According to R.J. White of CBSSports.com, the Arizona Diamondbacks are willing to listen to trade offers involving their phenom pitching prospect, Trevor Bauer. This would be a potentially risky move for the Diamondbacks.
Trading young pitching can haunt teams longer than you can say John Smoltz for Doyle Alexander. Just last year, the Diamondbacks dealt Jarrod Parker and Ryan Cook in the deal for Trevor Cahill.
But for an impact player, dealing a prospect could be the right move—or, perhaps, the “Wright” move.
New York Mets star David Wright is going to be a free agent after the 2013 season. According to Marc Carig of Newsday.com, the Mets and Wright have begun contract discussions but have not been talking about numbers yet.
If the two sides cannot reach an agreement, it would behoove the Mets to get more for Wright than they got for departing free agent Jose Reyes last year. They got top prospect Zack Wheeler from the Giants for Carlos Beltran.
The Mets have a ways to go before they are a pennant contender again, but perhaps a combination of Wheeler, Bauer and Matt Harvey could be a foundation for their future.
Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks could be in a rare position to be able to trade from a strength of young pitching. Cahill, Ian Kennedy and Wade Miley are all solid starters. Patrick Corbin has talent, Daniel Hudson should be back and Tyler Skaggs is another excellent pitcher.
All will be 28 years old or younger next year.
Dealing Bauer would not leave the Diamondbacks without youth in their staff.
Plus, according to Matt Snyder of CBSSports.com, Bauer didn’t exactly endear himself with the team after his call-up by acting like he didn’t need to make adjustments.
Bauer went 12-2 with a 2.42 ERA and 157 strikeouts in 130 innings in the minor leagues in 2012.
The Diamondbacks have offense, but a glaring hole at third base.
Trading for an elite talent like Wright, holding on to Justin Upton and still having MLB-tested pitching in their 20s could give the Diamondbacks a chance to get back to the postseason for the next few years.
That might be worth Trevor Bauer.
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