Hustle Loyalty Respect sends: 3B Mike Moustakas ($11), RF Steven Souza Jr ($2), SP Jack Flaherty (minors)
The Wilfred Brimley Fighting Diabeetuses sends: CF/RF George Springer ($49)
Jordan’s thoughts: I am kind of surprised to see this go. Springer seems like a pretty reasonable asset to carry over into next year. Even if you’re out for this season, I wouldn’t hesitate to spend $51 on him next year. Moustakas and Souza are alright. I guess you get to fill two positions next year at reasonable price tags.
Jack Flaherty is an interesting piece in the deal. He’s 20 years old and doing quite well in high-A. You have to wait on him a bit probably, but there’s enough Cardinals prospects who come up and deal, that you have to be a bit higher on Flaherty as a fantasy piece. If you’re not 100% sold on keeping Springer, I like the return. But, I don’t think it was a sexy haul.
Andrew’s thoughts: I get the logic for the Diabeetuses here. This move sheds $36 (well, $34 after raises heading into 2017) and Mike Moustakas was a 5.63 point per game player in 2015 and was scoring at a 5.47 point rate this year before getting hurt. He’s shelved this year, but he’s solid. The gap between George Springer and Moustakas isn’t exactly a canyon and with Jackie Bradley Jr and Stephen Piscotty likely to have CF eligibility in 2017 it makes Springer a bit less essential. Plus, WBFD needs an answer at third base and Steven Souza Jr. is a serviceable outfielder.
But meh, I’d rather have Springer even if he gets greeded up some. To me, he’s a difference-making piece, while Moustakas and Souza, while valuable and useful to any roster, don’t strike me as guys whose production is super challenging to find.