Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Would you trade for Kyle Drabek?

The Blue Jays were apparently interested in Wandy Rodriguez at last year's Trade Deadline. Well, MLBTR is linking to Ken Rosenthal, who is saying that the Blue Jays could be interested in moving Brett Cecil, or Kyle Drabek (though with Drabek's trade value down, they're reluctant to move him now).

Earlier today, Rosenthal listed the Blue Jays as a team looking to add starting pitching.

Might there be a match with, say, Wandy Rodriguez?

Drabek basically grew up in clubhouses, with father Doug. Kyle (September 2010):
“Being out there with all those guys, it was a lot of fun just seeing what they do. Not so much inside the clubhouse, but having the opportunity to talk to other players other than my dad. . . . Like, with the Astros, guys like Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell, talking to them helped so much as I grew up and got drafted.”

The Woodlands' Kyle Drabek was in the deal that brought Roy Halladay to Philadelphia, but has a career 5.83 ERA in 21 games (17 starts) with the Blue Jays. He got tagged especially hard in 2011, when in 78.2IP, he struck out 51 batters and walked 55, for a 1.81 WHIP. Even worse, for the Blue Jays' Triple-A Las Vegas in 2011, he threw 75IP, allowing 111H/62ER, 45K:41BB, for a 7.44 ERA/2.03 WHIP - for a total line of 96K:96BB in 153.2IP.

So that's not good, but he was a Top-30 prospect heading into 2011. Add to that Astros pitching coach Doug Brocail played with Doug Drabek in 1995 and 1996, and there could be an intriguing match on a flyer with Kyle Drabek for a pitcher the Blue Jays have shown interest in before.