Cosart/Hernadez/Wates Trade

[rquoter]The six-player trade between the Astros and Marlins was the most interesting one of the day because, unlike most of the other deals at this exciting deadline, it included actual prospects -- minor leaguers and very young big leaguers going in both directions -- at a time when you have to pry prospects loose from most teams with a crowbar and a tube of silicone.
[+] EnlargeJarred Cosart
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In Cosart the Marlins add a talented pitcher under team control for years to come.
Jarred Cosart came to Houston in the Hunter Pence trade -- a deal that has turned out to be a huge heist for the Astros, with Jonathan Singleton and Domingo Santana both looking like they're going to pan out -- but he's struggled as a starter, lacking a pitch to get lefties out and showing below-average command and control. Cosart gets into the mid-90s, mixing a four-seamer and a cutter, with a sharp breaking ball that he struggles to get to his glove side because of his cross-body delivery. That delivery is a major reason why he doesn't command any of his primary pitches, and also why he's walked about 80 percent as many guys as he's struck out as a big-league starter. Cosart has also earned a reputation for questionable makeup, which couldn't have helped his cause in Houston. I'd continue to give him reps as a starter, but his stuff might fit better in the pen. The Marlins also get Kike Hernandez, an extra outfielder who's done a nice job in his major-league debut this year; he can handle centerfield on an emergency basis but is best suited to left.

The Astros absolutely cleaned up here, especially if, as I suspect, they wanted to rid themselves of Cosart for character reasons in addition to the gap between his talent and his performance. Jake Marisnick made my top 100 prospects twice before his rookie year; he's a centerfielder with five-tool talent who lacks polish in his offensive game, particularly recognition of offspeed stuff, which has left him vulnerable to velocity because he's often guessing at a pitch's type.

Houston also landed Colin Moran, the 5th overall pick from last year's rule 4 draft and a player they considered taking instead of No. 1 overall pick Mark Appel. Moran started a little slowly this year but has been warming up as the season's gone on, making a lot of hard contact but hitting without power. His defense at third base has gradually improved as well -- he's never going to be plus but improving his footwork gets him to the ball a little faster now, while his arm was adequate enough for the position. I would have traded Cosart straight-up for Moran, my No. 55 prospect coming into 2014, so getting Marisnick as well while including an extra guy like Hernandez is a huge win for the team.

We saw very few significant prospects traded at this year's deadline, especially in the final week; there seemed to be a clear preference for buyers to trade major-league assets (who might have fewer years of control left, and less future upside) rather than minor-league ones. If we still consider Marisnick a prospect even though he's lost his rookie status, the Astros got two of the five best such prospects to change hands this week. Moran in particular feels like a tremendous return for Cosart, like getting an extra top-10 draft pick, which the Astros could use this year.[/rquoter]

 

Next year if they want.