Hideki Matsui looks goofy enough to be on the DLB.
Prior to the start of the season, Daddy's Little Boys finally acquired the bat they believe they've missing, shipping starting pitchers Bronson Arroyo and Brad Penny to the T-Baggers for OF Hideki Matsui and pitcher James Shields. The deal gives the DLB a perennial top-10 OF in the 32-year-old Matsui, who's finished 11th among OFs in '04 and 8th in '05 before being a broken wrist ended his season prematurely last year. Prior to last year's broken wrist, Matsui hadn't missed a single game since arriving from Japan in '03. With guys like A.J. Burnett and Kelvim Escobar not cracking the team's starting lineup, the DLB shouldn't feel the effects of losing Arroyo and Penny. Shields went 6-8 with a 4.84 ERA and 1.44 WHIP last year for the D-Rays, but still just 25 with a 2.64 ERA in AAA and 2.80 in AA while striking out over a batter an inning at each level, he could develop into more than a throw-in.
The T-Baggers get two desperately-needed starting pitchers. Arroyo, 30, was the 6th best SP in fantasy baseball last year, putting up an impressive line of 240.2 IP, 14-11, 3.29 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 184 Ks. While not many expect a repeat, if he can put up an ERA around 4.00 with a dozen wins and 200 IP, he should still be useful to the T-Baggers. Penny's season, which saw him finish No. 37 overall among SPs, was a tale of two halves. Whether the T-Baggers get the first half version of Penny (10-2, 2.91 ERA) or the second half version (6-7, 6.25 ERA) will go a long way in determining how good this deal will be for the T-Baggers. On paper, however, adding these two arms to the likes of Dontrelle Willis, John Lackey and Ervin Santana gives the Baggers a much more formidable staff which also includes Vicente Padilla and Kip Wells. The deal also allows time for young SPs Brandon McCarthy and Jason Hirsch to develop. With Andruw Jones, Jermaine Dye, Raul Ibanez and Delmon Young still in the Baggers OF, the loss of Matsui shouldn't hurt too much.
Not quite the blockbuster of the Matsui deal, the Slum Lords addressed their pitching situation, dealing their third closer Francisco Cordero to AC's Gun Show for SPs Jeff Francis and Carl Pavano. Cordero, 32, was dominant last year after being traded to the Brewers, going 3-1 with 16 saves and a 1.69 ERA while striking out 30 in 26.2 IP. His loss means the Slum Lords will have to hope the 38-year-old Trevor Hoffman and 35-year-old Billy Wagner stay healthy and effective.
Francis, 26, went 13-11 with a 4.16 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, and should provide depth, but having K'd just 117 in 199 IP, it doesn't appear his ceiling is too much higher. Getting anything for the 31-year-old Pavano, who hasn't been a worthy fantasy starter since 2004, was a minor coup. Chalk this up to the guys at Baseball Tonight spending way too much time talking about him getting the Opening Day start for the Yankees (which ended predictably with a 4 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K line).
1 comment:
when I heard matsui travels with a suitcase full of porn I new the DLB had to have him. the "birds and the bees talk" is an awkward time between an owner and his little boys and I feel as though hideki will be a major contributor in that process. and, he's a heck of a ballplayer to boot.
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