Carroll trade completed for Sean Smith

I don't get it guys...So basically we get a 34 year old career utility infielder (except for one year in which he played 138 games), with a career batting average of .272, a TOTAL of 9 home runs and 114 RBI's since he broke into the majors in 2002 for a STARTING PITCHER who is 25 years old in Triple A. He was 9-7 last year with a 4.25 ERA. Maybe I am not seeing the clear picture here. I know his chances of making the big club right now are slim, but he's 25 years old. Can someone shed some light on this please. I thought I was mad when they made the trade a few months ago for a player to be named later. I certainly didn't think it would include a Triple A pitcher.

Hermie, thanks...and I apologize as I did the math wrong, he'll be 25 in October. I never thought about him being eligible for the Rule V draft. I feel stupid for not knowing this but maybe you can answer this for me. What is the requirement to be eligible for the Rule V draft? Obviously they cannot be on the 40 man roster. I assume it also has to do with the time of service in the minors? I guess my next question is, if a player is eligible for the Rule V draft (like Sean would be next year), is there any way a team can protect him without adding him to the 40 man roster? Now that he is traded, does he still qualify for the Rule V draft next year? I feel stupid for asking but I figured you would know.

Now, I guess my next question to you would be...If we were afraid to lose him to the Rule V, don't you think we might have been able to package him in a deal for somebody else other than a over the hill utility player? I mean there are plenty of teams that are in desperate need for starting pitching (especially for a guy who is in Triple A and 24 y/old) who could have added him to the their 40 man roster. Maybe I am wrong and my thoughts here are more wishful thinking about the talent this young man possibly has. All I know is that Sean has made slight to medium progress over the past few years. When I think about an over the hill utility player versus a young potential starting pitcher, this trade doesn't equal fair in my mind. Again, please shed some light. Maybe I am just pissed that my team is 8-12! LOL

As I'm typing this I just heard that they signed Jason Stanford to a minor league deal to fill Smith's spot. Stanford is a little older but an OK replacement with some big league experience.

Not to mention Scott Lewis, De La Cruz, etc.

We gave someone in an area of depth for something we needed.

Barfield hasn't hit, Marte can't hit, so we needed a utility player who can play both SS/2B and hit decently. Personally I would have liked Chris Gomez to return but jamie isn't too bad.