Fantasy Sports Experience

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Latest Matt Murton Trade Rumors - Possible Destinations

Matt Murton has been told by Cubs officials that he will be traded or sent to AAA Iowa by the time the season begins Monday. Either move would more or less mark the end of Murton's career that has been marred by unfortunate injury, lack of playing time and consistently being passed over by unproven or mediocre talent.  Murton is capable of putting up a .290AVG and 20HR; however it seems like the Cubs were always trying to find something better.

Possible Destinations, Fantasy Projections 

San Diego Padres

San Diego is like the guy who is parading around with any girl he can find in order to make the girl he likes jealous. Jody Gerut, Scott Hairston, and Paul McAnulty are currently the Padres LF options. It is clear that Murton could be had for pennies on the dollar and he would be a fine fit for SD and his line drive approach is primed for that ballpark. Given ample playing time, Murton could duplicate numbers similar to those of Brian Giles during the peak of his tenure with the Padres.

Tampa Bay Rays

GM Andrew Friedman has said the Rays will aggressively shop for a corner outfielder before Monday's opener and Murton might be a great fit for the young squad. The team would prefer to keep the injury prone Cliff Floyd at DH and platoon him with Jonny Gomes who is brutal in the field. With Delmon Young traded in the offseason and Rocco Baldelli hitting the 60 day DL, this leaves the once overcrowded Rays' outfield understocked entering the 2008 campaign. Don't be surprised if Friedman moves quickly on Murton and gets something done Sunday or Monday using one of the team's extra starting pitchers.

New York Mets

Another good fit might be the Mets, who could use a younger player to bolster an aging outfield. He would get plenty of playing time given the teams cavalcade of injury prone 
outfielders lead by Moises Alou.

Texas Rangers

There have also been plenty of rumors of Murton possibly going to the Rangers for Marlon Byrd, but those look all but dead with the Cubs recent acquisition of Reed Johnson. 

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