A Little Inside Scoop

I would like to take advantage of recent Damaso Marte trade rumors to post a suggestion to the Pirates, based on some inside knowledge I have of the Yankees’ farm system.

Any trade the Pirates make with the Yankees needs to include Scott Patterson. Patterson grew up about five minutes from my house in Pittsburgh, and this past spring I had the opportunity to catch a couple of his bullpen sessions. He has a low-90’s fastball with good, sharp sink to it, along with a plus splitter and a curveball that both break late and sharp. I’d say his stuff would be a little above average on for a major league pitcher, but what defines him is his control.

I kid you not when I say that every pitch he threw was exactly where I put the glove, and according to those who have seen him work in live game action, his accuracy almost never waivers, even in tight, pressure-packed situations.

Patterson made 43 appearances for the AA Trenton Thunder in 2007, accumulating a minute 1.09 ERA and an even tinier .81 WHIP. Most impressive: he struck out 91 guys — in just 74.1 innings. That’s a K/9 of 11.02.

The only downside to Scotty P. is that he’s already 28-years old, which is probably the reason the Yanks seem to have been hesitant to make him a priority in their farm system. Fortunately for the Buccos, this means he could come pretty cheap, possibly as a near toss in on any deal the Bucs and Yanks do agree to.

I realize I have the tendency to be a bit bias in situations like these, but I would bet everything I own that Patterson could be a successful pitcher in a middle relief spot.

Bucco Meetings Update

• Talks between the Buccos and the Indians have supposedly been on and off all week long, and though it was rumored the two teams were close to a five player swap that would send Jason Bay and Ronny Paulino to the Tribe in exchange for Cliff Lee, Kelly Shoppach, and Franklin Gutierrez, the deal was never made and talks appear to have died down, if they ever began at all.

To be honest, it’s a deal that I think has some serious potential, although I don’t see it happening until the season has begun. I have faith that Bay can bounce back strong next season, since I firmly believe that injuries were the main deterrent to his ’07 campaign. For that reason, it’s probably best for the Pirates to hold on to Bay into the start of the season, in hopes that the Tribe will offer a little bit more. Either Jeremy Sowers or Fernando Cabrera, both young pitchers with plenty of potential, could be good fits if Bay bounces back strong.

That said, Gutierrez is a guy I like a lot. He showed some improved power in ’07, belting 13 home runs in just 271 at bats, and his OPS increased for the third straight season.

Also, Shoppach could be a good fit, as he brings a stronger defensive presence behind the plate. His offensive numbers took a considerable jump from his sophomore year, and although I think Paulino can learn a lot from new manager John Russell, I wouldn’t complain about seeing Shoppach behind the dish for the Bucs next year, especially if Paulino continues to struggle early on in the season.

• The Pirates filled a hole when they signed utility man Chris Gomez to a one-year deal. Gomez is a perfect fit for the Buccos, as he can play good defense at 2nd or 3rd, and can fill in very effectively as a pinch-hitter. Though he sports just a .261 average for his career, Gomez is hitting an impressive .293 over the past 4 seasons, with an OBP right around .350. If Freddy Sanchez or Jose Bautista go down with injuries early in the season, don’t be surprised to see Gomez step in and make the Pirates think twice about rushing either of the current starters back into action.

• CF Nate McLouth has been garnering a lot of team’s attention, including the Cubs, Padres, Phillies, Giants, Marlins and Braves. With so many teams interested, it would be a very good idea for GM Neal Huntington to listen carefully to any offers, as McLouth is certainly expendable to a Pirates club stocked with outfield potential.

• Other rumors that I’ve come across include a potential Damaso Marte and/or John Grabow to the Yankees deal. One report I saw even had Ian Snell and Ian Hughes somehow mixed into the deal, but I highly doubt that there is anything behind those rumors.

Marlins Deal Cabrera, Willis to Detroit

Dontrelle Willis and his trademark leg kick will head to Detroit looking to return to 2005 form, when Willis won 22 games while posting a microscopic 2.63 ERA

The Florida Marlins, baseballs perennial fire-salers, have agreed to send 24-year old stud Miguel Cabrera and 25-year old fan favorite Dontrelle Willis to the Tigers in exchange for a plethora of talent. We can all agree that there isn’t a prospect alive that we wouldn’t send for Cabrera, but many believe that Willis could be a major bust.

Although many in the baseball world are pointing to Willis’s quickly declining numbers (note the yearly increase in ERA, WHIP, and HR along with decreases in W, CG, SHO, IP, and SO since 2005), I think there is reason to believe that we may see at least a brief resurgence in Dontrelle’s career.

It’s no secret that Dontrelle’s early success was tied to his funky delivery, which confused a lot of hitters. Scouts claim that the high leg kick and inconsistent arm slot were effectively deceptive early in his career, helping him post Cy Young-like numbers despite having just above average stuff. However, scouts are saying now that National League hitters have seen him for five years, they have figured him out, thus the declining numbers. Also, mechanical issues are making Dontrelle’s control and his stuff fairly inconsistent, although I doubt his stuff has gotten that much worse since ’05.

Moving to the American League might be an okay move for Willis, at least for a while. With catcher Ivan Rodriguez calling the game for him, Willis could very well make a strong comeback this year while American League hitters try to figure him out. Granted, hitters have scouting reports built already, which means it won’t take five years for guys to get around his deceptive delivery, but there is reason to believe Willis could be successful, especially with a monstrous line-up behind him.

As for the Fish, there’s reason to be excited about the crop of players that have been brought in. Cameron Maybin is an absolute stud talent-wise, and has the potential to be a top-notch, five-tool player in the near future. The real gem of this trade, however, is 6-foot-6 pitcher Andrew Miller. Though still decidedly raw, Miller has the potential to be a top of the rotation guy. His mid-90’s, ¾ fastball comes with a heavy sink, allowing him to induce an abundance of ground balls. He needs work on establishing some secondary stuff, but as ESPN’s Eric Karabell says, he might already be a better value pitcher than Willis.