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Lets play a little game where you are the general manager of your favorite baseball team and at the Winter Meetings you find out that four major league teams have decided that in order to rebuild they need to put their prized lefty starter on the block. In return they are going to want a minimum of two major league ready players plus at least one top prospect, or a combination of top and mid level prospects. The major league players they want are not high dollar guys or guys about to enter free agency. You are bidding against several teams with healthy farm systems, and established major leaguers that meet the requirements of the trading team to deal. This deal could make or break your team and your farm system for several years as well as your payroll as all four possibilities are going to command high dollars if not this season then shortly thereafter through the rules of baseball’s CBA.
You have your choice of the following four left handed starters:
Lefty A will be 29 in 2008. He averages 12 wins, 200 IP, 200 strikeouts, 75 BB, has a 3.83 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP in 33 starts a season.
Lefty B will be 29 in 2008. He averages 14 wins, 210 IP, 220 strikeouts, 58 BB, has a 3.22 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 27 starts a season.
Lefty C will be 26 in 2008. He averages 14 wins, 215 IP, 158 strikeouts, 72 BB, has a 3.78 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 34 starts a season.
Lefty D will be 24 in 2008. He averages 12 wins, 200 IP, 215 strikeouts, 91 BB, has a 3.64 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 33 starts a season.
Now rate them in order of preference 1-2-3-4 and state why you picked them in that order. Then tell me who from your favorite team you’d offer to try to pry the prized lefty away from his current organization. Then tell me why you think those guys will get you that pitcher.
