Trade Deadline: Winners and Losers

Manny Ramirez is the newest member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Who else changed uniforms?
[PHOTO BY ICON SMI]

BY MICHAEL GANCI
Update! Writer
The trade deadline has come and gone, and it was one of the more surprising days in recent memory. Three future Hall of Famers changed their uniforms. These could be the moves that make or break a team for the run to the playoffs. It is all about October, and in this column, UPDATE! will analyze each move to let you know if the team took a step in the right direction.

1.      DODGERS RECEIVE:OF Manny Ramirez, $7 million from Red Sox

RED SOX RECEIVE: OF Jason Bay from the Pirates

PIRATES RECEIVE: 3B Andy LaRoche and RHP Avery Morris from the Los Angeles Dodgers; RHP Craig Hansen and OF Brandon Moss from the Boston Red Sox

VERDICT:The biggest winner in this monster three-way deal is the Los Angeles Dodgers’ franchise. They acquired the best player in this deal, and all that they had to give up was a very good prospect whose ceiling seems to be falling, and a relief prospect. The only concern for them is that they need to make sure Ramirez is not a negative distraction and that he behaves. The Red Sox get Bay, who they have under control through 2009 at a very affordable salary. The Pirates continue to rebuild their farm system in hopes of having a positive future.

 

2.      WHITE SOX RECEIVE: OF Ken Griffey Jr. and Cash

REDS RECEIVE:RHP Nick Masset and 2B Danny Richar

VERDICT:Believe it or not, I believe that the Reds are the biggest winners in this deal for the long haul. Masset is going to fit nicely into their immediate plans as a starter, and Richar still has a decent chance to develop into an adequate regular. As much as Griffey is still a feared bat in baseball, the White Sox are really hurting themselves defensively. The plan is to return Griffey to center field, where he hasn’t played in a while. Nick Swisher will move in to play first, and the struggling Paul Konerko will be relegated to the bench. With Griffey’s aches and pains, this deal isn’t going to pay off much for the White Sox this season.

 

3.      MARLINS RECEIVE: LHP Arhur Rhodes

MARINERS RECEIVE: RHP Gaby Hernandez

VERDICT: This is a nice win for the Florida Marlins franchise. This deal doesn’t look at good on the surface as it actually is. As of now, Renyel Pinto is one of the National League’s leaders in appearances. Rhodes will do a nice job taking the load off of his shoulders. For the Mariners this year, Rhodes has held lefties to an under .200 clip and he is also averaging more than one strikeout per inning. If you need hold, this guy could be a nice source of them. As for Hernandez, he may develop into a back of the rotation guy, but nothing is certain. This was a solid acquisition for Florida.

4.      YANKEES RECEIVE: C Ivan Rodriguez

TIGERS RECEIVE:RHP Kyle Farnsworth

VERDICT: When people initially look at this trade, it looks more lopsided than ever. Both the teams addressed one of their major needs. The Yankees needed a catcher after losing Jorge Posada for the season and the Tigers’ bullpen has been suspect to say the least. In terms of quality, the Yankees definitely got the better end of the deal, as Pudge may be the one piece that they need. They also addressed a major need when they acquired Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte from the Pirates, so it looks like the Bronx Bombers are ready to make a run for their first World Series ring since 2000.

 

5.      ANGELS RECEIVE:1B Mark Teixeira

BRAVES RECEIVE:1B Casey Kotchman and RHP Steve Marek

VERDICT: I think the Braves did well here to acquire the two young studs in exchange for the pending free agent Teixeira. Kotchman was clearly unhappy to find out that he was coming to Atlanta, and why wouldn’t he be? He left a team that may be the best in the American League, and now he will be probably watching the playoffs from his living room. Teixeira puts the Angels offense over the top, but this move makes it a World Series ring or bust year. Teixeira is going to make upwards of $20 million per season on the open market, and although they will surely have a chance to retain his services, there are no guarantees. This was a nice trade for the Braves for future purposes.

 

6.     YANKEES RECEIVE: OF Xavier Nady and LHP Damaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates

PIRATES RECEIVE:RHPs Jeff Karstens, Daniel McCutchen, Ross Ohlendorf and OF Jose Tabata

VERDICT:People in Pittsburgh have the right to be very angry over this one because they got had. Nady was hitting .330 for the Pirates and was turning everyone’s heads, and Marte may be the best situational left-handed pitcher in baseball, and this is all they could get for them? I don’t think so. Ohlendorf has showed nothing but the fact that he is hittable and Tabata is out for the season. McCutchen is a decent prospect and Karstens may be a fifth starter on his best day. The Yankees won this one by a landslide and Pirates’ management really needs to be shaking their heads over this one. Nady is still an excellent play in fantasy, especially with the protection that he will have in the Yankees’ lineup.

 

TRADES NOT DONE

1.      RAUL IBANEZ TO THE METS

Comments:This was an example of greed from the Seattle Mariners. They were asking for two of Fernando Martinez, Jon Niese and Bobby Parnell for Ibanez. That is just off the wall. There is a chance that Ibanez will make it through waivers, but this trade is unlikely to happen because the Mets’ competitors in the NL East will likely block it.

2.      JARROD WASHBURN TO THE YANKEES

Comments:The Mariners were once again shooting for the stars with Washburn. They wanted the Yankees two top prospects for him. The Yankees were nice enough to eat the remaining salary on the contract, but apparently that was not enough. This trade may be revisted because Washburn should easily clear waivers.

3.      GREG MADDUX TO THE DODGERS

Comments:Maddux nixed at least one trade that would have taken him out of San Diego, but the reason he did so it because he wanted to remain out west. The only team that was a logical fit for Maddux was the Dodgers and the Padres couldn’t really see dealing him to a divisional rival. This trade is most likely dead to rights.

ANGELS: Trade for Mark Teixeira

Former Atlanta Braves first basemen Mark Teixeira has been traded to the Los Angeles Angels of anaheim for Casey Kotchman and a minor league pitching prospect.

BOTTOM LINE: It looks like the Braves have thrown in the towel on their season. If you are wondering about Teixeira’s value, it doesn’t change much. He will hit third in a loaded Angels lineup. start him immediately.