Gavin Floyd

[NievesNoNO]

Per mlbtraderumors, the White Sox are willing to discuss Gavin Floyd. I'd ship Fielder for Floyd straight up if they'd accept it. Floyd is under contract for the next 2 seasons and has a 9.5 million 2013 club option (Cot's). With all the ramblings towards the deadline this season, maybe they can rekindle some talks. Thoughts?

[Invader3K]

I think it's worth exploring. I would probably do a straight up trade at this point...not sure if Kenny Williams would, though.

[Oldcity]

This would be a solid return for Fielder, but I'm guessing Doug would like someone with more years left on a contract. I don't think they'll be able to get a better pitcher than Floyd, though.

[dadofandrew]

3 years of Floyd, at that price, is worth more than a year of Prince, though you can't forget he brings 2 picks with him. If they miss out on Dunn, this might be something that will be reworked.

[colbyjack]

I like Gavin Floyd, and think he could improve the starting staff, although that isn't really that difficult. However, if that is all Fielder is worth, that really sucks, and would lead me to lean towards keeping Prince. If its Floyd and Beckham, who is rumored to also be available, then I'm more interested. I know Fielder is down to his last year, coming off of a down season, but we all know he is still one of the premier sluggers in the game.

[TooLiveBrew]

If Melvin is able to get Beckham & Floyd for Prince, I'll be in the hospital from attempting backflips.

[Invader3K]

If Melvin is able to get Beckham & Floyd for Prince, I'll be in the hospital from attempting backflips.

Me too. I know he had a bad season in 2010, but I think Beckham could really develop into a star player yet.

[nate82]

I like Gavin Floyd, and think he could improve the starting staff, although that isn't really that difficult. However, if that is all Fielder is worth, that really sucks, and would lead me to lean towards keeping Prince. If its Floyd and Beckham, who is rumored to also be available, then I'm more interested. I know Fielder is down to his last year, coming off of a down season, but we all know he is still one of the premier sluggers in the game.

If the Brewers acquire Beckham and Floyd that would be great but where would Beckham play assuming Weeks doesn't get traded. Would Beckham be sent to AAA? What do you do with Lawrie then? Not a bad place to be in because I believe the Brewers could flip Beckham or Weeks for a #3 type of a pitcher or trade Lawrie for a #1 or #2 type pitcher.

[Invader3K]

You can never have too many good players. Beckham's value is probably lower after last season, but not so low that you couldn't flip him if you wanted to. Or you could make him the 3B of the future and deal Gamel or McGehee.

[JohnBriggs12]

Sox fans that I know very well and some experts that follow the Sox aren't all that sold on Floyd. Many feel he lacks the intangibles to be anything more than a mid rotation starter. Minnesota, whom the Brewers play every year wore him out last year. He was 0-4 with an ERA of 8.04 against the Twins. Fitting though he's 3-0 with a 0.89 ERA against the Pirates. It wouldn't be a terrible return as his contract is reasonable and he's been solid now for 3 seasons, but I don't think exchanging Floyd for Fielder makes the Brewers a better team next year.

As for the fact he has only 2 years left on his contract, I don't think that's a big deal. He preferred the security of a multi year deal very early on, and may again be amenable to a contract extension.

[TooLiveBrew]

And in '08 he was 3-1 against MIN in with a 2.60 ERA. Using tiny samples in player analysis is really a waste of time.

[Oldcity]

I agree that Fielder for Floyd doesn't make them a better team. They'd have to make a corresponding move somewhere. I wouldn't be thrilled with it, but at the same time, I don't think they'd get a better pitcher straight up for Prince. It's why I don't think they'll trade him.

[greeg35]

Fielder for Floyd/Beckham would make sense for the Sox if they could ink Fielder to an extension. The key here is we need to get Boras out of Fielder's life and the Brewers' life will get much easier.

[Invader3K]

Boras doesn't have a good relationship with the White Sox, so I don't think Williams would look at it as anything more than a one year rental.

[JohnBriggs12]

And in '08 he was 3-1 against MIN in with a 2.60 ERA. Using tiny samples in player analysis is really a waste of time.

Since it will soon be 2011, I think what he did in 2010 is more relevant. There's lots of guys that had success in 2008 that I wouldn't want in 2011.

[Invader3K]

Why does his record against one team really matter? Particularly an AL club the Brewers only play six times per season? You have to view his entire body of work, not just games against one opponent. Frankly, he might have an advantage going to an NL club, since most hitters won't have faced him before.

[NievesNoNO]

I think Floyd is a bit underrated. Other than Cliff Lee, I'd rather have him than any other free agent pitcher. The contract makes him even more appealing. I know it was only speculation, but I thought Beckham was a sticking point to a deadline deal. What I don't want to have happen is the Brewers holding out for a deal that isn't there and then letting Fielder walk because they're too stubborn, while not improving the pitching. Floyd absolutely improves the staff, now whether that would be enough to offset the loss of Fielder's bat I don't know. I do know it'll be harder to find a starter with Floyd's skill set than to find an adequate first baseman.

 

We've seen what the Brewers are with Fielder and Braun and a good offense, but without pitching. They're simply not good enough.

[brewmann04]

Who does Boras have a good relationship with besides the Big Money teams?

[endaround]

And in '08 he was 3-1 against MIN in with a 2.60 ERA. Using tiny samples in player analysis is really a waste of time.

Since it will soon be 2011, I think what he did in 2010 is more relevant. There's lots of guys that had success in 2008 that I wouldn't want in 2011.

And in 4 interleague games in 2010 he had an ERA of 0.92 and therefore is a NL CY Young contender...

[Invader3K]

I think Floyd is a bit underrated. Other than Cliff Lee, I'd rather have him than any other free agent pitcher. The contract makes him even more appealing. I know it was only speculation, but I thought Beckham was a sticking point to a deadline deal. What I don't want to have happen is the Brewers holding out for a deal that isn't there and then letting Fielder walk because they're too stubborn, while not improving the pitching. Floyd absolutely improves the staff, now whether that would be enough to offset the loss of Fielder's bat I don't know. I do know it'll be harder to find a starter with Floyd's skill set than to find an adequate first baseman.

 

We've seen what the Brewers are with Fielder and Braun and a good offense, but without pitching. They're simply not good enough.

I agree. Just for argument's sake, let's say the Brewers trade Fielder for Floyd, straight up. Then they sign Carl Pavano (just going off the reported interest the Brewers have in him. You go into next season with:

Gallardo/Wolf/Floyd/Pavano/Narveson. You still probably have Parra and Rogers available as backups. Maybe Capuano as well.

I don't think anyone can say that isn't a clear upgrade over what we had at the start of last season (Gallardo/Wolf//Davis/Bush/Suppan).

 

[JohnBriggs12]

And in '08 he was 3-1 against MIN in with a 2.60 ERA. Using tiny samples in player analysis is really a waste of time.

Since it will soon be 2011, I think what he did in 2010 is more relevant. There's lots of guys that had success in 2008 that I wouldn't want in 2011.

And in 4 interleague games in 2010 he had an ERA of 0.92 and therefore is a NL CY Young contender...

The splits aside, my point is that Gavin Floyd is not a number 1 or 2 starter and won't ever be. He's a number 3. He's good at times, and not so good at others. He's seen by Sox fans and those that cover the team to not have the top of rotation makeup that other guys on that team possess. That's not my observation, but that of those that follow the Sox closely. Would he be useful to the Brewers? Absolutely. Is he an improvement over say Bush? Sure. Is he worth even one year of Fielder alone? Close maybe, but I'd want something else though I doubt it would be Beckum unless the Brewers tossed in a pitching prospect. Now if the Brewers got Floyd and Beckum for Fielder and say Rivas and maybe a bullpen arm, I'd strongly consider that.

[Invader3K]

Briggs, I don't think anyone thinks Floyd will necessarily be a top of the rotation guy. A solid #3 type is still very valuable for the Brewers, especially one that is still relatively young and under control for the next three years.

 

I agree that I could see the Brewers wanting a bit more for Fielder. I would love for them to get both Floyd and Beckham, but not sure if the White Sox will be willing to deal both. I would certainly be willing to throw in Rivas and a bullpen arm at this point like you suggested.

[Oldcity]

The splits aside, my point is that Gavin Floyd is not a number 1 or 2 starter and won't ever be. He's a number 3. He's good at times, and not so good at others. He's seen by Sox fans and those that cover the team to not have the top of rotation makeup that other guys on that team possess. That's not my observation, but that of those that follow the Sox closely.

2010 AL Ranks

26th in ERA

11th in xFIP

12th in WAR

2009 AL Ranks

22nd in ERA

8th in xFIP

8th in WAR

Floyd is at worst a strong number 2 starter. He's was far better than anyone on the Brewers in 2009, and only Yo compared to him in 2010. I care about that much more than how he's "seen by Sox fans."

[Mudville9]

I'm really torn on this. Floyd and a minor leaguer (don't think Beckham will happen) is a good return for one year of Fielder and would save us money to be used elsewhere. The real wildcard is those two picks we would get if we kept Prince. Everyone knows how that went with C.C. If we can work out something to get Beckham I would elated even if we gave up Rivas, who I'm pretty high on. Floyd in the NL would probably help some stats and then Beckham, Weeks or Lawrie could be dealt for more pitching. I really like the idea of Beckham at third, re-sign Weeks at second and Lawrie at first over the coming few years.

[dadofandrew]

His highest ERA in the AL since 2008 is 4.08. An average SP in the AL has about a 4.30-4.50 ERA, which would be a #3, so he's a #2, and a cheap one at that.