Hence the word “probably”.

And, I am looking at this in hind-sight. Hypothetically, FYF fills the “MLB-ready” player that the Pirates owner wanted.

It’s all just speculation at this point.

No sense in crying over spilled milk, but I just wish that we could have landed Bay. If all it took was a “MLB-ready” player, how many of us would be pissed to get rid of FYF last year at that point?

Hmm…now I have to look at it closer.

Ok, so Moss and Jones are a wash. They’re both 25, both hit lefthanded, and look like they’d produce pretty much the exact same in the bigs.

LaRoche is a pretty solid win over Lillibridge. They’re both the same age and Lillibridge has much more defensive flexibility, but LaRoche is just a better hitter.

Morris vs. Locke is a little closer. Morris is 10 months older, and he’s a righty, which is less of a premium. He just started pitching this year so in only 3 High A starts, he’s 2-1 with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. Last year in Low A he was 2-6 in 20 starts with a 3.47 ERA and something like a 1.40 WHIP (can’t find an exact one). Locke, in 13 High A starts this year, is 2-4 with a 4.85 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP after going 5-12 with a 4.06 ERA and a 1.34 ERA in 24 Low A starts last year. So they’re pretty close; I’d personally go with the slightly younger lefty, but it’s a take your preference kind of thing.

With the other pieces, Hansen and Rodriguez, it’s closer than it seems. Hansen is a 25 year old righty with a 4-9 record, 6.34 ERA, and 1.71 WHIP in 95 major league games and he’s only pitched in 5 total games this season. He’s had injury issues and been a bit of a headcase. Rodriguez is a toolsy 22 year old outfielder struggling at AA after a very successful season at High A. Again, I think I’d take the pitcher, even given his problems, cause at least he’s played at the higher levels.

So yeah, I’d say the package they got back was probably better than what the Braves were offering. But, at the time, LaRoche was having a terrible year, Jones was playing very well and Concepcion was looking good, so who knows. I remember thinking at the time that we had a better offer.

Either way, I still think the Pirates GM, or actually the owner, got pulled into thinking that it was better PR to be a part of this major trade if you were going to ship off Bay.

The C.C. offer was not absurd. Yes, it was higher than what anyone else offered, but it wasn’t that much higher than what the Angels were offering him. I think it was either Gammons or Jayson Stark I saw report that, but the Yankees weren’t that far above the Angels in offer. Still sucks when the Braves can basically make what they think is the Godfather offer and the Yankees or Red Sox can just spit on that (i.e. AJ Burnett).