Let me say right off that as I begin writing this, the Cliff Lee trade to Philadelphia has not been officially announced and the details have not been run through the Shapiro spin machine.I think it's better that way.
If there are any more Kool-Aid drinkers left among the fans, and particularly in the blogosphere, this trade should be their wake-up call.
Shapiro will be telling us, no doubt, that the Tribe got four of the Phillies top 10 prospects.
No doubt we will hear that Jason Knapp throws in the high '90s and that the other pitcher coming to the Tribe in the deal, 22-year-old Carlos Carrasco, was seen by many as the soon-to-be-No. 2 man in the Phillies rotation.
What he will likely gloss over is the fact that those were the expectations for Carrasco before this year. This season Carrasco is 6-9 with a 5.18 ERA at triple-A Lehigh Valley. He's struck out 112 and walked 38 in 114 2/3 innings. Quickly doing the math that's a little over 1 walk every three innings. Carrasco was a guy the Tribe was offered last year when they were peddling CC Sabathia, and they didn't bite.
I'm also quite certain that Shapiro will pooh-pooh the fact that Knapp, the 18-year-old supposed center piece of the deal from the Tribe's standpoint, has been on the DL since July 11 with a "tired" shoulder. Arm troubles already - at age 18!
MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince has the best thumbnail description of all four of the players coming to Cleveland, and there are red flags on all of them.
Castrovince reports Carrasco's stock has dropped around MLB this season, and details Knapp's shoulder issue as well.
In addition, the description in Castrovince's article of the two position players in the deal - catcher Lou Marson and SS Jason Donald - leave me underwhelmed.
The SS, Donald, is hitting .236 at triple-A this year, and just got back from a stint of several weeks on the DL after knee surgery.
And Donald appears to be a utility infielder in the making.
Keep in mind these words about Donald are coming from Phillies assistant GM Chuck LaMar, the guy doing the selling:
"He can be an everyday player," LaMar said. "Like anyone with his skill set, he's got to prove it at every level.
Talk about you feint praise.
"Like anyone with his skill set, he's got to prove it at every level." Translation: He doesn't have terrific tools but he's a grinder who may find his way to a big-league bench through hustle and determination. Can anyone say Jamey Carroll?
And what does the Tribe need with another SS prospect anyway? They seem to have a young middle-infield combo they are happy with right now in Luis Valbuena and Asdrubal Cabrera. I'm not sold on Valbuena - at least at the plate - but Wedgie seems to love him to death (which, of course, may not mean anything come October).
Then there's the catcher coming the Tribe's way - Lou Marson. His numbers for the season at triple-A: .294 BA, .370 SLG, a pedestrian .751 OPS and 1 dinger. Exciting. Especially in an organization that already has about six viable catchers (soon to be one less, no doubt).
You have to assume Marson's arrival will be followed by someone's departure - most likely Victor Martinez. Still, there are plenty of viable options in the system already to replace Victor.
The Blue Jays backed away from a deal with the Phillies because they couldn't get minor leaguer Kyle Drabek - the No. 1 MiLB pitching prospect in the Philadelphia system - and AJ Happ, already doing well for himself in the bigs.
I think maybe the Tribe should have done the same.
It is awful as a fan to always be on the butt end of these kinds of trades - where you get the prospects and watch one of your team's guys go off an help fulfill some other fan's dreams. But they are even harder to take when they're not done right.
Can't wait to see what they turn up for Victor Martinez.
Oh, and just two other quick thoughts before I go.
Ben Franscisco was sent to Philly along with Lee. Francisco was a nice option as a fourth outfielder but no huge loss. His trade opens up the left field spot - presumably for Matt LaPorta. But I've been wrong before to assume that LaPorta was on his way up for a full-time gig. So I guess we'll just wait and see.
Also, just wonderin'. Wasn't Andy Marte brought up to play every day in a do-or-die final audition with the Tribe? I know I must have just glossed over it, but I didn't see his name in today's lineup - only the second game played since his recall.
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