Os acquiring Fujinami for Easton Lucas

[baltfan]

I feel like I am going nuts.  We just got a pitcher who hits 101 with movement and a nasty split.  Our development staff has tweaked guys that have come over in the past with good success. This is a fantastic chance to take. How many guys with this type of arm are out there for this little in return?

[DocJJ]

Maybe we can bring back Koji Uehara's interpreter.....

 

I think Oakland "won" the last trade.  Cole Irvin is sort of meh...   The guy we gave up is at AAA hitting .342 on the year with .892 OPS.  I know, we have plenty of other infield prospects, but still the guy they got is going to give them a lot more than the guy we got....

 

I hope this trade doesn't bite us in the butt.  I'm still sore from giving away Eduardo Rodriguez for a reliever rental...  Although I don't think Easton Lucas will turn out like Eduardo Rodriguez....

[DirtyBird]

2 minutes ago, Sports Guy said:

How do you know he doesn’t speak English?

Our Spanish speaking players speak English, but we still have a translator for them

[Sydnor]

7 minutes ago, Sports Guy said:

How do you know he doesn’t speak English?

He has an interpreter. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t speak English.

https://theathletic.com/4581805/2023/06/06/mlb-interpreters-shohei-ohtani/?source=user_shared_article

And Oakland pitcher Shintaro Fujinami brought Issei Kamada, who worked with him for five years in Japan as a trainer when he was a prospect.

Edited July 20, 2023 by Sydnor

[Tony-OH]

He came over as seven pitch starter but clearly his best role was paring those pitches down to his fastball, splitter combo where he's had success. 

It's a low spin rate fastball but because of the velocity he still garners decent swing and miss. 

He's certainly worth a look and certainly worth sending Easton Lucus over even though Lucas has taken  step forward this year reaching as high as 96 on his fastball from the leftside. Lucas' slider was inconsistent though, but outside of some tough outings in June, he's been pretty good. 

Saying that, he still wasn't a top 30 prospect for me so he's definitely worth a guy who has pitched pretty well since getting used to relieving and especially well in June.

I'll take him over a Bazardo or Gillaspie anyday and he has the upside of being that 3rd reliever they need. I still think the O's will do more to sure up the bullpen though.

[24fps]

15 minutes ago, Gurgi said:

I imagine Fuji is very very excited to get out of Oakland and to a team in first place that wants him.  He likely will be hoping to show us his best work the first time or two out.  I expect to see that 101 right away with his adrenaline spiking.   

It may take a week or so for me to internalize Baltimore as a destination team.

[yark14]

26 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

Haha.  Wow!

[24fps]

13 minutes ago, DirtyBird said:

Our Spanish speaking players speak English, but we still have a translator for them

If the O's had to hire a translator for Fujinami is it some kind of issue for you?

Edited July 20, 2023 by 24fps

[Jagwar]

1 hour ago, Sports Guy said:

Based off of what?

I would bet that before this trade, half of the Hangout had no idea who Easton Lucas was. 

[Sydnor]

3 minutes ago, 24fps said:

If the O's had to hire a translator for Fujinama is it some kind of issue for you?

He’s likely going to bring his interpreter with him. That is typically the way it works with Asian players—they choose their interpreters and teams pay them. Issei Kamada, Fujinama’s interpreter, worked with him as a trainer for 5 years in NPB before Fujinama came to MLB.

[Bahama O's Fan]

30 minutes ago, Hank Scorpio said:

Dude throws 101 with a split. He’s worth Easton Lucas.

I meant do the A's have any other players worth getting?

[sportsfan8703]

31 minutes ago, Hank Scorpio said:

Dude throws 101 with a split. He’s worth Easton Lucas.

But does he throw a 99 mph sinker?

[sportsfan8703]

6 minutes ago, Jagwar said:

I would bet that before this trade, half of the Hangout had no idea who Easton Lucas was. 

Only if you thought we got nothing for Jonathan Villar. Haha

[dtk9119]

So does he start and stay at Norfolk for now or does he get added to the 26 man and if so who goes? Gillaspie I would assume?

[Frobby]

I have one more thing to say about this trade: it involves players that were never once discussed in the dozens of trade threads over the last two months.  And with Elias, that’s pretty much always been the case.