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this wasn't a bad trade. but then again, we're basing this off potential and you know what that can do for a fanbase.

9 Ks and a standing O for Stroman in his Mets debut. Who could have seen that coming?!

Everyone, since we all know Marcus Stroman is a good pitcher?

Woods-Richardson 5 innings 8 K's, Anthony Kay 6 innings 8 K's in their most recent starts. Who would have thought?

https://fantasy.fangraphs.com/hidden-gems-from-the-2018-draft/

Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP, Blue Jays
Baseball America: 8
MLB Pipeline: 7
Marc Hulet: 6

Part of me really didn’t like the Jays’ return for Marcus Stroman from the Mets. The other part of me was a huge Woods Richardson fan. The young hurler, who’s still just 18, has been nothing short of brilliant in pro ball to date. He was actually on his way to High-A ball when the Jays acquired him so that’s where he landed with his new club, too, after posting a strikeout rate of 11.15 K/9 in 78.1 Low-A ball innings. In his first two games in the Toronto system, he has 13 strikeouts in 8.2 innings but he’s also been a little (uncharacteristically) wild. Woods Richardson has a high ceiling, especially if he can harness a third pitch to go with his outstanding fastball-curveball combo. If the pitchers can stay healthy, the Jays could have a really exciting starting rotation in about three years with Nate Pearson (2018 first rounder), Alex Manoah (2019 first rounder), Woods Richardson (2018 2nd rounder)… and one other guy I’m going to talk about in a minute.

Other guy was Kloffenstein.

Simeon Woods-Ricahrdson continues to dominate.

phillipmike wrote:Simeon Woods-Ricahrdson continues to dominate.

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I don't see how this guy isn't a top 100 prospect going into next year.

vaff87 wrote:I don't see how this guy isn't a top 100 prospect going into next year.

To me the scariest part is he has only been in the system for 1.5 years. Just think about that... he pitched 17 innings in rookie ball last season. This is his first full pro ball season and he has dominated A ball and might be on the verge of dominating A+ ball and he is only 18 turning 19 in 2 months. For comparison sake, Pearson is 22 turning 23. Pearson was in A+ ball THIS season at the age of 22; SWR is 3 years younger at the same level. Pearson only pitched 24 innings in A+ and SWR is already at 13 innings... No need to rush SWR but there is a lot to like about him. He may not be a 100 prospect many causal fans were hoping for but he might a jump to top 25-50 prospect by mid season next year.

I am not a Kay fan at all but the pro he has too is that this is his 2nd full season as well. Missed the 2016 and 2017 due to TJS.

both players have had minimal time in the minors and all they did was perform at each level - Kay moved up 4 levels in 2 years and SWR moved up 3 in 1.5 years. Hard to ask for anything more.

I wasnt crazy about this trade at all but there looks to be early returns.

phillipmike wrote:To me the scariest part is he has only been in the system for 1.5 years. Just think about that... he pitched 17 innings in rookie ball last season. This is his first full pro ball season and he has dominated A ball and might be on the verge of dominating A+ ball and he is only 18 turning 19 in 2 months. For comparison sake, Pearson is 22 turning 23. Pearson was in A+ ball THIS season at the age of 22; SWR is 3 years younger at the same level. Pearson only pitched 24 innings in A+ and SWR is already at 13 innings... No need to rush SWR but there is a lot to like about him. He may not be a 100 prospect many causal fans were hoping for but he might a jump to top 25-50 prospect by mid season next year.

I am not a Kay fan at all but the pro he has too is that this is his 2nd full season as well. Missed the 2016 and 2017 due to TJS.

both players have had minimal time in the minors and all they did was perform at each level - Kay moved up 4 levels in 2 years and SWR moved up 3 in 1.5 years. Hard to ask for anything more.

I wasnt crazy about this trade at all but there looks to be early returns.

I don't even think Kay is bad, just not a star. He looks like a future rotation starter, though, health permitting. He's been better in Buffalo since his disaster of a first game. SWR looks downright fantastic.

Yah, this trade is fine. Why does every normie and his mother feel the need to talk to me about this trade like my dog just died. Nothing to be sad about. In fact, it's a perfectly decent return.

Black Watch wrote:Yah, this trade is fine. Why does every normie and his mother feel the need to talk to me about this trade like my dog just died. Nothing to be sad about. In fact, it's a perfectly decent return.

Most fans have no clue how good/bad any prospect is, therefore they become a slave to the top 100 rankings when they evaluate.

The_Hater wrote:

Black Watch wrote:Yah, this trade is fine. Why does every normie and his mother feel the need to talk to me about this trade like my dog just died. Nothing to be sad about. In fact, it's a perfectly decent return.

Most fans have no clue how good/bad any prospect is, therefore they become a slave to the top 100 rankings when they evaluate.

Unfortunately fans learn it from media people... A good majority of what was said on the radio by "insiders" were spewing the same message of it is a disappointing deal because there wasnt a top 100 prospect- the "uneducated/casual" fan hears that and runs with it. I hate to break it to fans but guys like Pompey, Alford, Norris, Hoffman, Harris, and Urena were all top 100 prospects. Top 100 guarantee nothing.

Syndergaard wasnt a top 100 prospect in the middle of his breakout season which is very similar to Simeon Woods-Richardson's 2019 season. Syndergaard was ranked 83rd after the season by MLB.com and then moved up to 12th overall the following year. Extremely young, projectable pitchers who throw heat with results well get their look and it should happen soon.

Comparison;
2012: Syndergaard at 19 in A Ball - 2.36 FIP, 103.2 innings pitched, 10.6 K/9, 2.7 BB/9 (Syndergaard's 3rd season in the Jays system)
2019: Woods-Richardson at 18 in A/A+ Ball - 2.63 FIP, 97 innings pitches, 10.9 K/9, 2.1 BB/9 (SWR 2nd season in the Mets/Jays system)

They have a similar repertoire too; fastball in the mid 90s, curveball and a changeup. Syndergaard's curve is more of a power curve though but SWR's 2nd best pitch is his curveball. Thor added a deadly slider which is hard to compare to anything SWR has.

SWR is having a similar season being a year younger while currently playing at a higher level. Of course SWR isnt going to be the next Thor, but im showing how a breakout season often gets overlooked in the season it is happening. SWR should get his recognition in the winter on a few top 100 lists and you might even see him bypass the 76-100 spots on one list a show up on someone's top 75 list.

The season he is having at his age and at this level is truly special. Only other qualified pitcher since 2006 (data only goes that far back) at the age of 18 and a K/BB ratio greater than 5, SWR and Mad Bum;

Comparison;
2008: Bumgardner at 18 in A Ball - 2.06 FIP, 141 innings pitched, 10.4 K/9, 1.33 BB/9 (MadBum's 1st season in the Giants System)
2019: Woods-Richardson at 18 in A/A+ Ball - 2.63 FIP, 97 innings pitches, 10.9 K/9, 2.1 BB/9 (SWR 2nd season in the Mets/Jays system)

Sample size of 18 year old or younger, pitchers in A ball with a minimum of 70 innings pitched = 27

Shows not many 18 years get to A ball and have pitched as many innings as SWR with the success he had. MadBum stayed in A ball where SWR got moved up to A+ and is still producing at a great rate.

Plus SWR is the ONLY 18 year old in A+, there is one 17 year old who has thrown 2 innings (jumped from rookie to A+ ball for some reason) and a 19 year old who has thrown 3 innings. The rest are 20 or older.

Only ten 18 year old (or younger) pitchers have made it to A+ since 2009 (FG wont let me go back to 2006). And only two have made more than 3 starts; SWR and Sixto Sanchez (mlb.com's 24th overall ranked prospect).

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/minor-league?pos=all&lg=10&stats=pit&qual=0&type=0&team=&season=2009&seasonEnd=2019&org=&ind=0&splitTeam=true&players=&sort=3,-1

He still has a lot to prove but there is a lot to like with SWR. Im not a big Kay fan at all but even he is showing some backend major league promise as soon as 2020 with his numbers in AAA. Its an intriguing trade for the Jays with upside and in the case of SWR, huge upside.

Looks like SWR and Kay are the reasons for us jumping from the 9th best farm to the 6th best.

Mets fans dont seem to be happy with the trade, though they are doing well surging up the standings to a WC spot.

phillipmike wrote:

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Mets fans dont seem to be happy with the trade, though they are doing well surging up the standings to a WC spot.

Stroman’s pitching hasn’t been very good, but they’ve scored 28 runs in his 4 starts. They probably could have won all 4 with Anthony Kay starting.

Stroman may look worse than Stroman is in actual fact on the Mets. That infield defense is ugly, and he's far more dependent on grounders turning into outs than his compatriots in that rotation.

Terrible trade at the time it happened - and still terrible now.