Update on Fox and Miles trade to Oakland

December 3rd, 2009 | by Mark |

Here are the details of the Jake Fox and Aaron Miles trade to Oakland.

The Cubs traded Jake Fox, Aaron Miles and $1 million cash for Jeff Gray and minor leaguers Ronny Morla and Matt Spencer.

Jeff Gray looks like a good relief pitcher who can immediately step in and help the Cubs bullpen in 2010. He gets a lot of ground ball outs (1.81 GO/FO in 2009) and does not walk many (only 4 walks in 26.1 IP with Oakland). He was very impressive in AAA in 2009, with a 1.54 ERA and only 6 walks and 30 hits allowed in 41 innings. Although he was a closer in the minors he projects best as a setup man.

Matt Spencer is an outfield prospect with some pop. He was drafted by the Phillies in the 3rd round of the 2007 draft and Baseball America listed him as the Phillies 28th best prospect in 2008. He has a good arm, having pitched in college, and profiles as a rightfielder.

Ronny Morla is a fringe pitching prospect who hasn’t really shown much in the minors so far in his career. He has a career 4.52 ERA in 197 IP over 3 years in the minors, but has struck out 202 batters in that time, so there could be some hope for him. Its possible the Cubs could convert him to a reliever if he doesn’t work out as a starter.

Overall, I like this deal for the Cubs. They save $1.7 million on the remaining year of Miles’ contract and although they lose a good hitter in Fox, he really didn’t have a position with the Cubs.

Jim Hendry was able to save some money in the deal, although if he hadn’t signed Miles in the first place he would have saved more. Losing Fox’s bat might hurt a little, but if the Cubs starters are healthy and hitting, they should not need him.

Of course, it would have been a better trade if Hendry could have somehow included Bradley in the deal.

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