Pirates / Padres

[Pirates GM (TJ)]

Just a minor deal involving the 2nd best hitter in baseball the last 2 seasons...

Pirates send:

CF RF Christian Yelich (Brewers) $17.6 2023

to Padres for:

SP Noah Syndergaard (Mets) $4.7 6th
SP Mike Clevinger (Indians) $5.6 5th

RP David Bednar (Padres) $0.3 1st (previously unprotected)

Links:

Bednar: www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=19569&position=P

Cap change:

Pirates: -$7.0

Padres: +$7.3

If ever there was a deal where both sides were dealing from positions of strength, it's this one. My hitting squad is good enough that even after removing Yelich, I'm likely top 4 in the various hitting categories. And while Thor and Clevinger are top 12 starters according to some fantasy lists, they are the 4th and 5th best starters on the Padres. It would have been fun to see a rotation that included Scherzer, Verlander, Cole, Thor, and Clevinger all season. But let's be honest, Padres still have the best rotation in our league even after subtracting these two.

Even though I believe Yelich is a huge bargain even at his current salary (comparable production to Trout for $10 less salary after all), I had too many arb hitters that are getting paid more than last year. So I needed to reduce salary by a bit. This deal gets me back under the cap limit, gives me two frontline SP to head my otherwise mediocre pile of #4 and #5 starters, and adds a potentially useful cheap bullpen piece. All at a cost of the 2nd best hitter in baseball. Win-win? I guess?

Thanks for the easy talks, Padres. It's not often you see a win-win trade between defending division winners. But I think we found one here.

[bill (Bill, SD)]

Padres accept. TJ hit the nail on the head here. We both dealt from strength in this one. Yelich is one of 2 players that will contribute in every category, which will go a long way in balancing out my average and steal anemic lineup. I love adding an in his prime elite bat regardless of cost.... which I think is better than fair market for what he contributes.

As for what I gave up, only 2 rotation anchoring arms, but I have been lucky enough to stockpile a few of them to feel good about parting with a pair. I likely wasn't going to be able to resign Thor after this season for a reasonable cost. Clevinger earned a lot of interest this offseason (and deservedly so) but nothing that came close to this value. Bednar has future high leverage written all over him, but I wasnt going to hold up this deal over David Frickin Bednar.

Thanks TJ for the easy deal. I like how both of our teams look after this one.

[Royals GM (Jordan)]

Approved (1-0)

[Washington Nationals GM (Alex)]

Approve (2-0)

[Deleted]

Please drop Yelich in Fantrax.

[Pirates GM (TJ)]

Nov 24, 2019 11:20:51 GMT -5 @billflynn1 said:

Please drop Yelich in Fantrax.

Done.

[Deleted]

Thanks, Approved (3-0)