BBTF's Transaction Oracle Discussion :: Pirates

Transaction Oracle
— A Timely Look at Transactions as They Happen

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Pirates - Acquired Morris

Pittsburgh Pirates - Acquired P Matt Morris from the San Francisco Giants for OF Rajai Davis and a player to be named.

Someone should tell Bob Nutting that the complaint isn't just that the Pirates don't invest in their team, it's also that the Pirates don't invest in their team wisely. The Pirates have an awful offense and have better uses for $9 million in 2008 than solidifying their 5th starter. They won't miss Davis, but they really shouldn't have made this move.

2007 ZiPS Projection - Matt Morris
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Period            W   L   G  GS   IP     H   ER  HR  BB  SO   ERA
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Actual 2007*      7   7  21  21  136.2 162   66  12  39  73  4.35
Rest of 2007      4   4  11  11   70.0  78   35   8  19  40  4.50
-----------------------------------------------------------------
2007 Total       11  11  32  32  206.2 240  101  20  58 113  4.40
2008             10  13  31  31  196.0 221  102  23  54 110  4.68 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
* - Includes minor league translation, if applicable.
Top Comp - Jim Lonborg

Dan Szymborski Posted: July 31, 2007 at 06:36 PM | 17 comment(s)
Related News: Pittsburgh, San Francisco

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1. Guts Posted: July 31, 2007 at 07:09 PM (#2463698)

Anything on Davis?

2. LatNam is busy defending freedom. Posted: July 31, 2007 at 07:12 PM (#2463705)

Every trade deadline needs a deal like this. One that makes no sense whatsoever for anyone.

3. Wally Frostbackman (Walewander) Posted: July 31, 2007 at 07:17 PM (#2463715)

Did our mainsite threads really take all the good jokes?

4. Gainsay Posted: July 31, 2007 at 07:42 PM (#2463749)

As a Pirates fan, I'm completely apathetic to this deal. How they spend $9 million in 2008 is not going to make any difference. This is a team that needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. Until Littlefield is fired, that isn't going to start happening. Deals like this one and Iszturis are just killing time.

The one bad thing about this is that it probably means that Littlefield will be back again next year. It doesn't make sense to let him spent a big chunk of change as he's on his way out the door.

5. Left Hand of Go(d)rzelanny Posted: July 31, 2007 at 09:05 PM (#2463988)

I like how the Pirates passed on Wieters for financial reasons, but have added far more salary between Izturis and Morris than Wieters could possibly demand in a bonus. Let's see, potentially the best amateur catcher since Mauer or a mediocre 30 something SS and a fifth starter, also on the wrong side of 30. Only in Pirateland could option B possibly be more appealing.

6. Alex Gordon's #1 Fan Posted: August 01, 2007 at 11:25 AM (#2465524)

Um, you're overlooking the fact that Moskos has the potential to be a solid middle reliever some day. Quit looking at your slide rule and your spreadsheets and you'll find Littlefield obviously knows what he's doing.

I'm kidding of course.

7. Loren F. Posted: August 01, 2007 at 11:39 AM (#2465540)

I really expected the Transaction Oracle to resort to Nazi porn for this one. Boy, do I feel silly.

8. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 01, 2007 at 11:47 AM (#2465553)

"Anything on Davis?"

Yeah. He sucks.

Want more?

9. Carmona My House (Crispix Attacks) Posted: August 01, 2007 at 11:53 AM (#2465561)

He's a good base-stealer. He'd be an asset to a playoff team. Now that the Giants have dumped their salary maybe they can send Davis to a playoff team thru waivers and get a real prospect.

10. Joey B. Posted: August 01, 2007 at 11:57 AM (#2465566)

Every trade deadline needs a deal like this. One that makes no sense whatsoever for anyone.

Morris' career as a Giant effectively ended a week ago or so when he openly told the press that he didn't know what the goal for the Giants was any more.

That chapped the asses of everyone in the front office, and they were going to get rid of him no matter what it took or what they could get back. No doubt Sabean is stunned though that he found somebody dumb enough to take on all the rest of the guy's salary!

11. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 01, 2007 at 12:08 PM (#2465583)

If they were upset with Morris, they certainly did a good job of marooning him in a bad situation.

12. JoeHova Posted: August 01, 2007 at 12:11 PM (#2465590)

No doubt Sabean is stunned though that he found somebody dumb enough to take on all the rest of the guy's salary!

I'm stunned too, that Sabean found someone as stupid as himself. Sabean has really gone off the rails the last few years. He has done nothing to build for the team's future at all (well, Lincecum, Lowry, and Cain (and maybe Sanchez) but who knows wether that was him or his scouting director).

13. JoeHova Posted: August 01, 2007 at 12:12 PM (#2465592)

arrgh, typo. oh well.

14. ECBucs Posted: August 01, 2007 at 12:27 PM (#2465621)

I like the way David Littlefield has spent his time and energy in acquiring key players for the team's next playoff race.

I'm talking about the playoffs in DL's mind about whether the Bucs can overcome Cincy and Houston and not finish in last place this year.

15. Mister High Standards Posted: August 01, 2007 at 10:30 PM (#2466867)

I would like to put out a couple things about this trade that it seems after nearly 300 comments on this trade on this sit noone has really deememd worthy of saying.

1. Matt Morris isn't a bad pitcher. Even at his cost he isn't really a bad pitcher.
2. Rajai Davis isn't a good player.

Unless the player to be named is something pretty decent, this is a good deal for the pirates in terms of actually quality of the team they put on the field. They made the team better, now were there better ways for the Pirates to spend the money? Sure.

The real cost of the deal is the opportunity cost of the deal and since I see no reason why the pirates would find a better way to spend the money... well two thumbs up!

16. NBarnes Posted: August 02, 2007 at 08:10 PM (#2468531)

15: Your team is in last place. You can spend $9 million on Morris, or $4 million on Wieter's signing bonus. Which do you choose?

17. Guts Posted: August 02, 2007 at 08:28 PM (#2468556)

He sucks. Want more?

No, I think this should cover it.

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Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Pirates - Acquired Morris

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