Cubs Acquire Ramirez and Lofton
Pat Hughes just announced during the broadcast of tonight’s game that the Cubs have acquired Aramis Ramirez and Kenny Lofton from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jose Hernandez, Triple-A starting pitcher Matt Bruback, and a player to be named later. This is a good trade, and it appears that the Pirates came to the realization that Ramirez and Lofton had a lower trade value than what they have reportedly been asking for. Though I have to believe that the PTBNL will turn out to be a low-minors player with some potential.
UPDATE (9:05pm): Jim Hendry on the PTBNL, talking with Pat and Ron: “[Pirates GM Dave Littlefield’s] going to get a good prospect.”
UPDATE II (9:09pm): Hendry just said that they’ll try to have Ramirez and Lofton there for tomorrow night’s game and that this trade doesn’t mean he’s going to stop trying to improve the club before the trade deadline.
UPDATE III (9:17pm): Because the Cubs have acquired two big leaguers in this trade and only given up one, someone on the big league roster is going to have to be sent down or cut. They have some immediate flexibility with Prior on the DL – they can send down Sergio Mitre and not call anyone up until Sunday to start. After that, if Tom Goodwin’s injury tonight is serious, there’s the roster spot. Otherwise, Hee Seop Choi may get sent down (which would be a mistake) or Hendry could do what he should have done awhile ago – cut Lenny Harris.
UPDATE IV (9:25pm): Scott Lange evaluated a week ago what a trade for Ramirez and Lofton would bring to the Cubs.
UPDATE V (10:35pm): Al Yellon likes the deal. I do, too, pending the unveiling of the PTBNL. Brian Carstens also likes the deal, but says it’s not one that usually brings division titles. He also says Bruback is the key to the deal for the Pirates. I wish I were that optimistic about what the Cubs actually gave up, but I’m not, and I think the PTBNL will be the key to the deal for them.
UPDATE VI (11:25pm): Baseball Primer’s Dan Szymborski on the trade:
[This] is just a terrible trade for the Pirates and I find it hard to believe that the most they could cash in Aramis Ramirez and Kenny Lofton for was an inferior 3B to ARam and a B pitching prospect. I’m interested to see how Dusty will mess this up.
He completely ignores the PTBNL and the money they will save next year on Ramirez’s contract.
UPDATE VII (7/23/2003 1:05am): Scott Lange, Weeghman Park, and The Cub Reporter all have comments.
UPDATE VIII (7/23/2003 10:50am): baseballjunkie.net’s Ben Matasar and Ryan Wilkins have a short discussion going on whether Ramirez will be a good offensive player (or “merely” average) going forward. Also, David Cameron of the U.S.S. Mariner isn’t upset that the Mariners, who also need a third baseman, didn’t acquire Ramirez (link via Baseball News Blog).
UPDATE IX (7/23/2003 12:50pm): Mike’s Baseball Rants has comments.
UPDATE X (7/23/2003 10:05pm): Let’s Play Two also likes the trade and provides short evaluations of Lofton and Ramirez.