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Technically, I guess the easiest way is with a ready player at the same position, but let's assume for a second that the traded player is hard to replace at the same value. I mean, if we were to trade Danny Hultzen for X, and Walker's not ready, and Maurer isn't, and Pike certainly isn't... then who steps into the rotation? We don't throw Noesi back out there, right?
But moving Capps to the rotation is a bit like stashing a ringer in the bullpen and devaluing him on a national level, propping up the value of the Big Three, and then sneaking him out of the back to the roars of the crowd later. "Wait, we traded for their best pitching prospect and they just dragged a BETTER pitcher out of his setup role? What did we miss?"
Like having a former WWF champ wrestle in a mask like any old jobber, then tear the mask off and win the belt back.
We really don't need Capps in the pen. I mean, I'm not turning him DOWN, and it could always work out via injury or ineptitude that we DO need him and he'll be really valuable...but didn't we pick up a 7th inning arm as a trade throw in? Or in the Rule 5? Don't we have 3 more of those guys hanging out around AAA?
Maybe they're not Capps-good...but Pryor's an 11K baller, as is Carson Smith, as is the goon Tyler Burgoon. All righties, all AA or above. Shawn Kelley's still around. Chance Ruffin was K'ing 11 per last year. Moran's a crafty lefty, but he's been a nightmare this year too. LaFromboise? "Only" 9.5 K/9 but completely unhittable.
We drafted another armada of setup/closer types this year, with Vedo/Wood/Brazis/etc all blowing up opposing batters on contact.
Capps still looks like a starter to me. Maybe with Felix/Iwakuma/Erasmo/Hultzen/Paxton/Walker/Maurer we can't fit him in and will simply deploy him from the pen a la Bard or Papelbon... but if we have to trade pitching for a bat, then I'd sure be interested in testing him out as a starter. We could use a 4 WAR starter appearing like magic from thin air.
Especially since we traded the last one. Enjoy your AL pennant, Mr. Fister. Tack that thing to your wall, and go get a WS ring - we miss you as our #2 starter, so excuse us while we search through our multitude of prospects for your replacement.
~G