FanNation

U.S. GOVERNMENT said 11/20, 01:01 PM
Ok... So Kenny Williams has finally traded Jon Garland. In return he gets Orlando Cabrera and $1.5mil in cash.

The definition of "premium starting pitching" is as skewed as the term has become over the last 10 years. How many 20 game winners have there been in the last 10 years? How many 18 game winners have there been?

Garland has two 18 win seasons in the last 3 years. And the value of a sub 4 era is exorbitant, which is exactly why a guy like Johan would garner far more in a trade! You think Santana would get traded almost heads up for Cabrera? I think not. More importantly Garland is a CLUCH pitcher... Remember the 2005 playoffs? I do!

Cabrera was worth as much to the White Sox as Garland and $1.5mil was to the Angels.

U.S. GOVERNMENT said 11/20, 02:27 PM
"Even thought eh angels gain a great pitcher"; so we are on the same side of that arguement. However, if history is any judge of the future then Garland will have an oustanding season... Let me explain: in 2007 the CWS team BA was .240, and Garland went 10-13... In 2006, the BA .280 and in 2005 was .262 and brother Garland won 18 in both of those seasons. Therefore, if the Angels team average remains above .262* (which it has '05=.275, '06=.274, '07=.287) then Jon will win at least 18 games.

Cabrera is obviously the superior defender, however, Uribe has had only 5 more error over last 2 seasons... And the career fielding % is almost identical for both.

What this trade does is solidify the Angels rotation, by replacing Ervin. And it allows the Angels to get Brandon Wood back in the SS position. Furthermore, Garland over the last 3 years has started 32 games, 200+ innings and won 40 games. Lackey come close but not one of the Angels staff can claim that.

Also remember that both Garland and Cabrera are free agents after next season. So think about who would actually garner a bigger contract >> A pretty good pitcher or a pretty good shortstop?

U.S. GOVERNMENT said 11/20, 04:33 PM
The point of the Uribe blurb was to minimize Cabrera's "greatness"... Yes he's a good fielder and yes he's perfect fit for the #2 spot in the order. However, saying that Cabrera's worth is equal to Garlands worth is just not true. I'm not minimizing Cabrera's worth simply justiying the $1.5mil that accompanied him to the Sox. (This is afterall about the actual trade that occured.)

The actual worth differential between a good position player, who plays everyday, and a good starting pitcher, who plays every 5 days, still remains to be seen. Some put more worth on the pitcher, some put more on the position player.

To me the greatest gain from this trade was that it opened up future trade possiblities for the Angels. Now Ervin, Weaver and/or Saunders are expendable and the Marlins covet guys like that. (Young, cheap and retainable). Remember too that Crede may be on the block and would be a heck of a lot cheaper than Miguel. Though, I'm not sure that Tony Reagins would be willing to deal with Kenny Williams again. :)

*Don't forget that Macir Izturis (IF) had the Angels highest BA @ .333; making Cabrera's worth to the Angels even more trivial.