Should I trade Brandon Webb for Brett Myers and Prince Fielder?

Question

Hitting:
C - Ramon Hernandez
1B - Paul Konerko
2B - Brandon Phillips
3B - Joe Crede
SS - Michael Young
LF - Carlos Lee
CF - Juan Pierre
RF - Bobby Abreu
Util - Pat Burrell

SP - Jeremy Bonderman
SP - Erik Bedard
SP - Bronson Arroyo
SP - Brandon Webb
SP - Jason Schmidt
SP - Kelvim Escobar
SP - Ian Snell
SP - Mike Hampton
SP - Tom Glavine

These are my starting pitchers and Starting position players. I feel I am weak at 3B and util. Pat Burrell is very risky because I don't know how well he will play, but know he has been well in the past. If I trade Webb I want a quality starter in return, so I think Myers is a big pickup since he is the ace of the Phillies. Fielder is an upgrade over Burrell, in my opinion because of the 30 HR and 100 RBI he could very easily get. What should I do?

Answer 1

I want to analyze this trade for a moment, just so you can make your decision:

1) Brandon Webb is arguably one of the top-tier pitchers around and his value couldn't get any higher. Although he going to have a fine season, you have to look at this Arizona team overall. His numbers has been consistent for the past three years, even losing 16 games back in 2004, but the offense is just not the same. The franchise is in a rebuilding mode and he's in that type of situation where Dontrelle Willis was last season, when the Marlins shed payroll. Willis ended up from being a Cy Young runner-up with winning 22 games to just winning 12 for the surprising Marlins, although he could have won more with that offense. Webb is not going to win 16 games with this team this season and he's at a tender age of 27, the magic number that players breakout. I don't know how this Arizona offense or his shaky bullpen will go, but this is a perfect time to trade Webb before he falters at some point in a competitve NL West if you have doubts about Webb.

2) Brett Myers - Arguably a better strikeout pitcher than Webb and he's only one year younger. The low win total and his trouble with the law (his highly publized domestic abuse with his wife) kinda scares me a bit, but with the offense being one of the best (Ryan Howard and Chase Utley should be enough), I expect him to win more than 12 games for the improving Phillies.

3) Prince Fielder - The last time a rookie 1B hit 20+ HR, he ended up bashing 58 HR the next season. Ironically, Fielder hit 28 HR in his first season (compare to the 22 HR that the reiging MVP hit, albeit he played half the season when he replaced Jim Thome) with Carlos Lee still around for half a season. Fielder is 5 years younger (he's only 22) and still generate a lot of power. He has trouble with left-hander (same thing as the MVP in his rookie year) but he can improve (out of the 28 HR, 11 of those were against lefties).

You basically trying to trade an elite for potential and there's nothing wrong with that. If you have doubt about Webb, then go for it. It's up to you.

Answer 2

Fielder is an upgrade over Burrell, although if you look at Burrell's last two seasons, he's put up 30 HR and 100 RBIs himself. Fielder just has a bigger upside.

Webb to Myers is a bit more of a downgrade than I think you're giving it credit for, though. Myers is a power pitcher in a hitter's park, so he will go through struggles from time to time.Webb is coming off a career year and is still young.

I'd probably go with the trade, assuming you have some junk player to drop, but not by much at all. You're giving up the best player in the deal by a good margin in Webb and getting back potential in Myers and Fielder. Your pitching looks like it can absorb the hit, though.

Answer 3

I agree with you that Fielder looks like a pretty likely candidate for 30 hr and 100 RBI. This makes him a pretty big upgrade over Burrell. Although you are giving up Webb, the best player in the trade and your best SP, you have far and away enough depth in your SP to absorb his loss. Also, Myers has K numbers and with a pretty potent offense behind him, he should improve upon his win totals as well. Without knowing the exact structure of your league, this seems to be a trade that will benefit your team over the course of the year.

Answer 4

I would stick with Brandon Webb...

I think he is a very good pitcher with tremendous upside.

I think you have very good hitting and very DEEP pitching, but you don't have any real proven pitchers who have shown time and time again that they can get the job done.

I think Brent Myers is very much like the other pitchers on your team, and i think you have enough Brent Myers's's.

I know your probably itching to make the trade cuz your deep in pitching and want to have a next to flawless batting order, but pitchers usually spend a lot of time on the DL, so better have proven pitchers who can go the whole year like Webb, then make the trade for the small upgrade to Fielder.

I think Webb is very close to being a top 10 pitcher and i think you should keep him

Answer 5

You have enough depth in pitching you could make that trade but the season hasnt started so you don't know who is going to do what. My advise is hold on to him. See what happens. Its not good to make trades b4 season begins

Answer 6

no, prince fielder is overrated, keep Webb

Answer 7

Definately not.

Answer 8

nope bad move