Stop With All the Nonsense, Don't Trade Scott Kazmir

So I wrote an article about possible trade talks with the Indians and Angels about shipping Scott Kazmir. The Rays are in serious pursuit of Cliff Lee, who is having another fantastic season for the Indians. After thinking about it for a while I think the Rays just need to shelve Kazmir for the rest of the season.

It is quite clear that Kazmir is hurt. He was tightening his forearm the whole game against the White Sox, but he is still trying to play through it. Because of him trying to be "tough," he might be leading the Rays into a huge mistake. 

Let's look at some stats for Kazmir, and also remember that he is only 25-years-old. He has been the ace, the face of the franchise along with Carl Crawford for so long, how could the Rays give up on him now? Anyway, to the stats:

3.90 lifetime ERA

51-43 record (on some TERRIBLE Devil Rays' teams)

239 strikeouts in 2007

Has decreases his walk total tremendously from his rookie season. Went from 100 to 70.

Career 1.39 WHIP

7.3 hits per nine innings last year

A .220 average against last year.

These numbers are ridiculous. Lee is in the prime of his career, Kazmir has yet to get there. Lee is 30-years-old, so he might only have three or four years of quality starts left. Kazmir, with his talent, could give them double that. At 25 most pitchers are still learning the game so cut Kaz some slack.

So this brings the question, what to do with Kaz? Put him on the DL, where he belongs. He's not helping the team, or himself, by going out there hurt every game he pitches. The Rays have depth at the starting pitching spot. They could call up either Andy Sonnanstine, who has big-game pitching experience, or rookie Wade Davis who has filthy stuff and a 3.22 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP in triple-A. 

Everyone is freaking out because the Rays are in the pennant chase again, and they have a serious chance to repeat. However, the Rays ARE NOT the Yankees or the Red Sox. They do not need to make moves on impulse to fill needs in the roster.

The Rays are still young, and they shouldn't sacrifice anything in the future for now, whenever they can have the best of both worlds. 

Don't get me wrong, I think Cliff Lee is good, Cy Young-worthy again, but the Rays have their own Cy Young candidate, who just needs to be healthy and nourished. And how can you resist this kind of advertising?