Braves/White Sox Trade Analysis
Posted by Jeremy on December 3, 2008 under Uncategorized | 
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The Chicago White Sox sent 12 game winner Javier Vazquez and LHP Boone Logan to the Atlanta Braves for SS/OF Brent Lillibridge, C Tyler Flowers , 3B Jon Gilmore, and LHP Santos Rodriguez. Here’s a closer look at the parties involved.
Vazquez gives the Braves a consistent 200 inning pitcher who will win 10-14 games with an era between 4.25-4.75. He strikes a bunch of guys out and doesn’t walk too many hitters. The Braves are making a concerted push to catch up to the Phillies and Mets in their division. The Braves decided to make this move once the Peavy talks disintegrated. Vazquez has rookie cards in the 2007 Bowman Chrome set, but don’t expect to see much market change for them. His career at this point is pretty well estabished and headed for the home stretch.
Boone Logan
While Logan is an apparent toss-in for the Braves, they are excited about the hard throwing 24 year old southpaw. He should provide some nice lefty depth to the bullpen. While this may please the Braves, don’t expect to see any market movement out of his cards.
Tyler Flowers
For the past couple of weeks, I have been trying to think of just what role the Braves had in mind for Flowers. With McCann firmly entrenched behind the plate and Freddie Freeman as the heir apparent at 1B, Flowers seemed to be just too good to pass on. The Braves sold his stock high and now Flowers’ future as a catcher seems to be much brighter. A.J. Pierzynski and Paul Konerko both become free agents after the 2010 season giving Flowers a nice cushion of time to develop his skills behind the plate or at 1B. Flowers has a special bat that is just breaking out and his power potential plays well at any position on the diamond. Look for his 2008 Donruss Threads autos to continue to be hot commodities on the eBay market.
Brent LIllibridge
Lillibridge seems to be, like Flowers, a player that could benefit from a change in scenery. After a sterling 2005 season, Lillibridge has struggled mightily to replicate the success he enjoyed with the Pirates organization. Lillibridge can play both SS and 2B as well as the OF. Lillibridge has great speed on the basepaths and gap power that produces many line drives to the alleys. Lillibridge needs to be more selective at the plate and put less pressure on himself to perform. The Sox are pretty set at SS with studs like Alexei Ramirez and future superstar Gordon Beckham, but the competition at 2B (Chris Getz, Wilson Betemit) is far less formidable. Look for LIllibridge to get an ample opportunity to get back on track as the everyday 2B or a speedy 4th OF. Either way, the more playing time that Lillibridge earns, the better off the values of his 2005 first year cards will be.
I recently wrote about Gilmore in one of my Daily Value posts. Gilmore has tons of projectible upside but is still at least two or three years away from being ready. Gilmore struggled at full-season Rome before being very successful after a demotion to short-season Danville. Gilmore immediately becomes the top young 3B prospect in the White Sox.
Santos Rodriguez
Rodriguez is a 20 year old 6-5 180 lb. LHP who pitched exclusively in relief last season going 1-2 with a 2.79 ERA and 5 saves in 14 games. Rodriguez pitched just 29 innings but struck out 45 while walking 13. Rodriguez is very projectible and is one to watch as a possible late inning reliever down the line.
My spin on this deal is that the White Sox got a treasure trove of talent in this deal for a mid-rotation starter. Vazquez will pitch well in the NL, but come 5 years from now, the White Sox will be very pleased that they made this trade.
Let me know what you think of this deal? Which team came out ahead? How will the market respond to these moves?