Later today SP Len James will become a Scottsdale Sandshark. James who has filled the #1 Starter roll for Atlanta all season has went 7-7 with a 3.87 ERA. The key for the Tartans however is his guaranteed $5.2 million dollar salary in next season and the buyout they would likely have to offer him in season 4. James is 35 years old and has just begun to see his skills deminish. He has lost a bit of stamina and control compared to last season already, and the Tartans are betting he is due for a bigger drop off next season, a chance they don't want to take.
In return the Tartans acquired two more roll playing prospects. The Tartans have went with a strategy of trying to constantly improve the quality of their minor league teams and this trade speaks to that, no superstars in return, but cheap roll playing prospects.
Vern Cox a relief pitcher has a chance to make the major leagues as a Setup B candidate. He has above average control and keeps the ball on the ground two attributes the Tartans value. Also included in the deal was SS Jude Thurman. Thurman lacks stike zone identification at the plate, but can hit lefties pretty well. More importantly he is a wiz defensively. He has above average range and glove for SS, and a projects to have a perfect arm and accuracy. His defensive attributes may be enough to get him to bigs.
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With the completion of this trade the Tartans will have their guaranteed contracts for next season down to $16,450,000. And honestly I think they are interested in cutting another $10 million off that figure if they could find some interested buyers.
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Strategic Insight
(This area of the blog will be used to record key insights learned in the Branch Rickey World.)
In no specific order:
1.) Don't under estimate the value of a good coaching staff, they can turn a dud into a competitive squad, etc.
2.) Pitching settings are one of the most important controls in the game: particularly the Call Bullpen setting, which can dramatically improve any pitchers performance (use it to reward good ERAs/WHIPs and improve bad ones).
3.) Pick a strategy that is unique and one that you can live with. (If you are in for the long haul then consider going young early, or you want to earn a free season get big league talent, just make sure you won't have regrets when your minor league system sucks.)
In no specific order:
1.) Don't under estimate the value of a good coaching staff, they can turn a dud into a competitive squad, etc.
2.) Pitching settings are one of the most important controls in the game: particularly the Call Bullpen setting, which can dramatically improve any pitchers performance (use it to reward good ERAs/WHIPs and improve bad ones).
3.) Pick a strategy that is unique and one that you can live with. (If you are in for the long haul then consider going young early, or you want to earn a free season get big league talent, just make sure you won't have regrets when your minor league system sucks.)
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