Colorado Rockies/Tampa Bay Rays Trade

[COLRockies]

Rockies trade:  Albert Pujols ($28M), Michael Young ($16M), and Juan Nicasio
Tampa trade:  Enny Romero (#6 TB prospect), Josh Vettleson (#10 TB prospect) and Daniel Fields (#7 DET prospect)

The Rockies include $8 million dollars for 2013 and $6 million dollars for Pujols until his contract expires.

I understand this trade looks lopsided, but I get nearly $40 million dollars off the books for two aging stars which is very big considering it is 30-35% of the salary cap.  I add three solid prospects and if not for the actual James Shields trade Romero and Vettleson would be ranked even higher on the Rays prospect list. 

It should be noted that I posted a trade block with Pujols and Young on it which sparked no trade interest, so my options were very limited and I just recently took over this team.

I have very good cover for these positions with Adam LaRoche (33HR 100RBI) and two stud 3B prospects in Mike Olt and Nolan Arenado, both are expected to play in the majors in 2013.   

This trade allows me the freedom to get a bit younger and add key pieces to my younger roster.  Matt Cain, Jeremy Hellickson, Neftali Feliz, Taylor Jungmann, Tyler Matzek, Elvis Andrus, Olt, Arenado, Dexter Fowler, etc. 

[PlayerX3D]

Tampa agrees to this trade.  It represents a change in our philosophy, although not it does not rock our foundation.

We are giving up three very solid prospects and taking on a boatload of salary in this deal.  However, we believe that this puts us in a position to contend for the title this year.

Our Farm System is now ridiculously top-heavy with very little depth.  This is an issue that we will have to deal with in the future.  And our long-term plans will have to involve developing young talent to accommodate high salaried players.  However, the deal makes sense for us on this level:

Pujols will live up to his contract for the next couple of years.  Young will not live up to his salary but he will be cleared off of our books after the season.  Nicasio fills a hole in my rotation for a back-of-the-rotation starter.

My salary is essentially maxed out, but my roster is also nearly exactly where I want it to be.

[Fourfingerwoo]

 :veto:

 :puke:

[yahoolando]

 :veto:

Not enough at all for Pujols alone.

[PlayerX3D]

Before we get too far into this, I think we have to analyze the fact that Pujols is an aging player making 1/4 of his total salary cap.  He's able to unload that contract plus Young's plus pick up 3 solid prospects.

The veto system is to prevent collusion, not an expression of preference.

[yahoolando]

Before we get too far into this, I think we have to analyze the fact that Pujols is an aging player making 1/4 of his total salary cap.  He's able to unload that contract plus Young's plus pick up 3 solid prospects.

The veto system is to prevent collusion, not an expression of preference.

Sorry bud.  Pujols is still awesome and those prospects are not worthy enough of him.  I know its a salary dump but its not enough speculative talent.  There needs to be at least 1 top #100 spec if not 2 or 3 for a guy like that.  Look Cain just signed in FA for something like $33m.  Pujols as a consistent hitter would surely approach his $28m price tag.  Its just one opinion and I never veto anything if that makes you feel better!

 :veto:

[COLRockies]

Guys,

I just took over a team in this league and I don't feel I can win the championship with my current roster and a payroll at 114M.  That's why I need this deal.  I've had no other offers or even someone letting me know they had an interest in Pujols or Young.  The Red Sox made a similar move in actual MLB last year and gave themselves financial flexibility. 

Imagine the same trade but with Josh Hamilton and Brian McCann next to the prospects that I am receiving, that's really what my side of the deal looks like. 

I took over the Rockies where Hellickson was my ace, no closer, Dexter Fowler as my one major league outfielder from last year and as I stated I still have LaRoche who hit 33HR and 100RBIs last year and two stud 3B prospects that are supposed to play this coming season so I have above average replacements. 

[PlayerX3D]

Extremely well said.  I can assure you that this deal was made by two GMs making good decisions on behalf of their teams.

The question here is not who is a better player, it is about the value of the contracts.  Michael Young would go for nowhere NEAR $16M a year in free agency so  he is no more than a financial hindrance on my team.  I could have signed Pujols in free agency (theoretically) for $28M per year last year without ANY penalty at all and without having to give up any prospects.  Now that he is another year older, his contract is looking even worse than it did before.

The issue here is the name associated with the contract.  But, much in the same way that the real life Yankees would gladly trade ARod for a handful of magical beans to anyone that would take on his contract, this deal has to do with values.

Pujols - value is Ok for this year and certainly deteriorating as the deal goes on.
Young - Extremely overpriced.  I will GLADLY remove him from the deal completely.  He is included as a part of a HUGE salary dump for the Rockies that will free up ONE THIRD of their Salary Cap.
Nicasion - Scrub throw-in to help me fill a roster spot as I am now up against the cap.

To anyone that argues that the haul is not worth Pujols alone.... it shouldn't be.  Pujols alone would be a better deal for me than taking on Young and Nicasio for an additional $16.5M.

Would it still not be enough for Pujols if his contract was worth $50M a year?  $80M?

It's a value proposition and one that was clearly well thought out by both GMs involved.  If the trade is vetoed, I will abide by the decision.  But I contend that it is an egregious misuse of the system to block a trade that helps two teams accomplish their goals.

Guys,

I just took over a team in this league and I don't feel I can win the championship with my current roster and a payroll at 114M.  That's why I need this deal.  I've had no other offers or even someone letting me know they had an interest in Pujols or Young.  The Red Sox made a similar move in actual MLB last year and gave themselves financial flexibility. 

Imagine the same trade but with Josh Hamilton and Brian McCann next to the prospects that I am receiving, that's really what my side of the deal looks like. 

I took over the Rockies where Hellickson was my ace, no closer, Dexter Fowler as my one major league outfielder from last year and as I stated I still have LaRoche who hit 33HR and 100RBIs last year and two stud 3B prospects that are supposed to play this coming season so I have above average replacements.

[Lindner]

I don't think the trade is completely horrible.  I need to know how long these contracts are for before I can make a vote though.

[yahoolando]

I don't think the trade is completely horrible.  I need to know how long these contracts are for before I can make a vote though.

Its only 4 more years for Pujols and 1 for Young.  If Young was longer it would be a better sell as it is I just don't see it.