June 18, 2008
Matt Murton, Rich Hill to Boston?
Sent to Chicago in the Nomar Garciaparra trade, could Matt Murton be on his way back to Boston?
The Chicago Tribune speculates that the Cubs called up Murton yesterday to showcase him in a possible trade, and Paul Sullivan thinks it could be to Boston as GM Jim Hendry had a scout attending Boston's games in Cincinnati and Philadelphia.
Murton played in 289 games for the Cubs from 2005-7 and has a career line of .294/.362/.450, so his demotion this year didn't make much sense. The 26-year old can play left and right field and has one game in center.
Rich Hill has been popular among fans for a while, but I was never high on him. To his credit, he turned in a good season last year, going 11-8 with a 3.92 ERA in 195 IP and has a good curveball. So far this year, however, the 28-year old is struggling big time this year and is in Triple-A trying to fix his command and mechanics.
Going to Chicago would be Coco Crisp, as the Cubs continue to search for a viable option in center field. I'm not entirely sure this deal would work for the Red Sox because we have plenty of capable backup outfielders and Rich Hill would be sent to Triple-A, so in the short term, the Sox would suffer. In the long term, we may come out ahead, but I'm not sure this is the route to go just yet.
Discussion
9 Comments on "Matt Murton, Rich Hill to Boston?"
#1
Posted by Tom A, June 18, 2008 12:08 AM
This deal doesn't necessarily make sense for either team. I guess it works for Chicago short-term which is why they'd do it. For Boston, I would do this in a heartbeat. Even though Murton and Hill don't fit in the Sox plans short term, having a high value prospect like Hill long-term would be great. I think it really depends how confident Theo is in our other back-up outfielders.
#3
Posted by Tom A, June 18, 2008 12:38 AM
True...but he does have upside and would be cheap for a few future years.
At this point this deal is probably a coin-flip for me. Do you sacrifice some outfield depth for the chance of better things in the future?
If you'd asked me before this season about the deal I'd have done it in a heart-beat. Now I'm not so sure.
#4
Posted by Zach Hayes, June 18, 2008 10:46 AM
Rich Hill and Matt Murton for Coco Crisp?
Sign me up, baby!
#5
Posted by Jaredk, June 18, 2008 11:03 AM
Not really how sure either guy helps tremenously, good depth but I would rather have a single high-upside prospect. Hill is not going to slot-in over any of our 7 starters (Beckett, Dice-K, Wake, Lester, Colon, Masterson, Bucholz); Murton hits lefties well which would be nice but isn't that why we resigned Kielty? Kielty's splits against lefties are pretty much the same as Murton's. Where is Kielty anyways? Last I heard he was rehabbing in Lancaster but that was a while ago. I'm not sure Chicago does this either.
#6
Posted by Bottom Line Rob, June 18, 2008 1:05 PM
I look at this deal as trading Mrton for Coco in the OF with Hill as a bonus. Looking at it that way, I think I 'd rather keep Coco as my extra OF. Unlike Coco, Murton is a LF/RF guy, but I like Coco for his speed and swithc hitting... and he's heating up - finally.
As for Hill, I agree with Jaredk - where is he gonna start in this rotation? With Masterson and Bowden waiting in the wings... I don't see room for Hill - plus - other than the K's (183, '07), he really ain't all that - 18-17, 4.37 ERA...
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#7
Posted by gerry, June 18, 2008 10:24 PM
Coco's value has been rising with every game of this road trip. If we trade him, we lose superior defense and, now, solid offense, big time.
So if he is to be traded, his trade price must help us win a WS this year, because that is what Coco is helping us do right now. Otherwise, why bother?
I agree with Tom. At ST, this would have seemed a fair trade. It isn't any more. Coco has demonstrated just how talented he is, and is behaving like a solid team player. If his hitting continues, even with singles and doubles, he becomes an untouchable, simple as that.
There are a number of teams out there who could use Coco, especially teams like Philly and Cinci with bandbox parks where he could put 20+ over the walls each year, hitting from either side, and cover those centerfields like Mercury himself. He stated as much in recent interviews, saying he doesn't fit Fenway dimensions.
If we trade Coco, which he probably wants, let's get someone of equal value (or greater, with a package) who will make a difference in 2008, a big ticket item we really need! Street? THERIOT? Kenji?
Murton is a good prospect, who will just displace similarly talented Moss, Carter, Bailey, Thurston, VanAvery, Danielson, with Kalish, Reddick close . . . and Ellsbury, Drew, Manny likely starting for years. Again, why bother? (And Kielty has been hurt on and off. )
Coco's value is high right now. We would be wise to keep him, but if he is to be traded, he could and should be the foundation of difference-making move. With Chicago, I really like Crisp + ??? for Theriot.
#8
Posted by hynes, June 18, 2008 11:36 PM
Gerry, so you won't trade for Murton for Crisp, but you'd consider an over-the-hill catcher like Kenji?! He's even being transitioned to 1st base in lieu of Richie Sexon being cut so they can put Jeremy Reed behind the plate. And where would Kenji play? LF?
I realize people feel like Coco needs traded, because he could *begin scary theme music* ... become a team cancer! Look it hasn't happened yet at all. And it's a great thing Theo hasn't traded him yet between Keilty going down and Manny's hamstring; Coco has played amazingly well, especially since his fight with Tampa Bay. You can see some confidence in him that wasn't there before.
Even when we're at full strength, I'd hold onto him. If 2006 has taught us anything, trading just because you have depth is ass-stupid. You trade guy because you're filling a hole.
#9
Posted by gerry, June 19, 2008 12:11 AM
I knew someone would question Kenji. Actually, I think most people would prefer to keep Coco, including me, as in "We would be wise to keep him, but if he is to be traded . . . " And he seems to be anything but a cancer in the clubhouse. In fact, he and Jacoby seem to be developing a tight bond, which is good for both of them and the team.
However, COCO keeps trade talk alive, and implied this again in his last two interviews, stating that the dimensions of the ballparks of Cinci and Philly fit him better than Fenway.
My point is that if a trade does happen, and we are to lose his defense, speed and bat, that we should only do so to fill a position we need; and we don't need much at all. We could use help in the pen, and Street is available, and Beane loves Coco. We could upgrade at SS, and Theriot also plays for the Cubs, who could really use Coco. And Kenji would be a great backup for Tek during the catching transition of the next few years. I could have listed Bedard and others.
IMO, our area of greatest depth is the OF, and Coco is integral to this 4-man OF. Who would Murton replace? Jacoby? JD? Manny? Moss? If Coco isn't willing to stay, then he is a superior player who should bring a superior player. Perhaps he would be key to a Garnett or Allen or Moss or Beckett kind of trade, to make the best team in baseball simply unbeatable.
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