Prospect Insider - Betancourt Traded: Official

Betancourt Traded: Official

By Jason A. Churchill

By 07-10-2009

Word is the M's have dealt Yuniesky Betancourt to Kansas City for two minor league pitchers.

No word yet on which pitchers are coming back, but I'd guess it's not much.

Update: RHP Danny Cortes and LHP Derrick Saito are the two pitchers coming back.

Saito is a 21-year-old reliever. He's 5-9 and misses bats in A ball, but may have issues doing so long term, except versus left-handers. He's basically a throw-in.

But Cortes, a throw-in in the Royals deal for Mike MacDougal with Chicago, is the prize, so to speak, of this trade for Seattle.

Cortes is a 6-6, 225 pound starter with a low-90s fastball and a plus curve, of the 12-6, overhand variety. The majority of scouts that have seen Cortes extensively think he's a great candidate to close someday or at least setup, as his fastball has touched the mid-90s in shorter stints and he lacks a change or another third offering at present time.

Here's some video of Cortes from this past AFL season, courtesy of Prospect Insider friend Drew Samuelson of Pacific Prospect Report.

He struggled a little in Double-A this season, going 6-6 with a 3.92 ERA in a pitcher's park, and walking 50 batters in 80 frames, evidence that his control is below average. His command is also average at best, but the stuff is there and it will interesting to see what Dave Wallace and Tom Dettore can do with him.

Ultimately, Cortes is probably a reliever, too, but he has a chance to start and will be in the rotation in West Tennessee at just 22 years of age. He's the best starting pitching prospect in the Seattle organization right now, which says more about the M's system than it does Cortes, but Cortes is a good, live arm to have, and a good get for Seattle in return for Yuniesky Betancourt.

No matter how much cash went to KC with the walking Cuban Crisis.

betancourt-traded:-official

Comments
The following 51 comment(s) for this article are shown below:

1. By: Gustafson on 07-10-2009 14:04:17
Probably not much coming back. Key to deal will be how much salary the M's have to send. If none, then addition by subtraction IMHO.

2. By: Jason A. Churchill on 07-10-2009 14:08:28
Actually, Seattle got Danny Cortes as one of the arms in the deal.

I'll write him up right now and add it to the above post.

3. By: Gustafson on 07-10-2009 14:11:01
Holy cow. Baseball America has Cortez as KC's #3 prospect. lol

4. By: jhess75 on 07-10-2009 14:13:02
Out of total curiosity Jason, did you see this one coming? I totally understand if you can't tell us, but I'm just curious.

5. By: ASUBoyd on 07-10-2009 14:13:19
Class AA pitcher Danny Cortes and Class A pitcher Derrick Saito.

6. By: Jason A. Churchill on 07-10-2009 14:28:26
I did not see KC coming.

7. By: Gustafson on 07-10-2009 14:31:03
You called it though that the Pitt connection was irrelevant to Yuni

8. By: Rickv25 on 07-10-2009 14:34:56
ESPN noted a Denver Post article saying a Batista for Atkins deal may be a possibility. Have you heard about this one already?

9. By: ASUBoyd on 07-10-2009 14:37:11
Jason - Do you think this eliminates the Pirates from trade talk? Or Balentien/Halman still an interest

10. By: Willmore on 07-10-2009 14:38:38
Jason, grade this trade compared to a Betancourt+Wlad/Halman for Wilson one?

Does Cortes go to Tennessee, California or Tacoma?

11. By: rjfrik on 07-10-2009 14:39:45
Cortez won the minor league pitcher of the year in the Royals system last year. At beginning of year he was their #2 prospect according to BA and the best Pitcher in the system.

With that said where does he rank in our top 30? You said he already is the best pitcher in the system. My guess is that would put him in the top ten of our system, top 7 maybe. I'm curious.

Overall if the pitching coaches here can correct the command and control this could be a huge steal. Grabbing a teams best pitching prospect for Yuni is a very good trade!!

12. By: Jason A. Churchill on 07-10-2009 14:42:57
Atkins is a terrible idea, though. But yes, Batista for Atkins has been thrown around.

ASU -- I don't, Jack Wilson could still be in the mix.

Willmore -- It's a better trade, because the M's can still make the Pitt deal.

Cortes has been assigned to West Tenn.

rjfrik -- I'd say he ranks somewhere between 10 and 18, just off the top. He's not the best PITCHER, he's the best starting pitching prospect. Ramirez isn't far behind, but he's further away from the big leagues.

13. By: rjfrik on 07-10-2009 14:43:53
Well I guess if Phillip is 6 and Cortez is our best pitcher now he would have to at least be 6th. Does he crack the top 5? Nice pickup none the less

14. By: rjfrik on 07-10-2009 14:45:30
oh. my bad. looks like I didn't see that post. Still best Starting Pitching prospect and possibly squeaking into our top ten for a waste of space SS is not a bad trade.

15. By: Jason A. Churchill on 07-10-2009 14:47:49
Aumont, right now, is a reliever, so while I treat him as such, sorta, as I ranked him, Cortes is currently a starter, so... yeah.

Good arm, really good arm, Tillman-like fastball-curveball combo, but his control and command aren't good right now. But Dave Wallace and Rick Adair are geniuses.

16. By: Gustafson on 07-10-2009 14:51:22
And Cortes seems to be improving as the season rolls along (after a terrible start).

17. By: Jason A. Churchill on 07-10-2009 14:52:52
Grading this trade? A-.

18. By: ASUBoyd on 07-10-2009 14:55:27
I thought we would be lucky to just get rid of Yuni. Frankly - good riddance, I could not stand watching him play baseball.

To get a useful part is just a bonus.

19. By: John_S on 07-10-2009 15:05:24
We should have known he was going to the go the Kansas City Mariners.

KC Roster - Jose Guillen, Gil Meche, Willie Bloomquist, Horacio Ramirez, Tug Hulett and now Yuniesky Betancourt

20. By: John_S on 07-10-2009 15:06:27
Oh yeah and Miguel Olivo

21. By: safecochatter on 07-10-2009 15:10:29
a tip of the hat to the seattle mariners. they seem to now have quality people in place everywhere.
love to see m's pickup sanchez. not only for now but it would answer the question...3b in 2010? i think the pirates are worried that his at bats may qualify him for 10 mill next year.but he's rumored to be going to about 5 differnt teams at the moment. go jack!

also one more ex-mariners playing for kc.

22. By: Willmore on 07-10-2009 15:10:43
Jason, is it possible that the M's struck out with some international signing and suddenly had extra cash to spend on this trade? If the M's sent, say, 4 million with Yuni, is Cortes worth it?

23. By: Willmore on 07-10-2009 15:12:14
John_S: That's like a bizarro version of an All-Mariners-Blogosphere team.

24. By: ASUBoyd on 07-10-2009 15:12:28
Wilmore - According to Peter Gammons we have spent the 4th most on international talent in '09; $4.6 million.

25. By: ASUBoyd on 07-10-2009 15:13:27
Plus Wilmore, he already answered that in the post.

"...a good get for Seattle in return for Yuniesky Betancourt.

No matter how much cash went to KC with the walking Cuban Crisis."

26. By: Jason A. Churchill on 07-10-2009 15:45:18
No, the M's don't tie big-league budget with the amateur budget.

Money did exchange hands, Seattle sending it out, KC taking it in, but I don't know how much. But even if it was all 10 mil Betancourt is owed, it's still a good trade. They owed that money to a player that was worse than useless to them and got at least one player with a chance to be worth something.

27. By: k0o56 on 07-10-2009 16:07:28
Out of curiosity, where would you rank Saito in the M's organization? I ask because he's a really close friend of mine who I've grown up continuously competing with. Obviously, he's outdone me here.

28. By: ASUBoyd on 07-10-2009 16:10:30
Finally a starter worth paying attention to on West Tennessee

29. By: Jason A. Churchill on 07-10-2009 16:24:58
Saito has no chance to start and I think he's going to have issues versus right-handed bats as he moves through the system. He would not be in my Top 30 right now, as he profiles as a situational reliever at best.

30. By: JonathanAicardi on 07-10-2009 17:26:04
Cortez is significantly more than I thought they'd get for him at this point. His arm is plenty to play with.

31. By: JonathanAicardi on 07-10-2009 17:28:32
And by Cortez I mean Cortes.

32. By: Adam T on 07-10-2009 17:28:58
But Dave Wallace and Rick Adair are geniuses.

Word. This is part of the reason why I like the deal, and also a big factor in why I'm on my knees pleading that Snell be a part of a deal with the Pirates.

Don't know if you've even heard Snell's name come up, Jason, but I think those two guys you mentioned are a big reason why Jack Z is willing to acquire high-upside arms with control issues.

33. By: Rickv25 on 07-10-2009 17:37:00
Is it out of the question the Mariners could include Cortes in a deal for Wilson and Sanchez, or anybody else for that matter?

34. By: Adam T on 07-10-2009 17:43:12
Rick - that was my thought as well, because all the pitching we have to offer besides lower-level arms is relievers.

35. By: rjfrik on 07-10-2009 18:24:00
Bentancourt was on the hook for another million dollars this year. 3 million next year in 2010, 4 million the year after in 2011 and club option in 2012 for 6 million or a 2 million dollar buyout. Assuming that the M's would of bought out the contract in 2012 Bentancourt was owed 10 million at least in guaranteed money over the life of the contract.

The M's agreed to pay the remaining salary this year, 1 million dollars, and 1 million dolllars in 2010 and 2011---3 Million dollars in total.

So the M's relieved themselves of 7 million dollars in guaranteed money, a SS that was done in Seattle and gained 2 pitching prospects, one of which was the Pitcher of the Year in their system.

All you can do is smile.........Trader Jack strikes again!

36. By: rjfrik on 07-10-2009 18:25:34
I highly doubt that Cortez is included in a future trade. I think this is a guy JZ really likes and feels that can be a MLB contributer with the proper coaching of Wallace, Adair and Wettland.

37. By: slick on 07-10-2009 19:03:30

Baseball America hot sheet from today

Dan Cortes, rhp, Royals: On the field, Cortes had a solid week as he allowed two runs in six innings in his only outing. But off the field, it was a rough one for Cortes as he was arrested and was facing charges of public drunkeness and disorderly conduct. On the field, Cortes' overall numbers (6-6, 3.92) are solid, but he has to improve his command�he's walked 50 batters in 80 innings, ninth most in the minors.

38. By: Jason A. Churchill on 07-10-2009 19:27:23
I certainly think Cortes, not Cortez, could be included in a future deal this summer, but what his acquisition does is give the club more depth from which to trade, whether he's the piece sent out or not.

I was told Cortes has an actual drinking issue, too. We'll see.

And guys, not be all nitpicky, but it's pretty irritating when in the thread there's information regurgitated that was already mentioned in the post. Can we clean that up to make the threads more readable?

39. By: Jim in WI on 07-11-2009 06:02:21
"KC Roster - Jose Guillen, Gil Meche, Willie Bloomquist, Horacio Ramirez, Tug Hulett and now Yuniesky Betancourt"

Not that it matters much, but they did actually DFA HoRam(Horacio Ramirez) recently. So that's one less ex-Mariner for the Kansas City Mariners, er Royals. ;)

Good, no..great trade by Jack Z. and the M's. Head scratching one for the Royals--who may not have made the worst trade for the day--the Mets may be worse.

Thoughts on which trade was worse, Jason?

40. By: Jason A. Churchill on 07-11-2009 10:12:07
Between which two, Jim in WI?

41. By: candasharp on 07-11-2009 10:42:46
Any chance of JZ revisiting the Royals roster to obtain Teahen? Seems like he would be a solid fit (lefty stick, versatile) and more desirable than Atkins/Sanchez/etc;. What might it take to get him?

42. By: Jason A. Churchill on 07-11-2009 11:19:01
Where ya gonna play him. He's god awful at third.

43. By: bilbo on 07-11-2009 14:47:09
On a plane leaving for STL sitting next to Jack Z! Just asked him if he was surprised to get something for Yuni and he just smiled! I wonder if stl is his final destination?

44. By: jhess75 on 07-11-2009 15:09:03
Jason,
Geoff Baker just had a witter update saying the Mariners traded for Jack Hannahan. Your thoughts?

45. By: jhess75 on 07-11-2009 15:10:14
*twitter update

46. By: Jason A. Churchill on 07-11-2009 16:51:37
He's depth, a backup, another option, Woodward with a lefty bat.

47. By: Jim in WI on 07-11-2009 18:35:56
Sorry I wasn't more clear above--I meant of the 2 big trades on Friday(Betancourt to the Royals, Francouer to the Mets), which one was worse? Giving up 2 minor leaguers for Betancourt, or giving up Ryan Church for Jeff Francouer.

Neither was particularly great, but the Mets are contending, for God's sake! Or at least they were. ;)

48. By: on 07-11-2009 18:57:10
Ok, Z is a great guy and talked to me for about 10 minutes. He wa with wife so didn't want to bother him too much. He told me about this deal as it hadn't broken before takeoff. He was coming early for the futures game. He said the guy he really wanted at ss was zobrist in the offseason, but couldn't get him because of uptons injury. What could have been. Pretty sure he isn't done yet. I said cedeno is hitting what .180 and he said he wishes. LOL. Very glad he is our GM!

49. By: jonbbt on 07-11-2009 19:49:07
John Sickels is saying Saito's velo is down to 88-89 now compared to low 90s in college. Too bad..

50. By: JonathanAicardi on 07-12-2009 02:13:21
Look Jason, I can't help that i misspelled cortes okay? I love tequila. 'Nuff said.

51. By: Lonnie on 07-13-2009 12:35:53
Jason sez:
"He's the best starting pitching prospect in the Seattle organization right now, which says more about the M's system than it does Cortes,"

By what criteria are you using to label him as the best? Is it purely his stuff or combination of things? It seems to me that the "IF's" (IF he can get command and control of his pitches, IF he can translate his stuff to starting, etc.) involved with Cortes are pretty big.

Lonnie

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