Trade Review 2023 #5 Las Vegas Loads Up

[Ted]

No more random tidbits until next season. They add about 30-40 minutes to each of these and at this point I just need to get done.


It's July 21st and the Las Vegas Hustlers plod along in the midst of an extremely uninspiring 49-49 season, good for 3rd in the FLP, and 7.5 games back. And under-performing offense and leaky bullpen have sabotaged what was supposed to be the year the Hustlers reassert their dominance over the Frick. Although the trade deadline is a month away, and some GM's might exercise caution, or wait a bit longer to see which way the wind is blowing, Matt Rectenwald, the Hustler's GM, executed a series of bold trades to remake his bullpen and kick-start the bats. I suppose when you have vets like Mike Swanson, Manny Bautista, Dave Wren, and Gary Estes all at the end of or past their primes, the time is now.


Las Vegas/Brooklyn
Las Vegas receives:
RP Pedro Espin

Brooklyn receives:
RP Ellis Morris
C Sam Adams (prospect)
2B Luis Medina (prospect)

Espin may be getting up there in years, but the highest FIP he's posted since leaving Las Vegas in 2016 is 3.29. He's usually in the mid to low 2's. Although 36, he's still in the top tier of relievers in the league. His velocity could fall off of a cliff at any time, so it's probably a good thing that he's a rental.

Ellis Morris has had a couple good seasons, but is inconsistent (probably because he walks too many) and can't be relied on. As such, I'm not sure he's worth his 2.2 mil salary next year. Someone has to pitch I suppose. When Medina was traded last season, I wrote that he may not be the best option at second, and that hasn't changed. He has developed a bit in the last year, but is still a year or two away, most likely. He could contribute some, but doesn't walk much, has average at best contact, and is an easy strikeout. Sam Adams is interesting. He's shown a better eye in the last year than scouts expected, and still has all world power potential and a great arm. At 23, if he doesn't get that power soon, I don't know if he will. His ability to play every day will be decided by whether his contact is closer to 6 or 4.

It's hard to get much for a rental reliever, but Brooklyn made out okay here. It's possible none of the players they acquired will play on their club, but if any do they did better than just letting Espin walk away. Vegas doesn't need either of the prospects they traded, and managed a much needed upgrade to the pen. Well done on both sides.


Las Vegas/Huntsville
Las Vegas receives:
1B Bartolo Melendez
RP Alfredo Chavez

Huntsville receives:
1B Fernando Moreno

It's not too often you see two teams swap near elite level slugging first basemen. In this case, neither player was really performing up to expectations, and in this rare circumstance, both sluggers picked it up after the deal. Bartolo Melendez needs no introduction and still has a sweatheart deal even if he declines a smidge, should Recte choose to pick up the options. Moreno is still a relative newcomer to the league, but has otherworldly power potential and a terrific eye, to go with his solid contact abilities as a lefty. He's clearly the better player once he develops and at 21 is a much more valuable asset than Melendez. Vegas makes up some of that difference in Alfredo Chavez, who at 23 with no flaws and a very good fastball/curve combo has the makings of a shut down reliever.

This deal, on talent alone is an obvious win for the Phantoms, but the Hustlers are in a win now mode and Moreno wasn't ready. At this time, it's a wash at first base and they pick up a terrific pen arm. I'd have a hard time making this move, but it makes sense for both sides.


Las Vegas/Montreal
Las Vegas receives:
RP Luis Tiant IV

Montreal receives:
SP Alex Lopez (prospect)
SP Chris Adkins (prospect)
SP Luis Valenzuela (prospect)

Tiant is another player who I don't need to say anything about. What you might not know is that he's a free agent after this season, but rumor is the Hustlers would like to lock him up for a few more years. Lopez is a very nice you pitching prospect, depending on how you feel about marginal motion guys with mediocre stamina. He has solid control and nasty stuff, and is throwing 2 mph harder than when traded. Adkins is another marginal motion fireballer who should be a be to overcome his tendency to give up the occasional long ball and be a very good reliever. Valenzuela is a AAA starter, maybe could be a long inning/mop up guy in a pinch.

Being in a wholly different class than Espin, Tiant was a bit more expensive. Lopez could end up pretty good, or could be forgettable. Adkins loss doesn't hurt too much. This is another win now move that makes sense for both teams.


Las Vegas/Vancouver
Las Vegas receives:
CF Benjamin Franklin Pierce
2B John Aguilera
1B Bernardo Perez

Vancouver receives:
OF Pedro Vega
2B Edward Allen
C Pedro Gomez
P Chester Kipling
3B Jesus Gonzales (prospect)

It's nice when the names that move are so big that you don't have to say much about them. BFP is simply a tremendous player, and although 30, is fairly low risk through the rest of his contract. Aguilar is a defensive option at second, but wasn't going to be starting there after this trade. If Perez had his ratings at any position other than first or maybe CF, he'd be a starter. He doesn't, so he's not.

Vega, while an elite power hitting left fielder, wasn't getting it done this year, and as we saw above, the Hustlers don't have time for that. They also are deep and have other options to play left. Vancouver picked up a player who probably still has 2-3 very good seasons left in him. (Before they traded him to Birmingham anyway). Ed Allen is 34, and looking at his numbers, his best years are probably behind him. He's been remarkably consistent after age 30, but it's only a matter of time. Good thing he's only due 30 mil over the next five years. Yeouch. Pedro Gomez simply doesn't play his position well enough to hold down an everyday job. He can still slap the ball around, but hits with little authority and has no wheels, or maybe even feet, given how poorly he runs the bases. He's alright if you're okay with your backup sucking at handling the staff. Chester Kipling is a AAA starter, or maybe a reliever in a pinch, but probably not. Since being signed out of the Dominican in 2022, 3B Gonzales has lumped a bit, but recovered some recently. If he develops as projected from he on out, he'll be a solid, if not spectacular everyday third baseman.

This trade essentially comes down to BFP for Vega and Gonzales. That's probably pretty even.


That's the last trade in a makeover that saw the Hustlers gain an all star CF, a veteran not quite all star anymore 1B, and three lockdown relievers, including one of the best in the game. They gave up (of import) a 27 year old all star LF, a lefty mid-rotation starter prospect, a good relief prospect, a franchise cornerstone first baseman, and middling 3B, 2B and C prospects. The only player they will miss going forward is Moreno. Taken together, it's a fairly impressive package. They did weaken their farm system, but almost every player they traded has a better counterpart still in their minors, and they still rank 11th overall.

The Hustlers would go 41 and 21 over the remainder of the year, taking their division before losing in the divisional round. Not bad for 7.5 games back with 9 weeks to play.

[bschr682]

Nice. Hopefully Nitro just goes nuts and gets some friendly development.

[Ted]

Nice. Hopefully Nitro just goes nuts and gets some friendly development.

I think the big thing will be if he can get his power to recover closer to his original potentials, which wouldn't be too unrealistic at his age. Then he becomes a plus player.

[recte44]

And now we will resign Tiant.

[7teen]

And now we will resign Tiant.

I was hoping to see his name in free agency. I was going to unload some heavy cash on him in year 1.

But I assumed that was the reason for your need to trade off a starting pitcher.