The trade rumors surrounding Ubaldo Jimenez continue to swirl. Yesterday, Dan O’Dowd stated that it would take a “Herschel Walker type deal” for him to trade the greatest pitcher in franchise history. Some might take that statement to mean there is a possibility of a deal, but it’s a pipe dream. There is no way the Rockies are going to get a deal as lopsided as the Herschel Walker trade, which was arguably the most lopsided trade in sports history. We are talking about a swap that turned a one win football team into a Super Bowl Champion in just three years.
The Cowboys were able to spin Walker into Emmitt Smith, Darren Woodson, Isaac Holt, Alvin Harper, Dixon Edwards, Russell Maryland, and Alexander Wright. That’s two Hall of Famers, a Pro-Bowl defensive tackle, a number two receiver, a starting corner, a starting linebacker, and a two time winner of the NFL’s fastest man competition. And those are just the players that made the largest impact. There were actually a lot more. So, when Dan O’Dowd says that he’s looking for a Herschel Walker deal, just realize that baseball hasn’t seen a trade that lopsided since Ruth to the Yankees.
If the Yankees wanted to give the Rockies a future Hall of Fame centerfielder, the eventual all-time home run champion, an All-Star pitcher, and then about five or six of their best prospects, there is no way Dan O’Dowd could turn that down. But, everyone needs to realize that if Ubaldo is traded, the Rockies aren’t just giving up on this year; they are giving up on next year too. Even if they do get a future ace in return, the chances are very slim of that pitcher making the impact that Ubaldo will next season. Not to mention, there is an enormous amount of risk involved in any deal where you are counting on a bevy of prospects to replace a player of Ubaldo’s caliber.
In the end, this doesn’t make a lot of sense for the Rockies. They aren’t far off right now. With Ubaldo, they have one of the best cores in baseball. Certainly, they have their holes and a big second half comeback isn’t likely this year, but, with a few moves in the off-season, they will be contenders. Isn’t that the ultimate goal? Unless there is an absolute guarantee that trading Ubaldo will pay off in spades, the Rockies need to avoid it.
Other Notes:
- Huston Street continues to get punished for his mistakes. Currently, his home run rate is much higher than his career norm, and, for most of the season, I was certain this would rectify itself. But, now I’m not so sure. If he continues to hang sliders — like the one last night to Rickie Weeks — and mislocate fastballs, big league hitters will continue to tee off. Maybe Matt Lindstrom should be closing games right now.
- I wonder if Chris Iannetta’s wife has ever seen him as mad as he was last night. Rockies’ fans certainly haven’t. When Chris gets that demonstrative, you know the umpire really blew it. Afterwards, in the postgame interview, Iannetta acted like a guilty puppy. No need to back down from that one, Chris. That was a truly awful call. Great throw by Dexter on that play.
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6 comments
Simone
July 17, 2011 at 11:22 AM (UTC -6)
What can we get for Wigginton/Cook/Street?
If we could get a good minor league prospect and and #3 pitcher…I say do it.
Logan Burdine
July 17, 2011 at 11:28 AM (UTC -6)
Absolutely nothing for Cook. Table scraps for Wiggy and not much more than that for Street. No way they can get a #3 for any combination of those three players. Put yourself in the shoes of the opposing GM. He’d have to be a fool.
Michael
July 17, 2011 at 7:07 PM (UTC -6)
Very nice article.
I agree, there will be no Herschel Walker type of deal for Ubaldo Jimenez. If he was thrown out for trade this past offseason or in the middle of last season, the bounty would have been great and much bigger than this season.
I still think he’ll draw some attractive offers but unless you get a no. 1 quality starter, how do you make a trade unless you fill holes very well at two or three positions and…get a plus-starter?
As for other trade chips – I wouldn’t be surprised, if the Rockies sell, for them to explore the return on people like Huston Street (still think he has value, but not as a closer), Matt Belisle and Rafael Betancourt (for prospects only from hungry teams), and maybe even Seth Smith and Ty Wiggington. I think Smith could fetch a nice prospect, not an elite one but just below that level.
Montana Steve
July 18, 2011 at 8:35 AM (UTC -6)
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jon_heyman/07/17/yankees.ubaldo/index.html?sct=hp_t2_a14&eref=sihp
Well there’s your “walker-esque” trade. Ubaldo for Montero, Bauelos, Betances and Nova. No wonder the Yankees turned it down.
Shake Weight
July 18, 2011 at 9:07 AM (UTC -6)
What’s your take on the story that’s being put out there by the NY Media onUbaldo pouting about not getting a long-term deal this offseason? While I think there might be a little truth to that, I tend to think that the NY media is trying to blow it out of proportion to help their chances of getting Ubaldo. It seems like they are trying to get Ubaldo to fall out of favor with the Colorado fans so that they can gain some momentum with the trade talks.
Logan Burdine
July 18, 2011 at 9:55 AM (UTC -6)
I don’t know what the motivation is behind it, but it’s a bunch of BS. I seriously doubt he’s griping about his contract.
I can’t believe there is still smoke on this thing. Only the Rockies would wait around for 17 years for a true ace and then trade him in his prime. Obviously, if they truly made a dynasty building trade then I’m all for it, but, for whatever reason, I don’t have a lot of faith in O’Dowd. In case you haven’t noticed, he tends to overvalue prospects.