[IBL] NYK Trade Flyer (Pick soon, I promise!)

[noel.steere at rcn.com]

Hey Everyone,

First off, my apologies for not picking yet.  There's a couple of players I'm deciding between, but I also wanted to get this trade flyer out in case a deal is out there that includes this pick.

The Knights are sellers this season, though we hope to regroup quickly.  To that end, we're looking for high '18 picks, '17 1st or 2nd round picks, or very good prospects.

Pitchers:

#1 Starter for sale:
Jose Fernandez: .244/.319/.374 vs LHB, .203/.250/.293 vs RHB, 182.1 MLB IP becomes 243 IBL IP at 150%
8th best SP by OPS in the set.  Shuts down the running game as well.  Yes, it's a one year rental, but he has the greatest potential to give you the championship.

#2 Starter for sale?
Carlos Martinez: .256/.342/.387 vs LHB, .207/.270/.269 vs RHB, 195.1 MLB IP
I'm almost certain to keep him, but if someone overwhelms me that's fine, too.

Bullpen Ace:.333	.380	.522

Tyler Thornburg: .130/.223/.190 vs LHB, .185/.265/.370 vs RHB, 67 MLB IP

I also have a lot of innings from pitchers that didn't have the best 2016 seasons, but I have hope will improve:
Rubby De La Rosa
Michael Foltynewicz (improved quite a bit, actually)
Daniel Norris (ditto)
Jimmy Nelson
Drew Hutchison


Hitters:

Jean Segura, 2B good, ss poor (23 MLB starts), .273/.329/.429 vs. LHP, .333/.380/.522 vs RHP
*Huge* bounceback season for Segura, slated to play SS full time in Seattle in '17.  I'm more than happy to take a good shortstop going into next year, but his card this year is too good to go to waste.

JD Martinez, RF poor: .306/.348/.512 vs. LHP, .307/.382/.543 vs. RHP
Keeping, but could be bowled over

Wilmer Flores, 3B poor, 1B average, 2b poor, ss awful (yes, playoff eligible at *both* corner positions): .340/.383/.710 vs. LHP, .232/.289/.353 vs. RHP
The only 1.000 OPS plus vs LHP that's playoff eligible at both 1B and 3B, and plays all infield positions (for post 5th inning maneuvering).  Still only 25.

David Ross, C: .278/.412/.519 vs. LHP, .205/.301/.411 vs. RHP
The last go-round for "Grandpa".  His defense should look the same as last year, including the pk rating of 6 and a 0 arm

Welington Castillo, C: .276/.344/.517 vs. LHP, .260/.313/.387 vs. RHP
A long, long time ago (actually, just last year around this time), in a galaxy far, far away (well, this same email list), someone said:

'I'm still trying to decide between three different choices.
While I turn those over, I will entertain any last minute entreaties for the pick.
The offer would have to be pretty good.
And to forestall any repetition of a recent incident, no, your backup catcher does not constitute "pretty good."'

This was in response to my saying:
"Welington Castillo looks like he would be a vast improvement over Yan Gomes."

Hmmm...

Welington Castillo: .264/.322/.423 overall
Yan Gomes: .167/.201/.327 overall

And, oh yeah, the other guy that was supposed to be better than Beef (a "95% chance" at least one of the pair would surpass him):
Devin Mesoraco: .140/.218/.160 overall

Seems pretty vast to me!

(I'll admit, I'm being foolhardy here slagging the front runner in my own division, but given the snarkiness from this particular party, being completely right here felt *really* good)

Now, it's still true that Castillo is *my* backup catcher, but that's only because I have Yasmani Grandal.  Even adjusting slightly below 400 AB to include Grandal and Rupp, Castillo is the 10th best full time catcher in the set.  Also, unlike his fellow backstops, he rarely grounds into double plays (5 total this past season)

Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B average: .320/.357/.467 vs. LHP; .258/.305/.394 vs. RHP

Aaron Hill, 2B awful, 3B average: .271/.358/.386 vs. LHP; .256/.322/.374 vs. RHP

Kelly Johnson, 2B poor, 3B average, 1b poor, ss awful, lf average, rf average: .241/.268/.426 vs. LHP (3 HR in 55 PA), .248/.314/.384 vs. RHP

Cuthbert is only 24, and has routinely improved his second season at each level.  KC is also trying him out at 2B this season with Moose on the mend.  Hill is a good on-base guy vs. LHP.  Johnson plays at six different positions, and most likely has Ex power vs. LHP 


Thanks for taking the time to read this far.  Let me know if you think there's a match.

Noel
NYK