The Rockies traded away Jeremy Guthrie today to the Kansas City Royals in return for Jonathan Sanchez. (Just to add some kindling to the fire – if there is even a small burn – how come Troy Renck hasn’t been breaking these stories? Are the Rockies not happy with their main beat reporter telling the truth in the local paper?)
We all know how bad Guthrie has been in Colorado, but Sanchez might have been just as bad in Kansas City. On July 17th the Royals designated Sanchez for assignment.
Many Rockies fans will remember Sanchez (29 years old) because he pitched with the San Francisco Giants for six of his seven years in the Big Leagues. Last year he was traded from San Francisco to Kansas City for Melky Cabrera. And if Rockies fans think some of the trades Dan O’Dowd has made have been poor, this one might top them all. Cabrera is an All-Star outfielder with the Giants this year and the All-Star game MVP, he leads the league in hits and Sanchez owns a 7.76 ERA. That’s right, his ERA is higher than Guthrie’s.
Sanchez is a lefty and had many good seasons with the Giants (in their pitcher friendly park, quite the opposite of Coors) and even has a no-hitter under his belt.
Sanchez can strikeout batters with the best of them; from 2007 to 2011 he averaged 8.9 strike outs per nine innings or higher each season. His main problem is his control. During those sames seasons, ’07-’11, he averaged four or more walks per nine innings with 5.9 walks per nine in ’11. Now in 2012 his walks per nine sky rocketed to 7.4 per nine, which is unfathomable and his K’s per nine dropped all the way to 6.1 per nine, by far a career low.
The Rockies have had trouble with walks all year and adding a guy who has excelled at allowing free passes might not be the best idea.
The one thing we feared here at Blake Street Bulletin when Guthrie was acquired was his propensity for fly balls. Sanchez is no different. In fact, when looking at career numbers Guthrie has allowed the following percentages (line drive/ground ball/fly ball): 18.9/40.7/40.4 and Sanchez’s line looks eerily similar: 18.3/40.9/40.8. The two even have a very similar career xFIP (Sanchez: 4.33 and Guthrie: 4.66).
Rockies fans cannot complain, however; as Guthrie has been a target for a few months now. At least O’Dowd got rid of him and I like the trade. While Sanchez has been awful maybe the “change of scenery” cliche will work in the Rockies favor. Sanchez can strikeout a ton of batters even if he does walk a lot. Think Ubaldo Jimenez early in his career; Sanchez is similar when it comes to K:BB ratios.
Is this a good trade for the Rockies? Or are you glad to just have Guthrie out of Denver? Leave your thoughts below.
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11 comments
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JD
July 20, 2012 at 11:02 AM (UTC -6)
Guthrie for nothing was a good trade. Sanchez should go to AAA to figure out his issues, but we know the guy can pitch in the NL West.
Seth
July 20, 2012 at 11:34 AM (UTC -6)
I think the trade is good. Not only getting Guthrie out of town a really really good thing but we get a pitcher who has accomplished something in his life. Now he might not be the best or he may just be another fifth starter but I think that is better right now than getting some random minor leaguer from a team and he sits in AA for the rest of his life. I dont think the Rockies could have gotten any more back for Guthrie than Sanchez. Hopefully he figures out his control and can make something happen but we will see.
I did want to say a little something about Guthrie though. I am thoroughly pleased that he is gone and this is the best thing that has happened all season. The guy was an a-hole. I truly hope he never wins another game in the majors. I thought he was a complete joke. All the stuff about him being a hard worker and that he cares so much about baseball I think is a load of s**t. If he cared enough he would have tried to improve, but rather he just kind of gave up in May and didnt care anymore. I think that is totally disrespectful to the organization and his teammates. Also, I have never been more mad at a player than when he tipped his cap to the HOME fans booing him after another terrible outing and not even lasting 3 innings. I was shocked that a player would do that. These fans come and pay your salary and you have the nerve to do such a thing like that. If I was Tracy or Odowd I would have immediately brought him to my office and benched/suspended him for at least a week or two without pay for that childish act. (just shows the lack of accountability in our front office again). In my opinion it was extremely disrespectful to the team, his manager, the organization, and the fans that pay and show up. Now who is next to leave, Tracy or Odowd (I got to keep hoping)…
Travis Lay
July 20, 2012 at 11:58 AM (UTC -6)
I see it the other way. I think Guthrie is genuinely a good guy. From the overrun story about him and the kid recovering from cancer to his attempt at interacting with fans on Twitter regularly (prior to the poor performance) was all good. I hope him the best, it just didn’t work out here in Colorado.
Rico Rodriquez
July 23, 2012 at 5:00 PM (UTC -6)
This is a moronic comment. Guthrie did his best. Before the season, it was understood he would struggle at altitude. He did worse than advertised, but that’s hardly a new thing in Coors Field. This kind of petulant ranting is an embarrasment. Get on with your life.
Michael
July 20, 2012 at 12:18 PM (UTC -6)
The idea that the rockies are getting a return on Guthrie is inconsequential. The Rox save over a million bucks which is the real reason this trade was made. I hold no ill will toward Guthrie as Travis stated he was an extremely poor fit for Coors field. The silver lining here is that hopefully this is a plan for the Rockies to stick with their young starters and give them time to grow. If we see Sanchez before september we will know that is not the case.
Scott
July 20, 2012 at 1:45 PM (UTC -6)
It’s a good trade for one party involved, definitely- Jeremy Guthrie. I honestly don’t think there’s any possible transaction that’s going to help the Rockies at this point, unless it’s something that involves changing the entire organizational doctrine and mindset…losing and playing poorly is just too easily accepted within the current regime, and players aren’t going to change that. Outside of about 3 months of very good baseball, this has been a terrible franchise for 2 decades. A few trades won’t fix it.
But back on subject, I’m glad to see Guthrie go, but mainly because it gives him a chance to go somewhere and be successful. He’s a good guy who deserves it, and it was never going to happen for him at Coors.
Brian
July 20, 2012 at 2:08 PM (UTC -6)
I like the trade. I was afraid that, at the rate Guthrie was going, we wouldn’t get more than a minor leaguer or two for him, so to get Sanchez is more than I anticipated. I think the whole stigma of Coors got lodged in Guthrie’s head and it got to a point that he didn’t trust his stuff, and was therefore not effective. I like bringing in a guy who is familiar with the NL west and who has pitched at Coors before with moderate success. Coors probably won’t pose the mental challenge that it did for Guthrie, who had never pitched at Coors prior to this season. Sanchez has had flashes of brilliance, and let’s not forget that he’s 29, which gives him time to try to figure things out. The Rockies (and the Royals, for that matter) had nothing to lose with this trade, and I hope it works out to benefit both guys.
Brendan Giles
July 20, 2012 at 2:39 PM (UTC -6)
Love the trade. One thing to keep in mind was touched on in Jayson Stark’s recent piece (http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/page/rumblings120720/examining-potential-trade-market-starting-pitchers) where scouts are concerned that Sanchez is hurt (towards the bottom of the article). his velocity is way down so he could very likely just be headed to season ending surgery. However, the fact that the Rockies got any sort of asset out of Guthrie is great.
on another note, Stark also mentions other trade candidates (Betancourt, Giambi, Scutaro, Hernandez) and that the Rockies are not looking to move any of the bullpen arms or Hernandez. That is something I don’t understand. There is no reason to hold on to these “assets” for next year and the Rockies need to be treating July as a “going out of business” sale (at least with the vets – keep the kids).
Rico Rodriquez
July 23, 2012 at 5:04 PM (UTC -6)
Hernandez is seen as a valuable teacher for Rosario, who is dreadful defensively, and a more than decent back-up catcher with power. Bullpen arms who succeed in Coors have a value, as well, although I wouldn’t turn down any trades for, say, Betancourt. I don’t think anybody sees Brothers as having the confidence to close right now. Belisle is likely the best reliever they have, and more valuable to the Rockies, with their idiotic pitching schedules and incompetent starting pitching, than, say, the Milwaukee Brewers.
Steve
July 20, 2012 at 4:45 PM (UTC -6)
Nothing for Nothing is Nothing!
I am really glad Guthrie is gone. Hoping Tracy and O’Dowd follow him out the door.
Anonymous
July 20, 2012 at 8:46 PM (UTC -6)
I’m thrilled Guthrie is gone. I told told my tv before he threw the pitch in the 3rd inn. Against the bucs ” don’t throw the slider”! He did.. It didn’t slide.. 3 run homer. Didn’t like his attitude either. He just went through the motions until a trade happened. I like the trade for Sanchez. Can’t do any worse than Guthrie, and Sanchez has been successful w SF. If we get him right, could be a Colvin for Stewart type trade..
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