Trade – Melky Cabrera for Jonathan Sanchez

The Kansas City Royals and the San Francisco Giants pulled off a trade yesterday that is worth examining. The Giants received OF Melky Cabrera for Pitcher Jonathan Sanchez and a minor league pitcher.

Melky Cabrera’s 2011 season – 155 GP, 102 R, 201 H, 44 2B, 5 3B, 18 HR, 87 RBI, 20 SB, .305 AVG, .339 OBP, .470 SLG, .809 OPS

Jonathan Sanchez’s 2011 season – 19 GS, 101.1 IP, 80 H, 66 BB, 102 K, 4-7 Record, 1.44 WHIP, .220 BAA, 4.26 ERA

From the Giants perspective:

The Giants have plenty of starting pitching, almost an embarrassment of riches really, with Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Ryan Volgelsong, Madison Bumgarner, the young Eric Surkamp and even Barry Zito. Many analysts immediately asked why they couldn’t they have gotten a better player than Melky in return for a power pitching 28 year old lefty? After all, the 28 year old Melky is coming off a very solid season (easily his best) but it is the only one he has had like it in his career. But Melky rededicated himself last off-season. He spent time with his buddy Alex Rodriguez (and his trainers of course) showing up to spring training with a new body and attitude. And, boy oh boy, did it show in his impressive 2011 campaign! Melky is the first Royal player to have a 200 hit season in over a decade! Melky also can play all three outfield positions respectably and has a strong arm (especially for a centerfielder). This will give the Giants great flexibility for the remainder of the off-season retooling of their team (options to resign or not resign a Carlos Beltran or a Cody Ross for example).

From the Royals perspective:

The Royals pitching, especially their young starting pitching, has been a messy struggle. The Royals realize they needed to add an experienced starter to upgrade their young rotation (hopefully an additional second one is also coming). Adding a post-season experienced Jonathan Sanchez to the team chemistry mix can only help them. Sanchez had a solid 2010 season along with a great 2010 postseason. His 2011 season, and career, have been marked by not going deep enough into games and walking way too many hitters (66 walks in over 101 innings in 2010). Many left-handed power pitchers seem to constantly struggle with their mechanics and the Royals are positive they can help him with that. The Royals also needed to make room for their up and coming centerfielder Lorenzo Cain, so moving Melky, who played center for them last season, made the most sense.

This, in my opinion, is the epitome of a trade that will help both teams. These are the best kind of trades, although, I have greater faith in Melky having similar seasons to 2011 than Jonathan Sanchez getting his control issues straightened out. So, if you pointed a pitching machine at my head, I would have to say the trade winner was The San Francisco Giants.