New set of pinstripes?
Joel Sherman earlier this week that if he had to guess which pitcher the Yanks would acquire this offseason, it would be John Danks. He’s a good fit from the Yanks perspective, a lefty fly ball pitcher (career 1.09 GB/FB) who does a decent job keeping the ball in the ballpark (career 1.06 HR/9) that could improve pitching half his starts in Yankee Stadium. His style of pitching plays into the Yankee strength of defense in the outfield. He should be able to at least give you league average performance and soak up innings in the middle of your rotation, maybe better. He’s not the elusive #2 they’re looking for behind CC, but he gives you options if you want to send Hughes to the bullpen or AJ Burnett to Siberia. On a team that scores runs like the Yanks, someone like Danks should be a lock for 15 wins.
So now lets look at what the White Sox will need. They’re in somewhat of a rebuilding mode, though anyone who knows GM Kenny Williams M.O. knows that he’s looking to do it quickly. Hiring a manager with no MLB experience is a sign that he’s thinking long term. The thought being that by the time they’re ready to compete again, Ventura will have plenty of experience (BTW-Theo Epstien may be thinking the same thing with his hiring of the equally inexperienced Dale Sveum). Mark Gonzalez of the Chicago Tribune wrote an article this week detailing three areas of need on the ChiSox, namely CF, 2B and Catcher. Let’s go through each position individually:
Second Base-After two bad seasons by the once highly thought of 2B prospect Gordon Beckham, Kenny Williams is looking to have a ST competition for the starting job. Its a crowded field with plenty of internal candidates, from Brent Lilibridge to Eduardo Escobar to Ozzie Martinez (who was acquired from the Marlins as compensation for Ozzie Guillen). Beckham has performed progressively worse each year since his impressive rookie season in 2009, so it looks like he’s been exposed and its time to pull the plug on him as a starter. I doubt Williams will be interested in Eduardo Nunez or David Adams, who would only further crowd the field of uncertain candidates.
Catcher-36 year old AJ Pierzynski is in the final year of his contract, so the Sox are looking to groom a replacement next year. They have 25 year old Tyler Flowers, but he struck out at an alarming rate last year (38 times in 100 ABs) and that was playing part time where they could pick their spots with him. They need a long term solution, and while this year’s free agent list is weak (36 year old Ramon Hernandez is the only Type A) next year’s class is much stronger.
Center Field-The ChiSox OF situation is very much up in the air. LF Juan Pierre is a free agent, and Williams has endorsed 27 year old as his replacement in LF and their leadoff hitter next year (.400 OBP in 2011). But they still have LF Alex Rios under contract for 38M over the next 3 years. In RF Carlos Quinten may be traded, and if that happens they have Cuban defector Dayan Viciedo waiting in AAA to take his place. But CF is wide open, while DeAza could do the job he profiles better defensively in Left.
Now let’s try to figure out what Danks is worth. Fangraphs had his value pegged at 14.2M last year, with a 3 year average of 14.8M. He’s in his final year of arbitration, where he earned 6M last season. Coming off a season that won’t pull his value down any and given the fact that arb is based mostly on service time, let’s estimate he makes 9-11M next year. So the net value Danks has in a trade is a measly 3-5M*. But that’s the baseline, any GM will look for the best offer he can get and Williams always has the option of hanging onto to him. Brett Gardner, who was one of the Yanks most valuable players for the past few years would represent a massive overpay. The best fit for both teams would appear to be a Catcher (non-Montero division). Francisco Cervelli would be a fit, Fangraphs had him pegged at being worth 2.2M last year while being paid just 440K. He is in his final year of arb and has 3 years of team control left after that where he should accumulate more net value. But I doubt Williams (or anyone else) views Cevelli as a future everyday Catcher. Austin Romine’s floor should be that of a league-average starting Catcher. He’s ready to play backup Catcher at the MLB level right now and made strides with the bat last year.
(*NOTE-The new CBA isn’t finalized yet, but if reports are accurate Danks would figure to be a lock to be a Type A under the new rules, assuming he stays healthy and has a typical year. He would therefore qualify for draft pick compensation if he leaves after 2012, since the floor is a 12M arb offer and Danks figures to get multiple years at that rate or better. That increases his value as a trade piece.)
If I’m Brian Cashman I’m offering a Cervelli+ package, with a mid-level pitcher (Phelps/Warren/Mitchell) also going back to replace Danks. If I’m Kenny Williams I hang on to Danks unless I get Austin Romine as a potential long term answer at Catcher, and I still want one of those pitchers. As Joel Sherman alluded to the makings of a deal are there, now we just have to wait and see who blinks first.
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I think you are a little bullish on Romine’s floor while dismissing Flowers’. Despite the high K rate (in a very limited sample), Flowers had a .719 OPS against big league pitching (in the same limited sample), while Romine in AA has put up a .728 OPS. The biggest concern I think they’d have with Flowers is defensively. I’d do Romine+ any non Betances/Banuelos pitcher in a heartbeat.
Same, easily.
I think a deal like that has a good chance of being done. Cashman and Williams supposedly work well together.
Maybe a bit, but the glove is already there and you don’t have to hit much to be league average at Catcher.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/split.cgi?t=b&lg=AL&year=2011#defp
.696 OPS would get it done in 2011. As far as the projection, that’s in line with what I’ve read from independent sources like BA. It may prove to be wrong on the upside or downside, but that seems to be the consensus as of today. Don’t forget, Romine appeared to take a big step forward with his bat last year before getting hurt.
I’m not as big a fan of Danks as many seem to be, though I do feel he’s a solid pitcher. He’s not a perfect fit for our needs though, so because of that it would limit what I would be willing to trade for him. This year seems to be a bit of bad luck induced in terms of ERA, but I also don’t expect him to make any massive leaps in ability at this point. He seems to have settled in as a solid 3 WAR pitcher. I’ve gone back and forth on if I would trade Romine and one of the pitchers you’ve mentioned here, but if Yu doesn’t post and we can’t find a better option on the trade market I’d probably do it.
From a White Sox perspective I’d hold the line on Danks at Romine and Betances. It’s an overpay, but if you think the Yanks are desperate for pitching you want to stick it to them. Especially after the Swisher trade went so one sided. If the Yankees said no to that I’d probably offer Floyd for Romine and Noesi/Phelps/Warren instead. As the Yankees I certainly would not trade Romine and Noesi/Phelps/Warren for Floyd.
I’d actually be a proponent of getting Danks in addition to Yu. It would only be a 1 year commitment at relatively short money. If he comes here and shines, feel free to sign him long term, but it gives Banuelos and/or Betances a little more breathing room before they are to be counted on. If you end up signing Danks long term then that opens up one of the B’s as a trade chip to help out somewhere else.
I’m in the camp of wanting two pitchers this off season as well. Danks and Garza would be ideal, but Yu and Danks works for me, too.
As I’ve posted recently I think Hughes has to go to the bullpen. I’d love to see Burnett traded somewhere in a headache for headache type deal, where the player coming back could play a bench role. Its really about utilizing your roster spots better while trying to keep payroll about the same.
Theo heading to Chicago definitely makes Garza a possibility, since he’s not the guy who gave up a huge haul to get Garza, he’s not going to demand to match what they paid. Since Garza is a known Sox killer, it would be great to see Theo ship him to the Yankees.
A.J.was also a “Sox killer” — until he donned pinstripes.
If the Yankees trade Romine+ for Danks I think there will be an obligation from the FO to re-sign him. I have a hard time believing they would be trading for a 1 year rental. Maybe they feel a first round pick next year as a type A equal Romine though and let him go, but I doubt it equals Romine and Noesi/etc…
I guess I’m still holding out hope for Gonzalez in some miracle trade, but I just can’t shake how much better his upside is than Danks. I understand the cost is higher, but if he ever starts to limit the walks he could become special. I’ve read the A’s want an ace return for Gio though so he’s probably not going anywhere. I’d do a Sanchez, Banuelos, Noesi, or Romine, Banuelos, Noesi for him though if they’d take it.
I don’t see AJ getting moved this year. He may get traded next offseason, but I think we are stuck with him for 2012.
I think we re-sign Garcia to be the number 4 or 5 no matter what so the addition of any one of Yu, Danks, or Gio moves Hughes to the pen anyway. Adding 2 pitchers would be a luxury, but I don’t think it’s neccesary or likely.
I like Gio too, but you could see him being worse in the AL East with his walk rates facing more patient hitters. I think the Yanks have it right, that they’d like to have him but won’t back up the truck for him.
I’ve brought up his troubling numbers against the Sox, Rays and Yanks before, but when talking about Danks V Gio he’s by far the better choice. I’d pay a little more for Gio’s upside. With that said I wouldn’t trade Montero or both Banuelos and Betances for him.
I just think dealing Banuelos for Gio makes a ton if sense because their upsides are so similar. Going back to look at their minor league numbers Gio was even putting up better numbers in AA and AAA, though he was slightly older. A 3 way trade similar to the Granderson trade would be perfect, but likely won’t happen.
I kind of like Gio a little bit too, but not a chance I trade Banuelos AND Sanchez in a deal for someone with his lack of control.
Banuelos has the exact same lack of control, though it’s worse at this point in his career than Gio’s was. Plus Sanchez is years away from the majors, and he has no real set position as he may not stick at catcher.
We traded Kennedy and Jackson for Granderson, very similar deal when you think about it. The main difference is Kennedy and Jackson were major league ready at the time of the deal, Sanchez is 2-4 years away and Banuelos is a year away.
Gio had 2x as many minor league innings as Banuelos and never saw a good improvement in his BB rates. If Manny throws another 345 innings without any improvement, then this comp will make some more sense, but it’s comparing apples and oranges.
It goes beyond walks though. In 129.2 IP this year between AA and AAA he gave up 9.0 H/9, walked 4.9 BB/9, and struck out 8.7 K/9.
Gonzalez in 154.2 IP in AA at age 20 gave up 8.1 H/9, walked 4.7 BB/9, and struck out 9.7 K/9.
It’s not a huge difference but he managed to suppress a hit per 9 and notch an extra K per 9.
At 21 however in 150 IP he gave up 7.0 H/9, walked 3.4 BB/9, and struck out 11.1 K/9.
Now he was repeating the level but he showed a decent improvement in all categories. I feel safe in saying both are very comparable and Gio’s stuff may have played better at a similar age.
Not a perfect comparison but very few are.
Are you crazy Benuelos for gio thats nuts the kid is 21 maybe with a way high celling then gio i like the danks trade i think Danks can do good NY .I would not trade either b’s for goi i’l do it for josh johnson or hernandez that it no one else got the celling they two kids got
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2011/11/20/week-in-review-considering-a-nunez-swap/
Glad to see LoHud pick up on something I had thought of as well. When I heard ATL was interested in Nunez, that doesn’t seem like something that would happen by itself. Nunez+Swisher for Jurrjens, or Nunez+Burnett for somebody else. I could see Nunez as a complementary piece in a deal, but not as a centerpiece.
As far as ATL goes, I think you’d love to have one of their bullpen lefties (2011 workloads aside). I’m not that high on Jurrjens, but it should be noted he was pitching on a bad knee last year, which may explain the velocity drop.
I’m staying away from Jurrjens at all cost. He has hardly ever been healthy, and he’s only pitched more than 188 innings once in his career. Besides that he is a peripheral nightmare matchup for Yankee stadium considering he doesn’t generate a good number of swing and misses, and outside of 2008 he hasn’t been effective at generating ground balls. I think he’s a worse stylistic matchup than Hughes for Yankee stadium, and he likely gets eaten alive in Yankee stadium.
I honestly wouldn’t trade Nunez and Swisher for him. Classic NL pitcher in my opinion.
I’d rather sign Edwin Jackson than trade for Jurrjens. At least he’s a better bet to throw 200 innings, and his stuff plays much better in the AL.
I don’t disagree, just wondering out loud what the NYY-ATL match might be. Tim Hudson?
Hudson is interesting but I think his age probably turns the Yankees off some. How long does he have left on his contract?
Out of all the Braves pitchers I think the Yankees would covet Hanson the most, but I doubt the Braves entertain trading him. I’d rather make a move for Minor or Beachy over Jurrjens though.
I looked it up Hudson has 1 year at 9 million dollars left on his deal with a 9 million dollar option for 2013, which I believe to be a team option. That actually makes a pretty decent amount of sense if you want to trade Swisher and Nunez for him. It would require signing Cespedes and playing him right away though.
I agree with you on Jurrjens. The only word that we need to associate with him is ‘overrated’. I’d definitely prefer Jackson to Jurrjens. For one, he’s a better pitcher; and two, he’s only going to cost money.
I’m no so sure Jackson can be called a better pitcher, their career numbers are similar but shift slighty to Jair. but he’s certainly a more reliable pitcher when it comes to health, plus his stuff is MUCH better, and he has pitched in the AL. So he is a much better option overall.
If I remember correctly, Jackson’s ERA/FIP/xFIP (if you’re a fan of those) are better than Jurrjens’ and his K/9 numbers are better as well – a product of the superior stuff you mentioned.
Jurrjen’s career 3.40 ERA, 3.88 FIP, 4.22 xFIP
Jackson’s career 4.46 ERA, 4.34 FIP, 4.38 xFIP
Though Jackson has 1079 career innings and has been much better in the last 3 years than he was in the beginning of his career. While Jurrjens has only 702.1 IP in his career, and he has been ridiculously unhealthy over the last 2 seasons.
Jackson’s career K/9 is slightly better (6.68 compard to 6.15) but Jurrjens BB/9 is slightly better (3.19 compared to 3.66).
Hm, I guess I was wrong about Jackson’s slash being better – over the career at least. He was god awful for the early portion of his career which skews the comparison.
For the sake of argument though, let’s just say they’re equal producers. There is still absolutely no reason to trade value for Jurrjens when someone similar can be acquired just for money. A point which I think we would more or less agree on.
Yeah he was called up too early and it really hurt his overall numbers. But when looking at his last 3 years compared to Jurrjens last 3 Edwin proves himself to be a more consistent pitcher. Absolutely agree Craig.
I’m neutral on Danks but I wouldn’t pay a lot in players for him.
Somewhat off topic, but it was in the post. Does anyone else find this troubling?
Either I need to use some kind of special glasses when watching Cervelli play or those Fangraphs numbers have some serious issues.
Those fangraphs numbers suck. They had Clint Barmes at over $14 million last year.
People hate on Cervelli too much. He can’t be used for getting a Danks type player, but the Pirates called on him both during the season and before signing a catcher a few weeks ago.
He has value as a backup, he’s just not great anywhere.
I’m guessing they weren’t planning to pay him $2.2 million.
Those numbers are certainly off I’m defending that, but I do get a little tired of people making jokes like a bag of balls would be more valuable than Frankie. He brings energy to the club, showed a little bit more with the bat this past season, and has a great repertoire with pitchers.
They ended up signing Rod Barajas for 4 million.
To T.O. Chris re: Banuelos, Sanchez and Gio
I definitely hear what you’re saying about Sanchez. No need to put a clamp on prospects that have such a long way to go, but you’re still talking about trading two top five prospects for a dude that can’t find the plate.
Banuelos certainly had his own control issues this season, but he’s only 20 pitching in AA and AAA. Perhaps I could live with one of the two, but definitely not both for Gio. He’s not worth it.
In reality you are talking about trading 2 top 41 ranked prospects in baseball for a pitcher who will be 26 all next season and has 2 seasons of 200 innings+ under his belt. I think as long as you hold on to one of Sanchez/Romine you’re fine.
I’d certainly rather trade Sanchez and Dellin over Sanchez and Manny, but I would do both. I could be totally wrong, it’s happened before. But I’ve been right before too, so I’ll take the gamble.
Gio was very comparable at the exact same age in AA. See above.
Two prospects in the Top 50 overall is pretty damn significant too. If Banuelous and Sanchez are going to be part of a package, I want to see the return bring a better pitcher than Gio.
If one wasn’t almost all projection I would agree. Sanchez however has never played above A ball and has shown a really high K% since rookie ball. I feel he is the least likely of the Yankees top prospects to make it to the majors.
For comparison Sanchez hit .256/.335/.485 with a wOBA of .364 with 17 HRs in 343 PAs, with a walk % of 10.5%, and a strikeout % of 27.1 % this year in A ball.
Jesus Montero in A ball hit .326/.376/.491 with a wOBA of .389 and 17 HRs in 569 PAs, with a walk % of 6.5% and a strikeout % of 14.6 %.
He outpaced Montero in HRs but paid for it with much less contact. He also showed discipline problems this year, having to be disciplined for poor work ethic. He’s a talent for sure, but there are legit concerns going forward about his work ethic and ability to cut down on his strikeouts and make more consistent contact.
I mean, a lot of kids have immaturity issues. Montero had those issues last year. Sanchez was only 19 this season and there weren’t any problems after his short benching/demotion. I wouldn’t worry about those too much. Not now at least.
From all reports Montero was a frustration issue from thinking he should have already been called up. Sanchez’s issued seemed to be more related to work ethic. I worry more when someone is pulling stuff in A ball, at a certain point you have to wonder how committed he is to the hard work it takes to be great. Some people that are supremely talented skate on that, and they leave the hard work behind. But there is no way to know if this is actually a problem for him, or if it was a one time acting his age scenario.
I’m not saying that is a reason to trade him, and I agree it’s too early to start calling his future into to much doubt because of it. But it’s just another check mark in the negative column he has, even if it’s just a small one.
I just believe out of Sanchez, Banuelos, Betances, Montero, and Romine Sanchez is the least likely to make it to the majors and stick. Like I said I could be wrong.
Sanchez’ issues last year were just immaturity. Montero had similar immaturity issues in 2010 – different from this past season when the frustration started to set in.
I wouldn’t even bother putting a small check mark in a negative column at this point. I think its just part of the process with a lot of young players. If it reoccurs then that will be a problem.
He was sent back to Tampa for what was deemed “attitude problems” mostly from getting off to a slow start and having JR Murphy take playing time from him. It’s not a giant issue considering he came back determined, but it brings up question marks in my mind.
When Montero’s work ethic was questioned and he was “read the riot act” it also brought up questions. I think he’s since come back to answer those question pretty well, but it’s something to note until he proves it was a one time thing.
It still bothers me more when it happens in A ball as opposed to AAA ball.
We agree on Sanchez. He needs to succeed at the Double-A level – if not dominate it – before fans put the “untouchable” tag on him. However, the potential is still tremendous. I just think you have to aim higher if you’re going to trade him AND your best pitching prospect.
I certainly can’t fault you for that position. The upside for both Sanchez and Banuelos is tremendous, if either or fulfills their talent to the fullest you probably regret the deal.
I just have a feeling Gio can be something special. Sort of like Granderson fixing his swing and taking his game to the next level, I think Gio can fix the walks and become a top pitcher in this league for years to come.
Neither position is wrong at the current moment, and honestly I don’t think either can be called dead wrong regardless of the outcome. Either way you bet on the kids or you bet on Gio. Both ways you have a chance at failure and a chance at success, it’s just about which one you believe in more right now. Both ways you can look back with hindsight and say you should have done this. It’s why a GM has such a hard job.
True, Gio would be a monster if he trimmed those walks in half.
Even just one walk per 9 innings would be huge. He cut it down to 4.05 BB/9 this year, if he managed to settle in around 3.05 BB/9 he would be a serious beast. Maybe not an ace, but a very solid number 2 who pitches 200+ innings every year for years to come. At 26 he still hasn’t reached his prime years yet.
Another reason to really like Gio is he keeps the ball on the ground, posting a 49.3 GB% in 2010 and a 47.5 GB% in 2011. Swing and miss stuff and the ability to keep the ball on the ground not far from Ivan Nova’s percentages. Very promising.
Steve S,
I’m also for making a move for Danks. A lefty pitcher who can slot into the #3 spot makes worlds of sense. I also agree on the prospects you offer to get him in Cervelli and one of Phelps/Warren plus another lower mid range prospect. Danks with CC as our lefties and Nova, Hughes and AJ is better than we had last season and if some how we can trade AJ than I go after Yu Darvish or possibly see if Man Ban or Noesi can make a move for a rotation spot.
But I give Hughes at least to the all star break to see if he can stick in rotation. We invested allot on this kid and he’s too young to give up on him now. He’s now in his prime and if he can mix in the off speed stuff and curve and hopefully be consistent with his velocity in the 92-93 mph range which maybe wishful thinking than I really believe this kid will have a good year.
I would hate to see Banuelos break with the team at the end of camp. He’d be much better off spend most of the year in Scranton, he is still really raw and has a long way to go with his control. Right now he doesn’t suppress hits or limits walks against AA or AAA batters, major league lineups would do him real dirty right now. I’d much rather see him make a September call up and take over a rotation spot full time in 2013.
I don’t see anyway Cervelli, Phelps/Warren, and a low level prospect get Danks. From what I’ve seen and read I think Romine has to be part of the deal for Danks to move. Cervelli is a career backup, Romine has starting potential.
I agree he’s not ready to break camp, but the amount of hits he’s given up are not concerning to me. He’s shown an ability to miss bats, so his stuff plays, making his inflated hits totals almost certainly a reflection of high BABIP’s. I doubt he’s just giving up laser after laser considering his high K totals. He definitely needs more time and needs to cut down on the walks, but with low HR totals and high K totals, the hits are of little consequence in my mind.
I’m not worried in the long term so much, but I think giving up over a hit per inning against AA and AAA batters has to be considered in the short term. Betances for instance is giving up as many or more walks, but he has really limited hits all along the way. His stuff when in the zone has played a little bit better thus far. I still consider Banuelos the much more sure bet of the 2 in the long term though.
50 points of difference in BABIP has a lot to do with that though. Even Betances can sustain something in the .285 range, Banuelos at .331 seems way high.
It does seem high but I would expect a lower BABIP against a lower level of competition. Though he may just be incredibly unlucky. Like I said it doesn’t worry me long term, but I have no faith he would post anything less than 9.0+ H/9 against major league competition right now.
I think Betances would be mashed if he was forced to face major league competition right now as a starter, but I think he would keep his H/9 below 9 per 9.
I honestly don’t see how anyone doesn’t look at Banuelos and see a lot of Gio in him. Gio is listed slightly taller (6’0 compared to 5’11), though quite a bit bulkier (205 compared to 155), but at 6 years his elder he should be more grown into his body. But after they become real mirrors. Both feature a fastball around 92 MPH that they can reach back for more and get into the mid 90′s with. They both compliment their fastballs with a curve and change, though they differ in which pitch is their better secondary pitch. I like Gio’s change but his curve is better, and while Banuelos has a really advanced change his curve is still really loopy at times.
They both post high K totals even at young age against advanced competition, and both of their main weaknesses come from posting walk totals over 4 per 9 innings. Their stuff suggests they carry a ceiling of an ace, but I imagine walks will always hold that ceiling closer to a number 2 than a true number 1. They have differences as they are different human beings, but I feel much more comfortable comparing Banuelos to Gio than any other pitcher I have come across. I don’t feel the Johan Santana comp is more accurate at all.
I like that comparison. I still like the Johan comparison a little bit too, but based on scouting reports I’ve kind of developed a vision of a Johan-Gio-Wandy blend as a comparison.
I just think Santana is such a high end comparison it isn’t likely to be reached. Johan was one of the best pitchers in baseball for 5 or 6 years. There is always the chance everything could snap into place, and he cuts the walks down and becomes that but I think it is very slim chance. Asking anyone to be Johan Santana is a very slim chance really, the cat was super special for a short time.
If he does reach that potential though you probably regret the trade forever. I understand not wanting to take that risk, but I don’t think betting against failure is the best position for a GM to take. You shouldn’t be reckless, but you should be willing to take risks when it makes sense to you.
No one will be looking back on the Granderson trade as a failure now, and Kennedy got Cy Young votes and Jackson got ROY votes.
Turning into the next Johan Santana is definitely beyond a dream scenario, but I’m not trying to suggest that he has quite that much potential. I just see/have seen some similarities in their style.
You certainly could write a profile similar to the one I did comparing Banuelos to Santana, swapping out Banuelos’ curve for Johan’s slider. I just tend to to try and limit my comparisons to talent of that kind of proven level. It gets people thinking really big way before it’s time.
Both Banuelos and Gio are still developing, and following a close path to this point. I’ve just seen the two as really close in ability. Plus the two are both viable in trades so it makes sense on that level as well.
I certainly think Gio and Manny are closer than Austin Jackson ever was to Curtis Granderson.
Yea, to suggest Banuelos is going to reach Santana’s performance level is foolish.
Just for fun though it is an interesting comparison.
At age 20 Santana pitched 160.1 innings posting 9.1 H/9, 0.8 HR/9, 3.1 BB/9, and 8.4 K/9.
Banuelos pitched 108 innings in A ball at age 18 posting 7.3 H/9, 0.3 HR/9, 2.3 BB/9, and 8.7 K/9.
So at 2 years younger he was posting better numbers across the board at the same level, albeit with 50 less innings under his belt. Still impressive.
Though the comparison ends there because Santana was called up the next year and used mostly out of the pen for the next 2 seasons.
Like I said just a fun comparison with no real bearing on Banuelos’ future.
i love
wladimir balentien
The idea that a package with Cervelli and other prospects would land Danks is laughable. Cervelli is a career backup catcher type. If you’re Kenny Williams, you cannot do such a deal. Any type of deal has to center on Austin Romine or one of the pitchers.