00:00The three-team trade that I wanted to get into is the one pertaining to the Rays, the Pirates, and the Astros, and this was pretty active last week, and it seemed like a lot of people had a take on it, and I can appreciate the takes on it.
00:16But the trade sent Brandon Lau to Pittsburgh along with Mason Montgomery, the reliever, and Jake Mangum. Houston acquired Mike Burroughs, and then two prospects went back to Tampa Bay. That was Anderson Brito, and that was, what, Jacob Melton also going to Tampa Bay.
00:33So in all, you've got the Astros giving up Burroughs, in turn getting back Lau, Montgomery, and Mangum, and then you've got Houston giving up Melton and Brito for Burroughs to come into the fold, and Tampa gets the two prospects here.
00:52There's a lot going on in that three-team trade. Who do you feel like made out the best? Who do you feel like might have gotten a little gypped?
00:59I think everyone made out well, and I think that's the fun part about this three-team trade. I think with what every team is trying to do, it makes a lot of sense across the board.
01:08I think, you know, Brandon Lau is a great piece to be able to add to your team, but at the same time, he's not cheap, and given that he's kind of a gaping hole defensively at this stage,
01:17you know, I think for the Rays to get out from that contract and then still be able to bring in the talent that they brought in, like, you know I've loved Jacob Melton for a long time.
01:26He's got a, he's a swing adjustment candidate, but in terms of power-speed combinations, there are not a lot of players with more raw power and speed combined in, you know, center field.
01:39So, it's just, if he could, if it could come along a little bit more offensively, but you know the Rays are always, always willing to take those types on.
01:48And I think that's exactly what they're eager to do here, where, you know, I think with the Jake Mangum, you knew what you were getting.
01:53Why not, you know, shoot a little bit higher and see if you could get more out of Melton?
01:57And then the other side, Anderson Brito, I think is a top 100 prospect if he didn't get hurt at the end of the year, was so impressive in the Arizona Fall League.
02:05And, I mean, this guy with an elite fastball, disgusting curveball, it's just more consistent shapes and, you know, just trying to shake that reliever risk a little bit.
02:13But that's another guy, huge upside.
02:15So, you get two huge upside pieces there if you're the Rays.
02:18And I look at the Pirates' side and say, you know, I don't know how you could say anybody but them definitively won because they achieved what they've been setting out to achieve.
02:27And, you know, I still think they need to spend more, but they took on some money, they leveraged the fact that they were willing to spend to bring in a player like Brandon Lau, who instantly, I think, is their clear-cut best hitter.
02:39I don't think it's particularly close.
02:41Most consistent.
02:42Sorry?
02:43Most consistent.
02:44There may be a month where, like, O'Neal Cruz is better.
02:46There may be a month that Reynolds is better.
02:48But in terms of, like, six-month baseball season consistency, Lau is the guy that you can sleep peacefully with.
02:56Exactly.
02:57And then Mangum's excellent depth in case, you know, Stinson Garcia isn't ready, right?
03:01And if Garcia is ready, you have one of the better fourth outfielders in the game and Mangum as a switch hitter.
03:07I think that side of it is really exciting.
03:09And then, by the way, you know, they really needed a left-handed reliever.
03:12You know, they signed Gregory Soto.
03:14That's great.
03:15Now you add Mason Montgomery to the fold, who I know hit a wall last year, but I still think it'd be a guy for you.
03:21You bolster the bullpen, too.
03:23I think they're in an excellent spot.
03:25And what I like is they still have options, right?
03:27DH is still open.
03:28So if you want to move Lau to DH, you could still go sign somebody else.
03:32You still could go make another move.
03:34So I think the Pirates made out really, really well.
03:37And then, you know, I think for the Astros, they gave up a couple pieces.
03:41They get an arm who can help them next year.
03:42And I think a guy that they probably see in Burroughs that they can maximize.
03:45And they've had success with his types.
03:47He is a bit of a data darling.
03:50His fastball shape is very good when he's healthy and when he's on.
03:54The changeup has been nasty.
03:55And he was always a breaking ball guy coming up in the minor leagues.
03:58And then he gets to AAA.
03:59And it's like, wait, that changeup is really darn good, isn't it?
04:02It just feels like every single team did what they needed to do.
04:07Houston to a lesser degree than the other two.
04:09But Houston, like, they went and got their four-starter for next year.
04:13Maybe even their three if it all works out.
04:15But more than likely, the four-starter.
04:17They probably need to find one more starting pitcher.
04:20But, like, man, Burroughs is a good guy to add to the rotation.
04:24I want to pivot to Munitaka Murakami because we haven't talked about it yet.
04:27Or did you have one more thing on Burroughs?
04:28I was just going to say, the fact that you trade, you know, a pitcher who's really exciting
04:33but far off, you know, in Brito coming off an arm injury.
04:36And then, you know, a guy, Melton, who's stalled out at the big league level
04:39and just needs to change scenery for a controllable arm who will plug into your rotation
04:43and help you this year, who you could potentially maximize.
04:46The Astros made out well as well.
04:47I think this was as balance of a trade across the board as I can remember.
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