Baseball Musings: Cubs CF Scrapheap

January 18, 2009

Cubs CF Scrapheap

The Orioles traded for Felix Pie because that Corey Patterson deal worked out so well.

A year after they couldn't get Felix Pie from the Chicago Cubs in the failed Brian Roberts talks, the Orioles acquired the multi-tooled outfielder today for starting pitcher Garrett Olson and Single-A pitcher Henry Williamson.
Pie, who the Orioles have coveted for the past couple of seasons, was out of options and going to have a hard time making the Cubs' Opening Day roster after their additions of outfielders Milton Bradley and Joey Gathright. With the Orioles, Pie, who turns 24 next month, is expected to be used in an outfield platoon with Ryan Freel. Luke Scott, who started 100 games in left field last season, will likely move to designated hitter with Aubrey Huff becoming the team's everyday first baseman.

Pie is someone who never translated his good minor league numbers into major league success. In this way, he's very similar to Corey Patterson. You would think the Orioles would have learned their lesson.

Of course the same can be said of Olson. He's a high K, low BB pitcher in the minors, the opposite in the majors. However, at age 24, I suspect he's just coming into his own as a pitcher. I'll go on record as saying I don't like this deal for the Orioles. I'm betting Olson has a lot more upside than Pie. Williamson also looks like he has some upside as well. Maybe the Orioles should have allowed Pie's options to expire and then pick him up off waivers.

Posted by David Pinto at 04:07 PM | Trades | TrackBack (0)

Comments

Clearly, you've never seen Olson pitch. He doesn't have the stuff or command necessary to pitch in the American League East. He might be successful in Chicago, but its doubtful he would be successful in Baltimore. Plus, a player with Pie's talent would likely be claimed by someone higher up the waiver wire food chain, like the San Diego Padres or Washington Nationals.

Posted by: WillClark4HOF at January 18, 2009 04:37 PM

I have to concur w/Will's take on Olson. Totally intimidated by major league bats, which aint good for a pitcher who faces the BoSox, Rays, or Yankees one game in four.

Posted by: Joe at January 18, 2009 07:05 PM

I think Pie can still be a decent player. Shane Victorino type ceiling???
Won't be as valuable as a left fielder though.

Olson and Pie are the same. Team down on them, good minor league numbers, bad major league numbers in a small sample.

Weather this is a precursor to the Cubs getting Peavy or not, it seems like a pretty good trade on both sides

Posted by: Boomer at January 18, 2009 07:41 PM

"You would think the Orioles would have learned their lesson."

Gives credence to Leo Mazzone's comments.

Posted by: rbj at January 18, 2009 09:08 PM

First of all, Olson is 25. Secondly, Olson has "eh" stuff. Futher, he's afraid to throw his "eh" stuff for strikes. The AL east batted him around this year.

Posted by: Shane at January 18, 2009 11:07 PM

What happened to Adam Jones?

Posted by: bandit at January 19, 2009 11:00 AM

According to Fangraphs, guys did not swing at pitches out of the strike zone against Olson. He had the fifth-lowest mark among pitchers with 100 IP:
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=100&type=5&season=2008&month=0

He also has a higher-than-average rate of hitters swinging and connecting on him in the strike zone.

This tells me two things:

(1) Olson isn't fooling hitters with his breaking stuff.
(2) Hitters are waiting for their pitch against him.

That is not a great combination.

Posted by: Tom at January 20, 2009 12:19 AM

I think it's a fair trade. Olson might succeed in the bigs someday, but he's a lefty who relies on command and variety more than velocity or stuff, so he has little margin for error. His adjustment might take a few years, if the Cubs are patient with him.

Also, the Orioles have the minor-league pitching depth to make up for the loss of Olson, but they have a serious lack of hitting prospects who could contribute in the next 2-3 years except Nolan Reimold, who hasn't played above Double-A yet. So I understand why they jumped at the opportunity to add Pie to the mix. He might be the next Corey Patterson, or he might not. We'll see.

bandit: Adam Jones is still the starting CF, but Pie offers insurance there in case Jones gets injured or has issues with his hitting.

Posted by: tbw at January 22, 2009 03:03 AM

Oh, and besides Reimold there's that guy named Wieters. But you knew that.

Posted by: tbw at January 22, 2009 03:07 AM