Dukes: Destination Toronto?

by R.J. Anderson on Jan 11, 2007 9:50 PM EST

According to a source off of Raysbaseball.com and a radio report, the Rays and Jays are discussing an Elijah Dukes trade. The Jays would send pitchers Shaun Marcum and Josh Sowers (Jeremy Sowers, one of Patrick's favorite Commies, twin brother) in exchanged for the Wild Child known as Elijah.

Marcum pitched 78 innings and posted a 5.06 ERA for the Jays last season. He posted a 28-11 record in the minor leagues, along with a 3.42 ERA. Only 25, Marcum was ranked 11th in the Jays organization last year. BA had this to say on his pitches: 2 seamer that sits around 88-91, changeup versus lefties is a plus pitch, curve is fringy, 81-83 slider effective and can spot it even down in the count.

Marcum has had some homerun issues throughout his career, which leads some to think he's better suited for the bullpen.

Now for the other part, Josh Sowers. Only 23, some feel has the chance to be 'great', here's what BA had to say about the younger Sowers in 2005 "While he's smaller than twin brother Jeremy (Indians first round pick), the biggest difference between the two is merely that one is lefthanded and the other righthanded. Josh may have a better slider than Jeremy. He repeats his delivery so well on the pitch that it resembles a fastball coming out of his hand. His 86-90 mph fastball also has good late movement. Sowers is polished, with his brother's same intelligent approach to pitching." Sowers pitched at Yale and posted nearly a 9 K/9 to 1 BB/9 his senior season not to mention that he's very homer resistant.

Updates to follow if anything comes of this rumor.

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Something funny that I noticed

In trades in which the Rays get more than 1 player, they have a knack for doing something very interesting.

In the Huff trade, the centerpiece of the trade was Zobrist. However, Talbot seems to be a "diamond in the rough" prospect that seems to have more potential/upside.

In the Hall/Hendo trade, the centerpiece was mainly Seo and somewhat Navarro. However, the overlooked PTBNL Ruggiano has been a sneaky "sleeper" candidate for people who are paid to write prospect lists/books..

In the Lugo Trade, Joel Guzman was the obvious centerpiece. However, Sergio Pedroza is another "diamond in the rough" prospect that people forget about but has the potential to do some interesting things in the future.

Now, if you look at this trade, Marcum is the centerpiece. Yet, Sowers has the intangibles and "stuff" that make him another possible "sleeper/diamond in the rough" prospect.

by Jacob Larsen on Jan 11, 2007 10:12 PM EST reply actions

Re: Something funny that I noticed

Good point, very interesting that we would trade Dukes inner-division, I'd say something about the whole coming back to bite us ideal...but really how can you even suggest that an OF of CC-Rocc- and Delmon isn't better than Dukes - CC - Delmon right now?

by R.J. Anderson on Jan 11, 2007 10:16 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Something funny that I noticed

Mainly because Crawford absolutely sucks in CF.

by Jacob Larsen on Jan 11, 2007 10:17 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Something funny that I noticed

And because Crawford absolutely owns LF.

by R.J. Anderson on Jan 11, 2007 10:21 PM EST up reply actions

Who says he sucks in CF?

I know he has always wanted to stay in left, but I wasn't aware of any defensive problem in center.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Jan 14, 2007 2:09 AM EST up reply actions

Re: Who says he sucks in CF?

If I remember correctly, he said himself that he felt very uncomfortable in CF in 2005 when they were looking for replacements for Rocc.

by Jacob Larsen on Jan 14, 2007 8:48 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Who says he sucks in CF?

I pretty much just equated that remark to his line of comments saying he didn't want to play center, not that he couldn't play center.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Jan 14, 2007 9:23 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Who says he sucks in CF?

His arm isn't particularly great in center, don't know that I'd go so far as "sucks" but Rocco has CC beat there, even post-injuries...

by Not That Chuck on Jan 16, 2007 3:16 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Dukes: Destination Toronto?

Also this one is probably a lot more legit than the Gonzo rumor, as you said, it's more 'Rays-like' than the Gonzo / Gorze one. Also wasn't Marcum one of the 'four' in the potential Lugo deals?

by R.J. Anderson on Jan 11, 2007 10:19 PM EST reply actions

Re: Dukes: Destination Toronto?

The bad thing about the Gonzo/Gorzy trade, is that it only was found on the mlblog that reported it. No newspapers or anything, not even a mention on the radio.

Many people also point out on the Dukes trade that Gonzo's 3 years will be traded for Dukes' 6. We get a closer, but he's horrible against lefties and entering arbitration next year. Do we want that? He's racked up 150 IP in 3 seasons, which isn't really something that I want to hear either.

As I've been told, it's probably "too good to be true".

by Jacob Larsen on Jan 11, 2007 10:28 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Dukes: Destination Toronto?

Also he had a case of elbow stiffness I believe.

by R.J. Anderson on Jan 11, 2007 10:31 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Dukes: Destination Toronto?

It's also worth noting how the DRO is building the pitching corps, half 'lacers', half 'flameballers', both of these pitchers would fit into the former category.

by R.J. Anderson on Jan 11, 2007 10:24 PM EST reply actions

Adam Lind

The Jays already have a major league ready OF who has no place for regular ABs in Adam Lind. Dukes would be the second one.

I can only see this trade occurring if JP has another OF-for-SP pitching lined-up with the OF going from the Jays in an arbitrage situation Where the Jays get better SP than what they gave up to the Rays i.e Marcum/Sowers for Dukes. Dukes for Gorzelanny. Gorzelanny > Marcum/Sowers.

Whether I believe JP is smarter than the Wall Street saavy DRays' ownership is a different story.

by Fake Teams @ DRaysBay on Jan 12, 2007 7:22 AM EST reply actions

Re: Adam Lind

What he says.

Also, Sowers hasn't exactly come on since he was drafted. The review when he was drafted wasn't exactly glowing anyway (Jeremy's stuff is fringy even for a lefty, and if a righty has the same stuff, it's downright horrible), and he's since done well enough to not make the top 20 prospects in one of the worst farm systems in baseball. Sickels isn't even bothering to put him in his book he's so good.

I would be unhappy if this trade went down.

by Brickhaus on Jan 12, 2007 10:46 AM EST up reply actions

Re: Dukes: Destination Toronto?

I believe that Marcum was a closer in College. Not that there is a whole bunch of history on that converting to anything but at least he has the possible mindset to close.

Again..dukes for any young arm(s) sounds good to me.

Poe

by bpoe13 on Jan 12, 2007 11:48 AM EST reply actions

Re: Dukes: Destination Toronto?

I'm with Brick, I would be very unhappy with this deal. Marcum isn't very good. Sonny, Talbot, Stokes, Hammel all have similar if not better upside than Marcum.

And Sowers isn't anything worth even talking about. He's a 23 year old reliever, who hasn't reached AA, pitched poorly in Low-A, and who's fastball doesn't reach 90. He wouldn't crack our Top-40. He doesn't have potential to be great, his potential is minor league roster filler.

by Tyler on Jan 12, 2007 12:01 PM EST reply actions