Shaun Marcum traded to the Brewers

[Goober]

The winter meetings don’t officially start until Monday but the Brewers already have struck to address their starting pitching needs.

A good source told me that the Brewers have acquired right-hander Shaun Marcum from the Toronto Blue Jays. I don’t know what the Brewers are sending to Toronto in exchange but the source told me it involved minor-league pitching prospects. That makes sense to me because to acquire established pitching, you usually have to send young pitching back.

Contacted Sunday night in his hotel room in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said he couldn't confirm the trade but he certainly did not deny it.

"I can't say anything about it, really," said Melvin. "It's not completed yet."

Players must undergo physical examinations to complete trades, and that's probably what's stopping it from being official at this point.

Marcum, who will be 29 on Dec. 14, went 13-8 with a 3.64 ERA in 31 games for the Blue Jays this season. In 120 major-league games, including 95 starts, he has a 37-25 record and 3.85 ERA, much of it pitching in the tough AL East.

Marcum went 12-6 with a 4.13 ERA in 2007 and then 9-7 with a 3.39 ERA in 2008 before undergoing Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery that September. He did not pitch in 2009 but made a full recovery and threw the ball well in 2010. In 195 1/3 innings, he allowed only 181 hits and 43 walks while striking out 165 hitters. He had a solid 1.24 WHIP and .242 opponents batting average.

Marcum was selected in the third round of the 2003 draft. He has two more years before he can be a free agent and made $850,000 last season.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/111358854.html

I'm excited, but I'm not sure how I feel about the trade yet. I have to wait until we find out what prospects are headed to Toronto. As long as we didn't give up Jake Odorizzi, it should be alright.

 

[Chrispy]

He has been a good middle of the order pitcher, he did good against the Yanks a couple of times if i remember correctly.

Also, maybe the Blue Jays are getting more prospects for a Greinke deal

 

[Justo]

9:11pm: A second Canadian prospect could be headed to the Blue Jays, 20-year-old right-hander Nick Bucci, a source tells Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star.

8:48pm: Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter) hears that Lawrie is in the deal, though that is not confirmed. The Canadian turned in a strong 2010 in Double-A Huntsville, hitting .285/.346/.451 with eight homers in 135 games.

Baseball America ranked Brett Lawrie as Milwaukee's second-best prospect in their 2010 handbook. The 16th pick in the 2008 draft, Lawrie is said to be an aggressive hitter with good pop. While he was praised for his strong hands and quick bat, Baseball America writes that he needs to dedicate himself to defense if he wants to become a second baseman in the mold of Jeff Kent. Some scouts believe the soon-to-be 21-year-old is destined for an outfield corner.

8:40pm: The Brewers still haven't disclosed who will be going to Toronto in the trade but Haudricourt (via Twitter) notes that the Blue Jays covet Canadian-born second base prospect Brett Lawrie.

8:02pm: The Brewers have acquired Blue Jays pitcher Shaun Marcum, writes Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Milwaukee will send pitching prospects to Toronto for the right-hander, Haudricourt hears.

Marcum, who turns 29 next Tuesday, turned in a 3.39 ERA with 7.3 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 across 25 starts in 2008 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. After missing the 2009 major league season, he came back strong in 2010, posting a 3.64 ERA with 7.6 K/0 and 2.0 BB/9.

The hurler is entering his second year of arbitration eligibility. Last year, the hurler avoided arbitration with the Blue Jays when he agreed to a one-year, $850K deal.

The two teams completed a deal earlier this week when Toronto acquired pitcher Carlos Villanueva for a player to be named later.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/12/brewers-acquire-shaun-marcum.html

 

[EmpireWF]

Marcum was a solid pitcher in the AL East, should do well as a #3 or #4 for the Brew Crew.

 

[FedEx227]

So wait, is Lawrie in the deal? If so, not a very good deal at all. I like Marcum but I certainly wouldn't give up Lawrie to get him.

 

[Goober]

Marcum was a solid pitcher in the AL East, should do well as a #3 or #4 for the Brew Crew.

To bad Melvin probably expects him to be the #2.

So wait, is Lawrie in the deal? If so, not a very good deal at all. I like Marcum but I certainly wouldn't give up Lawrie to get him.

The latest is that it's one-for-one, Marcum for Lawrie; which doesn't excite me much. If true, Doug Melvin better be damn confident that he can resign Rickie Weeks to an extension, otherwise this trade is crap, as Lawrie was the only internal replacement for Weeks. Yes, Lawrie is currently blocked by Weeks/Hart in the majors, and his defense is terrible, and some scouts have had some negative comments about his mental makeup. But Lawrie is a top 25 prospect, he isn't even 21 yet, and he's the only explosive-top of the line bat in the Brewers farm system. Combine that with the injury risk involved with Marcum, and the fact that fly ball pitchers are never a good thing at Miller Park. This trade could blow up in the Brewers face, especially if the Blue Jays flip Lawrie for Grienke.

Fuck you for not trading Prince Fielder for pitching when you had the chance Doug Melvin.

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

Melvin should expect Marcum to be the #2 because quite frankly hes the second best pitcher on the Brewers now, so hes just that by default.

I think the move to the NL can only benefit him.. the Brewers will enjoy him.

 

[Goober]

Melvin should expect Marcum to be the #2 because quite frankly hes the second best pitcher on the Brewers now, so hes just that by default.

I think the move to the NL can only benefit him.. the Brewers will enjoy him.

I'm sure we'll enjoy him, but that doesn't mean much when we're used to the likes of Dave Bush and Jeff Suppan. The problem is the cost, we gave up our top prospect.

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

Yeah.. thats the part I enjoy about the trade. :smug:

If we can flip this into Greinke ill splooge.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

The Brewers lineup is lethal, but they lacked starters. I can't kill Melvin for this deal. Instantly improves the part of the team that needed the biggest upgrade. I feel like the Brewers are the team to watch in that division if they fix the rotation.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Where would Lawrie play? There wasn't a spot for him, so, flip him into a starter...a pretty good one at that. Marcum just needs to be healthy and he can put together very very strong seasons.

 

[Blade]

This is a good pick up for the Brew Crew. God knows you guys need pitching help. Marcum is going to tear up the Central.

 

[Boucher]

WE GOT A TOP PROSPECT TO REPLACE HILL?

 

[Goober]

Doug Melvin ftl:

Melvin asked about precedent of 2 Cdn. GMs dealing a Cdn. player. "I don't know, but I still have my Justin Bieber posters on my walls."

http://twitter.com/#!/RGriffinStar/statuses/11947444875034625

 

[Goober]

Brett Lawrie the tool???? Pictures from his facebook:

http://www.millerparkdrunk.com/base...nto-for-brett-lawrie-lawrie-revealed-as-tool/

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

Aslong as he crushes the ball I dont care how big a tool he is.

 

[Goober]

The Brewers are trying to add one more starter, right now it looks like they're looking at either signing Carl Pavano, or trading for a starting pitcher from the Braves or Rays. It doesn't seem like they're very close on a trade, I'd say the most likely of the three is Carl Pavano.

 

[NAHSTE]

The Brewers are trying to add one more starter, right now it looks like they're looking at either signing Carl Pavano, or trading for a starting pitcher from the Braves or Rays. It doesn't seem like they're very close on a trade, I'd say the most likely of the three is Carl Pavano.

Feel free to take Kenshin Kamakazi off our hands.

 

[killgod]

lol that blog is fucking retarded. He slams the guy for posting pics of him and his fine girlfriend? or having his hands taped to a bottle?

If you've never had your hands taped to a bottle of booze before, you have shitty friends.

Just sounds like nerd raging to justify the trade.........not that it needs any justification, right now it seems a win for both sides.

Brews get a 2nd spot pitcher of consistent quality, although with some injury risk.

Jays get a high end prospect with a well rounded skill set that's very much needed at the major league level.