Colby Lewis Trade WHIR

[baegames]

Offer on the table:

I give up Colby Lewis and Jake Fox/John Buck (Fox until Buck returns, then Buck, unless Buck is worth more than Kurt Suzuki, my 2nd catcher), receive Matt Capps and John Jaso.

I need to make a push in offense (I have already started to do so).
As far as pitching goes, here is the deal:
I am 25 strikeouts ahead of the second place team and 147 ahead of third place. Based on other moves we have made I don't think I can hold off the second place team in strikeouts, so I don't think this makes a difference.
In Wins, I am in a tight 4 team race (right now, 2nd place, 2 behind the first place team, and 1 ahead of 3rd place, 4 ahead of 2nd place), so I think this is a problem.
In saves, there is a team 12 saves behind me, but I currently have 1.5 closers (Wuertz and Gonzalez), and they have 3. If Bailey comes back and Gonzalez doesn't take the job, I may not hold him off even with this trade.
ERA, I have a decent lead, but one that could be caught.
WHIP, I have a slightly bigger lead; also one that can be caught.
Winning Percentage, I have a decent lead, but still one that may be caught.

Lewis is no youngster, but he averaged 177 IP in Japan the last two years (and he can only assume he threw fewer pitches per inning, based on his peripherals, than he has in the US). He is currently at 148.1. Should that even be a consideration?

Thoughts? WHIR

[djfoss73]

i haven't seen anything to warrant concern about an innings cap for lewis...and i would have to say i don't like this trade for you, even with those category considerations. lewis is a top 25 pitcher to this point in the season (based on espn's player rater...maybe not that precise, but the point being hes close to the top as far as SP go). the catcher swapping seems like it wont make a huge difference to you, i like kurt the best of those guys anyway so its somewhat irrelevant. basically, its lewis for capps with slight baggage, and i think you can get more for lewis (not to mention that capps doesn't have a huge leash in minnesota...if he has a few rough games, they have rauch waiting and i dont think they'll be willing to wait long in a close race). i would at least aim for a better guy than jaso-hes not always an everyday catcher, and even when he is i dont think will be that much of an offensive improvement.

one other thing to look at if you need closers is the current situation in LA, houston, and ny mets bullpens--there are some guys you could pick up there for cheap saves, brandon lyon and hisanori takahashi would be my bets if they're available in your league. if you absolutely feel the need to trade colby lewis for a closer, go after somebody in the top 10 as hes worth that at the very least.