What would Fuentes bring in trade?

by MADness on Jul 14, 2006 4:10 PM MDT

Like everyone else, I love having Brian Fuentes as the closer for the Rockies.

He is young and affordable and gives the Rockies late game talent and reliability that they have never really had so it isn't likely that they would trade him.

That said, what kind of talent do you believe that the Rockies could get in return for Fuentes since this year is shaping up to be a seller's market and the demand is so high for relief pitchers?

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I think there is a bigger problem.....

If we were 20 games out of 1st place, that's one thing. However, I think the damage to the mentality of a ballclup and the fanbase to be devestating to trade your All Star closer....while your in contention for the first time in a long time.....and your bullpen has looked sketchy recently....

I mean, we'd get a ton in return, but its just not worth it at this point in time.....not even to consider.

by sg8335aa on Jul 14, 2006 4:43 PM MDT reply actions

Agreed

I don't see Fuentes continuing at this level for the long term (he may well do so and I hope that is the case) and if he continues like this for the next season or two his price is going to sky-rocket so it doesn't seem likely that he stays more than another couple of years.

His value may well be at an all-time high. Too bad Tsao isn't healthy and back pitching, that would give us another option.

Anyways, lets look a bit down the road - when Corpas is ready for the bigs (or Morillo goes to the bullpen or Newman or Miller jump to the bigs) what kind of value do you think that Fuentes could return?

by MADness on Jul 14, 2006 4:48 PM MDT up reply actions

I think Corpas would have to log a few years first

Remember, Mariano Rivera had to serve as a setup man for a while when he first came up. Someone like Corpas would have to probably pitch for 1-2 years in the bigs before he would be trusted with the job of "closer".

K-Rod setup Percival for a couple years....

These things happen....unless he becomes ineffective, I don't see the Rockies trading Fuentes for at least another 1-2 years. At that point, it all depends on contract status and how well Fuentes is pitching.

by sg8335aa on Jul 14, 2006 4:58 PM MDT up reply actions

Agreed on the apprenticeship

I definitely don't see these young latin arms coming in and immediately pitching in the high leverage situations.

Even if they have experience closing in the minors, they don't have the polish or the maturity of some of the guys who have closed as rookies and had great success (Papelbon, Huston Street, etc.).

The point is that as we bring up these young arms one of them (or even Ramon Ramirez) may prove good enough under pressure that we would have the luxury of moving them into the closer's role should we be offered a deal that we can't refuse for Fuentes.

If Fuentes stays this good I just don't see us being able to afford to keep him, given the huge contracts that high quality closers have gotten in recent years.

by MADness on Jul 14, 2006 5:57 PM MDT up reply actions

Reds trade

BTW, why didn't we get in on the Reds/Nats trade?

We could have offered Mesa, Q (a better defensive shortstop than Clayton at this point) and a young reliever like Hampson or someone further down like Newman or Miller.

Getting good offensive players at two key positions of need who are only 26 (Lopez at SS and Kearns in CF) is the kind of move that justifies trading prospects (not the elite ones but some of the next level).

by MADness on Jul 14, 2006 6:24 PM MDT reply actions

Funny

I think of Fuentes being 'young' also... however, do you know that he turns 31 next month?

Who knows what he could bring in a trade. If he pitched for the Yankees, then the media there would hype him so much that Florida would trade Willis straight up for him. However, since he is a Rockie, then O'Dowd would have to add Stewart, Tulo, Iannetta, Jimenez and a bucket load of cash.

by roxhead on Jul 14, 2006 9:38 PM MDT reply actions

Yeah

I knew that becasue he spent a lot of time in the minors and wasn't very good and started throwing the side armed submarine style and its all been down hill from then on.

by Rox Rock on Jul 16, 2006 7:37 PM MDT up reply actions