Trade Match Series-Gio Gonzalez

By On December 4, 2011 · 15 Comments · In Trade Musings

The Yanks can always use a good young lefty

Whether or not a trade happens between two teams can come down to many nebulous factors, from the relationship between the two GMs, how clubs value players, and the level of motivation a team has to move someone. But one important element that can be looked at objectively is how the teams match up. This is a series where I’m going to look at how the Yankees match up with the other team for their prospective trade targets.

What do the A’s need?

They’re in desperate need of outfielders, with all of their starters from last year gone. David Dejesus is a Cub. Josh Willingham, Coco Crisp and Hideki Matsui are all free agents that figure to land elsewhere. They’re willing to trade their young pitchers for players even younger that make less money, so former A’s Nick Swisher doesn’t work. The Yanks aren’t a great match here, they have an abundance of Catchers and serviceable starters while the A’s have Kurt Suzuki and are 7-8 deep in the rotation heading into next year.  They could use a 1B and Montero could play there, but offering him straight up for Gio would be an overpay. The Yanks have some good OF prospects, but none are MLB ready.

Who do the A’s have in their farm system?

The system is pretty bare. The top prospect is an OF named Michael Choice, who has oodles of power but is a classic 3 true outcomes player that needs to cut down on the K’s to be taken more seriously.  has struggled mightily in his first two call ups after destroying the minors. Michael Ynoa has barely pitched since having Tommy John surgery in 2010. The rest of their good prospects are mostly in the lower levels, so they’re too far away to help anytime soon.

Yankee trade chips that match:

Jesus Montero (1B), Mason Williams, Slade Heathcott, Ravel Santana, Melky Mesa

The Ephemeral: 

Gio’s has to concern you, but it may be at least partially explained by the fact that he plays on a team that scores so few runs and is sub-par defensively. He’s around the plate a lot, so the walks may be a result of nibbling. The A’s are in something of a holding mode, waiting to see if their ballpark situation gets resolved or if they will opt to move at some point over the next few years. Brian Cashman and Billy Beane are two of the longest tenured GMs in Baseball, and the last time they made a trade of any significance was the 3 team deal for Jeff Weaver in 2003. Beane reportedly wants an ace return for a pitcher who’s not nearly as good as he is in pitcher-friendly Oakland Collesium. Gonzalez enters his first year of arb this season, and as a super-2 will be under team control until 2015.

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15 Responses to Trade Match Series-Gio Gonzalez

  1. T.O. Chris says:
    December 4, 2011 at 2:34 pm

    I still believe that Banuelos’ potential upside and Gio’s potential upside are very similar. Both pitchers profiles read an awful lot alike, so if there was some Granderson for Jackson type trade to be made I’d do it. But I’m not trading Montero for him, I see no reason they would want Betances as a main piece, and Sanchez seems to far away after a disappointing 2011.

    He’s not worth an ace return and his numbers inside the AL East strengthen my position on that. Good pitcher still though.

    Reply
    • Steve S. says:
      December 4, 2011 at 3:44 pm

      The main thing I learned in researching this piece is that the Yanks really just don’t match up. If the two sides were committed to making a deal, you would need a 3rd team involved.

      Also, I had no idea how bad their farm system is. Yikes. At least Seattle has some hope with those 3 pitchers and a SS. The As are just hopeless.

      Reply
      • T.O. Chris says:
        December 4, 2011 at 4:23 pm

        Yeah, when I talk about a Granderson for Jackson trade involving Banuelos and Gio I’ve maintained it would have to involve a 3rd team. It would break down with us trading Banuelos to a 3rd team, who provides a young hitting prospect for the A’s, and then both us and the 3rd team sending extra throw in pieces to the A’s. Doesn’t seem likely to happen though.

        Reply
        • Mike D. says:
          December 4, 2011 at 4:56 pm

          Doesn’t seem likely to happen though.

          Has there ever been a three team trade that was likely? For example the Granderson trade- there were some rumors the night before, and then they were shot down, and there wasn’t a reported deal in place. Then the next morning, they were basically announcing the trade.

          Bottom line- you never know when a 3 team deal is coming. And even if there are rumors, its regarded pretty unlikely until it is announced. Therefore, as I’m sure you agree, it’s tricky to speculate about them, and whether or not they are likely to happen.

          Reply
          • Mike D. says:
            December 4, 2011 at 4:57 pm

            So who knows- it may be unlikely now, but you really never know until the deal’s done.

            Reply
            • DirtyWater says:
              December 5, 2011 at 2:08 pm

              Unlikely? With Montero as the centerpiece of the trade being contigent on him switching to 1B? Where he has never played.

              By that logic why don’t the Yankees keep Montero and convert him to the starter Gio is.

              Reply
              • T.O. Chris says:
                December 5, 2011 at 2:47 pm

                What are you talking about?

                Me and Mike’s discussion has nothing to do with Montero in the least… We are talking about a 3 team trade involving Banuelos and Gio.

              • Mike D. says:
                December 5, 2011 at 3:02 pm

                Our conversation really had nothing to do with Montero.

                I was simply stating that 3 team deals in general tend to be unrealistic. And considering the small number of 3 team trades there have been, they are unlikely.

                Anyway, a Montero-for-Gonzalez trade would be realistic, though I wouldn’t give up Montero for Gio.

          • T.O. Chris says:
            December 4, 2011 at 5:14 pm

            Exactly… No 3 team trade is likely. Thus why I presented my trade proposal and stated it was still unlikely. haha.

            Your defending MY IDEA… I’m not shooting down a 3 way trade from the A’s and the Yankees, I’m presenting one. Everyone who’s ever responded to me saying that is was a possibility has always told me how they would never trade Banuelos in a deal for Gio.

            There has never been any speculation of a Banuelos for Gio 3 way deal as far as I’ve read amongst the media. Most articles I’ve read about Gio either say “ace return”, or simply talk about Montero and Cashman’s unwillingness to trade him.

            Reply
            • Mike D. says:
              December 4, 2011 at 6:11 pm

              I guess I did, haha, at least we are on the same page!

              Reply
              • T.O. Chris says:
                December 4, 2011 at 6:16 pm

                Hahha yeah. I was like I think he’s agree with me and disagreeing with me.

                I love a good argument/debate but we have to be on different sides for it to work. I guess I can always just flip sides haha.

                OK, there is no way I would ever trade Banuelos for Gio, your trade proposal makes no sense hahaha.

              • smurfy says:
                December 5, 2011 at 1:27 am

                ahh,hardyha, at last, Chris, you see reason.

              • T.O. Chris says:
                December 5, 2011 at 10:25 am

                I know you’re joking Smurfy, but I do want to make it clear I was joking and I would be willing to include Banuelos for Gio in a 3 team deal.

                I just don’t want someone to only read the last post and think that is my actual position on things.

  2. Scout says:
    December 5, 2011 at 8:27 am

    I wonder if a deal that included Brett Gardner instead of Swisher might go somewhere. Of course, that creates a hole in left for the Yankees, but Cespedes might fill that.

    Reply
    • T.O. Chris says:
      December 5, 2011 at 10:27 am

      I can’t see Gardner fitting in with the A’s youth movement via trade strategy. Gardner is going to be 29 in August next season, so he is not old but he also isn’t young by the A’s standards. Also since he relies 100% on his legs to make his offensive value you have to be wary about when that skill level will drop off with age.

      Reply

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