Joe Nathan as a consolation prize?

Krapinsky · Post #1 » by **Krapinsky** » Sat Dec 1, 2007 10:00 pm

If you guys don't get Santana would you be interested in trading for Nathan? I know you've flirted with making Papelbon a starter before. You would definately keep Elsbury and Bucholtz in such a trade. May cost you Lester though and maybe Lowrie, or possibly just Crisp and Lowrie. Not really sure, trying to get a feel for Nathan's value.

If it's Lester/Lowrie:

Your bullpen would remain the same insert Nathan, take away Paps.

Your starters would improve assuming Paps would immediately become a better starter than Lester: Beckett, Paps, Dice-k, Bucholtz, Schilling

Post #2 » by **canman1971** » Sun Dec 2, 2007 12:23 am

Paps is our closer. That would be a waste of resources, IMO.

Post #3 » by **Bleeding Green** » Sun Dec 2, 2007 8:51 am

What? No.

1. Nathan is a reliever.
2. That's a lot to give up for a reliever.
3. Papelbon can't start.
4. LOL

GreenGrizz · Post #4 » by **GreenGrizz** » Sun Dec 2, 2007 9:45 pm

I wouldn't LoL at phenomenal relievers. They are hard to find. Eric Gagne is at the exit door. Timlin is getting too old. The others are unpredictable.

GreenGrizz · Post #5 » by **GreenGrizz** » Sun Dec 2, 2007 9:47 pm

I also would like to add that Papelbon and Okajima are only human and can't be healthy all time. Okajima had a tired arm in September with the Yankess onton our tail. Papelbon's shoulder was busted one year before.

Krapinsky · Post #6 » by **Krapinsky** » Sun Dec 2, 2007 9:57 pm

IMO Nathan isn't jsut a releiver, he's a top 5 closer. I thought there was talk last year of making Paps a starter? Is this now completely improbable? If so, a 7-8-9 of Okajima, Nathan, and Paps would be impressive nonetheless. Considering sans Santana you'll have 6 starters next year/7 counting Wake, I don't think a Nathan for Lester deal straight up would be anything to sneeze at.

Post #7 » by **Chach** » Mon Dec 3, 2007 2:25 am

Bull, Nathan is not a top 5 closer. Nathan IS the best closer in baseball. There was talk is it's just talk. He has two pitches, one of which took a step back as the season went on. Papelbon would do a good Lester impersonation by getting to 100 pitches through 4 1/3 innings.

I'd trade Lester for Nathan. I would love to have him be our bullpen ace with Papelbon the designated closer because Pap's shoulder question makes me leery to use him with a bullpen ace pattern. Only problem, which I've already pointed out, is Nathan is the best closer is baseball so I think he's going to have a hard time accepting being a bullpen ace instead of closer and he's a FA after next season and a one year rental of an excellent 8th inning set-up man for Lester seems a bit steep. mahalo
~Chach~