Q:My starting pitching is in shambles (Laffey, Verlander, Aaron Cook, Lester, Ervin Santana). Should I trade Vernon Wells and Bobby Jenks for Erik Bedard and Hunter Pence? Could I get Felix Hernandez instead of Bedard?
Other important information, I have Ryan Franklin, Joe Borowski, Grant Balfour, and Brad Lidge as closers. I would either use Pence or Matt Kemp in the outfield spot.
A: First, good call on identifying the need. That's half the battle.
Looking at the trade, you have the closers to be able to make up for the lost saves that Jenks would provide. Balfour and Wheeler will likely both see time with Percival on the DL, with JP Howell potentially stepping in to grab a save as well.
Franklin and Lidge should serve you fine, and Borowski will record saves as long as he's in the role. My piece of advice there would be to watch and make sure that Franklin stays in the role with Isringhausen getting healthy. Masa Kobayashi would get first crack in Cleveland. You'll just want to be aware.
The first choice of those two pitchers has to be Hernandez. He's the ace and will continue to be. I don't think his ankle injury is anything to be concerned with. He'll be back and pitching fine. Hernandez has done well to limit his fly balls, forcing at least ten ground outs in seven of his last ten starts.
Add to that, his strikeout numbers have been solid and he's allowed less than three runs in four of his last five outings. His WHIP is what you would consider elite (under 1.25) and his opponents batting average is under .250. All good signs. He'd be the primary choice here.
But you don't lose much with Bedard right now. Both of these guys are stuck playing for a Seattle team that has been lousy offensively, so wins will always be tough to come by. Bedard's main short coming when compared to Felix is strikeouts (97 for Hernandez vs. 60 for Bedard).
Bedard's WHIP is 1.30 and his ERA is 3.79. He's been much better at home. His ERA would be better if it weren't for two bad outings that skew the entire number, one of which was against the Yankees.
Wells is better than Pence, but Pence should rebound in the second half. He had a bad June coming off an amazing month of May. I think the offer your making is more than fair in either case. If you can't get Hernandez, you would do fine with Bedard.
Other important information, I have Ryan Franklin, Joe Borowski, Grant Balfour, and Brad Lidge as closers. I would either use Pence or Matt Kemp in the outfield spot.
A: First, good call on identifying the need. That's half the battle.
Looking at the trade, you have the closers to be able to make up for the lost saves that Jenks would provide. Balfour and Wheeler will likely both see time with Percival on the DL, with JP Howell potentially stepping in to grab a save as well.
Franklin and Lidge should serve you fine, and Borowski will record saves as long as he's in the role. My piece of advice there would be to watch and make sure that Franklin stays in the role with Isringhausen getting healthy. Masa Kobayashi would get first crack in Cleveland. You'll just want to be aware.
The first choice of those two pitchers has to be Hernandez. He's the ace and will continue to be. I don't think his ankle injury is anything to be concerned with. He'll be back and pitching fine. Hernandez has done well to limit his fly balls, forcing at least ten ground outs in seven of his last ten starts.
Add to that, his strikeout numbers have been solid and he's allowed less than three runs in four of his last five outings. His WHIP is what you would consider elite (under 1.25) and his opponents batting average is under .250. All good signs. He'd be the primary choice here.
But you don't lose much with Bedard right now. Both of these guys are stuck playing for a Seattle team that has been lousy offensively, so wins will always be tough to come by. Bedard's main short coming when compared to Felix is strikeouts (97 for Hernandez vs. 60 for Bedard).
Bedard's WHIP is 1.30 and his ERA is 3.79. He's been much better at home. His ERA would be better if it weren't for two bad outings that skew the entire number, one of which was against the Yankees.
Wells is better than Pence, but Pence should rebound in the second half. He had a bad June coming off an amazing month of May. I think the offer your making is more than fair in either case. If you can't get Hernandez, you would do fine with Bedard.
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