Cordero, Alonso, Francisco for Kerry Wood, Chris Perez, and Chin-Soo Choo.
Trading Points:
1. Wood is making $10.5M this year and becomes a FA. Cordero has another year of making approximately $12.2M. Trade-off this year, but Cleveland has to eat another year of Cordero's contract, although it does give them a closer for the rest of this year and next. Their team payroll is currently in the $61M range, so they can handle another $2M.
2. The benefit and enticement to Cleveland is to pick up 2 good Reds prospects in Alonso and Francisco, for their rebuilding project. Both are position blocked with the Reds. Also, Yonder is guaranteed $1M next season in salary, part of his draft deal. Gives Cleveland a first baseman since they just traded for Russell Branyan, who will be a FA after the season or they can move him to third base, a position he has played in his career. They can use Francisco at 3B or try him in the OF. Or try Alonso in the OF also.
3. Wood had a terrible May racking up an ERA of 11.05 by the end of it. In June, he had 11 outings pitching 10.1 innings, giving up 4 earned runs, all on 2 HR's in 2 different games. Struck out 10 and only walked 2 in the month of June. He had 2 blown saves, 1 loss, 1 win, and 6 saves in June. He has only pitched twice in July, going 2 innings, giving up 1 hit, 2 walks, 1 K with no decisions or saves. With Cleveland being so bad, he doesn't get many opportunities. Overall, he has pitched 20 innings, given up 19 hits, 10 walks, and 18 K's for a 5.95 ERA. Since compiling a 11.05 ERA in May, he has compiled a 2.91 ERA in June and early July combined.
4. Chris Perez has an overall ERA of 2.70. In his last 15 outings (totals for June/July), he has pitched 15 innings, given up 7 hits, 3 earned runs, 1 HR, 6 walks, and 9 K's. He's a 25 year old righty. In that stretch he faced the White Sox, Nationals, Mets, Phillies, Reds, Blue Jays, Rays, Rangers, and Red Sox. Not bad teams to have success against. He's compiled a 1.80 ERA in those last 15 outings. He pitched 2 seasons for St. Louis and is in his second year with Cleveland posting a career ERA of 3.61 and a career WHIP of 1.25. Opponents are batting just .205 against him for his career. Makes the minimum and is eligible for arbitration after the season.
5. Chin-Soo Choo might be a rental as he has a Korean Military Obligation before age 30 that he might have to forego baseball for 2 years. Risky move. But he would give us that on base guy at the front of the batting order. He currently makes the minimum but is eligible for arbitration after the season. Currently batting .286 with an OBP of .390, 12 SB's (4 caught), 13 HR's, 43 RBI's, and 48 runs scored for a lousy offensive team. He just turned 28. He's a lefty. He usually bats in the 2-hole.
So Reds unload Cordero, gain a rental OFer with a good OBP and decent batting average in Choo, and replace their closer with potentially a better one who is a FA at the end of the season, freeing up $$$ on the payroll, and finally bolster the setup man part of the bullpen with Perez, who is still young and reasonably cheap.
Indians acquire 2 good prospects that give them a future first baseman, and third baseman or outfielder, a closer, but additional high salary in Cordero for one more year. They might actually want more which means you might have to give them a reliever too, to replace Perez. Doubt they'd take Masset, but I'd be willing in a heartbeat to give him up. Sick of him too. Call it a "change of scenery" move.
New Batting order:
2B Phillips
LF Choo
1B Votto
3B Rolen
RF Bruce
CF Stubbs/Heisey
SS Cabrera
C Hanigan/Hernandez
Originally Posted by Hitman
