JP Morosi suggests Escobar for Balfour

[J.Kim]

That's horrible.

I wouldn't even trade Yunel Escobar for a healthy Mariano Rivera going into his prime even knowing that he was going to be one of the most dominant closers of this generation...

You wouldn't trade Yunel for Rivera circa 1996? That's crazy talk. Rivera had 52 WAR in front of him at that point. There's no way that Yunel has that in his whole career.

My thinking is that you never trade a quality position player for ANY relief pitcher regardless of how good that relief pitcher is at the time (or has been, or will be). Too much volatility, not enough value.

[limegameboy]

I'd probably trade him for Chapman but no one else.

[flatjacket1]

‏@jonmorosi
#BlueJays have worst bullpen ERA in American League: 4.44. If they are serious about contending, that must be addressed. Soon.

Doesn't mean we make the worst trade in MLB history.

[BigLeagueChew]

Theres better stats to look at for relievers than ERA.

[flatjacket1]

Theres better stats to look at for relievers than ERA.

Trading Escobar for Balfour makes no sense no matter how you put it. Only if hes a top 30 reliever in the last 12 years (worth 2.8 fWAR a year or more) does it make sense.

[kwamebargnani]

That's dumber than what Atlanta did.

[Schad]

‏@jonmorosi
#BlueJays have worst bullpen ERA in American League: 4.44. If they are serious about contending, that must be addressed. Soon.

Our bullpen has pitched ~150 innings (I'm lazy, thus ballparking)...the difference between our 'pen ERA and an elite 'pen with an ERA of 3.00? Around 25-30 runs. Definitely significant, but the difference between the pile of goo we've started at 1B (or DH in Encarnacion's stead) and an Adam Dunn-like offering? About the same. We could panic and trade our starting SS and prospects to acquire several players who might close one gap (and might not, relief being so variable), or we could close another for less cost and with a greater likelihood of success. Hmm, tough call.