[July 28th]
-- Well, it wasn't the trade we were expecting, but it's a good trade nonetheless. The Nationals announced that they traded aging Mike Stanton to the San Francisco Giants for 19 year old Shairon Martis.
Martis, born in Curacao, is a citizen of the Netherlands and pitched in this spring's World Baseball Classic, throwing a no-hitter against team Panama.
And we got this guy for Mike Stanton?
He pitched for the Giant's Arizona Fall League team in 2005, crafting a 2-1 record with a 1.85 ERA. Impressed? Hey, that's only the beginning. He struck out FIFTY in 34 innings while walking only nine. That's almost 14 strikeouts per 9 innings. He allowed only seven hits per 9 innings. This year, playing for Augusta of the South Atlantic League, Martis has gone 6-4, 3.64, with 66 strikeouts in 76 innings. He's walked just 21.
Here is a scouting report listing Martis as the Giants' #8 prospect:
"8. Shairon Martis (RHP). Born: March 30th 1987 --- 6'1", 175 lbs --- 2005 record:2-1, 1.85, 34 IP, 50 K, 9 BB!! for AZL Giants. --- Mid 90's fastball with advanced secondary stuff and command. Barring injury, this kid is going to move up fast. Since we have a paucity of "sure thing" prospects, I see no reason not to get out in front of a kid with this upside."
He's certainly not a "can't miss" prospect -- we got him for 39 year old Mike Stanton after all -- but he was listed as one of the Giants "top 30" prospects, and without question has the potential to make it to the big-leagues as a starting pitcher.
That said, once again, fans on the other end of a Nationals' trade are carping and crying. Fans on a Giants message board are using words like "raped," saying that this is one of Brian Sabean's "worst trades." One even likened Martis to Francisco Liriano. I think that's all a bit much, but it is another trade (like the Kearns deal) that makes you scratch your head and try to understand just how Bowden did it.
Good job, Jimbo. Maybe we won't firebomb your house after all.
# posted by Farid Rushdi @ 4:55 PM