Recapping The Major League Baseball Trade Deadline Deals

The always interesting Major League Baseball trade deadline came and went at 3 p.m. central time today as some big names were added to contenders and stellar prospects will now call someplace else home.  Since the Matt Holliday trade between the St. Louis Cardinals and Oakland Athletics, there have been ___ trades.  While some of these deals can not fully be evaluated until it is seen how prospects pan out, we’ll go ahead and try to do it anyways.

Trade: (July 27th) Cleveland Indians trade Ryan Garko to the San Francisco Giants for Scott Barnes

Who Wins: The Indians officially began their firesale by shipping away their starting first baseman to the Giants who were in much need of a replacement for Travis Ishikawa.  Garko gives the Giants a solid fifth hitter in the lineup as they make a run at the NL Wildcard this season.  His contract is up at the end of the year but the Giants are expected to at least make an offer to him.

Barnes was 12-3 with a 2.85 ERA for Class A San Jose and was ranked by Baseball America as the Giants’ ninth best prospect in 2009.  The lefty has an excellent changeup and projects to be a number three starter in the big leagues.

If Garko re-signs with the Giants it would be a great deal for the them but I believe Barnes can be something special.  Still, the Giants got what they needed and take this deal by a small margin.  WINNER: GIANTS

Trade: (July 28th) Boston Red Sox trade Mark Kotsay to the Chicago White Sox for Brian Anderson

Who Wins: It was clear that Brian Anderson’s time in Chicago was up as he had been optioned to Triple A and was not in the plans for the future of the White Sox.

He demanded a trade and was given his wish by trading places with the veteran Kotsay.  Clearly the Red Sox felt as though they had enough outfield depth on the team and could spare Kotsay to pick up a potential player in Anderson.

Kotsay will be great off the bench for the White Sox as they make a run at the AL Central this year.  WINNER: WHITE SOX

Trade: (July 29th) Seattle Mariners trade Wladimir Balentein to the Cincinnati Reds for Robert Manuel

Who Wins: Neither of these players project as much in the big leagues but give both teams some added depth at a few spots.  Balentein has more Major League experience and has a better shot at contributing in the near future.  WINNER: REDS

Trade: (July 29th) Seattle Mariners trade shortstop Ronny Cedeno, Jeff Clement, Ben Prebanic, Brett Lorin, and Nathan Adcock to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jack Wilson and Ian Snell

Who Wins: This is a very interesting trade for both squads because the Pirates were in a no-win situation with the two players they gave away.  Wilson had already denied a contract extension with the team and Snell was very unhappy with his situation in Pittsburgh.

What they got in return was about as much as they could have asked for, including slugger Jeff Clement.

Cedeno was thrown in the deal because the Pirates will need to fill a void at shortstop but is hardly the long-term solution.  Clement has a great bat but does not have a true position, seeing time at catcher and first base.  He projected as a designated hitter but now will not have that chance in the National League.  Pitcher Nathan Adcock sports a great curveball and could be a starter in the future.

Seattle is buying for the future and got one of the best defensive gloves in the game in Wilson, as well as a pitcher with a ton of skill in Snell.  While the results have not been there, Snell has potential if he can stay focused and work on his problems.

It’s tough to say that the Pirates could have won this deal because they were dealing with two disgruntled players, so I’ll give this one to the M’s.  WINNER: MARINERS

Trade: (July 29th) Pittsburgh Pirates trade Freddy Sanchez to the San Francisco Giants for Tim Alderson

Who Wins: Sanchez adds another much needed bat to the lineup and puts the Giants in great shape to find a spot in the National League playoffs.  Along with Garko, Sanchez improves the offense with a .300+ batting average and some power to go around.

However, Alderson is showing a ton of potential and could be an outstanding pitcher in the near future.  In three seasons of professional ball, he is 20-6 with an ERA just over three.  He sports an excellent curveball and was projected to be a back-end starter in the outstanding Giants’ rotation that includes Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and number one prospect Madison Bumgarner.

Sanchez is a great hitter and an average fielder that puts the Giants in contention.  The Pirates were in a no-win situation with Sanchez who, like Wilson, refused to sign a contract extension.  What they got is a 20-year-old starter with a ton of potential.  WINNER: PIRATES

Trade: (July 29th) Cleveland Indians trade Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco to the Philadelphia Phillies for Jason Knapp, Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald, and Lou Marson

Who Wins: The Indians are clearly in selling mode and traded away their second straight Cy Young Award winner to the Philadelphia Phillies who are all of a sudden huge contenders in the National League.

What they got in exchange was a ton of young and talented players that are sure to make a splash in The Bigs in the future.

For the Phillies, they filled up their starting rotation by adding Lee, who is 9-7 this year with an even 3.00 ERA.  He will go to a staff that was desparately looking for good pitching and becomes the ace.

They did not have to give up their two best pitching prospects in Kyle Drabek and J.A. Happ, which they would have if they had gone after Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay.

For the Indians, they get two very solid pitchers in Knapp and Corrasco as well as good position players in Donald and Marson.  Baseball America ranked the Indians’ return players as the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 10th best players in the Phillies’ farm system.

Still, the Phillies become legitimate contenders with this move and win the deal as well.  WINNER: PHILLIES

Trade: (July 30th) Baltimore Orioles trade George Sherill to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Josh Bell and Steve Johnson

Who Wins: The one knock on the team with the best record in baseball was that the bullpen was extremely shaky.  Outside of Jonathon Broxton, no one really had the makings up someone you’d like to rely on late in games.  Enter George Sherill and that is no longer the case.

Sherill gives the Dodgers a great 1-2 punch in the bullpen and they did not have to give up much to get it.  Bell is a solid prospect at third base and projects to be a starter in the big leagues one day, but the Dodgers are completely in win-now mode and were going to do anything possible to pick up a reliever.  WINNER: DODGERS

Trade: (July 30th) Pittsburgh Pirates trade Tom Gorzelanny and John Grabow to the Chicago Cubs for Kevin Hart, Jose Ascanio, and Josh Harrison

Who Wins: This trade was probably one of the fairest deals of the deadline and it is hard to pick a winner.

For the Cubs’ sake, they received a much needed lefty arm out of the bullpen in Grabow.  Gorzelanny had a great 2007 but has not showed much since and is pretty comparable to Hart.

The Pirates free up more cap room and get a decent young pitcher in Kevin Hart.  Time is against him as he is already 26 years old, but if he can keep up his solid numbers he will be a steal.

Ascanio still has a lot to prove and Harrison was stuck behind Josh Vitters at third base in the minors so it isn’t a huge loss for the Cubs.

I’ll give the Cubs the win on the trade because it helps them right now (Grabow) and potentially in the future (Gorzelanny) but both sides come out on top here.  WINNER: CUBS

Trade: (July 30th) Detroit Tigers trade Josh Anderson to the Kansas City Royals for cash considerations.

Who Wins: No, cash considerations is not a player on the Royals.  This trade occurred to shore up a little bit of money before trading for pitcher Jarrod Washburn, so the Tigers make out well here.

The Royals get an average prospect in the outfield that has seen some at bats in the big leagues.  For a team to not get a player in a trade makes it hard for them to win the trade, so the Royals get the nod here.  WINNER: ROYALS

Trade: (July 31st) Seattle Mariners trade Jarrod Washburn to the Detroit Tigers for Luke French and Mauricio Robles

Who Wins: Both of the prospects that the Mariners received in return have pretty low ceilings and do not project as much in the future.

French is 23 years old and has not produced much, with a 35-43 record as a pro.  Robles has more upside than French but is still a pretty big project as he is just in Single A.

Many Tigers fans seemed to be upset to have to part way with Robles, especially with Washburn being a three month rental.  Washburn’s contract is up after this season so the Tigers are clearly making their run at the division right now.

If Robles becomes something big, the Mariners will have the advantage but for now it looks as though the Tigers came out on top.  WINNER: TIGERS

Trade: (July 31st) Oakland Athletics trade Orlando Cabrera to the Minnesota Twins for Tyler Ladendorf

Who Wins: The Twins must feel that they are contenders in the AL Central by trading for a rental at shortstop in Cabrera.  Batting .280 and playing solid defense, Cabrera will help the Twins fight for the top spot.

They gave up very little in Ladendorf who has potential but is struggling in Low A ball.  I have always thought that Cabrera was underrated and believe the Twins come out big winners here, especially if they can pull off the upset of winning the Central.  WINNER: TWINS

Trade: (July 31st) Milwaukee Brewers trade Vinny Rottino to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Claudio Vargas

Who Wins: Vargas was seeing very little action with the Dodgers but will now be thrown into a Brewers starting rotation that is badly looking for starters who can throw a lot of innings.

His second stint with the Brewers will hopefully see him throw those much-needed innings and keep the Brewers in contention in the NL Central.

Rottino was the starting catcher on Italy’s team in the World Baseball Classic, but at 29 years old was stuck in Double A.  With Angel Solome considered to be the future of the Brewers behind the plate, Rottino was expendable.

Both teams made out well on this trade but it will definitely help the Brewers more.  WINNER: BREWERS

Trade: Boston Red Sox trade Justin Masterson to the Cleveland Indians for Justin Masterson, Bryan Price, and Nick Hagadone

Who Wins: Martinez is a huge addition to the already powerful Red Sox and probably put them as the front-runners to win it all.  He will play first base and enter a very dangerous lineup.

Martinez is signed for this year and has a club option for next year that will most surely be picked up.  After that, the Red Sox will obviously have enough money to re-sign him and he should be the first baseman of the future.

He did not come cheap, however.  Masterson is already Major League-ready and the other two prospects have a ton of upside.

Hagadone, when healthy, has great stuff and should see the Majors sometime soon.  The one question mark is that he is coming off of Tommy John surgery and, as is always the case, he might not stay healthy.

Price is further away in terms of progress but is also younger.

Martinez was sad to leave Cleveland but all the wins he will soon rack up in Boston should put a smile back on his face.  Huge win for the Bo Sox.  WINNER: RED SOX

Trade: (July 31st) Cincinnati Reds trade Jerry Hairston Jr. to the New York Yankees for Chase Weems

Who Wins: I researched Weems and he does not seem to be a huge talent and Hairston Jr. will provide some good outfield depth and is a good bat off the bench.

He has never been much in the field but has a little bit of pop in his bat.  For the Reds, they get rid of some cap room and have a young catcher in the minors potentially for the future.  WINNER: YANKEES

Trade: (July 31st) Boston Red Sox trade Adam LaRoche to the Atlanta Braves for Casey Kotchman

Who Wins: I am having trouble figuring out why the Braves would want any piece of this deal.  Kotchman is four years younger than LaRoche and has a ton more upside.  Past that, he is playing better baseball at this point and is the better player.

The Red Sox somehow dumped a player and got better.  For the Braves, they get LaRoche for the second time and now have a decent glove and a power bat to compliment Chipper Jones.

In the end, Kotchman has a ton of upside and is only getting better.  WINNER: RED SOX

Trade: (July 31st) Washington Nationals Joe Beimel to the Colorado Rockies for Ryan Matheus and Robinson Fabian

Who Wins: Beimel will help the bullpen out for a Rockies team that feels as though they have a legitimate shot at winning the wild card this season.

For the Nats, it’s more prospects that are more than likely going to fade out.  Neither have a ton of upside and do not project as big leaguers.  WINNER: ROCKIES

Trade: (July 31st) Cincinnati Reds trade Edwin Encarnacion, Josh Roenicke and Zach Stewart to the Toronto Blue Jays for Scott Rolen

Who Wins: I am a little confused by this deal as Encarnacion is really coming into his own as a big leaguer right now.  His stats do not really tell the story, but he is batting .276 in July after coming back from injury.

The Reds are not contenders for anything this year and would have been wise to keep Encarnacion around for a while.

Rolen is having a pretty good year both with the bat and, as always, in the field.

The two prospects that the Reds gave up are both big league material, so this trade is a tad bit confusing.  WINNER: BLUE JAYS

Trade: (July 31st) San Diego Padres trade Jake Peavy to the Chicago White Sox for Aaron Poreda, Clayton Richard, Adam Russell, and Dexter Carter

Who Wins: Poreda and Richard are two very highly-rated prospects and Richard has already burst on to the scene.  Both are young and talented and should be in the Padres’ rotation for quite some time.

Russell and Carter also have some upside, so it was a lot to give up for the White Sox.

However, if they truly believe that they received one of the best five pitchers in the game today (which I do), then it was the right trade to make.

Peavy will be making boatloads of money over the next five years but the White Sox have a lot of money to spend.  He will anchor the rotation and move Mark Buehrle back to the number two spot, with Gavin Floyd going third.

Kenny Williams always seems to be making deals, and this one is a huge one, but I believe he made out good on this deal.  Peavy had been stuck with a terrible offense for so long but will now get the chance to truly shine.

Poreda and Richard have superstar potential, but any time a talent like Peavy is being dangled in front of you, it’s hard to pass up on it.  WINNER: WHITE SOX

MLB Power Rankings: Sunday June 14th

Just feeling a quick blog tonight after coming out of my state of shock that Trevor Hoffman is indeed human.  Here’s my current power rankings for the MLB as of tonight with a sentence on each squad.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (42-22): Unbelievably, this team has not missed a step after losing slugger Manny Ramirez and is easily the best team in baseball right now.

2. Boston Red Sox (38-25): Their dominance over the Yankees has pushed them into first place in the AL East and David Ortiz is slowly coming around.

3. New York Yankees (36-27): Mark Tiexiera and C.C. Sabathia are finally making good on the huge contracts they signed last off-season.

4. Philadelphia Phillies (36-25): Raul Ibanez has been fantastic and their 23-9 record away from home is unbelievable.

5. Texas Rangers (35-27): Nelson Cruz has been fantastic this year and the Rangers are more than staying alive without Josh Hamilton…so far.

6. Detroit Tigers (34-29): Edwin Jackson looks like the real deal and the Tigers are atop the competitive AL Central.

7. St. Louis Cardinals (34-30): When their rotation is pitching well, they are the best team in the NL Central.

8. Milwaukee Brewers (34-29): Their current rotation is not going to do enough damage to win the division and the bullpen is starting to come back down to earth.

9. San Francisco Giants (34-28): If it weren’t for the Dodgers, we would be talking about the Giants much more.

10. Tampa Bay Rays (34-31): Evan Longoria is keeping the Rays alive but they need to start playing better in close games.

Final MLB Mock Draft 1.0

1. Washington Nationals: Steven Strasburg, RHP, San Diego State

Pretty much a consensus here as the pressure is now on Strasburg to become the next big thing and not the next big Mark Prior.

2. Seattle Mariners: Dustin Ackley, 1B/OF, North Carolina

Rumor is Ackley isn’t a sure thing here because of his signability issues, but it would be hard for the Mariners to pass on him here.

3. San Diego Padres: Donovan Tate, CF, Cartersville H.S. (GA)

Tate is the sure thing in terms of signing but RHP Aaron Crow is a potential option here, with signability again being a factor.

4. Pittsburgh Pirates: Aaron Crow, RHP, Fort Worth Cats (MO)

Crow was the ninth overall pick in the Rule Four Draft for the Nationals last year but decided not to sign.  If he asks for more than he did last year, he will be very hard to sign but is worth it if a deal can get done.

5. Baltimore Orioles: Zach Wheeler, RHP, East Paulding H.S. (GA)

The Orioles have been high on Wheeler for a while now and will most likely be the pick here.  He has a few pitches above average and probably has the best “stuff” of all high school pitchers.

6. San Francisco Giants: Tyler Matzak, LHP, Capistrano Valley H.S. (CA)

Matzak is probably my favorite pitcher in the draft and has a chance to be very good in the pros.  He already has a four pitch repitoire and has all the mechanics that big league ballclubs are looking for.

Don't be surprised if Tyler Matzek is the next big thing.

7. Atlanta Braves: Alex White, RHP, North Carolina

White has been linked to the Braves on multiple occasions and is a safe bet to go here.  White relies on his off-speed pitch too often and will have to have more confidence in his fastball as he progresses.

8. Cincinnati Reds: Tanner Scheppers, RHP, Fresno State

Sheppers is the biggest red flag in the draft as injury concerns linger with the 6’4″ righty.  However, if the Reds take him and he avoids injury he could be the steal of the draft.

9. Detroit Tigers: Jacob Turner, RHP, Westminster Christian Academy

Like White to the Braves, Turner has been linked with the Tigers for a while.  They are also looking at Sheppers, but he is gone in this mock draft.  Turner probably has the best fastball in the draft.

10. Washington Nationals: Mike Minor, LHP, Vanderbilt

Minor is the next biggest major-league ready pitcher after Strasburg, and the Nats have to be happy to leave the top ten with two pitchers that can be ready to go in probably a year.

11. Colorado Rockies: Matt Hobgood, RHP, Norco H.S. (CA)

This might be a little early for Hobgood, but Colorado is looking at pitching and likes Hobgood here.  He is one of the biggest pitchers in the draft and has powering stuff for a high school kid.

12. Kansas City Royals: Tony Sanchez, C, Boston College

The Royals are looking at a bunch of names so this pick is really up in the air, but Sanchez is the best catcher this year and is a position that they need to upgrade.

13. Oakland Athletics: Grant Green, SS, Southern California

Some think that Green will move to third base and this would make sense for the Athletics as he could be the future there.  Even so, he is a great bat anywhere that he plays and makes sense for the Athletics here.

14. Texas Rangers: Mike Leake, RHP, Arizona State

Leake is a value pick here for the Rangers who are looking at a bunch of players.  It has been reported that if Crow or Sheppers fall due to the concerns, Texas could be a landing spot for either of the two.

15. Cleveland Indians: Eric Arnett, RHP, Indiana

Arnett is a long pitcher that used to be a basketball player for the Hoosiers.  His name has been linked in Cleveland and is not too far away from the majors.  Cleveland will definitely look at a pitcher here.

16. Arizona Diamondbacks: Bobby Borchering, 3B/OF,Bishop Verot H.S. (FL)

Borchering has been linked to the D-Backs for a while and gives them a good bat at the hot corner.  With back-to-back picks in the first round here, they can get a couple of quality players.

17. Arizona Diamondbacks: Tyler Skaggs, RHP, Santa Monica H.S. (CA)

Skaggs is an interesting that has a lot of upside for the D-Backs if they choose to take him here.  They are also looking at a lot of other players with this pick, so it is a mystery who will be taken.

18. Florida Marlins: Chad James, LHP, Yukon H.S. (OK)

James has been linked to the Marlins but there is a rumor that he will demand a large signing bonus that could scare off teams.  There are a couple of lefties still available that the Marlins could take a look at if James isn’t their guy.

19. St. Louis Cardinals: Rex Brothers, LHP, Lipscomb

It is well known that the Cards are looking for a lefty pitcher in the draft, and Brothers has as much upside as any pitcher.  He throws a mid 90’s fastball with a very good slider that he can get over the plate.

USC shortstop Grant Green might be moved to third base in the big leagues.

20. Toronto Blue Jays: Kyle Heckathorn, RHP, Kennesaw State

Toronto will more than likely go for a value pick here and I think Heckathorn is the best pitcher left in the draft.  He needs to work on command and control but has the body to be a workhorse and already throws two good pitches.

21. Houston Astros: Chad Jenkins, RHP, Kennesaw State

Teammates go off the board back-to-back here as the Astros go with Jenkins.  He has been taken earlier in other mocks but I think right here fits him well.  The ‘Stros have not been linked to any players and might go with a position player if a value pitcher is not there.

22. Minnesota Twins: Kyle Gibson, RHP, Missouri

If Gibson’s medicals clear, Gibson will be a steal here for the the Twins.  They have selected a high school outfielder two years running so look for them to go with a pitcher this year in the first round.

23. Chicago White Sox: Everett Williams, CF, McCallum H.S. (TX)

Williams is small but has a lot of upside to him that the Sox will take a good hard look at.  They might go with a college arm but the better bet is that they take the potential pick with Williams.

24. Los Angeles Angels: Drew Storen, RHP, Stanford

Storen might be able to become a starter despite being a reliever for the Cardinal, and with back-to-back picks in the first round, the Angels will likely take a pitcher.

25. Los Angeles Angels: Reymond Fuentes, OF, Fernando Callego H.S. (PR)

Fuentes is going to be a boom or bust pick but has all the upside in the world.  Despite his small frame, the nephew of Carlos Beltran has a chance to be something special if he gets a little bigger and hits for some power.

Reymond Fuentes, the nephew of Carlos Beltran, could be a special ballplayer one day.

26. Milwaukee Brewers: Mike Trout, CF, Millville H.S. (NJ)

The Brewers would really like to get some pitching here, but there is a bit of a dropoff at this point in the draft.  Trout is very good value here for the Brewers who will look to build their farm system.  He excels at the plate and is good enough for now in the field.

27. Seattle Mariners: A.J. Pollock, CF, Notre Dame

Just like the Brew Crew, the Mariners are looking for a college pitcher ready to go but there are no good fits here.  Pollock is a good pick here that gives good value and a polished position player as the second first round pick for them.

28. Boston Red Sox: Max Stassi, C, Yuba City H.S. (CA)

The Red Sox ultimately would like to get some help in the outfield, but the crop of college talent will more than likely be gone at this point, leaving the Bo Sox to take the next best option, which is Stassi.

29. New York Yankees: Slade Heathcott, CF, Texas H.S. (TX)

Heathcott has been scouted by the Yankees very hard and is a likely bet to come off the board here.  He has great tools but off the field concerns might scare some teams away.

30. Tampa Bay Rays: Jiovanni Miller, SS, Bonita H.S. (CA)

Like the Red Sox, they hope an outfielder is available but will go with the next best option as well.  Miller could go earlier in the draft but if he makes it to the Rays, there is a shot they swipe him up.

31. Chicago Cubs: Brett Jackson, OF, California

Of the players the Cubs are interested in, Jackson is only possibility to be left when the Cubs pick at 31.  Jackson has shown flashes of potential and with some coaching could be a good pick here for the Cubbies.

32. Colorado Rockies: Randal Grichuk, OF, Lamar Consolidation H.S. (TX)

After taking a pitcher with their first selection, the Rockies go ahead and take a position player with some good upside in Grichuk.  He has been having good workouts for teams and could find his name slip into the first round if he is lucky.