Roberts to Cubs update

[NCRaven]

400 posts, not counting the thousands in other threads over the past two months, and counting on a trade that hasn't, and might not, happen!

I don't know how many more combinations of Gallagher, Cedeno, Murton, Veal, Marshall, and Fuld I can look at and not throw up.

There oughta be a rule that the FO must do something new every three days - I guess bringing back Luis Terrero counts - so that we have something new to talk about.

[lint06]

I'm curious. We've talked about how the O's have plenty of 3-5/back end of the rotation starters. I'm trying to remember, what was Bedard projected at before he came up to the majors? I don't remember that he was projected to be as good as he actually is. In that case, what does it hurt to load up with "projected" back-end of the rotation starters if the odds are in our favor that one or two become another Bedard?

I don't think the odds are in our favor that one or two turn out to be Bedard quality. I mean, that's a lot to assume.

[Frobby]

I'm curious. We've talked about how the O's have plenty of 3-5/back end of the rotation starters. I'm trying to remember, what was Bedard projected at before he came up to the majors? I don't remember that he was projected to be as good as he actually is.

From the Hangout's 2001 top prospects list:

2. Erik Bedard - LHP
Notes - Continued his dominance with another outstanding season. Left-hander with three plus pitches and a strikeout mentality. Could be a number two or three starter in the bigs.

[davearm]

High HR rate, poor K rate and a BB rate that is ok but not good enough.

He will get eaten alive in the AL IMO.

Sean Marshall is what Garrett Olson would be, if Olson had a sub-4.00 ERA in the bigleagues on his resume.

MiLB stats:
Marshall 304.2 IP, 2.63 ERA, 7.57 H/9, 0.47 HR/9, 2.75 BB/9, 8.82 K/9, 1.15 WHIP
Olson: 348, 2.95, 7.37, 0.67, 2.82, 8.82, 1.13

Ages/levels comparable throughout, or slightly favoring Marshall.

I don't hear you predicting Olson will get eaten alive in the AL.

[wickedwitch]

I really like what I've read about Fuld. His OBP from the minors was very, very good.

The 25-year-old reached base safely in 33 straight games at one point in 2006, and held a 17-game hitting streak before missing the final month of the season with a hip-related injury.

from http://cubs.scout.com/2/634204.html

That's impressive at any level.

He's hit well at every level, so it's not unreasonable to think he'll hit well in the majors, especially given that doesn't strike out a lot. And a good fielding CF who gets on base doesn't need to hit a ton to be an average CF.

This is his bio from college: http://gostanford.cstv.com/sports/m-...uld_sam00.html

Also, sooooo much love that he's pursuing a grad degree in statistics. Maybe he can tell the coaches about OPS.

[Scribo]

Interesting. Not sure how old the article is but I was looking up a scouting report on Sean Gallagher. Now sure how credible the website is either, but www.baseball-fever.com has Sean Gallagher's MLB Comparison to Jake Peavy. Interesting.
My only concern with any trade with the Cubs is, the Orioles organization is LOADED with potential 3-5 starters. Why make a trade for 2 more starters in that 3-5 spot of the rotation range and a SS who... well i already put my opinion out on him.?
And if is Matt Murton. Why, when we already have Luke Scott?

Peavy might be a little high, but Gallagher is a top-level pitching prospect for sure. Good strikeout rate, good K:BB ratio, and he just turned 22 (couple of weeks ago). I like him WAY better than Morrow.

As for the redundancies, none of those 3-5 guys will go to waste. Some will fizzle out, some will find a niche in relief, and those who develop into big league 3-5 starters will have a lot of value in a trade. Also, the more we start with, the better the chance that one or two will develop into atop-of-the-rotation performer... it does happen. Not all aces are tagged as aces from the start.

Murton will DH and get his appearances. Or he will be traded. Rebuilding is a long process, and not everything has to fit together right away. At this point, the O's should gather all the talent they can get and let things get sorted out in the next season or two. Some of the benefits from the Roberts and Bedard deals may come from trading guys who come back, or or even in secondary deals down the road.

Talent is what it's all about right now.

[Hank Scorpio]

Sean Marshall is what Garrett Olson would be, if Olson had a sub-4.00 ERA in the bigleagues on his resume.

MiLB stats:
Marshall 304.2 IP, 2.63 ERA, 7.57 H/9, 0.47 HR/9, 2.75 BB/9, 8.82 K/9, 1.15 WHIP
Olson: 348, 2.95, 7.37, 0.67, 2.82, 8.82, 1.13

Ages/levels comparable throughout, or slightly favoring Marshall.

I don't hear you predicting Olson will get eaten alive in the AL.

I actually like Marshall better than Olson given his GB tendencies (ML numbers notwithstanding). His HR/9 numbers throughout his MiL career were consistently good.

[joldey]

Bedard was absolutely dominant in the minors check out his numbers. http://thebaseballcube.com/players/B/Erik-Bedard.shtml

Before making his ML Debut. He is career minor league numbers were:

311 IP, 233 H, 375 K's, 107 BB's, 2.60 ERA, 7 HR allowed.

That's not a mistake. 311 IP with only 7 HR allowed.

He was overlooked because of the "superstar" Matt Riley.

And like a previous poster said, he was definitely a top prospect and was never viewed as a backend starter.

[Boy Howdy]

bigbird hinted around that we were waiting on the Bedard deal before this one took place so we could better gauge who we would ask the Cubs for. Does anyone know if that was from his source, or just his speculation.

I can't answer your specific question, but here's how it seems to me.

We've been hearing for about a month that a Roberts deal was pretty much in place. Considering MacPhail's good relationship with Hendry, the most likely scenario to me is that they've agreed on a group of names that the O's can choose from when other deals clarify their actual needs.

Another insider says Roberts won't be dealt until/unless Bedard is, while we're hearing from other sources (including the new Cubs insider) that something could happen any day with the Cubs anxious to get it done.

Sounds to me like BB's info about a Roberts deal being in limbo until Bedard gets dealt is correct, and it's the team based in the Windy City that's trying to push for a quicker resolution. I wouldn't hold my breath the next day or two, but once Bedard is traded things could happen in a hurry.

[Mackus]

Bedard was absolutely dominant in the minors check out his numbers. http://thebaseballcube.com/players/B/Erik-Bedard.shtml

Before making his ML Debut. He is career minor league numbers were:

311 IP, 233 H, 375 K's, 107 BB's, 2.60 ERA, 7 HR allowed.

That's not a mistake. 311 IP with only 7 HR allowed.

He was overlooked because of the "superstar" Matt Riley.

And like a previous poster said, he was definitely a top prospect and was never viewed as a backend starter.

Right, Bedard was a very, very good prospect, and was only slowed down by the TJ surgery.

Riley was certainly a better prospect than Bedard when they were both coming up, but obviously the injuries and attitude problems held him back.

[Boy Howdy]

I'm curious. We've talked about how the O's have plenty of 3-5/back end of the rotation starters. I'm trying to remember, what was Bedard projected at before he came up to the majors? I don't remember that he was projected to be as good as he actually is. In that case, what does it hurt to load up with "projected" back-end of the rotation starters if the odds are in our favor that one or two become another Bedard?

In 2005, Baseball America projected the O's 2008 starting rotation to look like this:

ace - Sidney Ponson
sp2 - Hayden Penn
sp3 - Adam Loewen
sp4 - Erik Bedard
sp5 - Daniel Cabrera

[Hank Scorpio]

Right, Bedard was a very, very good prospect, and was only slowed down by the TJ surgery.

Riley was certainly a better prospect than Bedard when they were both coming up, but obviously the injuries and attitude problems held him back.

Riley's Delmarva year as an 18 year old was RIDICULOUS.

[Frobby]

Sean Marshall is what Garrett Olson would be, if Olson had a sub-4.00 ERA in the bigleagues on his resume.

MiLB stats:
Marshall 304.2 IP, 2.63 ERA, 7.57 H/9, 0.47 HR/9, 2.75 BB/9, 8.82 K/9, 1.15 WHIP
Olson: 348, 2.95, 7.37, 0.67, 2.82, 8.82, 1.13

Ages/levels comparable throughout, or slightly favoring Marshall.

I don't hear you predicting Olson will get eaten alive in the AL.

To be fair to SG, I'm sure he is focused on Marshall's sub-6.00 K rate in healthy chunks of 2 major league seasons. Show me a pitcher with a sub-6.00 K rate and I'll show you a pitcher SG hates, no matter what any other stat might show.

Has Marshall had injury issues?

77.2 IP in 2004 (13 games)
95.0 IP in 2005 (16 games)
147.1 IP in 2006 (28 games)
134.0 IP in 2007 (26 games)

[joldey]

totally off-topic but i thought i would throw this out there. Bedard pitched 3 years of minor league ball before getting the call up to the majors while Riley was called up after 1 and a half and at age 19. I would say the O's ruined that right away. What could he have been if he wasn't rushed... Bedard???

We will never know...

[El Gordo]

If they really like Fuld it tells me they may be moving toward the LAA deal with CF and 2B taken care of with the Cubs. Then you get Kotchman, Adenhart and Wood. The only hole if 3B if you trade Mora and you can let Constanzo and Moore fight out that position in ST.

That would be nice, but I'm just saying be prepared for no Bedard trade. Unless Santana goes to the NYY's or Sox, then I think there will be intense interest in EB again. I think it is significant that if Fuld is included in the BRob trade, he would be the third CF we have picked up in the past few weeks. Couple that with some rumors that the M's don't want to include Jones in a EB trade and what does that point to?