[USML Announce] I'm a Berliner Believer: Winick's Brilliant Deals Spin One Gem Of A Team

[Brad Jansen]

I know Jeffrey Winick is far too modest to self-evaluate his brilliant, bold
moves to rebuild his team, at least on paper.  But while he's busy drafting
his next article on this season's dumpers, let's take a reasonably close
look at how Winick's strategy paid off: Big Time.

Winick went into the draft planning to rebuild.  He knew that Klein Nine and
Red Hots, among others, had far more firepower on their reserve rosters than
he and it made little sense to engage these squads this year.  Accordingly,
his plan was to (i) buy some high-priced studs to move in-season for keepers
and (ii) acquire some bargains.  As for the first part of the Plan, Winick
spent $46 on A-Rod, $25 on Reggie Sanders (a buck less than Jim Thome, I
might add) and $21 on Javier Vazquez.  Winick burned up too much cash
chasing two highly touted  prospects (but more on those later) , but the
first part of the plan resulted in some success.  I leave it to Klein to
berate Winick for the talent he dumped, but A-Rod along with Joe Blanton
netted Winick Brandon Wood and Phillip Hughes.  We all know Wood's gonna be
a stud hitter and he was among the top 3 prospects available via trade. The
guy's already belted 18 taters albeit with over one hundred Ks--magic bean
or silver bullet, the guy's a keep, as is Hughes (over 100 Ks already) if
one cares for $5 rookie pitchers (see King Felix). The money W spent on
Sanders was a waste of resources but W sure moved the woefully mediocre
Vazquez at the right time, parting with him and Ibanez to acquire a $3 Rocco
Baldelli.  A major keeper.

The bargain-hunting part of Winick's draft plan was partly successful, but
face it: for the all the ridicule you naysayers heaped on W for spending $19
on Francisco Liriano, who wouldn't want this guy now?  An untouchable and
among the best pitchers in baseball.  W spent $14 on Andy Marte, who will
play at some point this season and will need to do something significant to
justify retention at that salary.  But W also drafted Hayden Penn and Jon
Lester for $1 each.  Penn's doing fine in the minors and will be a
contributor next year if not this year. And did anyone see Lester pitch last
night?  Two solid solid keepers.

What about W's other moves this season?  He plucked Jason Kubel at a $5
salary from the Angries, who somehow thought Dan Miceli was worth
it....check out this guy's stats: Keeper!    W  ripped me off  for  SEA
uber-prospect  Adam Jones, and recently acquired a $7 Joe Crede from the
Nukes for a damaged piece of Millwood and a mediocre Mike  Cuddyer.
Another  great trade. It must smoke, mirrors and Billy Goat burgers, I don't
know...

And I don't want to overlook other nice players W drafted or retained: Ty
Wigginton was a pleasant surprise, Craig Monroe is OK (and W's stuck with
his contract in any event), John Lackey is awesome and he's got more magic
beans like Evan Longoria...

Jeffrey will need to draft saves and steals next year but the starting
pitching is poised to dominate and he has some nice undervalue at CI and
OF.  To grade his effort at anything less than an  A would diminish this
man's brilliance.  Winick continues to shine as the League's best architect
in renovation efforts.  This roster is a money team for next year.
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