Quote:
Originally Posted by RedsManRick
Hanson's got injury problems. I'd rather have Walden.
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I think both guys are injuries waiting to happen. Hanson made 31 starts in 2012. He's an OK back end starter, but doesn't go deep enough into games IMO. Being in the AL West may help him with his HR propensities.
Walden looks good on the radar gun (but those numbers have dropped), but he only threw 39 innings in 2012 and isn't the picture of health himself. When you watch him pitch, he has that "inverted W" motion with his elbow above his shoulder. Perhaps being in the pen will limit Walden's innings enough to keep that motion from catching up with him, but I'd guess the only reason the Angels would deal him is they're a little worried about his long term prospects.
This may be a deal where we wait to see who breaks down first.
More interesting to me is that Hanson seems a good comp for Mike Leake and this deal may be a decent estimate of Leake's value on the market. Leake's health history would suggest he has a little more value than Hanson, but how much more? Doesn't seem like enough for him to bring back a major piece. If Hanson is worth a risky reliever who only threw 39 innings, than I'd doubt Leake would Garner anything significant enough to make it worth messing with the rotation depth. I'd think anything he could bring back, could be had elsewhere by dealing kids and spare parts.