Lee is Headed to Miami

Yesterday the news broke out that Carlos Lee will be traded to the Miami Marlins for two prospects. Previously Lee refused a trade to the Dodgers. The Marlins have been getting very little production from first base. Gaby Sanchez is their primary starter at first and has just a .202/.250/.306 slash line. For a first baseman let alone any player that is horrendous. Lee has a .285/.336/.411 slash line which is slightly better than league average. Lee can also play left and right field, so he can give some guys a day off.

El Caballo (Carlos Lee)

When Emilio Bonifacio returns from injury after the All Star Break the Marlins' lineup should look something like the following:

Emilio Bonifacio   CF
Jose Reyes           SS
Hanley Ramirez    3B
Gaincarlo Stanton RF
Carlos Lee           1B
Omar Infante        2B
Logan Morrison    LF
John Buck            C
Pitcher                  P

This Marlins team is very right hand dominant. The top of the lineup features speed while the heart of the lineup flashes power. Everyone is expecting big things from this team; it is just a matter of time until they break out in the National League East.

The Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies finished the 2011 with the best record in the MLB with a 102-60 record. They have the best pitching rotation in the major leagues and are looking to repeat their 2011 season.

The rotation is incredible. Looking at the stats is all you have to do. The pitching rotation is going to be the following:

Roy Halladay: 19-6, 2.35 ERA, 233 IP, 220 K
Cliff Lee: 17-8, 2.40 ERA, 232 IP, 238 K
Cole Hamels: 14-9, 2.79 ERA, 216 IP, 194 K
Vance Worley: 11-3, 3.01 ERA, 131 IP, 119 K

I think the stats speak for themselves. The problem for The Phillies is the bullpen. I think it was a very stupid move to let Ryan Madson sign with the Reds and sign Jonathon Papelbon to The Phillies. Madson is 31 years old and had 2.37 ERA in 2011 and a 2.55 ERA in 2010. Papelbon is 31 as well, but he has a fluctuated ERA. In 2011 he had a 2.94 ERA and in 2010 he had  a 3.90 ERA. I believe Madson would be a lot better in the role of closer.

The Phillies have an old team and that causes them to play fewer games than a younger player. In 2011 the following players played a low number of games: Chase Utley (103), Placido Polanco (122), and Jimmy Rollins inst getting younger (88 in 2010) and on a steep decline. The Phillies desperately need a right handed bat in their line up. In 2011 they traded for Hunter Pence who was very effective but he alone is not enough. They signed Jim Thome to play first base until Ryan Howard comes back from injury in May or June. The slugger is destined for the Hall of Fame, but it wont compare to the offense they would receive from Howard.

I believe the inconsistency and frequently injured players The Phillies have in their lineup will counteract the fantastic starting pitching they have. With a malnourished bullpen and a receding offense, I think they will have a tough time competing with the young and powerful Marlins. The NL East is going to be a close division with The Phillies, The Marlins, and The Braves.

The Houston Astros

The Houston Astros had the worst record in 2011, only winning 56 games. The Astros are in a rebuilding phase, because they have traded away their big stars. In the past few seasons the Astros had traded Lance Berkman, Roy Oswalt, Michael Bourn, Hunter Pence, and assorted other players.

Although The Astros seem to be the local market for the other 29 teams, they have kept a few key players. The Astros still have Carlos Lee and Wandy Rodriguez. It does seem very likely for these two players to be traded in the 2012 season. Carlos Lee is 35 and can play first base and the outfield. He carries an average OPS+ of 109 over the past 3 seasons. He has played over 155 games the past three seasons. Perhaps he can be a valuable player to another team in the National League, because there is a deficiency of first basemen in the NL. As for Wandy Rodriguez he is a left handed starter who can pitch close to 200 innings and can keep his ERA below 4. In 2011 his ERA was 3.49 and he pitched 191 innings. Wandy is 33 years old.

Believe it or not the above is all that The Astros have to look forward too. They have a surplus of prospects, but they wont help them in the 2012 season.