Faux Winter Meetings: Diamondbacks Make First Trade

Sep 28, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Sean Rodriguez (1) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

As I detailed yesterday, the FanSided MLB team is running a fake Winter Meetings for the next week or so, that will allow writers from each MLB Site to do things that we wish we could do in real life: make trades, sign free agents, and tender and non tender contracts. This simulation is fake and in no way mimics real life though the trades I do will reflect the clubs real needs. This sim runs through the 24th of November.

With that in mind as the Faux President of Baseball Operations for the Diamondbacks, I have made my first trade with my friends over at Rays Colored Glasses, FanSided’s Tampa Bay Rays site. G.M. Tom Lynch had great input in this trade. The negotiations for this deal happened fairly quickly, and the trade was finalized by the Commissioners office last night.

The Diamondbacks will receive utility infielder Sean Rodriguez for right-handed reliever Jimmie Sherfy. Now before you slam me, let me explain my reasoning and then you can provide your thoughts in the comments section below.

To me, the Diamondbacks need to upgrade their bench, and I prefer to do it with a versatile infielder. This trade accomplishes both.

First, Rodriguez can provide pop off the bench in the late innings. Probably even more important, he can play all four infield positions. If I decide to deal Didi Gregorious for a starting pitcher, he could provide depth at SS with Chris Owings and Nick Ahmed, who will probably start the season in Triple A.

Right now, I don’t know if Jake Lamb is ready to be an everyday player at 3B, so if Aaron Hill starts at 3B, then Rodriguez could be a solid backup at that position. This way, Lamb can get more seasoning in Triple A.

If needed, he can also play second and first. It is always good to have an extra bat off the bench, and a versatile fielder on your roster, and Rodriguez provides both of those things.

Sherfy had a great 2014 Arizona Fall League season, and he was lights out during the 2014 regular season. However, we have so many talented reliever prospects in our system including Kaleb Fleck, Enrique Burgos, Matt Stites, and Jake Barrett, that we were willing to part with this really talented young right-hander.

What do you think of the trade? Leave your thoughts below and start a discussion. Also, if you have any suggestions for more trades, gladly post those ideas below as well.