{"id":2516,"date":"2011-01-09T09:10:25","date_gmt":"2011-01-09T15:10:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/?p=2516"},"modified":"2011-01-09T09:13:42","modified_gmt":"2011-01-09T15:13:42","slug":"around-the-league-garza-trade-pujols-extension-zimmermanlongoria-belt-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/archives\/2516","title":{"rendered":"Around The League: Garza trade, Pujols&#8217; extension, Zimmerman\/Longoria, Belt, and more&#8230;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/World+Series+Tampa+Bay+Rays+v+Philadelphia+UDR0dB9cyU6l.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2517\" title=\"World+Series+Tampa+Bay+Rays+v+Philadelphia+UDR0dB9cyU6l\" src=\"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/World+Series+Tampa+Bay+Rays+v+Philadelphia+UDR0dB9cyU6l-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/World+Series+Tampa+Bay+Rays+v+Philadelphia+UDR0dB9cyU6l-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/World+Series+Tampa+Bay+Rays+v+Philadelphia+UDR0dB9cyU6l.jpg 594w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mlbtraderumors.com\/2011\/01\/cubs-to-acquire-matt-garza.html?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MlbTradeRumors+%28MLB+Trade+Rumors%29\">stunning eight-player deal<\/a>, the Tampa Bay Rays traded <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/g\/garzama01.shtml?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_campaign=Linker\" target=\"_blank\">Matt  Garza<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/martife02.shtml?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_campaign=Linker\" target=\"_blank\">Fernando  Martinez<\/a><\/strong>, and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/minors\/player.cgi?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;id=rosscu001zac\" target=\"_blank\">Zach  Rosscup<\/a><\/strong> to the Chicago Cubs, and received a slew of prospects in return- <a href=\"http:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/minors\/player.cgi?id=archer001chr\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Chris Archer<\/strong><\/a>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/minors\/player.cgi?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;id=guyer-001bra\" target=\"_blank\">Brandon  Guyer<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/minors\/player.cgi?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;id=chirin001rob\" target=\"_blank\">Robinson  Chirinos<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/f\/fuldsa01.shtml?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_campaign=Linker\" target=\"_blank\">Sam  Fuld<\/a><\/strong>, and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/minors\/player.cgi?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;id=lee---001hak\" target=\"_blank\">Hak-Ju  Lee<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 Although the players that the Cubs parted with are just prospects \u2013 all but Fuld are yet to reach the Major Leagues \u2013 I sincerely believe that they surrendered too much for Garza.\u00a0 And after reading <a href=\"http:\/\/www.fangraphs.com\/blogs\/index.php\/matt-garza-is-aaron-harang\/\">Dave Cameron\u2019s analysis of Garza over at FanGraphs<\/a>, I\u2019ve only become more convinced this was the case.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Although they are not nearly as despicable as the staff of the Chicago Tribune \u2013 <a href=\"..\/archives\/1986\">don\u2019t get me started on Phil Rogers<\/a> \u2013 the Chicago Sun Times sports writers are still pretty inept.\u00a0 On the morning following the announcement of the Garza trade, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tampabay.com\/blogs\/rays\/content\/chicago-paper-strikes-out?utm_source=twitterfeed&amp;utm_medium=twitter\">the Sun Times published a photo<\/a> of <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/benoijo01.shtml?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_campaign=Linker\" target=\"_blank\">Joaquin  Benoit<\/a><\/strong> on the cover of the sports section instead of the newly acquired Garza.\u00a0 A slip up of this magnitude speaks volumes about the crack-squad of writers and editors that they willingly employ.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>This week we learned that the St. Louis Cardinals and their prized slugger, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/p\/pujolal01.shtml?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_campaign=Linker\" target=\"_blank\">Albert  Pujols<\/a><\/strong>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mlbtraderumors.com\/2011\/01\/cardinals-open-extension-talks-with-albert-pujols.html?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MlbTradeRumors+%28MLB+Trade+Rumors%29\">resumed talks regarding an extension<\/a> before the 2011 season.\u00a0 But even when the Cardinals lock up the all-mighty Pujols, will it be enough? <a href=\"http:\/\/www.i70baseball.com\/?p=6622\">I-70 Baseball<\/a> explores the trades made by the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs, and offers some insight as to how the 2011 Cardinals team will compare.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><!--more--><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If you had to choose between <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/l\/longoev01.shtml?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_campaign=Linker\" target=\"_blank\">Evan  Longoria<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/player_search.cgi?search=Ryan+Zimmerman&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_campaign=Linker\" target=\"_blank\">Ryan  Zimmerman<\/a><\/strong> for your team, who would you choose? <a href=\"http:\/\/passion4baseball.blogspot.com\/\">The Flagrant Fan<\/a> offers a <a href=\"http:\/\/passion4baseball.blogspot.com\/2011\/01\/evan-longoria-versus-ryan-zimmerman.html\">side-by-side comparison<\/a> of the two third basemen, which doesn\u2019t exactly make the decision any easier\u2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>In case anybody has missed a player in our countdown of the Top 50 prospects, here is a quick recap: <a href=\"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/archives\/2436\" target=\"_blank\">#50 &#8211; Chris Dwyer<\/a>; <a href=\"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/archives\/2440\" target=\"_blank\">#49 &#8211; J.P. Arencibia<\/a>; <a href=\"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/archives\/2456\" target=\"_blank\">#48 &#8211; Aaron Hicks<\/a>; <a href=\"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/archives\/2476\" target=\"_blank\">#47 &#8211; Jose Iglesias<\/a>; <a href=\"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/archives\/2491\" target=\"_blank\">#46 &#8211; Nick Castellanos<\/a>; <a href=\"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/archives\/2507\" target=\"_blank\">#45 &#8211; Hank Conger<\/a>; <a href=\"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/archives\/2512\" target=\"_blank\">#44 &#8211; Nolan Arenado<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>It seems as though the folks at <a href=\"http:\/\/offbasepercentage.com\/\">Off Base Percentage<\/a> have succumbed to the hoarding epidemic and are looking for people who will <a href=\"http:\/\/www.offbasepercentage.com\/2011\/01\/send-me-your-extra-angels-giveaway-swag.html\">sell them the giveaways<\/a> from 2011 Angels\u2019 games.\u00a0 I mean come on, who doesn\u2019t want an Angels Sock Monkey?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>One of <a href=\"..\/archives\/1833\">my favorite prospects<\/a> headed in 2011 \u2013 and a player that you will read more about as we unveil our Top 50 Prospects \u2013 is <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/minors\/player.cgi?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;id=belt--001bra\" target=\"_blank\">Brandon  Belt<\/a><\/strong>; the guy can flat out mash.\u00a0 Anyway, in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.csnbayarea.com\/pages\/video?PID=j3_bZVzxU2qGFWBgEOpa7wY0x4vOQ6YG\">a recent interview<\/a> with Mychael Urban of Comcast Sports Net, Belt asserted, &#8220;I would bet that I would (make the club out of Spring\u00a0Training), I feel as if I am\u00a0mentally\u00a0ready as well as physically. I have been preparing for this moment for the last year and I am going in with this mind set that I can win a spot out there.&#8221; Also be sure to check out <a href=\"http:\/\/www.splashingpumpkins.com\/2011\/01\/peek-at-prospects-brandon-belt.html?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SplashingPumpkins+%28Splashing+Pumpkins%29\">Splashing Pumpkin\u2019s projections for Belt<\/a>, as well as the rest of the Giants\u2019 top prospects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Sean Duncan from <a href=\"http:\/\/prepbaseballreport.com\/\">Prep Baseball Report<\/a> examines the <a href=\"http:\/\/prepbaseballreport.com\/Default.aspx?tabid=443&amp;EntryID=62\">new NCAA bat regulations<\/a>, and explores the potential impact it will have at both the high school and collegiate levels.\u00a0 From what I\u2019ve heard, the sweet spot on the new bats has significantly less pop than a wood bat- I think that all the high school home run records are now safe.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/metsfever.blogspot.com\/\">Mets Fever<\/a> wonders whether <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bayja01.shtml?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_campaign=Linker\" target=\"_blank\">Jason  Bay<\/a><\/strong> can embrace the Big Apple and recover from the post-concussion symptoms that plagued him for the majority of the 2010.\u00a0 Apparently Bay is not the only high-profiled acquisition to struggle in his first season with the Mets- <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/beltrca01.shtml?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_campaign=Linker\" target=\"_blank\">Carlos  Beltran<\/a><\/strong> also struggled in his first season in the Big Apple.\u00a0 But <a href=\"http:\/\/metsfever.blogspot.com\/2011\/01\/can-bay-embrace-big-apple.html\">can Bay bounce back as Beltran did<\/a> in his sophomore campaign in New York?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a stunning eight-player deal, the Tampa Bay Rays traded Matt Garza, Fernando Martinez, and Zach Rosscup to the Chicago Cubs, and received a slew of prospects in return- Chris Archer, Brandon Guyer, Robinson Chirinos, Sam Fuld, and Hak-Ju Lee.\u00a0 Although the players that the Cubs parted with are just prospects \u2013 all but Fuld [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7,1300,8,6,16,11,13,10,14],"tags":[1621,21,1655,1261,1650,482,260,1653,1610,1594,173,1648,1612,1646,1617,1656,1632,653,70,193,580,1641,1657,1466,1622,1651,1654,1652,584,510,549,1649],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2516"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2516"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2516\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2521,"href":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2516\/revisions\/2521"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2516"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2516"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2516"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}