Two struggling pitchers are being swapped for each other, teams hoping the change of scenery will do them both a bit of good.
Left-hander Jonathan Sanchez has struggled for Kansas City after being acquired by the Royals for Melky Cabrera in the off-season. Sanchez posted a 7.76 ERA with a 6.1 K/9 and a 7.4 BB/9 in 53 1/3 innings for KC.
He is averaging less than 4.5 innings per start and is earning $5.6MM.
In contrast, Guthrie is posting a 6.35 ERA with 4.5 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 this season. He is earning $8.2MM this year.
If this is a straight-up trade, each team takes on the others salaries, then i applaud it. I think that Coors was in Guts head and he just couldn’t shake it – change of scenery might help him…And we’ve seen a ton of times how a player will kill their old club (Barmes, Hawpe and Seth Smith against us, CarGo against AZ), so we should benefit when we play SF, if he is pitching – that is at least one… Read more »
Nope the Rockies gave up Hammel and Lindstrom for Sanchez – that seems to be SO much better when you look at it that way.
I agree on the insane part he seems to have anger issues but maybe we need a nut to shake this team up.
I agree. I also applaud the move. Sanchez is a crap shoot BUT you never know.
Even if Sanchez turns out to be a bad acquisition, it is a good trash for trash trade as it saves Rockies $1M in payroll costs. Oh my about the movie theater shootings; the victims were taken to the same hospital where my wife is recovering in the neuro ICU unit. My prayers are with them as well as for my wife; looks like she is beating the incredible mortality odds (had SAH ruptured brain aneurysm) and is moving out… Read more »
RMH, thanks for the update on your wife. I love hearing when people beat the odd’s.
I emailed SteveInAurora to make sure he and his loved ones were OK. Haven’t heard back. Will update everyone when I do.
RMH..great news about the Mrs.! Thoughts to you guys.
Sad day for my home town, state and society….makes a few loses insignificant…
Go ROX
You’re so right Dr. Rockies…puts things in perspective. Thoughts go out to those impacted. My kids go to midnight showings here all the time in a suburban area simliar to Aurora…it could have happened anywhere. Giving the kids an extra hug tonight. On to the trade, my gut reaction is…why not? Only place to go is up, right? *knocking on wood* Wife and I are starting a strict diet tonight…so I’ll be having salad and iced tea instead of beer… Read more »
Baseball is a game….and while we all live and die with the Rockies, I hate that it takes something so sad to make me pause and reflect while people are experiencing such turmoil. My heart and prayers go out to all the people affected. And God bless you and your wife, RMH.
“The Royals are believed to be paying roughly $1.1 in the exchange of contracts, but they have the ability to control Guthrie through an arbitration offer for 2013. Sanchez will be a free agent after the season.”
Source: Bob Dutton – Kansas City Star
Looks like the Rox are cornering the market on LHP.
The fact that we found somebody to take Guthrie off our hands and give us something is amazing. Even if Sanchez doesn’t do anything. Sanchez has been a huge disappointment in KC but perhaps he’ll show something back in the NL West. Rockies may have a tough weekend in San Diego going by this year’s history. Friday and Saturday nights we face pitchers who use to pitch for the Rockies. And therefore beat us. And then we play on Sunday… Read more »
Yep and now the Rockies rotation (that’s what they used to call a collection of starting pitchers anyway) is all left handed once again: Francis Pomeranz Friedrich Sanchez Trust me for the Rockies and DanO this is NOT by accident! And there really is some method to DanO’s madness here in that the Rockies opposing managers have to think twice before loading up the lineup with right handed batters, just to see that “sneaky for life” JT bring in a… Read more »
Hey maybe they thought, the Rockies can’t hit lefties others can’t as well. Who knows.
I’m glad that the Rockies were able to trade Guthrie. It appears that they got a pitcher every bit as bad this year. But it’s worth a shot. He couldn’t pitch worse than Guthrie pitched for us. Of course, I fully expect Guthrie to pitch better now that he is back in the AL. What a season.
Hopefully, we trade another player or two and find another starting pitcher so we can get back to a five man rotation.
Ok…now that we are swapping players, let’s try swapping the GM & MFL ( Ozzie may be avail).
I am pleasantly surprised by this. I would’ve thought we’d trade him for some 26 year old fading single A prospect. You could get Tyler Colvin lucky with this trade.
A left handed nasty picture with anger issues from the royals I wonder where I’ve heard that before, oh yeah de la rosa I like it!
Sanchez pitched a couple of solid games against the Rox at Coors from his Giants days. Like many, I applaud this deal. Nothing to lose. Sanchez definitely has the higher ceiling.
I really like Guthrie. I kept hoping all season he would turn it around. You know me, I judge all by how they treat fans during spring training. He would talk to everyone before and after games and I saw him give one young fan his hat. He made me laugh talking to kids in the stands. I wish him well.