The problem here isn’t trading Juan, since at any point you get out pitched by SERGIO!, there’s a problem.
The problem here is that this is a year too late – Juan would’ve got us a lot of value previously and even without Maddux signing late, we would’ve had the same options for reserve starters as we have now and it’s not like they were ever going to rely on Juan for a long time unless he pitched back to back shutouts or something. Instead, we get just some other teams unfufilled promise. Which is fair, but a lot down on what we were talking about when everyone first started trading Cruz in, say, 2001.
Also Good: No more bringing up Mr. Smyth just because he’s a lefty and ignoring that he’s not a good AAA pitcher, much less a ML one.
Also Good: No more mispelling “Smyth”
Also Bad: Richard Lewis is a little old to be playing infield, ain’t he?