Scott Kazmir a Better Trade for California Angels

Friday, September 11, 2009

The California Angels helped their pitching staff in a big way by making a better trade to acquire Scott Kazmir from the Tampa Bay Rays. Kazmir, who helped the Rays win the American League title in 2008, was shipped to the Angels in exchange for three minor leaguers.

It was one of the better trades for the Angels, who have Kazmir wrapped up for two more seasons, with the club having an option for 2012. There was $24.5 million remaining on Kazmir's deal at the time of the trade, but that amount is pretty much in line with other similar pitchers in Major League Baseball. Kazmir gives the Angels pitching depth and pitching experience; he beat the Red Sox twice in the 2008 playoffs. And from 2005-08 Kazmir, who is only 25, had the best strikeout-walk ratio in the American League. At the time of the trade Kazmir was 8-7 with a 5.92 ERA in 20 starts. In the four previous years, Kazmir has won at least 10 games and has never had an ERA higher than 3.77.

The trade began well for the Angels, who were leading the American League West. Kazmir allowed only two earned runs in his first two starts for Los Angeles and struck out 12 in 13 innings.

The Rays hope they'll be viewed as the recipient of the better trade if their three prospects pan out to be starters. Tampa Bay received second baseman Sean Rodriguez, left-handed pitcher Alex Torres, and third baseman Matt Sweeney. None were considered to be the top prospects in the Angels organization. Rodriguez has played 71 games in the majors and had hit .299 with 29 homers in AAA for Salt Lake. Torres is a groundball pitcher who still manages to get his share of strikeouts. Sweeney missed 2008 with a knee injury and was also hitting .299 when traded. None of the players were on Tampa's active roster in September.

It's the second time the acquisition of Kazmir has been a better trade for the team that acquired him. When he was a young prospect, the New York Mets traded Kazmir to Tampa Bay in exchange for pitcher Victor Zambrano. Kazmir went to the All-Star Game and Zambrano missed the season with elbow surgery. It was considered the worst deal in Mets history since the team traded future Hall of Famer and strikeout king Nolan Ryan to the Angels for Jim Fregosi in 1971.