did not share that particular principle, and was able to apply some of his cable earnings to invest in making his cable product more attractive. Result: the Braves have corrected there greatest need in a big way, look as though they might establish themselves as the dominant team in the West for the next few years, and every team without a national cable syndication ought to be quaking. David Rubin