July 21, 2008
Is Damaso Marte a fit?
Buster Olney today speculated that the Red Sox would acquire Damaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates before the trading deadline. Marte's been on my radar for some time now and the 33-year old is enjoying a fine season. He has a 3.55 ERA in 47.2 IP and is the new closer with Matt Capps out for the year. Last year he had a 2.38 ERA and a 3.70 the year past, all with the Pirates. He has American League experience, spending four years with the White Sox and boasts an excellent 3.22 career ERA in 453.3 innings and a 1.25 WHIP.
What would Marte command? Two prospects, and they've gotta be pretty good prospects, too. Marte is going to qualify as a Type-A free agent, meaning that if he declines arbitration (as he will --- he's only making $2.6 million and can easily get a bigger deal), the Pirates will get two compensation picks for him, one in the first round and a supplemental first rounder (unless the signing team has one of the first 15 picks).
The Red Sox should absolutely chase after Marte and try to nab him because plenty of other contending teams are doing so and Marte would fill a specific need for the Red Sox. Going to three left-handers would be pretty nice, especially one of Marte's caliber, and the Sox could always get those draft picks if Marte does indeed depart as a free agent. The return would have to be significant, something along a Craig Hansen plus a lower prospect (Jeff Corsaletti?) heading to Pittsburgh.
Would you do that deal? I would.
Discussion
16 Comments on "Is Damaso Marte a fit?"
#2
Posted by Tessie's Dad, July 21, 2008 4:39 PM
Any deal that has Hansen leaving town would be o.k. by me, but if the Sox get someone in return who can get people out that would be icing on the cake!
#3
Posted by Joe, July 21, 2008 5:11 PM
I hate giving up on Hansen but at this point if you are counting on him you just haven't been paying attention.
#4
Posted by Cory Humes, July 21, 2008 5:16 PM
As a Pirate fan, I have no idea how hard Hansen throws. He'll only fit Neal Huntington's profile if he's a power reliever, though. NH loves relievers who can bring the heat: see also, Tyler Yates, Denny Bautista. (Fire Brand: What's the radar gun read on Hansen?)
I'd be a bit underwhelmed by this package, I think. No real need for a 25-year-old almost-prospect OF. Not including Bay, McLouth and Nady, off the top of my head the Pirates also have Andrew McCutchen, Steve Pearce, Nyjer Morgan, Chris Duffy and Jamie Romak, all of whom seem more likely to see legit MLB time than Corsaletti does. Pedro Alvarez or Neil Walker could end up in the outfield, too, or block Pearce from shifting back to 1B.
Ship over a 2B/SS who can play in a year or two, or a back of the rotation SP. Otherwise, I'll take the draft picks.
#6
Posted by Steven Roth, July 21, 2008 5:52 PM
Why not go for both Marte and the SS from the Pirates...Wilson or something? That way we can ship Lugo out of town!
#7
Posted by Zach Hayes, July 21, 2008 6:03 PM
Pirates would probably ask for Ryan Kalish. Just a guess.
#8
Posted by Bob, July 21, 2008 6:05 PM
A month of Jack Wilson will have us wishing for Lugo again. I hate trading for relief (show me when it has worked), but that said it's obvious that something needs to be done. I think the Pirates would take Hansen (he can reach 98 on the gun Cory), who I'm convinced sucks, but would probably dominate the NL like every other reliever that washes out of the AL *cough* JC Romero *cough* So if you want a back of the rotation starter and a 2b/ss prospect how about Kris Johnson or Ryan Dent plus Hansen? That's probably a deal that both teams can be happy with.
#9
Posted by turrdog, July 21, 2008 6:07 PM
Boston will have to compete with the Yankees for Marte - he's been on their radar ever since they got rid of him. Prepare for a pissing contest...
#12
Posted by Bob, July 21, 2008 6:13 PM
Pauley works too, he could definitely be a back-of-the rotation guy in the NL right away. I think Dent could be interesting to the Pirates, they're weak in the middle infield and given some time he could be a very good second baseman, with Pedroia in Boston forever (I pray) Theo can afford to trade him.
#13
Posted by Bob, July 21, 2008 6:16 PM
Oh and if it comes down to a bidding war with the Yankees, they can't put an offer on the table that the Red Sox wouldn't match, unless they lost it and offered Hughes or Austin Jackson, in which case I think Theo would let them have Marte.
#14
Posted by michael, July 21, 2008 9:14 PM
Hansen and Corsaletti? Neal Huntington should be able to get more than that; Hansen is an overhyped RP and Corsaletti will be nothing more than a 4th OF, something the pirates do not need. I think the pirates will focus more on the starting pitching side with marte.
#15
Posted by Bob, July 22, 2008 12:34 AM
michael, I have no doubt that hansen would go to the NL and be lights out. It's a fastball league, and he lights up the radar gun. I doubt the Pirates could do better than him +David Pauley for a 33-year old right-handed releiver.
#16
Posted by Shane, July 22, 2008 9:21 AM
I think Hansen and Pauley would be a good deal all around. I'm ready to give up on Hansen, and while I've liked Pauley while he's been up he's always going to be blocked in this system and needs to get traded to ever consistently start at the major league level.
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