MLB Trade Rumors: 5 Potential Landing Spots for John Danks
No baseball player particularly enjoys packing up their things and joining a new team in the middle of the season. And certainly no team wants to trade a 26-year-old budding ace that has given his team some very good numbers in recent years.
But in reality, baseball is still a business, and teams must do what it takes to run a successful business, regardless of the collateral damage it can cause players.
Unfortunately, this may be the case for starting pitcher John Danks and the Chicago White Sox.
The 26-year-old starting pitcher was acquired by GM Ken Williams from Texas in 2005 and has compiled a record of 46-50 and a 4.00 ERA on the South-side. These stats are quite deceiving, however, as the 2007 White Sox (72-90) didn't help John during his first season in the Majors. He ended that season at 6-13 with a 5.50 ERA. He has also started the current season 0-6.
Many people question whether or not it is smart to trade a left-handed starter who could be entering his prime. Well, It's either that or re-sign him now because Danks will be a hot commodity when hitting free agency after the 2012 season.
If the White Sox go ahead and decide to get some young pieces back for John Danks rather than risk him walking for nothing in return, here are the five teams that will pursue him the heaviest.
New York Yankees
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When discussing possible destinations for a starting pitcher at the trade deadline, how can you ever leave out the New York Yankees?
GM Brian Cashman is probably liking the fact that John Danks holds a 0-6 record because it may mean that his price could be lower than previously expected. Danks would likely turn that record around, as the Bronx Bombers would give John more run support than he has received thus far in Chicago.
Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon have been a pleasant surprise for New York thus far, don't get me wrong. But with old age and past inconsistencies, comes doubt from the New York hierarchy.
Trading for Danks would provide protection for CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett, as well as a little pressure relief for youngster Ivan Nova. Danks would also supply the Yankees rotation with a second left-handed starter, which can prove to be crucial in October.
The only questions would be whether Cashman could put a package together that would entice Kenny Williams to become a seller.
Boston Red Sox
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Another usual buyer at the trade deadline and team in the mix for John Danks is the Boston Red Sox.
After a rough 2-10 start to the season, it was unlikely that Boston would in the position to acquire a big-name player at the deadline. Especially considering the prices paid for stars Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez in the offseason.
But now the Red Sox sit at 20-20 at right in the thick of things out east. John Lackey has been plain bad so far this season and has just been placed on the DL. Daisuke Matsuzaka has been struggling while trying to get back to where he was when he joined the Red Sox, and Tim Wakefield (only two starts thus far) is not getting any younger.
We have seen the Red Sox make big splashes before, most recently with the signing of Carl Crawford, so don't expect anything less from GM Theo Epstein.
The addition of Danks would immediately improve the third worst pitching staff in the AL regarding ERA (4.47) and would add another lefty to the rotation opposite of John Lester.
Texas Rangers
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The Texas Rangers could have an upper hand on the competition if and when John Danks finds himself on the trading block.
Danks was originally drafted by the Rangers in the first round (ninth overall) of the 2003 MLB draft, and was traded to the White Sox in 2005 as part of the Brandon McCarthy deal. That deal ended up favoring Chicago solely because of John Danks.
Danks is was also born and raised in Texas, where he attended Round Rock High School and was named Texas Player of the Year.
Danks would immediately bring stability to a rotation that has been good, but is very young and quite inexperienced. Cliff Lee was the ace of the staff last year and put the Rangers on his back and carried them through the postseason and to the World Series. Danks would become the most experienced pitcher on the staff and would pretty much be the ace of that staff.
And once again, Danks will be not only be enticed by the fact that he could return home, but the Rangers would give him the run support needed to get those W's.
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Colorado Rockies
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The addition of John Danks would go a long way for the Colorado Rockies out west. Not only can he put an end to any fifth starter discussion for Colorado, Danks could be the piece that may lift Colorado if they make the postseason.
Colorado ace Ubaldo Jimenez has had his fair share of woes so far this season, but those woes have been overshadowed by the success of starters Jhoulys Chacin, Jorge De La Rosa and Jason Hammel.
Danks would even out the rotation without hurting any sort of chemistry. How do I know this? His first name starts with the letter "J." If Jhoulys, Jorge and Jason can have success in Colorado, why not John? We can also throw Jimenez in there to complete the staff of "J's."
Colorado, however, is not necessarily known for making big moves during the season to improve their ball club, but adding Danks would bring Colorado's pitching staff that much closer to competing with the Philadelphias of the world.
If Colorado happens to face the Phillies in October, the addition of Danks would allow the Rockies to match the big four with a worthy adversary each time, to say the least.
Cincinnati Reds
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The dark horse to make a big move for a pitching, particularly Mr. Danks, would be the Cincinnati Reds.
Cincinnati has had eight different pitchers start a game for them this season, and they still find themselves on top of the NL Central at 23-17.
With Edinson Volquez struggling thus far, the addition of Danks would lift some of the pressure on Volquez, who is coming off of Tommy John surgery. The Reds will also be able to provide ample run support for John, and Danks in turn would improve the Reds' 4.17 team ERA.
Danks could also fill the one glaring hole in the Reds' rotation. Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey have been awesome as of late, and Bronson Arroyo has been solid in his starts.
A rotation of Danks, Volquez, Arroyo, Cueto and Bailey could ensure Cincinnati as the top contender in the NL Central, not just a hot team. This rotation could also become a great four-man rotation for the playoffs.
Danks would probably be comfortable in Cincinnati because his friend and former teammate Nick Massett resides in the Reds' bullpen.
White Sox GM Kenny Williams has dealt with the Reds' before (Griffey Jr.) so it is probable he could look Cincy's way once again.
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