So, I'm mostly trade deadlined out after about 90 tweets and writing up all of the finalized deals over at Rotoworld, but I think I have enough left for a winners and losers blog.
I'm focusing strictly on Friday's action. Looking at the big picture, I'd say the Pirates and Dodgers would also figure into the winners column.
Winners
- Red Sox - The price for Victor Martinez was pretty steep, but it was better to give up Justin Masterson and Nick Hagadone's potential than Clay Buchholz. Martinez provides outstanding protection for Jason Varitek and Mike Lowell. Also, the Red Sox picked up Casey Kotchman to become the new Doug Mientkiewicz now and likely a key piece in 2010. Now Terry Francona will have to try to figure out how to keep everyone happy.
- Tigers - Detroit has little minor league depth, but the team still managed to acquire Jarrod Washburn without giving up a major piece. I'm skeptical that Luke French will last as a starter, and while Mauricio Robles has a great arm, he also has a lot of hurdles to clear on his path to the majors. Washburn should remain rather effective in Comerica Park, and the Tigers will get a sandwich pick if he leaves as a free agent.
- Marlins - They should have gotten a reliever, too, but they could pick one up next month. Nick Johnson should be a run-scoring machine in front of Hanley Ramirez, and his addition will put Emilio Bonifacio on the bench against righties. Bonifacio has actually been OK against lefties this year, so he can start in left field against them.
- Twins - Minnesota sat back and watched Oakland's price tag drop with no other suitors for Orlando Cabrera. Sure, Freddy Sanchez might have been a bigger upgrade, but Cabrera came far cheaper.
- Padres - They shed the entire $55 million obligation to Jake Peavy and still got the same kind of package from the White Sox they accepted when they tried to trade a healthy Peavy in May. I'm not sure it makes them winners, but they solved their money problems and they'll still have Adrian Gonzalez and Heath Bell next year.
- Edwin Encarnacion - Dusty Baker didn't appear to be giving up on him, but most everyone else in Cincinnati had. The change of scenery should do him some good, but he needs to take advantage or the bust label could stick.
- Adam LaRoche - Serving as a part-timer for the Red Sox for the next two months might have hurt him as he heads into free agency at season's end. Now he'll get to be a regular for a contender. His fantasy owners also qualify as winners.
- Clayton Richard, Aaron Poreda - Two left-handers sure to enjoy pitching in Petco Park. Richard will join the rotation now, and both should be there next year.
Losers
- Reds - Scott Rolen is having an All-Star campaign, but I'm not convinced it's not his last gasp. The Reds will be on the hook for his entire $11.5 million salary next year, and they gave up three nice chips to get him. As long as their odds are for this year, it was the wrong strategy.
- Royals - GM Dayton Moore overpriced Mark Teahen, David DeJesus and Willie Bloomquist. Incredibly, he wants to keep the same pieces in place for 2010.
- Brewers - Claudio Vargas is not the answer. The Brewers needed a starting pitcher, and it looks like they were hurt by their lack of second-tier prospects. They weren't going to move Mat Gamel and Alcides Escobar and they didn't have much else to barter with.
- Braves - I wouldn't want to count on Adam LaRoche being an upgrade over Kotchman, and Kotchman could have been kept in 2010 to serve as the bridge to Freddie Freeman. LaRoche is a free agent, and right now, he's not a great bet to qualify as a Type B and draw draft-pick compensation.
- Diamondbacks - They could be one of August's most active teams with Jon Garland and Chris Snyder sure to clear waivers and Doug Davis and Jon Rauch also possibilities. However, they've yet to help their chances for 2010 with the Felipe Lopez and Tony Pena trades.
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Winners: The whole baseball news industry
Losers: Yankees for standing pat
SABR for scheduling the DC get together at the trade deadline
The biggest loser in all of this is those poor fans left in Pittsburgh. It is sad what the ownership is doing to that team. They have degenerated into a major league farm team for the rest of the league. If it were possible to force an owner to sell a team, the Pirates would be first on the list.
Don't worry about the fans in Pittsburgh. We don't need your pity! Pirates were going nowhere with/without the 10 guys they traded.
How are the Phillies not winners? They are defending World Series champs, added last year's AL Cy Young winner, and didn't give up any of their 3 top propsects or anyone from the major league roster, inclduing Happ.
The Pittsburgh fans have the champion Steelers and champion Penguins. The Pirates front office knows this, therefore it knows it doesn't have to placate the Pittsburgh fans.
I agree completely that the fault falls squarely on the shoulders of the ownership. They've shown no commitment to winning - just making money, which they are doing. Hopefully some of the multitude of bodies brought in will prove to be legit players, and in a few years, they can begin to turn the corner (something that has been said repeatedly for the past 15 years)
Pretty incomplete summary. In addition to the Phillies, anybody notice how the Cardinals are playing with the additions of Lugo, Holliday, and DeRosa??
He said he was only focusing on Friday's action.
After he said he was only focusing on Friday's action, he added that when looking at the big picture he would say the Pirates and Dodgers. That being said, why the Phillies and Cardinals were not included is a valid question. I think his work was not complete.
Ahh, baseball economics. You have got to love how these stupid GM's sign some players to insane contracts and then one or two years later try to or do trade them away because they are making too much money and can't afford them. It's their own fault though. They cave in and pay because of what the player HAS DONE hoping they can continue to produce the same numbers which, everyone but the GM knows, is not going to happen because - amazingly - players always have career years in their free agent year - WOW - there's a shock. Idiots
I'm entirely unclear on why the worse-than-mediocre Reds would trade 26 year old Edwin Encarnacion and two very decent pitching prospects for Scott Rolen's $11.5 million contract. Rolen would be a tremendous addition to a contender for this year, but what does that have to do with the Reds? Finally Riccardi makes a decent move.
This, to me, is the single dumbest transction of the season (for the Reds). Makes absolutely no sense.
Dodgers = Losers
Their response to the Phillies adding Cliff Lee and the Cardinals acquiring Mark DeRosa, Julio Lugo, and Matt Holliday? George Sherrill. Getting another arm in the back of the pen was a nice START, but sadly, the Dodgers didn't have the cajones to get something done for Halladay, Washburn, Lee, Adrian Gonzalez, or Heath Bell; all players they were rumored to be inquiring about.
It's been 20 years, so what's one more annual disappointment for Dodger fans?
The Sox are losers in this. VMart is afwul defensively, can't run, and has hit .190 since May 22nd. He's 30 years old, and is coming off a terrible and injury plagued season. It's a bad trade. The Red Sox bias in the media is disgraceful, they can do no wrong. The Sox needed pitching help, too, and did nothing to make their rotation better. They now have too many corner infielders and 3 of the slowest runners in baseball in their everyday lineup.
Awful defensively? How? In seven years, his fielding percentage is .994 (30 errors in 723 games) He's triple threat behind the dish, first, and DH. Last time I checked those 3 positions didn't have to have lightning speed. He is there to produce runs and add protection. Vmart is also 8 years younger than Tek who is, lets face it, running out of gas. Did I mention a dual-threat from both sides of the plate?
How did Boston not land a SS? That's the most glaring need on the team (other than Penny/Smoltz). With as much depth as the farm has, they should've paid for a franchise shortstop. There are plenty of smaller market teams that would have taken a cheap package of prospects to stockpile for later years. Troy Tulowitzki or Yunel Escobar sure would have been a nice fit...
What's the buzz on Francisco in Philadelphia? A pretty good player with not much playing time now. Is he worth picking up in a non-keeper league?
No, he wont play more than 2 games a week. He is not going to play in from of Victorino, Werth or Ibanez.
So the Royals didn't make a trade and you assume that Moore wants to keep the same group in place for 2010? How does that follow? Of course, I am sure you have all the inside details on what Moore was offered and turn down . . . (sarcasm)
Don't agree with the Reds as trade losers. Rolen could pay off in the cozy confines of GABP. I've watched Encarnacion for 5 years and if he ever develops into anything but a disappointment I'll be very surprised. The Reds need to shake things up & make some bold moves. This was a good start.
The Pirates shook things up. The Mariners shook things up. Even the Padres shook things up. Trading a young albiet so-far disappointing 3B for an expensive, old, oft-injured 3B isn't shaking things up. It's self-delusion.
The Phillies gave up their #2 prospect in Carlos Carasco, #3 in Lou Marson, #4 in Jason Donald and #10 in Jason Knapp. Thats a lot for a pitcher who will be going into the final year of his contract.
Being a Indians fan and all, I do believe Indians did real well. Might not be now or next year, but they are getting suited for the years to come.
The problem with that thought process is that they were prospects. Prospects that have not proven theirselves. Marson is a good catcher, but not nearly the caliber of Ruiz and other competitors. Knapp is still a teenager, he has a long way to go prior to be considered a strong candidate for the Majors. He will be in the minors for quite some time. That being said, did you watch the Giants/Phils game last night? It answered alot of questions as to why Lee was added. Keep in mind, another World Series title provides great economic benefits for a team.
Those BA prospect rankings were from January. Knapp has undoubtedly risen from #10, but the other three have been bumped downstairs by Drabek and Taylor, if not others. Carrasco still has #3 starter upside, but has stepped back this year. Marson will probably become a decent catcher, and Donald looks like a utility infielder. Not terrible, but as a Phillies fan, I am happier to part with them thatn any combination of Drabek, Brown, Taylor and Happ.