| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sal Stewart | Minors | 3B | 2.4 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 2.9 |
Total Value:
2.4
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Blackburn | 29 | Majors | SP | Medium | 2.8 | 7.5 | 4.6 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 3.4 |
Total Value:
2.9
Stewart is a 45+ to 50 FV 3B about 3-5 years away from the majors. Advanced hit tool and 70 potential power. The Reds have a ton of similar prospects (Marte, Collier) so they'd likely want to move some of them for controllable starting pitching. Blackburn isn't a world beater, but he's a groundball pitcher under team control for another 2.5 years. He provides a stable backend/middle rotation presence that the Reds are missing. He's having a career season at age 29 after 6 years of shuttling between AAA and MLB, so it makes sense for the A's to move him now while he has the most value he's ever had (which still isn't a ton). I think this trade makes a ton of sense and addresses both teams needs; the Athletics are likely 3+ years from contention and the Reds are on the rise, likely true contenders by next season. The Reds could potentially set their sights higher, but that would likely require giving up more value; meanwhile, the Athletics might be content to hold onto Blackburn but that risks losing value as he gets closer to free agency at a time they are not even close to contending. If this feels too heavy for Blackburn, substituting a prospect like Rece Hinds might make more sense; bigger power potential but more raw and requires a swing change to make his hit tool better. If it feels too light, going the other way and adding a prospect like Hinds might be a solution.