This is my trade deadline update, but rather by team than deal (Daniels does an alright job doing the individual deals). I like to look at the overall picture, what can I say.
July’s Transactions
(Note, position is listed after player, along with the level if the player was in the minors. SS is short season and R is rookie league)
Angels
Added: Terry Evans (OF, AA).
Subtracted: Jeff Weaver (P).
This was a basic dump, but it got their best pitcher back in the rotation. Moving Jeff for Jered makes the team 10 times better, and they got a power hitting prospect back for it.
Astros
Added: Aubrey Huff (3B)
Subtracted: Mitch Talbot (P, AA), Ben Zorbist (SS, AA).
This addresses some of the lack of hitting problems they have had, but they created more problems before the deadline. The proposed deal that would have given the Astros Miguel Tejada has hurt the team more than if they would have hurt the team. Roy Oswalt, under contract for another season, will definitely test the free agent market after the team offered to deal him. He was hurt by the offer, since he is good friends with the owner. The media made things even worse by reporting all the rumors as fact after the deadline passed.
Athletics
Added: None.
Subtracted: None.
They did nothing, but they really didn’t need to to win the division. If they wanted to win anything else, like a playoff series, they needed to make a move. Overall, the pitching will continue to get them by, but not much.
Blue Jays
Added: Jeremy Accardo (P).
Subtracted: Vinny Chulk (P), Shea Hillenbrand (1B).
Hillenbrand had to be dumped after he publicly criticized management, but in return, they landed a pitching prospect. Not only can he pitch, but he could also be dealt for something bigger and better in the offseason.
Braves
Added: Willy Aybar (3B), Danys Baez (P), Rich Scalamandre (P, AAA), Bob Wickman (P).
Subtracted: Wilson Betemit (SS), Max Ramirez (C, Lo A), Jorge Sosa (P).
Bullpen help was what they needed, and that’s what they got. Baez will be the prefect set up man for Wickman, and could even take over the closer role. They also rid themselves of Dr. Jekyll and Mr, Sosa, but they really didn’t get much back for a hard throwing arm.
Brewers
Added: David Bell (3B), Francisco Cordero (P), Julian Cordero (P, Lo A), Tony Graffanino (2B), Kevin Mench (OF), Laynce Nix (OF).
Subtracted: Nelson Cruz (OF, AAA), Jorge de la Rosa (P), Wilfrido Laureano (P, Lo A), Carlos Lee (OF).
They started making moves because they were in playoff contention, but then they went on a losing streak that led to the trading of Lee. They did get good, major league player for him, and also caused the Nationals to hang onto Soriano (see the Nationals for details). Bell and Graffanino were added to help an injured infield, and Mench will give them an outfielder for a few years.
Cardinals
Added: Ronnie Belliard (2B), Jorge Sosa (P), Jeff Weaver (P).
Subtracted: Terry Evans (OF, AA), Hector Luna (2B), Rich Scalamandre (P, AAA).
On the outside, trading Luna for Belliard looks like a good deal. When people start to realize that Luna is younger, cheaper version of Belliard, and that he was not starting because Cardinal management didn’t want to start their best option off the bench, they will begin to see why a minority in St. Louis are un-happy about the deal. The Weaver and Sosa deals weren’t bad, because the players given up weren’t in the long-term plan for the team.
Cubs
Added: Jose Ceda (P, R), Fabian Jimenez (P, Lo A), Cesar Izturis (SS), Joel Santo (P, Lo A).
Subtracted: Greg Maddux (P), Todd Walker (2B), Scott Williamson (P).
Like a fat man after a buffet, the team started a massive dump. None of the players were in the future for the team; don’t be surprised if it’s continued into the off-season. The team may look different next year, so maybe they can perform.
Devil Rays
Added: Joel Guzman (3B, AAA), Sergio Pedroza (OF, Hi A), Mitch Talbot (P, AA), Ben Zorbist (SS, AA).
Subtracted: Aubrey Huff (3B), Julio Lugo (SS).
They moved some of the spare parts, and they actually got a pretty good return. Guzman is a top notch prospect, and should take over at third (B.J. Upton permitting). Talbot and Zorbist could be decent, but may not be everyday players in the long run. Pedroza could be good, but he is so young that it’s up in the air.
Diamondbacks
Added: None.
Subtracted: None.
The best thing that happened to this team was losing Craig Counsel so Stephen Drew could be called up. He, along with Conor Jackson and Carlos Quentin, are the future of the team. Look for another veteran to be moved in the next few weeks, like Shawn Green or Luis Gonzalez.
Dodgers
Added: Wilson Betemit (SS), Elmer Dessens (P), B.J. LaMura (P, AA), Julio Lugo (SS), Greg Maddux (P).
Subtracted: Sandy Alomar Jr (C), Willy Aybar (3B), Danys Baez (P), Joel Guzman (3B, AAA), Cesar Izturis (SS), Blake Johnson (P, Lo A), Sergio Pedroza (OF, Hi A), Odalis Perez (P), Julio Pimentel (P, Lo A).
I can’t tell which way the team is moving. They move out young guys like Guzman and Izturis for veterans, but they move out veterans like Alomar and Baez that could definitely help the team. The team has a chance to compete, but the moves that were made don’t necessarily mean they will start to win.
Giants
Added: Vinny Chulk (P), Shea Hillenbrand (1B), Mike Stanton (P).
Subtracted: Jeremy Accardo (P), Shairon Martis (P, Lo A).
First base and the bullpen were definite areas that needed to be addressed, but they didn’t do enough to set this team apart in the West. The team was old to begin with, and the new guys won’t bring the average age down. Adding an average bullpen arm cost them Martis, who has a promising future. Hillenbrand helps the line up, but Accardo has the stuff of a future closer, and they will need one after the bad taste Armando Benitez is leaving.
Indians
Added: Shin-Soo Choo (OF, AAA), Hector Luna (2B), Max Ramirez (C, Lo A), Brian Sikorski (P).
Subtracted: Mike Adams (P, AAA), Ronnie Belliard (2B), Ben Broussard (1B), Bob Wickman (P).
Like the Cubs, this under-performing team got rid of some spare parts. Belliard is a free agent at the end of the season, and they got the same player back for him. Broussard’s value was at the highest it’s been, but they have better options within the system.
Mariners
Added: Ben Broussard (1B), Travis Chick (P, AA).
Subtracted: Shin-Soo Choo (OF, AAA), Eddie Guardado (P).
A decent prospect for a decent first baseman/DH. A decent prospect for a low tear closer. Not too much happening here.
Marlins
Added: None.
Subtracted: None.
This team only had one thing to sell, and it wasn’t going to gain them enough. They will be the same team next year, only with a different closer.
Mets
Added: Ruben Gotay (2B, AAA), Roberto Hernandez (P), Oliver Perez (P, AAA).
Subtracted: Jeff Keppinger (2B, AAA), Xavier Nady (OF).
The Mets were another team that made moves, but not ones that necessarily helped the team. Nady was exceeding expectations, and all they got was an average bullpen arm and a broken down starter. They also dealt a former prospect for a former prospect, in a hope that the team can turn Gotay around.
Nationals
Added: Austin Kearns (OF), Felipe Lopez (SS), Shairon Martis (P, Lo A), Ryan Wagner (P, AAA).
Subtracted: Bill Bray (P), Royce Clayton (SS), Brendan Harris (2B, AAA), Gary Majewski (P), Mike Stanton (P), Daryl Thompson (P, SS).
The top player that could have been dealt was Alfonso Soriano, and no team would give them what they wanted. What complicated matters was the great deal the Brewers got for Carlos Lee, which no team would meet or exceed. For the deals they did make, they got some good you player for bullpen guys that they could easily replace. Kearns and Lopez will be good, cheap players for some time; all it cost was a fading infield prospect, an over achieving reliever, a good prospect, and a rental player. They also stole Martis from the Giants, who threw a no-hitter in the WBC.
Orioles
Added: None.
Subtracted: None.
They know they are out of it, and are content in mediocrity. They did pull the worst move of the deadline, by having owner Peter Angelos veto a trade that would send discrutled Miguel Tejada to the Astros for Oswalt, Morgan Ensberg, and Adam Everett. They also had a deal in place to send Oswalt to the Rangers for Hank Blalock and prospects. Had this gone down, they would have been an obvious winner in the deadline.
Padres
Added: Mike Adams (P, AAA), Todd Walker (2B), Scott Williamson (P).
Subtracted: Jose Ceda (P, R), Fabian Jimenez (P, Lo A), Joel Santo (P, Lo A), Brian Sikorski (P).
Walker is a decent player, and had a decent run in Chicago, but he won’t be much of an upgrade over what Vinny Castilla was doing. The team’s best move was holding onto setup man Scott Linebrink, even with the addition of Williamson. They should also be happy they didn’t give up much.
Phillies
Added: Justin Germano (P, AAA), C.J. Henry (SS, Lo A), Wilfrido Laureano (P, Lo A), Hector Made (2B, TBD), Carlos Monasterios (P, R), Jesus Sanchez (C, R), Matt Smith (P, AAA).
Subtracted: Bobby Abreu (OF), David Bell (3B), Rheal Cormier (P), Sal Fasano (C), Cory Lidle (P).
They could have gotten more if they hadn’t given Abreu an inflated contract. Since the Yanks agreed to take on the salary, they didn’t have to give up much. Henry, the best player obtained before the deadline, could be great, but he is struggling in Lo A and is very raw.
Pirates
Added: Jesse Chavez (P, AAA), Shawn Chacon (P), Xavier Nady (OF), Brian Rogers (P, AA).
Subtracted: Sean Casey (1B), Roberto Hernandez (P), Oliver Perez (P, AAA), Kip Wells (P), Craig Wilson (OF).
Nady is a great addition to the team, but nothing else they got will help in the long run. They just were really dumping guys and taking a chance on some prospects.
Rangers
Added: Nelson Cruz (OF, AAA), Carlos Lee (OF), Luis Mendoza (P, TBD), Matt Stairs (1B), Kip Wells (P).
Subtracted: Jesse Chavez (P, AAA), Francisco Cordero (P), Julian Cordero (P, Lo A), Bryan Corey (P), Joselo Diaz (P, AAA), Kevin Mench (OF), Laynce Nix (OF).
Adding Lee is nice, but it didn’t address their yearly problem: pitching. They needed a starter and all they added was the highly disappointing Wells. Look for them to continue fight for second place.
Red Sox
Added: Bryan Corey (P).
Subtracted: Luis Mendoza (P, TBD).
They saw what the Yankees did, and they didn’t respond. This will cost them the division and any hopes for the post season. (This was written before the Javy Lopez deal was completed, but I don’t think it will change anything.)
Reds
Added: Billy Bray (P), Royce Clayton (SS), Rheal Cormier (P), Eddie Guardado (P), Brendan Harris (2B), Kyle Lohse (P), Gary Majewski (P), Daryl Thompson (P, SS).
Subtracted: Travis Chick (P), Justin Germano (P, AAA), Austin Kearns (OF), Felipe Lopez (SS), Ryan Wagner (P, AAA), Zach Ward (P, Lo A).
It’s great that a team realizes what it needs to improve, but there should be a limit on the cost. To improve the bullpen, they gave up good hitters in Kearns and Lopez, who will be replaced by Clayton and Chris Denorfia; not an ideal trade for a team in the race. Adding Guardado is nice, but won’t matter because of the other deal.
Rockies
Added: Jeremy Affeldt (P), Denny Bautista (P, AAA).
Subtracted: Scott Dohmann (P, AAA), Ryan Shealy (1B).
Bullpen help was needed, but I don’t think this was the right deal. Affeldt has never proven himself, and he cost a good prospect. Add in Bautista’s wildness, and the Rockies could be disappointed by this deal.
Royals
Added: Daniel Cortes (P, Lo A), Jorge de la Rosa (P), Joselo Diaz, (P, AAA) Scott Dohmann (P, AAA), Blake Johnson (P, Lo A), Jeff Keppinger (2B, AAA), Tyler Lumsden (P, AA), Odalis Perez (P), Julio Pimentel (P, Lo A), Ryan Shealy (1B).
Subtracted: Jeremy Affeldt (P), Denny Bautista (P, AAA), Elmer Dessens (P), Ruben Gotay (2B, AAA)Tony Graffanino (2B), Mike MacDougal (P), Matt Stairs (1B).
This team needed help for the future, and they moved in the right direction. The only thing that would have helped them more was moving a few more vets and finding a way to not take on Odalis Perez.
Tigers
Added: Sean Casey (1B).
Subtracted: Brian Rogers (P, AA).
This is probably my favorite trade. The Tigers got a player that will complement what they already have, add a strong presence in the clubhouse, and didn’t sell the future to do it, He will be the perfect number 2 hitter since he doesn’t have much power but can get on base easily.
Twins
Added: Zach Ward (P, Lo A).
Subtracted: Kyle Lohse (P).
Lohse needed to be moved out, since he was holding back some prospects for most of the season (he was part of the reason Francisco Liriano started the season in the bullpen). They did need to get an impact bat, but the pitching will continue to carry the team.
White Sox
Added: Sandy Alomar Jr (C), Mike MacDougal (P).
Subtracted: Daniel Cortes (P, Lo A), B.J. LaMura (P, AA), Tyler Lumsden (P, AA).
If they wanted to keep up with the Tigers, they didn’t do it. Truthfully, they didn’t need to do much to take the wild card. An additional outfielder, but it wasn’t essential. Overall, the team will be the same.
Yankees
Added: Bobby Abreu (OF), Sal Fasano (C), Cory Lidle (P), Craig Wilson (OF).
Subtracted: Shawn Chacon (P), C.J. Henry (SS, Lo A), Hector Made (2B, TBD), Carlos Monasterios (P, R), Jesus Sanchez (C, R), Matt Smith (P, AAA).
When (and if) everyone gets healthy, this will be a team to be reckoned with. They addressed the outfield, starting pitching, and a backup catcher, and they didn’t do much to get it.
