On Wednesday the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds agreed in principle to a trade that would send Sean Marshall to Cincinnati for a package centered around Reds left-handed pitcher Travis Wood. Now we know the full details of the trade, as the Cubs will trade Sean Marshall for Travis Wood, Dave Sappelt and Ronald Torreyes in a deal announced later on Friday, according to Keith Law. Here is the exact tweet:
Cubs to receive Travis Wood, Dave Sappelt, and Ronald Torreyes for Sean Marshall. Deal to be announced later today.
— keithlaw (@keithlaw) December 23, 2011
Marshall is a 29 year-old pitcher converted by the Cubs from a starter to a reliever in 2010, who has been very effective out of the bullpen and has posted a 2.45 ERA over 150 innings in the last two seasons combined. His 5.0 WAR figure over that time period is the highest WAR of any reliever in the game, according to FanGraphs.
Travis Wood is a 25-year-old left-handed starting pitcher who split the past two seasons between Cincinnati and the organization's Triple-A affiliate. He posted a 4.84 ERA in 106 innings with the Reds in 2011, but was much better in 102 innings with the Reds in 2010, posting a 3.51 ERA. Here is what Al Yellon of Bleed Cubbie Blue has to say about the deal with Wood as the primary return:
I like the Sean Marshall deal. Travis Wood isn't a No. 1 starter, but he could become a solid No. 3, and at age 25 does have upside. And the Cubs haven't had a regular LH starter since Ted Lilly was sent to the Dodgers a year and a half ago. With two prospects coming in the deal, it looks like a win for the Cubs. I was a fan of Marshall's, but this is the perfect time to deal a guy like that. The angst I've heard from some Cubs fans about Marshall's departure is misplaced.
Sappelt is a 24-year old outfielder and former 9th-round pick in the 2008 amateur draft who stands 5'9" and hits right-handed. In 33 games with the Reds in 2011, he hit .243/.289/.318. In 74 games played in 2011 for the organization's Triple-A affiliate, he hit .313/.377/.458. As for Torreyes, he is a 19-year old infielder who hit .356/.398/.457 in Single-A ball over 67 games in 2011.
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