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.

DODGERS: Acquire Manny Ramirez

Former Boston Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez has been traded to the Dodgers, and the players in the trade have been finalized. Jason Bay goes to the Red Sox, and the Pirates get Andy LaRoche and Bryan Morris from the Dodgers, and Brandon Moss and Craig Hansen from the Red Sox, according to the New Jersey Star-Ledger.

BOTTOM LINE: The Red Sox got hosed on this deal. If you are going to trade Manny, you need to cash in on a good return. They must have thought that Jason Bay was a good enough bounty to get Manny and his negative attitude out of town. Ramirez is a free agent at season’s end.

Trade Deadline: 1 Hour Remains

So far, a couple of trades have come out of nowhere. Ken Griffey Jr. has accepted a trade to the White Sox, and the Reds got two prospects. Pudge Rodriguez is now a Yankee, and he will do a nice job filling the void left by the injured Jorge Posada. Arthur Rhodes is now in the Marlins bullpen, and that’s good news for the well-being of Renyel Pinto. Here are some other guys rumored to be traded in the next hour.

1. Brian Fuentes- Teams will have to up the ante big time if he is going to be dealt. Odds have him staying in Colorado until the end of the season.

2. Manny Ramirez-The rumored three way deal between the Marlins, Red Sox and Pirates is reportedly dead, but the Dodgers are apparently back in it, although they are no longer offering Matt Kemp. They would rather deal Andre Eithier. The Red Sox probably won’t settle for that. Look for Manny to remain where he is.

3. Jason Bay- Since the rumored deal to Boston for Bay died down, the Rays have emerged as the primary suitor. With the Pirates’ willingness to deal him, and the Rays’ need for a power right handed bat, I think this trade may be worked out. Keep a close eye.

4. Greg Maddux- The professor has made it clear that he would only be willing to accept a deal to a contending West Coast team. That pretty much means the Dodgers, but it doesn’t look like anything will be happening before 4 p.m. today.

5. Raul Ibanez/Jarrod Washburn-These are two guys who the Mariners should cash in on before the deadline, but their asking price is ridiculous. For example, they asked the Mets for two of Fernando Martinez, Jon Niese and Bobby Parnell for Ibanez. IF they don’t lower the asking price, these two will remain where they are.

Dead Deadline?

In years past, it always seemed that there were plenty of big names out there on the trading block as the trade deadline neared, but this year seems rather anti-climatic. There are a couple of reasons for this.

First, a lot of big name players that were thought to be dealt have already switched teams. CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira, the two guys most expected to be moved mid-season when the 2008 campaign got underway, have new homes.

Second, a lot of teams have remained competitive all season and thus are not in selling mode. The Cardinals, Marlins, Tigers and Dodgers all have players teams may want, but because of their place in the standings, these clubs are not in a position to just blow up their roster and prepare for next season.

Third, teams with some attractive trade pieces are delusional, believing that there is no need to trade away their players as they still have an outside shot at the post-season. Sorry Toronto, Houston and Colorado, this is just wishful thinking.

This year, the biggest names that will be moved on deadline day will likely be relievers. Brian Fuentes, George Sherrill and Huston Street could all be on the move, but as trade deadlines go, this one will have few fireworks. Unless of course Manny Ramirez is traded, but we all know that ain’t happening.

Manny Being Manny

If Manny Ramirez doesn’t be careful, he could be on the “Barry Bonds list.” By that I mean teams will look to avoid him due to the negative distraction that follows him wherever he goes.

The latest saga in the world of Manny involves a potential trade away from the Red Sox. Manny came out on Sunday and said that he would waive his no-trade clause if the Red Sox wanted to move him. Is it me? Or does this same exact thing happen every time the trade deadline rolls around?

It hasn’t exactly been a vintage Manny year to this point. He is currently batting .302 with 19 homers and 65 RBI on the season. Many teams would love to have his bat in the middle of their lineup, but they wouldn’t like the baggage that comes with him.

Earlier this season, Manny pushed the traveling secretary on the ground because she didn’t have enough seats for his family and friends. This woman was over 60-years-old. Manny has also brought a cell phone into the outfield with him, and he has made calls in between innings. What the heck is wrong with this guy?

Does he not take the game seriously? His career numbers would indicate that he does take it seriously. He’s a lock for the hall of fame, and he has one of the sweetest home run swings anyone has ever seen. People can not hold this guy to different standards than everyone else. Whether it is Manny being Manny, or Manny being stupid, someone needs to send this guy a message, and that is exactly what Theo Epstein is trying to do by talking trade. I expect him to remain in Boston, because his bat is not so easy to replace.

 

–MICHAEL GANCI