Slugger Shavings 2043.03 - Looking back on the Hubbard Trade

[sjshaw]

Having superstars switch teams in the BBA is not unheard-of, but is a rare occurrence that often happens in flurries, much like GM Shaw writing TN articles. Once such trade happened in May of this season, when an up-and-coming team made a bold move to snatch Slugger-for-Life™ CF Ronnie Hubbard from LOU in his prime.

It seems to be one of those deals that worked out for both teams. Hubbard (and a placeholder RP) went to Hawaii and helped them to an 88-win season and a playoff berth in the hyper-competitive Frick League.

HAW only sent one piece that contributed this season for LOU, OF Doeke Soethout. Soethout didn't hit for average, but provided ample depth on the long side during Bourges's absence, playing acceptable defense and accounting for 107 OPS+ in 35 games.

The real meat of the deal for LOU was, of course, the consensus #2 spec in BBA 2B/3B Luis Mendoza. Mendoza blasted up the rankings and LOU's minor league system in 2043, thanks to outstanding performance and an improving EYE talent. He looks to make his debut with LOU in 2044.

Two other players LOU acquired in the deal could be contributors as well. P Steve Flannery spent most of the season on the IL, but looks to be a decent swingman out of the pen next season. LF Kyuichi Mori is raw, but works hard, and could be a useful short-side depth piece in the LOU OF in ~2046, or a trade piece in the offseason.

[RonCo]

Having Mendoza in Louisville for all those years is going to flat-out suck.