Scott Kazmir to the Angels
Scott Kazmir has been traded to the Angels for minor league players Alexander Torres and Matthew Sweeney. Both Torres and Sweeney are mid-level prospects, both 21, both playing great in high-A ball but both clearly a few seasons away from the big leagues.
I'm personally shocked at how quickly Kazmir went from #1 ace to being dealt for what is a decent but unspectacular package. Scott Kazmir, for those who have forgotten, had full-season ERAs of 3.24, 3.48, and 3.49 between 2006 and 2008, all while playing in the toughest division in the majors. He was only 25. Why the fall from grace?
The most puzzling aspect about Kazmir's tumble is that not one team claimed him off waivers. Not in the AL, not the NL. The Giants have been putting claims in on every warm body they could (Sheffield, Hoffman, Heilman, Harden...) and even they passed on Kazmir. This trade to the Angels took place after Kazmir cleared waivers. What gives?
It's probably not that complicated. For one, Kazmir had serious injury issues. He's been placed on the DL twice this season and missed significant amount of time last year. He's only thrown 200 innings in a season once, back in 2007. Pitchers with injury concerns rightly scare most teams, no matter how talented the arm is when healthy.
Secondly, Kazmir did not have a bite-sized contract. Kazmir and the Rays agreed to a three-year contract extension in 2008 that saw Kazmir guaranteed $28.5 million through the end of 2011, and with incentives could reach just under $40 million. He's owed $8 million in 2010 and $12 million in '11. For a lot of teams, the price tag alone is enough to ward off potential trades, never mind that the money is owed a pitcher with major injury concerns. There are plenty of non-contending teams (like our very own Orioles) that would have loved to traded for Kazmir...prior to his contract extension and all that guaranteed money.
But what about contending teams? Surely they're not scared of spending to win? Sure, but teams want to win now. Even with his injury concerns, Kazmir still has a bright future ahead of him. Plenty of teams would be glad to trade for him...in the offseason. But right now, during the pennant races, when the Rays would be able to demand more in the way of prospects? When Kazmir has a 5.92 ERA and his strikeout rate is the lowest of his career? Couple together his current performance, his contract, and his injuries, and it doesn't surprise me that a LHP with 45 wins by the age of 24 saw only one team interested in trading for him.
I'm personally shocked at how quickly Kazmir went from #1 ace to being dealt for what is a decent but unspectacular package. Scott Kazmir, for those who have forgotten, had full-season ERAs of 3.24, 3.48, and 3.49 between 2006 and 2008, all while playing in the toughest division in the majors. He was only 25. Why the fall from grace?
The most puzzling aspect about Kazmir's tumble is that not one team claimed him off waivers. Not in the AL, not the NL. The Giants have been putting claims in on every warm body they could (Sheffield, Hoffman, Heilman, Harden...) and even they passed on Kazmir. This trade to the Angels took place after Kazmir cleared waivers. What gives?
It's probably not that complicated. For one, Kazmir had serious injury issues. He's been placed on the DL twice this season and missed significant amount of time last year. He's only thrown 200 innings in a season once, back in 2007. Pitchers with injury concerns rightly scare most teams, no matter how talented the arm is when healthy.
Secondly, Kazmir did not have a bite-sized contract. Kazmir and the Rays agreed to a three-year contract extension in 2008 that saw Kazmir guaranteed $28.5 million through the end of 2011, and with incentives could reach just under $40 million. He's owed $8 million in 2010 and $12 million in '11. For a lot of teams, the price tag alone is enough to ward off potential trades, never mind that the money is owed a pitcher with major injury concerns. There are plenty of non-contending teams (like our very own Orioles) that would have loved to traded for Kazmir...prior to his contract extension and all that guaranteed money.
But what about contending teams? Surely they're not scared of spending to win? Sure, but teams want to win now. Even with his injury concerns, Kazmir still has a bright future ahead of him. Plenty of teams would be glad to trade for him...in the offseason. But right now, during the pennant races, when the Rays would be able to demand more in the way of prospects? When Kazmir has a 5.92 ERA and his strikeout rate is the lowest of his career? Couple together his current performance, his contract, and his injuries, and it doesn't surprise me that a LHP with 45 wins by the age of 24 saw only one team interested in trading for him.
Labels: Angels, Rays, Scott Kazmir
posted by Mr. Crash at
3:53 PM
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