Reuben: Fair enough. Let's take a look. For starters, I think that AL clubs will be particularly wary of Wandy's 9-12 5.09 ERA in interleague play. So let's look around the NL at teams in contention. Let's start in the West.
I don't think that Wandy would prime Cain, Bumgarner or Vogelsong in SFO. And that assumes that he would even prime Lincecum, who, even though he has sucked eggs this season, is a two time Cy Young winner. To me, the only one that Wandy is clearly better than is Zito. In Arizona, you've got Miley, Saunders, Cahill and Kennedy, so Wandy slots in 3-5 there. In LA, you've got Kershaw, Capuano, Harang and Billingsley, so Wandy slots in 3-5 there. That takes care of the NL West teams in contention. Let's head to the NL Central.
You've got three teams in the hunt right now, with Milwaukee on the outside looking in. Pittsburgh has McDonald, Burnett, Correia and Bedard. I think that he slots in a solid 3 there. That might be a trading partner, but it is within the division, so maybe not. In Cincy, the Dickities have Cueto, Arroyo, Bailey, Leake and Latos. Wandy probably slots in 3 or 4 there. In St. Louis, you've got Kelly, Lohse, Lynn, Wainright and Westbrook. Where does he slot there? Anywhere from 2-4. Who's in contention in the NL East?
Washington-Zimmermann, Strasburg, Gonzalez, Detwiler and Jackson. Wandy slots in 4 or 5 there, tops. steM: Dickey, Santana, Niese and Gee. Wandy goes in 3 or 4 there. ATL: Hudson, Hanson, Delgado, Minor and Jurrgens. Now there, Wandy slots in a solid 3-there's another potential trade partner. And they've still got some prospects.
So, in conclusion, you and Chuck were probably right about Wandy. Even though Wandy is an 80-81 4.01 career pitcher, which are arguably pretty pedestrian numbers, he slots in at 3 or better on several of the teams presently in contention. But the question is how much of an upgrade would he be? To me, even on most of the teams where I have him at least at a 3, he's not a significant enough upgrade to give away many prime prospects, especially given his salary price tag. To me, the best NL trading partners are Pittsburgh and Atlanta, given their needs.
Thanks for nudging me to do a little homework.
You may have done some homework, but you let your perception, not the raw numbers influence your perception of reality:
Lets take a look at all of the teams currently in contention, and who might be interested in him.
Washington Nationals: Doubtful that they are intrested, given that they have 5 pitchers with a sub 3.75 ERA. And three pitchers with a sub 3 ERA. Pitching, expecially starting pitching is not an area of concern for the Nationals.
Atlanta Braves: Wandy Rodriguez has a better ERA, and Quality Start Percentage than anyone on the Braves Staff. And he has pitched more inning per start than anyone on the staff not named Tim Hudson. All the numbers show that Wandy Rodriguez is atworst the #2 starter, and maybe even the #1 starter for the Braves.
New York Mets: The Mets have RA Dickey who obviously has better numbers than Wandy Rodriguez. But Johan Santana is posting very comparable numbers to Wandy Rodriguez. Wandy Rodriguez has a slightly higher Quality Start Percentage, and has pitched more inning per star than Santana, but Santana has a slightly better ERA (3.24 compared to 3.38). Santana probably keeps the #2 role on the staff due to already being on the team. After that is Niese who Wandy has beat in ERA (3.73 to 3.38), as well has innings per start, and is tied with in number of quality starts. Plus Wandy has a much better history and track record that Niese has. Wandy is no worse than a possible #2, likely #3 here.
Pittsburgh Pirates: The Pirates has James McDonald who is still the clear #1 for them, but Wandy Rodriguez is the likely #2 for Pittsburgh. He has a better ERA, better WHIP, more innings per start, and tied for equal number of quality starts with AJ Burnett. But, even if you gave Burnett the #2 spot over Wandy Rodriguez, Wandy is no doubt the clear #3, as he blows Kevin Correia away in every category.
Cincinnati Reds: Once again, the Reds have Johnny Cuerto at the #1 spot, but after that, Wandy Rodriguez has more quality starts, and a significantly better ERA (3.38 compared to 3.86) compared to AJ Burnett. And once you get to the #3 slot Wandy Rodriguez is an absolute no doubt upgrade over Mike Leake. So you once again have a likely #2 or no doubt #3 starter.
St Louis Cardinals: Kyle Loshe would still be the #1 in St Louis, but after him Wandy has a slightly better ERA, more quality starts, and more innings per start them Lynn. And all those differences are even more evident once you get to Westbrook. Wandy is once again a possible #2, easy #3 starter in St Louis.
LA Dodgers: The Dodgers have Kershaw and Capuano at #1, and #2. And Wandy would only be a slight upgrade to Harang at the #3 spot, but is a clear upgrade to Billingsly at the #4 spot. So he would slot as a #3 or #4 here no doubt. But pitching is not the Dodgers weakness.
San Francisco Giants: The Giants are great 1-3 at pitching with Vogelsong, Cain, and Bumgarner. But Wandy is a definate upgrade to Zito at #4.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Miley likely keeps the #1 spot here. But after that Wandy is a slight but definate upgrade in all categories, ERA, WHIP, Quality Starts, Innings per start over Cahill, and a no doubt significant upgrade over Kennedy.
The ONLY teams that Wandy would not be a no doubt upgrade at the #3 position at for teams would be the three teams that likely have no intrest in trading for pitching the Giants, Dodgers, and Nationals. All other teams he slots as either a close #2, solid #3. Or a likely #2, and no doubt #3 starter.
