Saturday, November 15, 2003

 

More on the Trade

Stephen Shelby, who posts a good daily Giants news summary, mailed me today with the info on Nathan's salary situation:

To answer your question, Joe Nathan is not arbitration eligible this year. He would have made something like $325,000. Pierzynski figures to get about $2.75 million in arbitration, although the Giants may sign him to a long-term contract that reduces the 2004 amount to something closer to $2 million. The Giants arbitration eligible players are now Pierzynski, Feliz, Eyre, Herges and Brower.

Thanks to Stephen for filling in one of the many gaps in my knowledge of the Giants' contract info. I'm very fuzzy on how arbitration works, not to mention the number of options for sending players to and from the minors. This is one of the reasons why I've left the armchair GM stuff to my more knowledgeable colleagues! Nonetheless, I will certainly post opinions on the moves the Giants make. I may even occasionally post a well-considered opinion, though I hope you won't hold it against me.

The more I think about the trade, the more I like it. Over at Baseball Primer, they posted the 2004 "Zips" projections for Nathan, Bonser, and Pierzynski, taking into account their new clubs. Now, I can't claim to have a great grasp of how they make these projections. Taking them at face value, though, this looks solid for the Giants. You're giving up an average reliever, a fading minor league prospect in Bonser, and about $2 million to upgrade 100 points or more in your catcher's OPS. Additionally, if the Giants get another player or cash in the deal, as I've heard, it could be even better.

Floyd Thursby over at Waiting for Boof commented at Primer that this creates a possibility of sending Yorvit Torrealba, among others, to the Brewers for Richie Sexson. I'm all for that. Torrealba is a fine catcher, or at least average, and cheap. Milwaukee is looking to cut payroll, and the Giants need a big bopper at right field or first base. Sexson fits the bill. I might be a bit biased--I was there when Sexson smashed two homers against Sidney Ponson at Pac Bell, and very nearly got a third. But boy, would he look nice in a Giants uniform.

This is undoubtedly just the first move among many that Brian Sabean will make this winter. It's a real pleasure watching Sabean work. With all apologies to his more famous colleague in Oakland, I think Sabean gets more for less in his trades than anyone else in the business.

Jefferson 9:07 PM

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