The MLB non waiver trade deadline has passed and the most talked about name the last 48 hours didn't get moved. Enjoy the reset of the summer in D.C. Mr. Dunn. He actually could still get moved but I can't see the Nats putting him on waivers at this point when they could have actually gotten something for him by trading him. If they hold him for the rest of the year now and then he walks in the winter ala Alfonso Soriano the Nats would get a pair of compensatory draft picksjust as the did when Soriano left. At that time the Nats used one of those picks for Jordan Zimmerman. So now that Dunn didn't get dealt expect him to stay in the capital for the duration of the season.
The way I see it the winners at the deadline include the Rangers who acquired Cliff Lee 2 weeks ago and then added Jorge Cantu and Cristian Guzman to plug a couple areas of need. They traded Smoak and recalled Chris Davis to fill the hole and Davis couldn't show the Rangers he could get it done so they went out and got Cantu. Kinsler went on the DL yet again and young SS Elvis Andrus has stumbled a bit in July so Guzman plugs the hole at 2B until Kinsler gets back and then becomes a super sub for the stretch run. The rangers biggest competitor in the AL West went out and got SP Dan Haren and tried to pry Derrek Lee away from the Cubs but Lee exercised is option to refuse the deal as 10/5 guy(10 years+ in MLB, 5 with same team). Of course no MLB trade deadline would be complete without the Yankees making a move or three. Yankees were said to be in on the Cliff Lee deal but ultimately balked before he went to Texas, then they were rumored in on Oswalt, Dunn, Lilly, and probably every other deal because they are the Yankees. What they did actually do was add Lance Berkman to fill the spot that was supposed to be Nick Johnson's before he made his annual injury pilgrimage to the DL. The other two moves won't make you ooohhhh or aaahhhh but they added Austin Kearns and RP Kerry Wood. Both have seen better days and are on the downside of their careers as far as productivity is concerned but as always with the NYY for 2 months plus they might just catch lightning in a bottle.
The Phillies went out and got Roy Oswalt who they wouldn't have needed if they just held on to Cliff Lee in the first place but with the two Roy's the Phillies should be putting heat on the Braves in the near future. They did give up a nice young arm in J.A. Happ so hopefully they can work something out long term with Oswalt. Who would have ever thought the San Diego Padres and their 29th ranked payroll would be a serious BUYER at the deadline. In the past the Fathers have been the farm system for the rest of the league but not this year. Trying to build on their 2.5 game lead in the NL West the Padres acquired Miguel Tejada and Ryan Ludwick and dodged a bullet when the SF Giants were unable to make any significant moves. The biggest winner out west may have been the Dodgers but will it be enough, with 31 of 59 on the road the rest of the way the Dodgers are 6 games under .500 on the road and hold a slim run differential of +8 and trail the Padres by 7 games. There was some Manny talk near the deadline but in the end he stayed put and the Dodgers added RP Octavio Dotel, LHSP Ted Lilly, middle infielder Ryan Theriot, and OF Scott Podsednik. So while the ownership of the team is decided by an L.A. judge in divorce court it will be up to the new guys to decide the teams fate on the field.
Losers at the deadline include the SF Giants and the Cincinnati Reds for standing by as the teams they are chasing made moves to improve. The Rays only added RP Chad Qualls to try and run down the Yankees and then Adam Dunn since he lost another MLB season without the chance to be on a winner.
Who out there would have improved the Reds and been worth trading for?
ReplyDeleteReds couldn't use pitching? Leake has to be nearing a wall, Lilly could have helped. Rhodes & Cordero solid but you can always use pen help. A LF could have helped unless you think a team can win the WS with Jonny Gomes in LF. They could have done something and the Cardinals got better with Westbrook as their #4 SP
ReplyDeleteTed Lilly would have helped? I don't think it would have been worth trading for a pitcher like Lilly within the division. Leake is now pitching less (he's just skipped a start and his pitch count has been reduced) and he's on pace to pitch about 20 to 30 more innings than he did last year.
ReplyDeleteThe Reds are young but they keep getting better. The best thing they did was not make a trade just to make a trade. The team has a bunch of No. 2, 3 and 4 starters. Getting someone like Westbrook wouldn't have been worth giving up the prospects.
And it would be great for the Reds to add a better outfielder. But who was out there?
Everyone could use 'pen help and that's why the Reds signed Isringhausen and Russ Springer this month. And they also have Chapman getting ready to possibly join the bullpen. Those are better deals for a team like the Reds than the price of the mediocre relievers on the trade block.
In a market like this, there is no sense in making a trade just to trade.
Appreciate the feedback/comments as I stated in my profile it is always good to have a different perspective. Thanks for taking the time to read my post and hopefully you'll come back. I am trying to post at least once per day. Looking forward to the races down the stretch the AL West seems to be the only one that might be over.
ReplyDeleteJayson Stark has a similar take on winners & losers, he did leave the Reds off either list.
ReplyDeletehttp://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=5426919