Boy, things have changed a lot since the last time I did an analysis of the deal that sent Johan to the other New York team. Now that Carlos Gomez has been banished to the land of cheese and bratwurst, there really isn't anyone left. Where did everybody go?
Carlos Gomez: Well, we know what happened to Go-Go. I do think that this is a good move, though I am really going to miss that goofball. Good job not getting hosed in a trade, Bill Smith! Now go out and get us a bunch of strikeout pitchers so the steep decline in outfield defense won't be such an issue.
Philip Humber: Designated for assignment, now a free agent. He didn't spend much time with the major-league club, but he was awful. Humber is living proof that not all Tommy-John surgeries are successful.
Kevin Mulvey: Claimed on waivers by Arizona, essentially completing the Jon Rauch deal. Mulvey wasn't terribly impressive in his first stint with the Twins, but he mostly pitched out of the bullpen and didn't get much of a chance to start. It isn't easy for a full-time starter to transition to the bullpen, especially to perform mop-up duty, but even so I doubt Mulvey will be little more than an average major-league starter. His minor-league numbers certainly don't suggest otherwise.
Deolis
Guerra: The only prospect from the original trade still on the roster
(for now), and the other top prospect (besides Gomez) from the Mets.
He was promoted to AA in July, and finished the season with a 5.17 ERA,
3.52 FIP, 1.26 WHIP and 2.88 K/BB ratio. I don't know what to make of
Guerra, honestly. He has spent four years in the low minors so far,
which is never a good sign, but he's only 20 years old and is still
awfully young for his level. Eh, if he can fix the problems with his
delivery, he might be pretty good.
So, there you have it. Two seasons later, one prospect has been DFA'd, one traded for a season-and-a-half of a good (but expensive) reliever, one somewhat promising pitching prospect remains in the system, and the centerpiece of the deal traded for a shortstop. It's obvious that the front office is trying to win now and not waste the Mauer and Morneau years (and hopefully convince their All-Star catcher to stick around), or they probably wouldn't have given up so soon on so many prospects from such a blockbuster trade. Especially Gomez, an elite defender who could be one of the best center fielders in all of baseball if he were even an average hitter. Still, a trade that didn't look very good to begin with looks even worse now.
The best way to look at it is that you got JJ Hardy for Johan Santana. While it is still a lopsided deal, at least your got one starter out of it. Gomez has a lot of talent but I don't think he will put it all together at the big league level.
Posted by: Bill | 11/08/2009 at 07:49 AM