Analysis of the Ron Burgundy Trade
Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 7:00 pm
Full details of the trade can be found here.
Ron Burgundy represents a new stability in the Bandits' organization. With the extension that Burgundy signed with Hackensack earlier this year, the core of Birmingham's rotation is now signed until the 2002 season. In fact, all twelve of Birmingham's twelve major league pitchers will be back next year.
"We've got our starting five until 2002 now," said GM Aaron Weiner. "We like everyone in this rotation and we feel that we're going to be in contention for quite some time now."
It is because Birmingham has found such stability on the pitching staff that the deal was able to happen, especially since all three prospects are likely to become major leaguers at some point. Roy Kitt is probably ready now, and is absolute death on lefty batters. Cleo Blanco is a top 100 prospect and Finley Nickerson was highly regarded by Birmingham front office personnel.
"You've got to give something to get something," Weiner said. "This is a trade that makes our lives easy for a while. You can't put a cost on that."
Also, the trade might not have been as much about Burgundy himself as it was about Hayden Finch, who despite excellent numbers this season had shown numerous signs of age. Birmingham felt that they had gotten as much as they could out of Finch. His notorious fastball was down six miles an hour and his average allowed was the highest of his career. While still low, his walk rate was the highest it's been since the 1984 season, and his strikeout rates were significantly down from any other season.
"Hayden was in his walk year, and, honestly, to his credit, he was pitching his guts out. But he knew he just didn't have it anymore and we couldn't wait around to find out how badly he might collapse in the second half," said GM Aaron Weiner. "He never really recovered from that shoulder problem he had last year."
For Hackensack, this is about getting younger, deeper and regaining some financial flexibility. While the deal doesn't save the Bulls any money this year, it will save them the $37 million over the next four years for Burgundy's contract and allow them to become a player in free agency despite several rising contracts.
"Hackensack had expressed interest in gaining some financial flexibility; we sent our capologists over to them for a day or two, and then we worked out this deal," said Weiner. "We're really happy that they decided to deal with us and we think that we can build up the farm from here without any serious problems."
Birmingham enters the trade at 41-41, while Hackensack was 38-44.
Ron Burgundy represents a new stability in the Bandits' organization. With the extension that Burgundy signed with Hackensack earlier this year, the core of Birmingham's rotation is now signed until the 2002 season. In fact, all twelve of Birmingham's twelve major league pitchers will be back next year.
"We've got our starting five until 2002 now," said GM Aaron Weiner. "We like everyone in this rotation and we feel that we're going to be in contention for quite some time now."
It is because Birmingham has found such stability on the pitching staff that the deal was able to happen, especially since all three prospects are likely to become major leaguers at some point. Roy Kitt is probably ready now, and is absolute death on lefty batters. Cleo Blanco is a top 100 prospect and Finley Nickerson was highly regarded by Birmingham front office personnel.
"You've got to give something to get something," Weiner said. "This is a trade that makes our lives easy for a while. You can't put a cost on that."
Also, the trade might not have been as much about Burgundy himself as it was about Hayden Finch, who despite excellent numbers this season had shown numerous signs of age. Birmingham felt that they had gotten as much as they could out of Finch. His notorious fastball was down six miles an hour and his average allowed was the highest of his career. While still low, his walk rate was the highest it's been since the 1984 season, and his strikeout rates were significantly down from any other season.
"Hayden was in his walk year, and, honestly, to his credit, he was pitching his guts out. But he knew he just didn't have it anymore and we couldn't wait around to find out how badly he might collapse in the second half," said GM Aaron Weiner. "He never really recovered from that shoulder problem he had last year."
For Hackensack, this is about getting younger, deeper and regaining some financial flexibility. While the deal doesn't save the Bulls any money this year, it will save them the $37 million over the next four years for Burgundy's contract and allow them to become a player in free agency despite several rising contracts.
"Hackensack had expressed interest in gaining some financial flexibility; we sent our capologists over to them for a day or two, and then we worked out this deal," said Weiner. "We're really happy that they decided to deal with us and we think that we can build up the farm from here without any serious problems."
Birmingham enters the trade at 41-41, while Hackensack was 38-44.