First Block Buster!! (not Met related)

[smg58]

Well it also helps the Phillies and the Braves just as much. And it sets the trading bar awfully high.

[Guest Edgy DC]

As much as the returns for the Marlins are future returns. The pain for the Mets will be future pain.

As it was, a weak Marlins team took seven of 18 in 2007, including at least one too many.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

I didn't mean it would help the Mets in terms of weakening the competition. I wondered if this deal helps the Mets make a deal. Big talent moved for prospects. We have prospects, including some with major league experience, and even young players with proven success, like Maine or Perez.

If two top prosects and four average ones can land Carbrera AND Willis, shouldn't that imply that a package of perhaps not top but indeed solid prospects and a young, proven player get you something?

Granted. not all trading partners are the Marlins....

[Frayed Knot]

Another thing this deal does is continue the seemingly constant shift (in the short term anyway) of star-type players from the NL to the AL.

On the subject of the Marlins being dangerous, we should remember to resist the temptation to simply assume that the package of prospects - even Maybin & Miller - are destined for stardom.

Kevin Goldstein at Baseball Prospectus takes a look at this six-pack of of Miami-bound youngsters.


On the big two:

Maybin is massively talented but, as much as scouts love him, they have the some concerns that PECOTA* has, notably his high strikeout rate. He'll play every day for Florida in 2008, ready or not, and he'll likely be one of those players who dazzles one day and frustrates the next -– with one scout setting the over/under on his strikeouts at 150. I'm not knocking Maybin as a prospect, because he's still an easy five-star player and one of the top outfield prospects in the game, but based on multiple conversations here in Nashville, both before and after the deal, scouts have more concerns about him than I realized.

* Their projection system


Miller is also a player who hasn't been quite as good as the tools should indicate. Six-foot-six lefties whose velocity sit in the mid-90s don't exactly grow on trees, yet Miller has rarely dominated on a statistical level, even at High-A in 2007. One issue has been his inconsistent command, as his long and lanky build still leads to inconsistent release points. The other primary knock is his lack of aggressiveness. Scouts don't see a streak in him as nasty as his stuff, and he often avoids challenging hitters or pitching inside. He has the skills to be a frontline starter, but in the end, he's yet to pitch to one.

[nymr83]

reading those reports really makes it sound like FLA got hosed. but does loria really care as long as he gets dontrelle's salary off the books? its sad that their highest paid player (miguel olivo) is a replacement level guy.

[MFS62]

="Frayed Knot"] Miller is also a player who hasn't been quite as good as the tools should indicate. Six-foot-six lefties whose velocity sit in the mid-90s He has the skills to be a frontline starter, but in the end, he's yet to pitch to one.

Sounds like David West redux.

Later

[Frayed Knot]

Nymr83 wrote: reading those reports really makes it sound like FLA got hosed.

"Hosed" isn't exactly accurate, at least not yet. It's just that with ALL prospects you run the risk of not knowing whether or not they'll pay off in the end - even with ones as highly thought of as these two. Miller was the top college pitcher and #1 draft pick in his year while Cameron was the 2nd best HS player in his (#10 pick overall) behind only Justin Upton and both were BA top-10 prospects at this time last year.
If prospects were guaranteed to work out then nobody would ever get rid of them.