In another thread going on about trades turned bad, I'm involved in a discussion regarding the Smoltz-Alexander trade in '87. Doyle Alexander went 9-0 for the Tigers after the trade and helped Detroit win the AL East over the Blue Jays by 1 game. Smoltz went on to have a fantastic career with the Braves, of possible Hall of Famer.

When your team is still in contention come July and August, would you like to see the GM trade away one of your top prospects for an established veteran player that can help them win that season? How far does your team have to go in the post season to make the trade succussful if the prospect goes on to have a productive career?

I think its going to be interesting to see what Theo does this summer for the Red Sox. It looks like they're probably going to need some help if they want to get back to the Series and there will be a lot of teams that are interested in Hanley Ramirez, their top prospect. You dont ever want to pass up a chance to win, but do you trade away what will probably be part of your future to do so?

It will be interesting, because the Red Sox will either turn into the Yankees (trade away prospects/spend big money on contracts for established stars) or the Twins (develops talent from within) this summer. Their "almost there" prospect quality and cash flow could lead them to go either way.

Personally, with the way the Yankees are performing, I think the Red Sox should just ride it out. If they get in the playoffs great, if they don't, no big deal because I think that if they keep the "younger" pitching that they do have (Clement, Wade Miller, Arroyo), get quality out of at least one of the three old guys (Schilling, Wells, Wakefield), they're going to develop pitching and they'll be able to replace the bats they lose when their contract is up. They don't need to do much to stay competitive long term, but if they want to win the WS this year, they're going to have to do quite a bit.

I agree. If they try to do everything right away, they may end up with nothing soon. If they trade away all of their prospects, it may be something crazy like... I don't know... 86 years before they win it again.

I think your point is very accurate though. The core of the team has to carry the weight. If the older guys can hold down the fort for the next couple of years, the Red Sox will be good until the young guys are ready to replace the vets.

I think a problem with the Yanks is that they go after everyone in their prime. I understand that they have some veterans and maybe even a few young guys, but when they were the best in the world in the late '90s, they had a lot of younger guys, some veterans, and a lot of players that they have developed. Most of the teams that are able to go the distance have that kind of mix, and Steinbrenner has strayed from that in the last 5 years.

The Phillies are in this same situation with Ryan Howard... it's become almost inevitable that he'll be traded but they've absolutely botched his negotiations and could be looking at getting next to nothing for him because they want to keep him around...


Bad GMs piss me off more than anything in the world... I could do a better job than Ed Wade

Make the trade.
The object is to win championships, not build for the future.

Yes but what is better, 1 championship now or 3 in the next 5 years?

a bird in hand........

exactly.

If you are good now, and have a chance to go for it... go for it.

there is no guarantee that the team will be close in 3 years when the guy is ready, even if the guy is great as advertised.

at the trading deadline, the Sox have a 2 game lead in the AL East. But Wells' back is acting up and Schilling has been inconsistent.

Would you trade Hanley for Clemens? (or a comparable front-line starting pitcher)

You have no idea if John Smoltz is going to be a HOFer or not, you DO know you have a legitimate shot at a championship and you need X type of player to help you. Make the trade, don't even hesitate.
The Mariners went from 1995-2003 as a really good team that hardly ever made the late season deal. No matter how much Pinella demanded it, they insisted that they would hold on to their young pitching prospects...that they were too valuable. Meche and Pineiro aren't that good, the rest of those prospects they protected are busts, and they never made it to the WS. Now they're rebuilding again. Wheeee!
Make the trade.

I agree. The Yankees traded a TON of "prospects" during their run from 96-2000.....and look how that worked out.

The flip side is the Yankees since then, or a team like the Astros who've given up prospects for guys like Unit and Beltran without making the W.S. - but even in their case, they were able to make the playoffs where it's pretty much a crapshoot.