I always enjoy when the 'other guy' in a trade sorta outlives, in career terms, the bigshot they were traded for. Except of course, for when a consistent outfielder is traded for one who keeps getting injured. But really, I enjoy finding out what happens to the other guys.
Which is why I was glad when Justin Masterson, who was traded to Cleveland for Victor Martinez back in 2009, finally, and I mean FINALLY, started pitching like a champ this season.
This is a great time for it to happen, too. Last month, the Indians had a nice ascent into serious division talks, with a nice few weeks of vying with the Tigers for the head of the division (no doubt bashing my White Sox vs. Dodgers WS prediction to bits moreso than already). And the team is hitting, too. Hell, even Jimenez has some good games under his belt, and that hasn't happened since 2010.
So thankfully, Masterson has 10 wins under his belt, and he's been very consistent thus far. Meanwhile, Victor Martinez, the guy who he was traded for, has wandered into Detroit, and has sunk to a DH role every couple days. He's not hitting as well, he's not catching as well (obviously, because Avila isn't LETTING him, and also because he's gotten old), and he's not playing as well as he did back in 2008.
So in a way, you could say it was Cleveland's biggest steal since the Bartolo Colon trade, which got them Brandon Phillips, Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner and a few others. Which is nice.
Coming Tomorrow- The other awesome pitcher currently setting the NL Central on fire. From Detroit. And he ISN'T Justin Verlander.
Hafner wasn't part of the Bartolo deal...Cliff Lee was.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I knew that, I was just tired when I wrote it. Thanks for telling me.
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