One Fish To Another: Cutthroats and Koi Complete a Blockbuster

March 27, 2018, 09:15:32 PM

Just days before the opening of the 2018 Mutiny season, River City and Arizona have exchanged some of the biggest names in the game. Heading to Arizona are perennial MVP candidate Bryce Harper, arguably the most dominant reliever in baseball over the last couple seasons, Andrew Miller, and the ever improving Carlos Santana. In return, River City receives the top catcher in the game, Buster Posey, top centerfield prospect, Lewis Brinson, and a first round minor league pick in the 2018 Amateur Draft. Jayson Werth and AJ Schugal round out the return for the Cutthroats.

Harper and Santana join a Koi lineup already boasting Freddie Freeman, Gary Sanchez, Mike Moustakas and Chris Taylor to form one of the most potent offenses in the league, while Miller will anchor what could be a dominant bullpen. The Koi pen will hold three sub-2.00 ERA arms with Miller, Pat Neshek and Cory Gearrin. Arizona GM, Jim Gill commented, “We liked that we were receiving both a top bat and a closer for what we hope is a contending team. We realize the appeal of a cheap controllable player like Brinson, but saw the offer as too good to pass up.” For a contending team, it’s hard to dispute that opinion.

River City was equally as thrilled with their return. Picking up the consensus #1 catcher in the sport is no small feat. And to control that player for the next three seasons through his prime would have been a sizeable return in itself. But along with Posey, the Cutthroats acquired one of the top centerfield prospects in the game in Lewis Brinson and will be able to continue building their farm system with an additional first round pick in this July’s draft. Brinson is a top shelf defender with a cannon arm who could play centerfield, or slide over and keep runners honest from rightfield. He has improved his hit tool and plate discipline to round out his five-tool ability. His floor is that of a .250-.260 hitter with 15 HR/15 SB while his ceiling is that of a .280-.290 hitter with 20/20 potential. That ceiling is becoming more and more realistic with each passing season.

Salary cap issues curtailed the Cutthroats involvement in the free agent market this winter and spurred team GM Darrell Gonser to look to the trade market in order to complete his team. But don’t make the mistake that River City is not looking to defend their 2017 Mutiny World Series title. “In looking at the depth of the Cutthroats the plan was hatched to attempt to add some much needed depth, remain competitive and see what might happen down the stretch,” said Gonser. It takes a creative mind to lose the players the Cutthroats did, run up against the salary cap, yet still field a team capable of defending their title.

So how did this deal build?

Knowing the trade market was his ticket to retooling his team, Gonser inquired around the league, initially offering Harper as a possible return for starting pitching. He received interest from multiple teams, not surprising considering the offered return. However, with starting pitchers not readily available as a return, the combination of Brinson and the #1 pick swayed his decision to look in other directions. He then began looking to shed some additional cap space in order to look elsewhere for the starting pitching. Being able to also move Miller ($6.0M) and Santana ($3.5M) in this deal, and the opportunity to secure Posey sealed the deal.

In the immediate term, this deal serves to further strengthen the playoff contending Koi, while also retooling the Cutthroats for a possible defense of their title. Short of that possibility though, River City has also secured future value for another run and Arizona has opened further cap space next winter by moving the 2020 contract of Posey and gaining the expiring deals of Harper and Miller.

From the eyes of this reporter, this looks like a win-win for both teams.

Staff Writer Renton Brewz is embedded in Bako and official Gossipmonger to the Bums.

Re: One Fish To Another: Cutthroats and Koi Complete a Blockbuster

Reply #1 – April 02, 2018, 04:23:16 PM

I love these write-ups so much. Honestly, this level of engagement is why I've been a part of this league for so long.

Re: One Fish To Another: Cutthroats and Koi Complete a Blockbuster

Reply #2 – April 05, 2018, 01:07:07 PM

YES!!! Between Matt, Brent, and Brendt's writing abilities my new biggest fear for the league is that they leave us for illustrious journalism careers.