Trade him now while he still has some value. An average reliever starts next year and becomes an average starter what is that worth? He is still a hot prospect now and could give us a bat especially in a package for a push this season. 5 games out boys! C'mon lets go!

Since, he's worth 10X more as an "average" left-handed starter if he can sustain his velocity for 5-6-7 innings.

 

Otherwise, he's just a cross between Matt Thornton, Clayton Richard, Royce Ring and Aaron Poreda.

 

How many left starters are there who throw 94-98 MPH and have at last 3 pitches in their arsenal?

 

Think of it this way...who's worth more to another team, Matt Thornton (one of the best LH relievers in the game since we've acquired him) or Edwin Jackson?

 

You're still going to get more of a return for Edwin, as mediocre as he's been for the past 6-8 weeks.

Since, he's worth 10X more as an "average" left-handed starter if he can sustain his velocity for 5-6-7 innings.

 

Otherwise, he's just a cross between Matt Thornton, Clayton Richard, Royce Ring and Aaron Poreda.

 

How many left starters are there who throw 94-98 MPH and have at last 3 pitches in their arsenal?

 

Think of it this way...who's worth more to another team, Matt Thornton (one of the best LH relievers in the game since we've acquired him) or Edwin Jackson?

 

You're still going to get more of a return for Edwin, as mediocre as he's been for the past 6-8 weeks.

I think if you put Matty on the market you'd still ask for a much larger return than you'd demand for Jackson.

 

And none of those pitchers you mention are comparable to Sale in having a full starter's repertoire.

Since, he's worth 10X more as an "average" left-handed starter if he can sustain his velocity for 5-6-7 innings.

 

Otherwise, he's just a cross between Matt Thornton, Clayton Richard, Royce Ring and Aaron Poreda.

 

How many left starters are there who throw 94-98 MPH and have at last 3 pitches in their arsenal?

 

Think of it this way...who's worth more to another team, Matt Thornton (one of the best LH relievers in the game since we've acquired him) or Edwin Jackson?

 

You're still going to get more of a return for Edwin, as mediocre as he's been for the past 6-8 weeks.

 

The question is would he still hit that kind of velocity as a starter.

With Thornton's contract extension looming...where his salary enters quasi-closer level dollars in his mid 30's, there's just no way with the dearth of starting pitching out there that he'd bring us back more in return than Jackson for a 1/2 season rental and the Type B compensation at the end of it.

 

If it was the Matt Thornton of 2010, I'd agree with you...2009, 2008, etc.

 

And now there's absolutely zero doubt in the minds of baseball people that he could ever be a successful closer, so that makes him a bit less valuable, too.

 

 

You might find some teams to take Thornton's salary "as is" but you wouldn't get anything close to a Top 10 prospect back.

 

 

 

 

The question is would he still hit that kind of velocity as a starter.

 

 

And that's why Hector Santiago is, at the very least, intriguing.

 

He sustained 93-94 and touched 95 over 3+ innings.

 

Mix in his repertoire of pitches, the screwball....you might have something. I trust our minor league development guys 100X more with pitchers than hitters.

 

Although we do have a habit of rushing guys....Boone Logan comes to mind right away.

 

 

And that's why Hector Santiago is, at the very least, intriguing.

 

He sustained 93-94 and touched 95 over 3+ innings.

 

Mix in his repertoire of pitches, the screwball....you might have something. I trust our minor league development guys 100X more with pitchers than hitters.

 

Although we do have a habit of rushing guys....Boone Logan comes to mind right away.

The comparison isn't Boooone, the comparison I'd give is Clayton Richard. Guy who was seemingly languishing then suddenly things clicked.

The comparison isn't Boooone, the comparison I'd give is Clayton Richard. Guy who was seemingly languishing then suddenly things clicked.

 

Hudson and McCarthy had very similar career arcs.

Hudson and McCarthy had very similar career arcs.

When was Santiago drafted? Hudson and McCarthy stormed upwards.

We already did that when someone decided to put him in the bullpen instead of letting him be a starter in AA or AAA.

 

Well, I like him in the pen THIS year. The possible emergence of Santiago, however, gives us all the lefties we need with MT and WO under contract. Whatever we do with Sale going forward preparation-wise should be with a mind to maximize his innings capability for next year.

they've handled him fine. He's getting ML experience. He can and should start next season.

 

Don't trade him for some short term nonsense;

they've handled him fine. He's getting ML experience. He can and should start next season.

 

Don't trade him for some short term nonsense;

After priming Doug Davis to be a lefty relief specialist send Sale down to Charlotte to develop into a starter.

Edited July 16, 201114 yr by forrestg