Mook vs the Phillies... and other bad moves

Sorry Phillies fans.
Your team made a good move... and it may even get them to the playoffs and another world series... but it has to be bitter-sweet

Gose > Gillies
JA Happ > JC Ramirez

Aumont probably better than Villar, but about even

Of course it wasn't as bad as rumored when they were giving up a guy like Worley or Singleton in the deal instead of Villar...

but Oswlt vs Lee?
Oswalt is a good pitcher to be sure. A good vet too.
But Lee actually wanted to play in Philly and Oswalt doesn't really want to.
Plus they could have had Lee the whole season. They'd be a lock for post-season now... They could haved used Happ to get a good reliever, which is what they really need...

How much money does it end up saving them? They still have to pay Oswalt 12 million.. couldnt they have paid Lee his 9 mil this season and got a cheap FA for 3 mil next year... not to mention they then would have got some draft pick compensation for Lee...


Of course they could have saved some money by not signing Polanco. He has been good, but is he worth 6 mil/year the next 3 years. Pedro Feliz likely would have signed a 2 yr 6 mil deal to stay in Philly... and they could have traded Blanton and his 7.5 mil contract to Sea for one of those prospects... they then could have had a bit of money to resign Chan Ho Park...

Even better would have been if they didn't give Raul Ibanez a 3 year 30 mil contract... or vastly overpaid Ryan Howard (whose contract made me say are you serious?)

i will give the Phils this: they're able to get other teams to pay for people to play for them. How they do that i don't know...
Let someone else develop prospects, that's ok, get players when they're good during free agency or trade works out pretty well...



As for other GM's?
i thought the Astros could have got more - but trading Gose for Wallace was a big win... i'm surprised they were willing to pay so much of Oswalt's contract though, it seems like if you're gonna pay a guy so much, let him make some money for you- he was still a popular player in Houston... trading Berkman makes more sense

i can't believe the twins gave up Ramos for Matt Capps. i like Capps, he's on my fantasy team and working wonders for me, but still... they should have gotten more for Ramos, even if they don't plan on using him as more than a back-up...


i think i would have made a move for Prince or Hart from Milwaukee... and if i was Milwaukee i would have tried to trade them as much as possible - i'm surprised they couldn't work out a deal with the braves - who have a ton of pitching and need some hitting...

one of these years i'd love to see a team in no contention make some of these trades. Haren & Oswalt were had cheap... Smoak & Ramos were traded for crap...

Mook vs the California Angels

In the past i have criticized the Angels for their trades- or rather their lack of trades.
i thought they should have gone after Roy Halladay this off-season. Wood was the equivalent of Wallace, they have a couple good pitching prospects and could have given up Mathis or Napoli which would have been more than enough...

a few years ago i thought they should have got Miguel Cabrerra considering they could have offered a better package than detroit...

It seemed like they have these top prospects... who don't pan out...

but then Kendry Morales and Erick Aybar have excelled after years of mediocrity... as did Howie Kendrick - but he was still young and had some success, so his success wasn't as surprising...

The signing of Gary Matthews still goes down as the worst free agent signing ever (5 years 50 mil, when they didn't need an OF, for journeyman who had one barely-above-average season? Ridiculous)!


Still, they just got Danny Haren for practically nothing. And he will be around a couple more years for a reasonable price.
i know Haren's ers is up, but he is still striking out a ton...

A few years ago they were able to get Texeira for Casey Kotchman (while the Braves sent Neftali Feliz & Elvis Andrus for him)...

They signed Bobby Abreu for 6 mil, while the Phillies gave Raul Ibanez 30 mil...

i still think they should have resigned Vlad & Figgy last year, but Figgons hasn't been very good nor has John Lackey- but i think most people could have seen his downfall coming... the angels do a pretty good job when they let guys go...


Plus they have the best manager in baseball in Mike Sciossia.

This trade could put them over the top and keep their division title streak going.

If i'm a fan of any team in contention i am angry we didn't get Haren.

i could be wrong, we'll see how the prospects do...
Though if the trade helps you win (like when the Tigers traded John Smoltz for Doyle Alexander) is the trade worth it?