Category: About Tout Wars

The Deal:

The following trade has been inserted, effective 05.06:

Mike Gianella gets:
Welington Castillo ChC from Derek Carty

Derek Carty gets:
Matt Garza ChC from Mike Gianella

Why?

Despite having Clayton Kershaw, Carty’s team is last in ERA and WHIP. He needed reinforcements and had three catchers. He in fact offered any of the three, including Buster Posey, and this was the best deal he could shake loose. Despite spending $18 on Mat Latos and bupkis on the rest of his pitchers, Gianella has had strong results. Matt Garza has been on the DL and won’t be back for another two weeks, while Mike’s been playing two blanks at catcher.

Reality?

Castillo was a $4 catcher on draft day, but is off to a good start, hitting for a good average. Garza was a $7 draft day DL starter who has yet to return. That’s close enough for a fair deal. One concern for Gianella is that with Hanley Ramirez just returning from the DL, and Aaron Hill coming back around the end of this month, his offense-heavy squad may not need a catcher who plays, while he may wish he had Garza once Travis Wood and Barry Zito end their hot streaks. Unless Tim Lincecum puts it back together, Carty needs starting pitching. Garza could be a good pickup if he can get and stay healthy.

Update:

5/4, 5:26pm ET: What I didn’t know that Mike Gianella certainly knew when he made the deal is that Hanley Ramirez is going to the DL for an extended period with a hamstring injury, meaning that Mike’s offense isn’t quite what it seemed like it might be.

Here’s the deal: 

Chris Liss gets:
Ike Davis NYM from Phil Hertz

Phil Hertz gets:
Todd Helton Col from Chris Liss

Jeff Samardzija ChC from Chris Liss

Why?

Classic deal. Hertz has 12 points in runs, 11 in HR and 12 in RBI. Liss has 7 in Wins, 10 in ERA, 10 in WHIP and 12 in Strikeouts.

Reality?

Hertz’s strength in power has been fueled by surprising power from Nick Hundley and Dexter Fowler, while Ike Davis has underproduced. He runs the risk of not having the bats to sustain his leads as the season goes on. On the other hand, his underpowered pitching staff needed starting help, and nothing helps that more than adding a quality starter early in the season. The cost? A player highly coveted on auction day.

Liss has apparently improved his strong staff by adding Tony Cingrani and Jose Fernandez through waivers, allowing him to deal the $14 Samardzjia for the $25 Ike Davis. Helton will even things up some when he comes off the DL, depending on how much he’s able to play.