Comments on: OMGranderson Watch: The Cubs Would Be Nuts Not to Trade Starlin Castro for Curtis Granderson

By: Jacob

Jacob — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:38:45 +0000

I would trade just about anyone for Hanley. Only excluding Zambrano and A-Ram.

By: Ace

Ace — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:16:06 +0000

Now you’re there, Kabes.

By: Ace

Ace — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:15:19 +0000

I would trade Castro and a substantial portion of my man sack for Hanley Ramirez.

By: KB

KB — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:21:57 +0000

Ace and Scarey:
You both made some very good points. I would probably love Granderson if he played for us. I do think that Castro has all the “right moves” to become an all-star calibre SS, but that may not occur until 2015, so WTF.

Go Curtis.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:45:22 +0000

I wouldn’t trade Castro for Granderson. I wouldn’t trade Brett Jackson either. I would for someone like Hanley Ramirez, but not Granderson. Thats just me though.

By: Scarey

Scarey — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:54:56 +0000

KB, Granderson has had an above league average IsoD for his career, especially the last two years. He racked up 65 BB per year over the last 4 years. He can take a walk. Just because he’s fast doesn’t mean he has no plate discipline.

The reason his numbers looked so bad last year was essentially luck. He had a very high line drive percentage and a very low BA for ball in play.

Also keep in mind that he has a .484 career slugging % while playing home games in Detroit. He has a .516 career slugging % on away games. This guy is not a bad option at all.

By: Ace

Ace — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:39:09 +0000

As I said – I’m not advocating the trade. Just saying that it’s nuts (not my word, Baseball freaking Prospectus’s word) to suggest Castro should be absolutely untouchable in a deal like this.

By: Ace

Ace — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:37:49 +0000

Granderson plays top tier defense in center field, and excepting last year – a year that many folks say can be partially explained by a very atypical, and unlucky, BABIP – yes, he’s been great at the plate. 130ish OPS+ in the two season before last year; steals 20 bases; is still on the right side of 30; is signed relatively cheaply; and did I mention while playing excellent defense at one of the most important defensive positions (particularly if you’ve got, say, Alfonso Soriano flanking you in left)?

How is that not “great”?

By: KB

KB — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:19:01 +0000

Granderson is not “great.” Granderson is an English-speaking Fukadome. Their stats are almost identical. (actually, Fuk’s were better last year).
Is Fuk great?

The Cubs are interested in Granderson for one reason only: he fits the Hendry/Gary Hughes “mold” to perfection: fast, athletic, speedy, low on-base percentage, can run, fancies himself a lead-off hitter despite lacking the single most important leadoff skill, good legs, nice fellow, pleasant in the clubhouse, fleet-footed, nice to the media, swift on the basepaths, swings at everything within a 10-foot radius of home plate.

Hendry couldn’t have drawn up a more perfect prototype. Plus he’s from Chicago!

By: hotstove.com / archive » Blog Watch: Granderson, Lackey, Reds Prospects, Minor League Free Agents

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:46:58 +0000

[...] Nation says the Cubs would be insane not to trade prospect Starlin Castro for Granderson. Tags: angels, cubs, Curtis Granderson, [...]