Given the market for #3-#4 quality starting pitchers, this is a good trade for the Orioles. (Yes, I believe getting Anna Benson is a positive, too!) Kris Benson should match the ratios of Esteban Loaiza, signed by the A's for $22MM. This does not mean I think Benson will be worth much more than a few dollars. The wildcard is how well Leo Mazzone works with his pitchers facing DHs and not other pitchers.
The Mets get Jorge Julio and John Maine. I like Maine's potential more than I like Julio as a middle reliever. Following the 2003 season, Maine was considered a top pitching prospect for the O's. He struck out 185 in 147 innings. He followed that performance with 139 Ks in 138 innings mostly at AAA. That led to a brief, and bitter, cup of coffee with the O's.
In 2005, he struggled at AAA (4.56 ERA but still struck out 111 in 128) and in a quarter season's worth of starts with Baltimore (8 starts 6.30 ERA 24 K/24 walks in 40 innings.) Given this was only his first shot at extended exposure, I will not right him off as "failed."
As a matter of fact, the move the Shea could lead to him replacing Heilman in middle relief. With managed exposure in the bullpen, I can see an explosion in performance like Heilman demonstrated last season. I have not added him to my list of major sleeper pitchers (currently consisting of Chuck James and Sidney Ponson), but he is definitely on my watch-carefully list.
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Have you heard of this before? I came across it while reading about the Benson deal. Last winter when the Braves and A's made the Hudson trade, apparently the Orioles were offering Hayden Penn, Erik Benard, and John Maine for Hudson. It seems over the top, but the Braves gave up Charles Thomas, Dan Meyer, and Juan Cruz. At the time Thomas was coming off an awesome season, Cruz had been solid in relief, and Meyer was a top pitching prospect.
Looking back the coulda/shoulda/woulda would have been in favor of the O's offer. You get 3/5 of your starting rotation. What a deal! Again, you never know how players are going to turn out. In '05 Thomas struggled mightily, Cruz was sent to the minors to become a starter, and Meyer didn't fair to well in the minors, i think. Anyway did ever hear of that O's offer?
I saw this a couple days ago, but do not recall reading it at this time last year.
Beane got nothing for Hudson so almost any offer he declined will look very good in retrospect.
Of course, there is no examination of these deals because Beane is a diety right now for all the baseball reporters.
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