Rocky Mtn Oysters sends: SP Anibal Sanchez ($4), SP Matt Shoemaker (FA)
Senior Squids sends: RP Jonathan Papelbon ($5), SS/CF Danny Santana (FA)
Andrew’s thoughts: This was actually two 1-for-1 trades, but they occurred within minutes of each other and I’m lazy so I’m calling it one trade.
For the Squids, I kind of like the low risk gambles on Anibal Sanchez and Matt Shoemaker. Anibal looks broken and Shoemaker has mostly stunk since looking fantastic in 2014, but the cost was a reliever and a SS/CF scooped off waivers. I doubt this one moves the needle for either team, but the greatest possible reward lies with the two starters.
Jordan’s thoughts: I like the idea of sitting on Anibal. He’s cheap enough to keep, aging starters end up being these kind of weird coin flips. Either, he learns something different and returns to some form of himself, or injuries surface and he never turns into anything. I have always viewed pitchers as either ready or not ready, and right now Anibal is not ready. So while he’s old for the prospect tag, there’s low risk with potential for reward to betting on him returning to “ready” form at some point.
Starters of any ability level are very hard to find, and I think the price paid here was bottom barrel. I like what Squids did here. For Dusty, it frees up some roster spots and provides some flexibility. I don’t hate it for him, I know the pain of holding 10 SP and not being able to use a few of them.