Call to the Pen 2013 Winter Meetings Roundtable
Some of the staff at Call to the Pen gather and weigh in on the moves made at the 2013 Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida. The best and worst moves, as well as the biggest surprises are discussed, starting with the cream of the crop.
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Who Made the Best Move of the Meetings?
Steve Engbloom: I like the Colorado Rockies getting Brett Anderson. I know pitching in Coors Field can be a pitcher’s nightmare, and Anderson doesn’t exactly have the cleanest of health records, but if he’s right, this move bodes well for the Rox to contend in the NL West.
Paul Festa: The best move was a trade that worked for both teams. The Colorado Rockies got a solid left-handed starter in Brett Anderson. In return, the Oakland Athletics picked up a one-time prospect in Drew Pomeranz, and a current right-handed pitching prospect in Chris Jensen. Pomeranz probably couldn’t get himself out of Colorado fast enough. Away from Coors Field – which is notorious for chewing pitchers up and spitting them out – he’ll rediscover his stuff and be close to the kind of pitcher most thought he would be when he was in the Indians organization.
Randy Holt: There isn’t a lot to choose from, so it probably has to be the Rockies picking up Brett Anderson. Any team that acquired him knew the risk going in. He’s a high-risk, high-reward type of guy. Luckily they didn’t surrender much to get him, and if he’s able to bounce back from a couple of extremely rough years injury-wise, he should be a quality rotation piece, particularly as he moves over to the National League. Also everyone who didn’t sign Nelson Cruz did an outstanding job of not signing Nelson Cruz.
James Lumalu: I love the Los Angeles Angels acquiring lefties Tyler Skaggs and Hector Santiago. Skaggs is just a year removed from being one of the top prospects in baseball, and Santiago brings versatility being able to pitch in the rotation or out of the bullpen. They entered the Winter Meetings with three starting pitchers, and they are leaving with five, with the potential of adding another mid rotation arm.
Michael McFarlane: I’m not going to buck the trend here. I like the Brett Anderson acquisition by the Rockies. Pomeranz needs a change of scenery if he’s going to find his stuff and Anderson will not only add a great-if-healthy arm to the Rockies’ desperate rotation, but also a big-name pitcher for a fanbase that needs faith in it’s pitching.
Next: The Worst Moves.