u read that an all-star pitcher is trade for a minor league catcher&some$in baseball.y u think it fair trade?

Answer 1

I think it's a fair trade if the team that made the trade has a lot of good pitching and needs a strong bat (which, your hypothetical catcher presumably has). There are a lot of variables involved. Does the team have a lot of righties and can afford to unload one? Does it want to build for the future by going for young talent and releasing all-star veterans?

Answer 2

Most likely it is a fair trade.

You didn't say who the all-star pitcher is, but consider that if the pitcher is near the end of his career (Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling) the team may want to trade him to get some value back. If the player retires, there is no return. The other team may not expect to get a 20 game winner, but the star power will put fans in seats, generating revenue. Generating revenue is hugely important to clubs like Tampa Bay or KC. Also the team is dumping salary, which enables them pick up someone else on the free agent or trade market.

Sometimes one trade is done to set the table for a subsequent trade.

Answer 3

Depends on whether the team has a chance of winning the pennant that year, how long the pitcher's contract is for and the chances that the team can resign the pitcher, and how good the catcher is.

Having a good catcher for 5 or 6 years, including years you hope you have a better team, is better than having one good pitcher for one year on a bad team.

Small market teams have to build a good team of young players knowing they'll lose them after a few years. The Indians did that in the 90's signing a slew of young talent to long term contracts: Kenny Lofton, Carlos Baerga, Albert Belle, Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez, Omar Vizquel, and Sandy Alomar. It got them a couple trips to the World Series before those guys obtained big money somewhere else (except for Baerga, who had alcohol abuse problems that trashed his career).

The Montreal Expos were famous for that, even though they never quite put together enough good young players to make it to the Series. Many stars started out playing for the Expos, though.