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MLB Trade Deadline: Winners and Losers of the Scott Kazmir trade

By Kyle Franzoni

Jun 21, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics pitcher Scott Kazmir (26) follows through on a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels in the seventh inning at O.co Coliseum. The Athletics defeated the Angels 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 21, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics pitcher Scott Kazmir (26) follows through on a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels in the seventh inning at O.co Coliseum. The Athletics defeated the Angels 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 2, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow waves to the crowd before a game against the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow waves to the crowd before a game against the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Winner – Oakland Athletics

When Oakland inked Scott Kazmir to a 2-year, $22 million deal prior to the 2014 season, many were skeptical about how much value the team would get from the lefty. After all, Kazmir had been out of Major League Baseball for two seasons before the Cleveland Indians gave him a shot in 2013. Beane saw that effort (10-9, 4.04 ERA, 3.51 FIP, 9.23 K/9) and turned it into a 2-year risk.

What he got from it was a pitcher that has been worth $41.4 million over the year-plus after being a combined 20-14 with a 3.12 ERA, a 3.26 FIP, and an 8.0 K/9 ratio. Beane has then turned his gamble into two solid, if not overwhelming prospects.

Jacob Nottingham is a solid, offensive-minded catcher that has drawn comparisons to Derek Norris. Just 20-years-old, Nottingham is slashing .326/.383/.558 with 16 home runs and 60 RBI between Low and High-A. He’s somewhat of a work in progress behind the plate, but the general consensus is that he can stick behind the plate without being outstanding.

The bigger pull is Daniel Mengden, the Astros’ 4th round pick in 2014. He doesn’t feature an exceptional pitch, but has a solid feel for four of them, including a low-90’s fastball, a slider, a curve, and a change-up, all of which he throws for strikes. He’s made just 24 appearances (15 starts) in the minor leagues, but owns a solid 6-2 record with a 3.44 ERA and a 9.2 K/9 ratio. At worst, he brings the best mustache since Rollie Fingers to Oakland.

By striking early once again, Billy Beane was able to not only dictate the price he was going to get for Scott Kazmir, but also for the rest of the pitching market around him.

Winner – Houston Astros

The Astros have been very adamant about adding a starting pitcher and have been tied to nearly every arm available on the market. They were also very open about wanting to add a bat to make up for the mess that is Chris Carter and Jon Singleton at first base/DH.

In picking up Kazmir, they get the arm they badly needed at the top of the rotation and they do so by having to only give up their #19 and their #22 prospects. That gives them ample fire power to still rail off and go after a big bat for the line-up. Yoenis Cespedes and Justin Upton could be good fits for rentals, and Carlos Gomez could be a solid piece for this year and next. Neither really solves the need at first base, but with the market for bats relatively weak (Adam Lind is the only realistic option that comes to mind), Houston may upgrade where it can.

Winner – Scott Kazmir

Think about this for a minute. Kazmir gets traded to his hometown team and not far away from where he started his journey back to the big leagues with the Sugar Land Skeeters. He also gets thrust into the thick of a pennant chance and a chance at the postseason, something that was a distant memory in Oakland.

Way, it gets better. As Jon Heyman of CBS Sports notes, Kazmir also gets a $500k bonus for being traded to another team, but he also saves another $300k in taxes through the rest of the season and gets to enter free agency without the weight of a qualifying offer tied around his neck, something that would have surely been extended had he stayed in Oakland. Now if Houston can ink him to an extension this winter, it would be the biggest pot of gravy ever.

Next: And now for the losers...

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