The Trade:
To Yellow Springs | Position | Level | WAR |
---|---|---|---|
Timofei Bakitski | RP | BBA | 1.3 |
To Portland | Position | Level | WAR |
---|---|---|---|
Anastasio Herandez | COF | BBA/AAA | -0.1/2.1 |
Brandon Howeth-Arneson Jr | CF | AA | 2.1 |
A pretty interesting trade to look at. If you go by the Potential numbers, the Lumberjacks didn't get a whole lot. Hernandez had a solid AAA season but due to a lack of defense and an inability to draw a walk, he'll never be a starter in the big leagues. He did 11 at-bats in September but didn't do a whole lot with them, posting a .273/.273/.273 stat line. But it's Howeth-Arneson that has the Lumberjacks front office thinking this trade may not go down as bad as it might look.
"Wheelz" as he is called possesses one of the more elite gloves of any CF in the entire league. He won the AA Gold Glove award in CF this season thanks to a +17.2 Zone Rating. The major downside to Arneson is he doesn't hit real well. He only posted a .675 OPS this season in AA but his dominating glove still allowed him to post a 2.1 WAR. The Lumberjacks are seriously considering bumping Arneson all the way to Portland in 2041 to see how his glove performs at the highest level and whether he can still be a productive asset on the team.
Who Won the Trade:
I'm giving the early edge to the Nine as Bakitski was a key piece to their bullpen and was an All-Star in 2040. I don't see Hernandez nor Arneson Jr making it as an All-Star in the league. Bakitski has missed most of the second half of the season with an injury which does lower his effectiveness but if he returns during the post-season and helps Yellow Springs to an elusive Landis then the trade swings heavily in favor of the Nine. The only saving factor for the Lumberjacks in this trade will be whether BHA Jr can be a positive player thanks to his elite level defense in the BBA. If so, the trade becomes closer than many may think.