Clearing The Bases

Last week we looked at the teams that could be big players before the non-waiver trade deadline, this week we will look at the winners and losers.  This is where the general manager of a team makes his money.  You’re under pressure to make the best deal possible.  Everyone knows what you need, so you may not have as much leverage as you like, and with the social media available today, everyone knows your prospects and fans won’t be forgiving if you give up what they consider is a top minor leaguer for an average major leaguer.  Problem is if you don’t want to give up these top prospects, you may not be able to get the player that could help you the most.  Those GMs have to answer so many questions, will this player help our team, will he mesh in the clubhouse, how much of his salary can we take on, will he be able to play under the bright lights and scrutiny of a pennant chase.  If the answer to any of these questions is no, than the GM may just pass on the deal.  Let’s also not forget that teams that we may deem losers now can redeem themselves in August, trades can still be made, it’s just that now players have to clear waivers, so blockbusters or multiple player are much harder to accomplish, but veterans with big contracts that are underperforming will certainly get through, and that’s where a deal can be made.

I’m not going to mention a couple of teams because although I believe they made good deals, they did so with some risk.  Cleveland announced they are going for it this season with the big trade for Ubaldo Jimenez but it cost them their top two prospects and more in Drew Pomeranz and Alex White, plus there has to be major concerns about the health of Jimenez as he is signed to such a team friendly contract.  Houston made a couple of deals and received quite a few prospects, even a couple of top ones, but those players are still years away from contributing.  Who is going to pay to watch this team in the mean time?  San Francisco did acquire the bat they needed in Beltran, but giving up your top pitching prospect for a two month rental is a huge gamble.

Winners:

1. Toronto Blue Jays:  Acquiring Colby Rasmus before the deadline certainly seemed like a shrewd move by the Jays.  In Rasmus they acquire a centerfielder that can do just about anything on the baseball field and who was in obvious need of change of scenery as he just couldn’t get along with Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa.  It may take Rasmus the rest of this season to get acclimated to his new surroundings, but next year he may finally live up to his vast potential, and there are very few more hitter friends ballparks than Toronto.  What’s even more impressive in this deal was that the Blue Jays gave up very little talent, and certainly not anyone they are going to miss going forward.
2. Baltimore Orioles:  Koji Uehara may have a 1.72 ERA and a WHIP of .702 but he is also 36 years of age and certainly not someone you can count on long term.  The O’s turned Uehara into Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter.  Davis is still a project, and some could argue that what the O’s have in Davis is someone who’s upside is 30+ HRs, but with that will come a truckload of strikeouts.  Hard to argue with that, but still the team hasn’t had a 1B they can rely on since Rafael Palmiero.  Hunter will never be a top of the rotation starter, and may struggle with the offenses in the East, but could still be a useful 4-5 starter, and you can never have enough pitching.
3. Detroit Tigers:  We all knew the Tigers needed pitching.  They were in on everyone from Ublado Jimenez to Hideki Kuroda and if you look at Doug Fister’s record (3-12) you might think they settled, but a closer look at Fister’s numbers reveals his ERA is just a tick over three and his WHIP is impressive at 1.171 and it’s not like he went to a hitters ballpark in Detroit.  Once again, Detroit didn’t lose anything off the major league roster that will hurt them, and they were able to keep prize prospect Jacob Turner.
4. Texas Rangers:  The addition of Koji Uehara and Mike Adams may make the Rangers the favorite to win the AL Pennant.  The Rangers can hit with anyone, and although they may not have the aces that Detroit, Boston, and New York have, their rotation is deeper and their bullpen is pretty close to dominant.  The trade for Adams also allows the team to move Neftali Feliz to the starting rotation next season if they so choose.
5. Seattle Mariners:  Getting Trayvon Robinson from the Dodgers for next to nothing was highway robbery.  Seems the Dodgers gave up on him or just flat out don’t think he can play at the major league level.  Robinson may not be so happy with this trade however as SafeCo Field is where good offensive players go to die.
6. Atlanta Braves:  The Braves seemed close to becoming losers at the trade deadline as they were rumored to be in on every outfielder in the majors (Carlos Beltran, Hunter Pence, Carlos Quentin) and seemed to have struck out, but finally got their man in Michael Bourne, and didn’t have to surrender one of their top pitching prospects to get it done.  Bourne is almost the perfect player for the Braves as it gives them a true centerfielder and leadoff man.
7. New York Mets:  Everyone knew the Mets were going to trade Beltran, and everyone also knew that he would be nothing more than a two month rental and that the acquiring team would not be able to get draft pick compensation once he leaves the team after the season.  Kudos to GM Sandy Alderson for holding his ground and getting a top prospect that he demanded.  Zack Wheeler should be able to help the Mets in 2013-14.  The Mets almost didn’t make this list as I believe they should have traded Jose Reyes.   They aren’t going anywhere this season and Reyes could’ve brought two to three more top prospects.  The Mets changed their mind and now want to re-sign him, but it seems to me that they could’ve traded Reyes and explained to him that they love him and want to re-sign him, the best of both worlds.
8. Philadelphia Phillies:  The Phillies went for broke this season in acquiring Hunter Pence, also giving up their top two prospects in Jonathan Singleton and Jarred Cosart.  The difference between Philly and Cleveland is that the addition of Pence completes the Phillies team.  It gives them the righty bat they need to break up all of their left-handed hitters.  The Phillies are a team built to win the World Series now, and when you have that chance, you go for broke.

Losers:

1. New York Yankees:  Although I don’t blame the bombers for not being in on the Jimenez deal, Colorado wanted every top prospect the Yankees have and wouldn’t let them do a physical, to not do anything was a bit strange.  I understand there wasn’t a #2 starter out there, but a lefty out of the bullpen seems to be a need.
2. Tampa Bay Rays:  It seems the Rays just couldn’t bring themselves to be sellers, perhaps they couldn’t admit to themselves that they are out of the race.  James Shields was probably never going to be traded but Tampa had let it know that BJ Upton was available.  Teams were scurrying for outfielders and Atlanta probably would’ve come calling had they not gotten the Bourne trade done, but in the end, Tampa stood pat.  Even if you weren’t going to trade Shields, your lesser pitchers had value also, and right now you have a six-man rotation and Matt Moore seems to be ready in the minors.  Perhaps Tampa believes they will get more for their players in the off-season rather than at the deadline.
3. Minnesota Twins:  Like the Rays, they seemed not to be able to make up their minds as to whether or not they are contenders or pretenders.  The American League Central isn’t the strongest of divisions but they are 8.5 games behind the Tigers and would have to climb over three teams in order to make the playoffs.  Teams were very interested in Michael Cuddyer, he could have commanded a package close to what the Astros got for Pence, and Jason Kubel also could help someone.  Francisco Liriano surely would’ve been on the Yankees radar had he been available, even Jim Thome could help a team off the bench.
4. Los Angeles Angels:  We all assume the Rangers will win the AL West, but the Angels are only a game behind and with a weak schedule are certainly in the hunt for a playoff berth.  Seems kind of odd that they didn’t make any moves.  They may have been hurt by the Mets decided not to trade Jose Reyes and the Cubs Aramis Ramirez not wanting to waive his no-trade clause as shortstop and third base are the biggest needs for the halos.
5. St. Louis Cardinals:  I know they received a bunch of useful parts, but just can’t get over the fact that they seemed to have sold awfully low on Colby Rasmus.   Certainly didn’t help my thinking when the biggest piece they did receive in the deal, P Edwin Jackson, gave up 10 runs today.
6. Chicago Cubs:  Not being able to talk Ramirez into waiving his no trade clause seems like a mistake, but he still could be a solid player next season.  Carlos Pena however should’ve been dealt, and possibly still will be.  Carlos Zambrano and Alfonso Soriano have two of the worst contracts in baseball and aren’t going anywhere.
7. Los Angeles Dodgers:  Why oh why did they give up on Trayvon Robinson without getting much in return.  They didn’t even give him a chance to play the major league level despite their obvious need for outfield help.